Some antidepressants cause more weight gain than others, study finds
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Certain first-line antidepressant medications are more likely than others to cause weight gain, according to a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Why it matters: Drug-related weight gain may deter some patients from starting or adhering to their prescriptions.
What they found: The study led by Harvard Medical School looked at electronic health record data of 183,118 new antidepressant users from eight U.S. health systems between 2010 and 2019. Patients were between the ages of 21 and 79 years old.
- They compared weight gain among patients prescribed several different first-line antidepressants and those taking sertraline, also known under the brand name Zoloft, which is the most commonly prescribed antidepressant.
- They found users of escitalopram (Lexapro) and paroxetine (Seroxat) gained roughly 1 pound more than those on sertraline after six months. They were also 10% to 15% more likely to gain at least 5% of their baseline weight than sertraline users.
On the other hand, patients prescribed bupropion, known by the brand name Wellbutrin, saw the least amount of weight gain.
- Fluoxetine, also sold as Prozac, was not associated with a change in weight after six months compared with sertraline.
Zoom in: Lead researcher Joshua Petimar told Axios the study offers a more granular look than previous studies of the impact of different antidepressant medications.
- The study looks at averages, so while the overall effect seems small, it affects some patients more than others.
- "One of the reasons we were motivated to do this study was that we could give both providers and patients more information that they can use to make the best decisions," Petimar said.
What's next: The study is the first in a series of examinations Petimar's team is planning on how patients' weight is affected by certain medications, including antidepressants taken by children and adolescents, as well as drugs for psychosis, diabetes, hypertension and seizures.
