Does Prozac help you lose weight?

Prozac is linked to weight loss, especially early in treatment. Studies show that when people begin treatment with Prozac, they could experience a modest weight loss of about one pound. This weight loss will be observable about one month after beginning treatment.

choosingtherapy.com - Does Prozac Cause Weight Loss? Everything You Need to Know

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Antidepressants can also help treat:1,2

Other mood disorders like bipolar disorder

Anxiety disorders like panic disorder

Eating disorders

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Pain

Insomnia

There are many types of antidepressants. Each group works differently by interacting with a specific neurotransmitter or group of neurotransmitters. Prozac (fluoxetine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It treats mental health conditions by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin, so more is available in the brain. Other antidepressants, like Effexor (venlafaxine), are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). These medications affect the reabsorption of norepinephrine and serotonin.1

Can Antidepressants Cause Weight Loss?

As a class of medications, antidepressants are known to trigger changes in weight. Most frequently, these medications are associated with weight gain, but on occasion, weight loss may also occur. Prozac is linked to weight loss, especially early in treatment.3,4 Studies show that when people begin treatment with Prozac, they could experience a modest weight loss of about one pound. This weight loss will be observable about one month after beginning treatment. The weight loss will not be permanent, but it seems to continue throughout the first three months of treatment with Prozac. Like other medication results, not everyone will lose weight on Prozac. Of those studied, though, the weight loss was fairly consistent. When researchers tracked patients for six months and more, the people gained back the original weight. In some cases, they added an average of six pounds in the year after starting treatment.3,4 Although this may seem significant, the weight gained on Prozac is comparable or lower than similar antidepressants. Antidepressants are more often related to weight gain rather than weight loss.

Antidepressants that cause weight loss may include:

Prozac (fluoxetine)

Wellbutrin (buprinopine)

Like Prozac, Wellbutrin seems associated with short-term weight loss. At the 3-month mark, patients report some weight loss on average. Then, weight seems to increase slightly at 6-month and 9-month reviews. By the one year mark, average weight is similar to the original baseline levels.3

Antidepressants & Weight Gain

The more common effect of antidepressants is to trigger weight gain in patients. Some gains may be immediate, delayed, continuous, or temporary with plateaus. Older medications are more strongly linked to weight gain and other unwanted effects, but even the newest generations of antidepressants may produce weight gain.

Antidepressants that cause weight gain may include:3,5

Amitriptyline, Tofranil (imipramine) and doxepin : types of tricyclic antidepressants

: types of tricyclic antidepressants Nardil (phenelzine) and other monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

Paxil (paroxetine) and Celexa (citalopram): two types of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

two types of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor Effexor (venlafaxine) : a commonly used serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor

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: a commonly used serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor Remeron (mirtazapine): an atypical antidepressant Some medications cause weight gain that seems to level out over the course of a few months. Other medications, like Effexor (venlafaxine) and Remeron (mirtazapine), seem to trigger weight gains that continue to increase with time.1 The primary goal of antidepressants is to manage the patient’s mental health symptoms, but a rapid weight gain could prove problematic, especially if the person is already overweight at the beginning of treatment. The decision to continue or end treatment must be a conversation between the prescriber and the patient as they consider the risks and benefits of continued treatment.

Why Does Prozac Cause Weight Loss?

No one can state with precision why some antidepressants trigger weight gain and why others, like Prozac, seem to produce weight loss. Much of the impact has to do with individual differences, depressive symptoms, and expected weight gain in adults. The weight changes during depression and anxiety are complex situations. Some people will note decreased appetite with weight loss that follows when symptoms are high. Others will find that high symptoms are linked to increased appetite and weight gain.4 The weight loss that comes with Prozac could be a sign that depression is alleviating. As symptoms reduce, the overeating and weight gain that comes with it begins to fade. This change allows people to lose some depression-related weight.5 The decreased depressive symptoms could also spark an increase in energy and motivation. With more physical activity, the person could shed some weight in the early months of Prozac treatment.

When Prozac Weight Loss Becomes a Problem

Significant weight loss is a concern when people use Prozac. The concern is more troubling when it occurs in very underweight people who are depressed or living with bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder.6 A person with an eating disorder could continue to lose weight because the Prozac treatment is not doing enough to manage symptoms. Among people treated with Prozac for bulimia nervosa, 8% experienced decreased appetite. Among those with depression, 11% experienced decreased appetite. Among those with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 17% experienced decreased appetite.6 If you find that you or a loved one are losing significant weight, make a call to the prescriber or primary care physician. They can assess the severity of the weight loss and recommend appropriate care to lower the risk.

choosingtherapy.com - Does Prozac Cause Weight Loss? Everything You Need to Know

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