“Can the overuse of prescription medication lead to obesity?”
My friend has been on antidepressants for years and seems to eat more because of it. So now he is at an unhealthy weight. Can the overuse of prescription medication lead to obesity?
5 Answers
Even normal doses. All have weight gain as a possible side effect except buproprion.
It depends on the antidepressant being used. Unfortunately many antidepressants are associated with weight gain but some types are not.
Many antidepressants have a side effect of weight gain. Some more than others.
Absolutely. Weight gain one of the more unfortunate side effects of many medications, including many, but not all antidepressants. Many people do well switching to another type of antidepressant. I've been particularly impressed with Wellbutrin, but your friend will have to discuss this with his/her physician.
In studies the antidepressants as a group are weight neutral. Meaning that if you gain or lose weight when you start them, your weight at the end of a year tends to stabilize to baseline. However, about 5% of patients on antidepressants do experience weight gain that persist. Weight gain typically ranges around 10-15 lb but can be higher. If your friend has experienced weight gain with her current antidepressant then I would have her talk to her provider about switching over to another one. Different antidepressants have different side effects even though the work the same way for depression and anxiety. So it is not uncommon that patients gain weight with one of the antidepressants but not another.
