Antidepressants That Cause Weight Loss

As we all know, antidepressants are medicines that are used to reduce the symptoms of depression. People suffering from severe anxiety and panic attacks are often asked to take antidepressants. But did you know that antidepressants can also be used to lose weight? These days, physicians have begun recommending the use of antidepressants for weight loss. The amount of weight loss will differ from person to person, as it depends on how the body responds to the medicine.

Antidepressants and Weight Loss
There are plenty of antidepressants available, however, not all are useful for weight loss. Some are only formulated for mood disorders, while others are developed to treat chronic pain. So it becomes essential to choose the right one if your goal is to reduce weight. Antidepressants that decrease fat faster by burning more calories, are listed below:

• Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
• Reboxetine (Edronax)

Bupropion increases your energy levels, thereby encouraging you to spend more time on workouts. This in turns helps to burn extra calories at a higher rate. Reports suggest that bupropion can aid in weight loss when taken in the right amount. Bupropion is also used to treat obese patients. This antidepressant has to be consumed in the prescribed dosage to avoid any potential side effects. If the dose exceeds more than 600mg per day, it can cause severe health complications.

A faster metabolic rate often causes rapid weight loss. Metabolism of our body plays a crucial role in losing weight. Raising metabolism increases the body's ability to burn calories and fat faster. The antidepressants listed below speed up metabolism, which is beneficial to lose weight.

• Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
• Selegiline (Emsam)
• Pramipexole (Mirapex)

However, in some patients weight loss from bupropion has been attributed to its side effects. With bupropion the desire to eat food diminishes. In other words, it suppresses appetite, which contributes to weight loss. Keep in mind that appetite loss is one of the many side effects of bupropion. So, in case apart from appetite loss, the patient suffers from vomiting, sleeping problems, restlessness and panic attacks , one must immediately contact the doctor.

Many patients worry that taking antidepressants may cause weight gain. Their fear is valid as quite a few antidepressants increase appetite, which eventually leads to weight gain. But certain antidepressants do not cause any side effects, when it comes to change in weight. SSRIs belong to a class of antidepressants that are effective in elevating mood but they do not produce any side effects such as weight gain or weight loss. They are listed below:

• Zoloft (sertraline)
• Lexapro (escitalopram)
• Luvox (fluvoxamine)
• Celexa (citalopram)

SNRIs are another type of antidepressants that try to correct chemical imbalance in the brain in order to boost mood. Moreover, side effects such as increase in weight or weight loss have not been associated with intake of these antidepressants. SNRIs that have no impact on weight are given below:

• Cymbalta
• Effexor

Antidepressants for Weight Loss: Dangers
Antidepressants are often regarded as an unconventional form of treatment for weight loss. No wonder, these drugs have not received approval from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for such purposes due to their effects. Although, antidepressants mentioned above are effective, you should not completely depend on these drugs for weight loss. Popping these pills without working on a diet and having a regular exercise regime will not give the desired result. A recent study revealed that the drug bupropion was useful for the treatment of obesity only when the patients continued with their prescribed diet and exercise. Taking these drugs but leading a sedentary lifestyle won't bring the desired change in weight.

A point to note that antidepressants are basically helpful in the treatment of mood disorders, so using them as a weight loss tool does not sound a good proposition. Prolong use of these antidepressants can alter the chemical equilibrium of the brain, a factor responsible for triggering suicidal behavior. Also, expecting significant reduction in weight from these antidepressants is meaningless. Weight loss linked to usage of antidepressants is small. Hence, using these medications and forgetting exercise and diet is the least effective strategy to combat overweight problems.

Remember, these medicines that promote weight loss should be consumed under the supervision of a qualified doctor. The patient's health should also be monitored carefully for any possible side effects. Remember, these drugs might help to lose weight only when used in combination with diet and exercise.