{"id":54429,"date":"2022-10-07T10:32:05","date_gmt":"2022-10-07T14:32:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=54429"},"modified":"2026-03-27T15:11:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T19:11:37","slug":"ssri-weight-gain-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/ssri-weight-gain-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"SSRI weight gain statistics"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#can-ssris-cause-weight-gain\">Can SSRIs cause weight gain?<\/a> | <a href=\"#how-common-is-ssri-weight-gain\">How common is SSRI weight gain?<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0| <\/span><a href=\"#zoloft\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoloft<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"#prozac\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prozac<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"#paxil\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paxil<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"#lexapro\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lexapro<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"#celexa\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Celexa<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <a href=\"#other-antidepressants\">Other antidepressants<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <a href=\"#weight-management\">Weight management<\/a> |\u00a0<a href=\"#faqs\">FAQs<\/a> | <a href=\"#research\">Research<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/drug-classes\/ssris\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (SSRIs)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">class of antidepressant drugs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> work by inhibiting the body\u2019s absorption of serotonin, thereby leaving higher levels of serotonin in the brain. The higher levels of serotonin can alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety,\u201d explained Dr. David Culpepper, M.D. and clinical director of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LifeMD<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a direct-to-patient telehealth company.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/products\/databriefs\/db377.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (CDC), 13.2% of adults used <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressant medications<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from 2015 to 2018. Of those who took <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 17.7% were women and 8.4% were men.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"can-ssris-cause-weight-gain\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> cause <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the use of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is popular, the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">side effects<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> aren\u2019t. \u201cOne of the most common reported <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">side effects<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a light to moderate amount of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u201d said Dr. Culpepper. For many <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRI<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> users, this trade-off may be worth it if they can start feeling like their old selves again and decrease <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">depressive symptoms<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few reasons that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may lead to tighter waistbands:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Individuals with depression may gain weight because it is one of the symptoms of depression: eating more and moving around less.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, some people eat less when they\u2019re depressed and have unintended <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight loss<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If they take an <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRI<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and begin feeling better, their appetite may return, thus gaining back the lost weight.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some theorize that SSRIs affect an individual\u2019s metabolism or increase <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cravings<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, especially for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">carbohydrates<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other heavy foods, but these theories have yet to be proved.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a link between <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">obesity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and depression. A systematic review and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">meta-analysis<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 2010 found that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">obesity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> increases the risk of depression, but also that depression can be predictive of individuals developing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">obesity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"how-common-is-ssri-weight-gain\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How common is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRI<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is conflicting evidence in research about <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRI<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> use and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, most studies agree that there is a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5964332\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">risk of long-term <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with SSRI use. Here are some other relevant findings:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within a timeframe of six to 36 months, 55% of patients on <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressant therapy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> gained weight. Out of those who gained weight, 40% gained 7% or more of their initial weight. However, those on <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fluoxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> did not show significant <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25467076\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General Hospital <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychiatry<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2015<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A survey of 700 patients taking <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that 38% of users experienced <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">side effects<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The most common were <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, sexual functioning issues, and drowsiness. Out of the patients dealing with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">side effects<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, only 25% said the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">side effects<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were very or extremely bothersome. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2719451\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychiatry<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2009<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">follow-up<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> study found that \u200b\u200b4.6% of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRI<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> users had gained weight within a four-year time frame. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC2992199\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diabetes Care, 2010<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A systematic review of all <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paroxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was most likely to be associated with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bupropion<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and Nefazodone were the least likely to cause <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/10926053\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Journal of Clinical <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychiatry<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2000<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/sex-on-ssris\/\"><b>Sexual <\/b><b>side effects<\/b><b> of <\/b><b>SSRIs<\/b><\/a><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jxMSrZsGgEI?rel=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"zoloft\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoloft<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> statistics<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/jessicagold\/2020\/06\/06\/the-fda-added-zoloft-to-the-drug-shortage-list-heres-why-you-dont-need-to-worry-yet\/?sh=300a23b2887f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forbes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoloft<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sertraline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the most commonly prescribed <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressant,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with over 38 million prescriptions written for it in 2017 alone. In fact, it\u2019s in the top 20 of all medications prescribed in the United States. It\u2019s approved for adults and children over six years of age. Along with treating depression, it is commonly prescribed for anxiety and other <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mental health<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> disorders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 24-week study showed that patients on <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sertraline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (the generic form of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoloft<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) between the ages of 6 and 17 years had a mean <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of 6.5 lbs, while those in the placebo group had a gain of 2.7 lbs. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jama\/fullarticle\/197174\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">JAMA<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Network, 2003<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sertraline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> users gained an average of 5.9 lbs, compared to the reference group of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fluoxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> users who gained 4.6 lbs in a two-year period. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/5\/4\/48\/htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2016<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Out of 281 pediatric patients, 2% reported negative adverse reactions, including decreased weight. However, weight gain was shown in children over a 34-week period. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/labeling.pfizer.com\/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=517#page=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoloft<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/zoloft-side-effects-first-week\/\"><b>Zoloft<\/b> <b>side effects<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"prozac\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prozac<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> statistics<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prozac <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fluoxetine)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is used to treat depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and bulimia in adults. For children ages 10 to 19 years,\u00a0 it may be prescribed for severe depression.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A study in 1999 found that\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fluoxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> users initially had a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">short-term<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> weight decrease, an average of 0.4 kg, in the first four weeks. Continuation of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fluoxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for 50 weeks showed a weight gain of around 3 kg on average. However, this <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was similar to that of the placebo group. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ajp.psychiatryonline.org\/doi\/10.1176\/ajp.156.8.1170\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Journal of <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychiatry<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 1999<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More recent studies have reported a slight amount of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight loss<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fluoxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> users, around 1.3 kg total. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5393509\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2015<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">clinical trials<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prozac<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was found to lead to slight <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight loss<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in some patients due to decreased appetite. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accessdata.fda.gov\/drugsatfda_docs\/label\/2011\/018936s091lbl.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FDA<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/prozac-side-effects\/\"><b>Prozac<\/b> <b>side effects<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"paxil\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paxil<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> statistics<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAmong the commonly prescribed <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the one that is most associated with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">paroxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paxil<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), though most other <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are fairly close to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">paroxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in terms of that association,\u201d Dr. Culpepper reported.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paxil<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is only approved for adults because it has been associated with suicidal thoughts in adolescents and children. It\u2019s commonly prescribed to treat depression, anxiety disorders, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patients taking <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">paroxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> had a 25.5% increase in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">body weight<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> compared to 6.8% for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fluoxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> users and 4.2% for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sertraline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> users. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychiatrist.com\/read-pdf\/22355\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Journal of Clinical <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychiatry<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2000<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A double-blind study lasting 24 weeks found that there was a higher <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">risk of weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for patients taking <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">paroxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> compared to those taking <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fluoxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/11106136\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2000<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A more recent study found that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">paroxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> users had an average weight increase of 3.6%, compared to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sertraline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> users with a 1% weight increase and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fluoxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> users who lost 0.2% of their weight. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5044489\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 2016<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/paxil-side-effects\/\"><b>Paxil<\/b> <b>side effects<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"lexapro\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lexapro<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> statistics<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lexapro (escitalopram)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is approved for adults and children 12 years of age and older. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Escitalopram<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is FDA-approved to treat <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">major depressive disorder<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and general anxiety disorder. Compared to other SSRIs, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is not as common with Lexapro.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After six months of taking <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">escitalopram<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, participants gained an average of 0.34 kg, increasing their body mass index (BMI) by 0.12. However, 7.6% of participants lost 2 kg or greater. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/ijnp\/article\/14\/3\/367\/905947\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2011<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In FDA <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">clinical trials,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> those taking <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lexapro<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> had no significant <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight changes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> compared to those on the placebo. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accessdata.fda.gov\/drugsatfda_docs\/label\/2017\/021323s047lbl.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FDA, 2017<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/lexapro-side-effects\/\"><b>Lexapro<\/b> <b>side effects<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"celexa\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Celexa<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> statistics<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Celexa<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (citalopram) is an <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRI<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that is approved to treat <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">major depression<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in adults. It has not been approved for use in children. There is limited research about the specific effects of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">citalopram<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at this time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One study used <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">citalopram<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a reference compared to other <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. There were three <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that showed less <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> than <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">citalopram<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nortriptyline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> hydrochloride, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">amitriptyline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bupropion<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamapsychiatry\/fullarticle\/1878922\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">JAMA<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 2014<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/celexa-side-effects\/\"><b>Celexa<\/b> <b>side effects<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"other-antidepressants\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> cause the most <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this time, there has only been <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5964332\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">one study comparing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in all <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">types of antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This was a 10-year study using data from <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, one of the largest electronic <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthcare<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> record systems. With this data, they were able to look at <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressant use<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and an individual\u2019s <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight changes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> over time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\" singlecare-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>\n<h3><span class=\"title\">Antidepressants with the highest risk of weight gain<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr class=\"header-row\">\n<td><b>Drug Name<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Drug Class<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Risk of weight gain<\/b><b> compared to the placebo group (defined as 5% increase of <\/b><b>body weight<\/b><b> in one year)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/remeron\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remeron<\/span><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/mirtazapine\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mirtazapine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tetracyclic a<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ntidepressant<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (TeCA)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.50 times higher<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/celexa\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Celexa <\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/citalopram-hydrobromide\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">citalopram<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRI<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.26 times higher<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/lexapro\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lexapro <\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/escitalopram-oxalate\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">escitalopram<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRI<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.23 times higher<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/cymbalta\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cymbalta <\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/duloxetine-hcl\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">duloxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Serotonin and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">norepinephrine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reuptake inhibitor (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SNRI<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.23 times higher<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/prozac\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prozac <\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/fluoxetine-hcl\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fluoxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRI<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.21 times higher<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/zoloft\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoloft <\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/sertraline-hcl\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sertraline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRI<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.20 times higher<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Desyrel <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/trazodone-hcl\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trazodone<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SARI<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.19 times higher<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Elavil <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/amitriptyline-hcl\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">amitriptyline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tricyclic antidepressant<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TCA<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.17 times higher<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/effexor-xr\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Effexor <\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/venlafaxine-hcl-er\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">venlafaxine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SNRI<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.15 times higher<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/pamelor\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pamelor <\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/nortriptyline-hcl\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nortriptyline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TCA<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.10 times higher<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/best-antidepressant\/\"><b>What\u2019s the best <\/b><b>antidepressant<\/b><b> for me?<\/b><\/a><b> | <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ssris-vs-snris\/\"><b>SSRIs<\/b><b> vs. <\/b><b>SNRIs<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"weight-management\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to manage <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressant<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt&#8217;s important to note that fatigue, anxiety, and depression can also lead to overeating, and even binge-eating, in some instances &#8211; often worse at night. Following a healthy diet is often helpful, as well as limiting late-night eating,\u201d recommended <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.doctoralex.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alex Dimitriu<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, MD, double board-certified in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychiatry<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo Park <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychiatry<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &amp; Sleep Medicine and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/brainfoodmd.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BrainfoodMD<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eating a healthy diet can help combat the pesky <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">side effect<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but research also indicates that specific healthy diets can improve depression and anxiety. To learn more, check out <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/depression-diet\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the depression fighting diet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/anti-anxiety-diet\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the anti-anxiety diet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to healthy eating, Dr. Dimitriu also said two other factors can help manage weight while taking <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: exercise and sleep. While exercise burns calories and aids in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight loss<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, adequate sleep is also important. Dr. Dimitriu explained, \u201cSleep-deprived people are more impulsive (harder to resist the ice cream, or to stop eating when you&#8217;ve had too much), and their bodies also tend to seek out high energy, carb-heavy foods.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re eating a healthy diet and getting <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">physical activity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> each day, but your weight won\u2019t budge, make an appointment with your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prescribing<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthcare<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> provider. They may be able to switch the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">type of antidepressant<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you\u2019re taking to something like <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wellbutrin<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bupropion<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). According to Dr. Dimitriu, \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bupropion<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, also an <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressant,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but one which works on dopamine and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">norepinephrine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> instead of serotonin, is associated with the least <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and even possible <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight loss<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"faqs\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRI<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> questions and answers<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why do people gain weight on <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The reason that people gain weight as a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">side effect of antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is still unclear. It\u2019s theorized that people become happier and eat more or that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> change body chemistry in a way that increases appetite.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> slow metabolism?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is possible <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> slow metabolism, but most research indicates that this is not the case. It\u2019s more likely that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> increase appetite rather than slow down metabolism.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does serotonin slow metabolism?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Serotonin does not slow metabolism. In fact, serotonin aids in reducing <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cravings<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and decreasing appetite.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will not cause <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the research by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5393509\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prozac<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fluoxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) leads to a slight amount of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight loss<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What causes more <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prozac<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoloft<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoloft<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is associated with more <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight gain<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when compared with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prozac<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, it\u2019s not much of a difference. One two-year study by the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/5\/4\/48\/htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Journal of Clinical Medicine<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sertraline<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (generic <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoloft<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) users gained an average of 5.9 lbs compared to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fluoxetine<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (generic <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prozac<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) users who gained 4.6 lbs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do you lose weight on <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best way to lose weight on <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SSRIs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, as well as getting adequate sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will I lose weight after stopping <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is possible to lose weight once stopping <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but you\u2019ll need to eat a healthy diet and exercise to have the best chance at <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">weight loss<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Never stop <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">antidepressants<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> before talking with your <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prescribing<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> doctor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can SSRIs cause weight gain? | How common is SSRI weight gain?\u00a0| Zoloft | Prozac | Paxil | Lexapro | Celexa | Other antidepressants | Weight management |\u00a0FAQs | Research Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressant drugs. \u201cSSRIs work by inhibiting the body\u2019s absorption of serotonin, thereby leaving higher levels of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":133,"featured_media":54458,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4114],"tags":[451,16413],"coauthors":[15090],"class_list":["post-54429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-depression","tag-singlecare-stats","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>SSRI weight gain statistics 2026 | SingleCare<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"55% of patients on SSRIs gained weight during the first 3 years of treatment. Celexa has the highest probability of weight gain according to SSRI weight gain stats.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/ssri-weight-gain-statistics\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SSRI weight gain statistics\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"55% of patients on SSRIs gained weight during the first 3 years of treatment. 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