I haven’t been diagnosed with depression, but I have chronic insomnia and killer PMS, so I’m now on a small dose of Zoloft. Thus far, it hasn’t helped at all, and I’c like to look into switching to something else. I’m 17 and incredibly underweight due to treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and it seems like zoloft has zapped my appetite even more. Several friends have mentioned gaining weight from taking antidepressants, but I don’t know what they were on. I really need to find something that will help me gain weight. I already am seeing a nutritionist and forcing myself to eat, but it just keeps falling off me. I’m 5’9 and I now weigh 106 pounds. I look and feel awful. Could another antidepressant help?
The exact relationship between antidepressants and weight gain isn’t clear, but weight gain is a reported side effect of nearly all antidepressants. It’s important to remember that association is not the same as causation. There are many factors that can work together to contribute to weight gain during antidepressant therapy.
Certain antidepressants are more likely to cause weight gain than are others. For example, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are more likely to be associated with weight gain than are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The exception to this may be long-term use of paroxetine (Paxil) — an SSRI that’s more likely to cause weight gain than are other SSRIs.
Take care as always!!
Mirtazapine (Remeron/Avanza) is a tetracyclic antidepressant and is known to be an appetite stimulant, and to cause weight gain.
References :
I have taken Mirtazapine, and know many others who have
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirtazapine
The exact relationship between antidepressants and weight gain isn’t clear, but weight gain is a reported side effect of nearly all antidepressants. It’s important to remember that association is not the same as causation. There are many factors that can work together to contribute to weight gain during antidepressant therapy.
Certain antidepressants are more likely to cause weight gain than are others. For example, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are more likely to be associated with weight gain than are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The exception to this may be long-term use of paroxetine (Paxil) — an SSRI that’s more likely to cause weight gain than are other SSRIs.
Take care as always!!
References :