Antidepressants and Weight Gain

We know that antidepressants in general cause weight gain. However, we still don’t have scientifically backed answers for which antidepressants are more or less likely to cause weight gain and how much weight gain can occur. Although there isn’t enough data to answer these questions fully, some recent research provides insights about antidepressants and weight gain.

Recent Research Findings

Researchers, as published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in June 2024, found that at the 6-month mark:

• Bupropion was linked to less weight gain compared to sertraline.
• Escitalopram, duloxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine (Effexor), and citalopram were associated with more weight gain.
• Fluoxetine (Prozac) had similar weight gain effects as sertraline.

They also found that:

• Escitalopram, paroxetine, and duloxetine had a 10-15% higher risk of causing a 5% or more increase in baseline weight.
• Bupropion had a 15% reduced risk of this weight gain.

Long-term Effects

At the 1-year and 2-year marks, the research indicated:

• Bupropion continued to show lower weight gain compared to sertraline.
• Escitalopram was still linked to weight gain after 1 year but not after 2 years.
• After 2 years, duloxetine and venlafaxine were associated with less weight gain than sertraline.