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Side effects of paxil weight gain


Does Paxil Cause Weight Gain?

Medically reviewed by Kristin Hall, FNP

Written by Our Editorial Team

Last updated 7/15/2022

If you are taking medication to help with a mental health or physical health issue, you want it to address that issue without causing many side effects, right? 

So, it may be a real bummer to hear rumors that Paxil (also known as paroxetine) can lead to weight gain. But before you decide whether or not you’re going to take this medication based on this risk of weight gain, you should at least find out if it’s even true. 

Read on to learn about paroxetine and what psychiatric disorders it treats, and find out if it actually does lead to weight gain.

Learning More About Paxil 

Paxil — commonly called by its generic name paroxetine — is an antidepressant medication. Specifically, it is in a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. This type of antidepressant increases your levels of serotonin.  

Paroxetine comes as tablets, liquid, and extended-release tablets. In all its forms, this prescription medication is prescribed mostly for major depressive disorder (also called major depression), bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder and more. It is also sometimes used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder and symptoms of menopause (like hot flashes).  

If you take paroxetine and decide to stop, you will need to work with a healthcare professional to lower your dosage slowly until you can stop completely. This will help you avoid withdrawal symptoms and other unwanted side effects. 

Side Effects of Paroxetine

Almost all medications — including paroxetine — come with at least some potential side effects. Some common side effects associated with paroxetine are: 

  • Dizziness

  • Headaches

  • Confusion 

  • Forgetfulness

  • Weakness

  • Vomiting

  • Constipation

  • Sexual side effects, like low libido

  • Joint pain or muscle aches

  • Heartburn

  • Weight changes, like weight loss or gain

For most people, these should go away after weeks of treatment. But if any symptoms last longer than that, consult with a medical professional. They can help you figure out if there are any other types of psychiatric medication worth considering.

Along with the above, paroxetine can sometimes cause serious adverse effects, including chest pain, difficulty breathing, an irregular heart rhythm, fainting and more. These are rare, but if you do experience any of them, call a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

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The Connection Between Paxil and Weight Gain

Some people who take an antidepressant medication experience weight gain. That said, SSRIs (like paroxetine) are less associated with weight gain than some other antidepressants, like tricyclic antidepressants. Approximately 10 percent of people who take SSRIs for an extended period of time notice some weight gain.

There is some thinking that weight gain may not be a direct result of paroxetine. Some people don’t eat much when they are depressed. Then, if they start taking a medication like paroxetine to treat depression, they may eat more and put on weight as their depression symptoms go away.

As for studies, there aren’t many that directly associate weight gain with paroxetine. One that did test this association focused on people who took paroxetine for vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. It found no evidence that the medication led to weight gain. But it’s worth noting that the people in this study were taking a very low-dose of paroxetine.

So, what’s the final answer? It’s not so clear cut. Taking paroxetine likely will not cause weight gain — but it cannot be completely ruled out either. 

Preventing Weight Gain From Antidepressants 

If you are nervous about weight gain from taking paroxetine or are taking it and are noticing an expanding waistline, it’s a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional. 

There are also some lifestyle tweaks you can make to make sure you manage your weight in the healthiest way possible while taking an antidepressant.  

Stick to a Healthy Diet

No matter what medications you may or may not be taking, sticking to a diet full of healthy foods is a good idea. One that includes a good amount of protein (lean meats and fishes), along with some healthy carbohydrates (fruits, veggies, beans and whole grains) and good-for-you fats (olive oil, avocado, etc.) can help with weight loss.

Exercise Regularly

Exercise can help you mitigate an increase in body weight — or lose weight, if that’s what you are looking to do.  But it also has benefits that go beyond a lower number on the scale. 

Whether you head out for a run or go to a barre class, exercise also lowers stress hormones and activates endorphins that make you feel good. Even five minutes of getting your heart rate up has been shown to lower anxiety.

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Navigating Paxil and Weight Gain

Paroxetine can be an effective medication used to treat a variety of conditions, like major depressive disorder or major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders (such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder) and certain symptoms of menopause (like hot flashes).  

Adverse effects associated with paroxetine include headaches, confusion, sexual side effects like low libido and more. But these side effects tend to go away after a few weeks and despite any potential side effects, paroxetine is an effective treatment for depression and anxiety. 

There is some evidence that antidepressants can cause weight gain for some people. However, paroxetine and other SSRIs are generally thought not to cause weight gain — though they can in a small number of people. 

If you are worried about an increase in weight while using paroxetine or want to speak to a professional about psychiatric disorders in general, you should schedule a consultation with a healthcare provider for medical advice.

9 Sources

Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references.

  1. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Mental-Health-Medications/Types-of-Medication/Paroxetine-(Paxil)
  2. Chu, A., Wadhwa, R., (2021, May 10). Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. Stat Pearls. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554406/
  3. Paroextine. Medline Plus. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a698032.html
  4. Medication Frequently Asked Questions. National Alliance of Mental Illness. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/FAQ/Mental-Health-Medication-FAQ/My-doctor-recently-started-me-on-an-antidepressant
  5. Portman, D., Kaunitz, A., Kazempour, K., et al., (2014). Effects of low-dose paroxetine 7.5 mg on weight and sexual function during treatment of vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. Menopause. Retrived from https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/fulltext/2014/10000/effects_of_low_dose_paroxetine_7_5_mg_on_weight.9.aspx
  6. Moon, J. , Gwanpyo, K., (2020). Clinical Evidence and Mechanisms of High-Protein Diet-Induced Weight Loss. J Obes Metab Syndrom. Retrieved from https://www.jomes.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.7570/jomes20028
  7. Swift, D., Johannsen, N., Lavie, C., et al., (2014). The Role of Exercise and Physical Activity in Weight Loss and Maintenance. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0033062013001655?via%3Dihub
  8. Exercising to Relax. Harvard Health Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax
  9. Exercise for Stress and Anxiety. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/managing-anxiety/exercise-stress-and-anxiety

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.

Weight Gain and Antidepressants (Including SSRIs)

More than 1 in 10 Americans take antidepressants to treat depression. For the most part, these medications get the job done. Your health care provider may need to tweak your dosage or switch you to a different kind to find the best fit, but most people notice an improvement in 6 weeks or so.

Like every other medication, antidepressants have side effects that affect some, but not all people. One of the most notable is weight gain.

To be fair, weight gain or loss can be a part of any mood disorder, whether you’re taking an antidepressant or not. Some people lose their appetite and lose weight; others crave carbs, eat more, exercise less, and gain weight.

So what can you expect and what are your options?

Effects on Weight Can Vary

If depression dimmed your appetite, weight gain may actually be a good thing.

“I’ve had some individuals feel so much better on medication that they are willing to work toward ways to lose weight and eat healthier since they are feeling better,” says Uma Naidoo, MD, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist, professional chef, nutritional biologist, and author of This Is Your Brain on Food. “If they had been losing weight due to a loss of appetite, it may be a relief to be eating better.”

If depression revved up your appetite, the extra pounds may put your physical health at risk. But depression is a serious medical condition that needs treatment.

“Ultimately the goal of antidepressant treatment for most is to achieve remission of troubling depressive symptoms and recover to a life that feels more connected and hopeful,” says Kelly N. Gable, PharmD, BCPP, professor and director of Well-being and Resilience at SIUE School of Pharmacy and Psychiatric Pharmacist at Family Care Health Centers in St. Louis, MO. “If antidepressant treatment is part of that journey, we must always ensure that the side effects do not overshadow the benefits along the way. ”

Does Weight Gain Happen With All Antidepressants?

No. And it doesn’t happen to everyone.

“In general, weight gain is a possible side effect of most antidepressants, such as Zoloft, Prozac or Celexa, but each person will react to antidepressants differently,” Naidoo says.

How much weight gain is typical? A quarter of those who take antidepressants gain 10 pounds or more, Naidoo estimates.

Is Weight Gain More Likely With Some Types of Antidepressants Than Others?

Yes. Antidepressants are grouped based on how they interact with certain chemical receptors in your brain. The most often prescribed types are:

  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) include citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), paroxetine mesylate (Pexeva), and sertraline (Zoloft). They increase the levels of serotonin in your brain.
  • Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) change the way the neurotransmitters in your brain talk to your brain cells. Examples include desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), duloxetine (Cymbalta), levomilnacipran (Fetzima), and venlafaxine (Effexor XR).
  • Tricyclic antidepressants increase the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain and include desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor).
  • Atypical antidepressants, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin) and mirtazapine (Remeron), don’t fit into the groups above, but, like the others, they alter your brain chemistry to treat depression.

“SSRIs as a class are all fairly comparable with regard to weight gain risk, with paroxetine [Paxil] being the most likely in this group,” Gable says. “When comparing all antidepressants, bupropion [Wellbutrin] is the least likely to cause weight gain and, in most cases, will be weight neutral or cause weight loss over time. Alternatively, mirtazapine [Remeron] is most widely implicated in weight gain as a side effect.”

What Are the Potential Side Effects of Weight Gain From Antidepressants?

Five pounds or less won’t have a big effect on your overall health. But 10 pounds or more can change your cholesterol and blood pressure, and raise your risk for diabetes.

That said, it’s important to keep your goals in mind. Depression is a serious condition. It’s the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting work, relationships, and even heart health, Gable notes.

“Any weight gain must be weighed against the negative possible outcomes of untreated depression,” Gable says.

If I Gain Weight, How Should I Manage It?

If you notice weight gain, or any side effects from antidepressants that concern you, talk to your health care provider first. It could be the antidepressants, increased appetite as depression lifts, or something else.

“It’s important when taking any medication, and in particular antidepressants, to be closely followed by your mental health provider, as well as a primary care provider,” Naidoo says. “They will have the ability and knowledge to identify risk factors and screen for any conditions for which one may be at risk. ”

If there are other drawbacks to your current medication, you might be better suited to a different antidepressant.

“For some individuals who experience significant weight gain, or find weight gain to be troublesome, switching antidepressants may be an option,” Gable says.

For instance, she says that if you’re taking an SSRI, “switching to fluoxetine [Prozac] could be helpful. Considering a trial of bupropion [Wellbutrin] may also be an option. But this must always be balanced with the positive side effects that may have occurred with the antidepressant in question, as not all antidepressants will have the same positive impact on each individual person. If you find an antidepressant that works well for you, sticking with that treatment and trying some weight loss strategies may be the best path to take.”

Can I Prevent Weight Gain While on Antidepressants?

Yes, the same way you prevent weight gain in general: With healthy food, exercise, sleep, and stress management.

“Optimizing your nutritional intake with plant-predominant whole foods that are nutrient-dense and rich in fiber and adding in a physical activity routine that brings joy can be very helpful in maintaining a healthy weight while taking an antidepressant,” Naidoo says.

Remember to rule out other factors, like thyroid hormone changes, menstrual cycle changes, digestive issues, or drinking more alcohol.

Taking antidepressants can cause weight gain!

news

Taking antidepressants can cause you to gain weight

A new British study shows that you are more likely to gain weight if you take antidepressants.

The discovery surprised mental health experts.

"It's been ten years now that psychiatrists have known about it, written articles about it, and heard about it from their patients all the time," says Dr. Brian Keefe, psychiatrist and chief medical officer at Zucker Hills Hospital in Glen Oaks, New York, who did not participate. in conducting research.

During the experiment, according to scientists, it turned out that the risk of gaining 2-3 extra pounds in patients who took at least one antidepressant is 21 percent higher than in other subjects.

According to the lead author of the study, it was not possible to prove the existence of a direct causal relationship between the use of antidepressants and weight gain - all that can be said is that there is some connection here, and studying it can help explain the accumulation of fat in the human body .

“It is important to emphasize the following: no patient should stop taking medication because of this. If a person experiences any side effects from taking the drug, they should talk to their doctor or pharmacist about it,” says Dr. Rafael Ghafoor, a psychiatrist at King's College London, who led the study.

According to him, the peak of the likelihood of gaining weight falls on the interval from 2-3 to 6 years of continuous use of antidepressants. Gafur says that while scientists do not know why the weight begins to grow precisely from the 2nd year of taking the remedy, and not earlier.

However, during this period of time, many people manage to gain excess weight or even become obese - when taking antidepressants, the risk of such an outcome increases by 29%.

Researchers say that in people who were already overweight before starting antidepressants, these drugs also increase the risk of obesity by 29%.

According to one of the American doctors, treatment with antidepressants always affects the form of his patients in different ways.

"I've seen some people not gain weight, some people put on a lot of extra pounds, and some even lose weight after taking antidepressants," says Dr. Jamie Kane, director of Northwell Health Hospital's Weight Management Center. Syosset Hospital, New York.

In his opinion, those patients who, while taking antidepressants, notice that their weight begins to increase, should try to adjust their diet and start exercising more often.

In addition, antidepressants, according to Kane, have alternatives - psychotherapy and increased physical activity.

Between 2004 and 2014, Gafur and his team recruited approximately 300,000 men and women to conduct the study, 20% of whom were taking antidepressants.

For investigators, a weight gain of at least 5% of previous body weight was significant in any of the study participants.

Research has shown that 11 out of every 100 people who take antidepressants gain weight in a year. Among those who do not take medication, about 8 out of 100 people gain weight.

Those who took antidepressants had an approximately 46% higher risk of gaining more than 5% of their body weight at 2-3 years of medication than those who did not take such drugs.

The study looked at 12 common antidepressants: Remeron, Cymbalta, Zoloft, Effexor, Citalopram, Flucosetine, Escitalopram, Desyrel, Elavil, Paxil, Pamelor, and Protiaden.

As with any medical procedure, Keefe says doctors and patients must weigh the benefits and drawbacks of taking these drugs.

“Untreated depression always causes suffering and stress for the patient and can lead to disability or even suicide,” he says. "Finding the right drug to relieve sadness or anxiety is often a top priority for people with this condition."

The research report was published May 23 in BMJ.

Source: https://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20180524/study-says-antidepressants-may-lead-to-weight-gain#1

do they help, treat or relieve symptoms, are they addictive, do they make you gain weight

Daniil Davydov

medical journalist

Author profile

million people.

At the same time, many myths surround the cures for this disease. Antidepressants are accused of ineffectiveness and severe side effects, but often the problem is not with the drugs themselves, but with their misuse.

We collected 8 myths about antidepressants and found out how close they are to the truth.

Go see a doctor

Our articles are written with love for evidence-based medicine. We refer to authoritative sources and go to doctors with a good reputation for comments. But remember: the responsibility for your health lies with you and your doctor. We don't write prescriptions, we make recommendations. Relying on our point of view or not is up to you.

Myth 1

Antidepressants almost never help

Most likely, this myth arose due to the fact that antidepressants do not work in all patients - so even some doctors and scientists doubt their effectiveness. However, antidepressants cannot be called ineffective, there are just important nuances in the use of these drugs.

Antidepressants are a class of drugs that normalize the level of neurotransmitters, that is, chemicals that help nerve cells in the brain exchange information.

What are Antidepressants - International Drug Database RxLis

What Medications Help Treat Clinical Depression in Adults - International Primer for Physicians UpToDate

How Antidepressants Help Pain - Mayo Clinic Bulletin

All Antidepressants Used to Treat Depression in Adults , work - The Lancet

Who Antidepressants Help and Who Don't - Clinical Guidelines for British PhysiciansPDF, 141 KB

These drugs help people whose problems are due to a deficiency or excess of neurotransmitters. Antidepressants reduce symptoms of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar affective disorder.

There is evidence that antidepressants are effective for chronic pain. Antidepressants increase the amount of neurotransmitters in the spinal cord, which reduces pain signals.

Most specialists have no doubts that antidepressants work. For example, according to the British Royal College of Psychiatry, 50-65% of people with depression who take antidepressants feel better - compared with 25-30% of those who take a placebo.

However, there are situations where the benefit of antidepressants is questionable. For example, antidepressants are good for treating moderate to severe depression, but do not work well for people with mild depression - psychotherapy is more suitable for them.

There are also situations when these medicines were prescribed by mistake. Then antidepressants really won't help.

When antidepressants don't help

Sergey Divisenko

psychotherapist

There are three cases when antidepressants most often cause problems.

The antidepressant didn't work because the doctor prescribed the wrong dose. Minimum doses of these drugs do not help in half of the cases. Then competent doctors increase the doses to those recommended in clinical guidelines, while illiterate ones refuse them.

Sometimes, in order for antidepressants to work, they need to be augmented—i.e., enhanced—with other classes of drugs. For example, second-generation antipsychotics, or normothymics, that is, drugs that stabilize mood. If this is not done, the person taking antidepressants will not feel relief.

The antidepressant didn't work because the doctor misdiagnosed and was trying to treat a condition for which these drugs don't work. To help a person, one had to either use other drugs or use non-drug methods of treatment: for example, psychotherapy, transcranial stimulation, or electroconvulsive therapy.

For example, in bipolar disorder, symptoms can be very similar to depression or anxiety. But with bipolar disorder, antidepressants help only if they are used together with other drugs - mood stabilizers. By themselves, they will either work for a short time, or they will not work, or they can cause a phase inversion - that is, a person will switch from a depressive phase to a manic one.

The patient was not helped by a particular antidepressant, but another might. Antidepressants differ in the principle of action - on this basis they are divided into classes. It happens that one antidepressant does not work, but another from the same or another class helps. If the treatment does not work, you should not stop drug therapy, but continue to look for a drug that will help this particular patient.

Myth 2

Antidepressants only relieve symptoms, but do not eliminate the cause of the disorder

In most cases, this is not a myth. However, in some situations, antidepressants act on the cause of the disorder.

Depression is a heterogeneous disease. Experts identify a different number of subtypes of depression - from 4 to 12. But for our purposes, depression can be divided into two large subtypes.

American Criteria for Depressive Disorders - A Handbook for Psychiatrists DSM-5PDF, 32 MB

What Depression Is - An International Primer for Physicians UpToDate

associated with depression. Disorders that can be attributed to this group are more common.

If these causes affect a person long enough and he does not understand how to deal with them, depression may develop. In this situation, antidepressants act as drugs that alleviate the symptoms of the disease. To influence the cause of the problem, psychotherapy is needed.

Depression provoked by internal causes. Approximately 7% of people with depression have the correct way of thinking, there are no internal conflicts and injuries, and there are no serious illnesses. In this situation, the cause of depression is the lack of neurotransmitters: serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the synapses of brain nerve cells. In such people, the antidepressant acts precisely on the cause of the disease, that is, it corrects the production of serotonin in neuronal synapses.

Myth 3

As soon as it gets better, you can stop taking the antidepressant

This is also not exactly a myth - it would be more correct to call it a belief that is true only for some, but not for all patients with depression.

It is generally advised to continue taking antidepressants for at least six months after remission. If the duration of the disease is short, that is, the person was ill for about two weeks, then for the onset of remission, one or two months usually need to take medication. If the duration of the disease is long, from several months or years, then more time is required for the onset of remission. It’s impossible to say exactly how much: different people with depression have different recovery times.

Some people have recurrent depression. In this case, the period during which you need to take the medicine depends on how many bouts of depression have already been during your life. If more than three, it is recommended to take antidepressants for several years or for life.

Myth 4

Antidepressants cause addiction

Perhaps the roots of this myth are that some people need to take depression medication for life. And at the beginning of treatment, some patients have to increase the dose. But in fact, antidepressants do not cause either true physical or drug dependence.

True physical dependence on a drug is a situation where a person becomes so addicted to a drug that when it is withdrawn, the symptoms of the disease sharply increase. People who are dependent on the drug have to increase the dosage, otherwise the drug stops helping.

What is True Drug Addiction - Bulletin of the National Institute for the Study of Drug AbusePDF, 7 MB

What is Drug Addiction - Bulletin of the American Psychiatric Association

Drug dependence may include physical dependence on a drug. But this addiction has a unique feature. Dependence can also develop in a healthy person who used the drug not to recover, but to enjoy it. But when he tries to quit the drug, he still experiences physical suffering, which is called the withdrawal syndrome. As a result, a person is forced to look for a new dose of a drug.

Although a person who takes antidepressants to treat depression gets better, these drugs by themselves are not pleasurable or addictive. Taking them as drugs is useless.

Of all the drugs that are used in psychiatry, true physical dependence can only be caused by psychostimulants that activate mental activity and anti-anxiety, that is, benzodiazepine tranquilizers. Antidepressants are not included in this list, because there is no need to increase the dosage of correctly selected drugs from this group.

However, some people who stop taking antidepressants early sometimes experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, hand tremors, and some feel “shocks” in the head, similar to the sensations of an electric shock. Depressive symptoms return to patients who need to take the medicine for a very long time.

Antidepressants are sometimes abused, but they cannot cause addiction - Journal of Modern Psychiatry

To avoid unpleasant consequences, stop taking antidepressants only if the attending physician says that they are no longer needed. But even in this situation, it is necessary to cancel antidepressants slowly, that is, gradually reducing the dose. This will help avoid unpleasant side effects.

Myth 5

A person on antidepressants becomes lethargic and loses interest in life

This popular myth is based on real but outdated data.

These mental changes have been observed in patients taking first-generation tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline. It has a sedative, that is, a sedative effect. A person who takes high doses of amitriptyline can indeed become sleepy and indifferent to the outside world.

Amitriptyline - Sedative - Drugs.com International Drug Database

SSRIs do not sedate - Drugs.com International Drug Database

Current second-generation antidepressants that are recommended to start treatment with, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs almost never cause drowsiness and apathy.

On the contrary, in most people with depression they return interest in life.

Sometimes SSRIs still cause drowsiness, but this has not yet been proven

Sergey Divisenko

psychotherapist

It is believed that in rare cases, modern antidepressants can provoke SSRI-induced apathy. But this condition is extremely rare.

And even then psychiatrists still doubt that the cause is precisely in the drugs, and not in the patient's condition. After all, some people during the time of taking antidepressants may develop other adverse mental states in which apathy occurs: for example, schizotypal disorder, which was not noticed before.

Myth 6

Antidepressants have many side effects

This is partly true: both SSRIs and antidepressants from other groups have side effects. But it is quite possible to deal with them.

At the beginning of treatment, when people first start taking antidepressants, many complain of increased anxiety, dry mouth, nausea, and trouble sleeping. But after a few days or weeks after the start of the course of treatment, these symptoms usually disappear. If the side effects do not stop, it makes sense to consult a doctor - he will replace the antidepressant.

How to deal with antidepressant side effects - tips from the Mayo Clinic staff

Here's what to do before the side effects go away:

  1. take your antidepressant with meals, unless the instructions say otherwise, so the antidepressant will be less annoying stomach;
  2. put a bottle of clean water on the desktop - if your mouth is dry, you can take a sip. Unsweetened lollipops and chewing gum also help with dry mouth;
  3. take a walk for at least half an hour before going to bed - this will make it easier to fall asleep. If you can’t sleep at all, you can ask your doctor to pick up sleeping pills.

The second most common side effect is increased anxiety at the beginning of antidepressant use. To avoid this problem, psychiatrists resort to two effective methods:

  1. titrate the dose - that is, start with the minimum dose of the antidepressant, and then gradually increase it;
  2. at the beginning of the reception, sedatives - tranquilizers are prescribed together with the antidepressant.

The third common side effect of SSRIs, especially sertraline, known as Zoloft, and escitalopram, better known as Cipralex, is decreased libido. Approximately 20-30% of people taking antidepressants from this group experience a decrease in sexual desire to one degree or another. At the same time, it is difficult to say how much the drugs are to blame, because approximately 35-50% of people with depression have already experienced sexual dysfunction.

Many people with depression experience sexual dysfunction before starting antidepressants - Harvard Medical School Bulletin

Changing the antidepressant to another usually helps, but many people prefer to wait until the medication can be stopped. In some cases, psychiatrists prescribe antidepressants from other groups in addition to the libido-lowering antidepressant. Sometimes it helps to regain interest in sex.

Myth 7

Weight gain due to antidepressants

This is not a myth, but a half-truth. There are both antidepressants that contribute to weight gain, and those that do not have a similar effect.

The most common complaint about weight gain during treatment is people taking the tetracyclic antidepressant mirtazapine, which actually increases appetite. Another weight gaining antidepressant is paroxetine, better known by the trade name Paxil. But "Zoloft" and "Cipralex" do not contribute to weight gain.

If a patient feels that an antidepressant is causing them to overeat, it may be worthwhile to consult a doctor and discuss a change of medication.

Myth 8

Antidepressants are expensive

True, but not for all patients. Most people can cure depression and not go broke.

Antidepressants from different groups vary greatly in price. There are both very expensive drugs and relatively low-cost drugs among them. At the same time, both of them work equally well. However, there are situations when a cheap antidepressant cannot be dispensed with.

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