Do Antidepressants Make You Lose Weight?

Antidepressants can lead to weight loss in some people. According to CalorieLab.com, antidepressants cause weight loss by helping control cravings and suppressing the urge to overeat.

Function

• Antidepressants are prescribed to treat symptoms of depression and related mental-health disorders such as anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. There are also many off-label uses for these medications, one of which is weight loss.

Types

• There are three basic classes of antidepressants---tricyclics, SSRIs and SNRIs. SSRIs include medications like Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro, and are more commonly prescribed than tricyclics due to their lower incidence of side effects. SNRIs are newer, and include Cymbalta and Effexor.

Effects

• Antidepressants work by regulating levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, which affect things like mood, appetite and sleep patterns. Common side effects include sexual dysfunction, suicidal thoughts or behaviors and changes in weight.

Benefits

• For some people, antidepressants aid in weight loss by helping control cravings caused by deficient serotonin systems in the brain. People suffering from atypical depression, which causes overeating and fatigue, and "emotional eaters" are most likely to benefit.

Considerations

• There can be serious side effects, such as suicidal behaviors, seizures and, paradoxically, weight gain in people taking antidepressants for any reason. Because these medications affect everyone differently, they are not considered a reliable way to lose weight.