Do Antidepressants Cause Weight Loss ?

Posted on Sat, 28 Apr 2012

Question: Hi, may I answer your health queries right now ? Please type your query here...
I have been steadily gaining weight and getting severely itchy(I can only guess) from my antidepressant. Will the weight come off and the itching stop if I taper off and eventually stop taking it?

Answered by Dr. Jasvinder Singh (34 minutes later)

Hi XXXXXXX

Thanks for your query. From your history and symptoms of weight gain and itchy skin, there are two possibilities.

1) It can be due to uncontrolled hypothyroidism which can cause weight gain as well as dry itchy skin. You were diagnosed with hypothyroidism a few years back. May I know your recent TSH value?

If TSH test is not a recent one, then you need to get your TSH levels assessed. Normal range of the TSH levels should be between 0.4-4 mIU/L. But when treating hypothyroidism, we intend to keep it between 1-2. If the TSH levels are high then the dose of levothyroxine needs to be increased.

2) The second possibility is definitely a side effect of the antidepressant 'Wellbutrin' - which can cause changes in appetite, weight gain and dry, itchy skin as its side effect.

You cannot stop taking this drug altogether on your own as it has withdrawal symptoms. Either you need to be prescribed some other antidepressant or the dose tapered off. You need to contact your psychiatrist who can guide you with this.

While you plan to get these done, I suggest you the following measures for your itchy skin:

a) You can apply calamine lotion which has a soothing effect on the skin.
b) Wear cotton clothes and use mild soaps and detergents.
c) Try not to scratch the skin as it may invite secondary infections.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions then please do post us. I am available to answer them as well.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Jasvinder Singh (1 hour later)

Hi Dr. XXXXXXX

Thanks for the answer. However, my last test for my thyroid was only about 2 months ago and everything was normal according to my general med doc. They refilled my current dosage of the synthroid.

I do realize that I cannot just stop taking the antidepressant but I did want to know that if and when I am off of it, will the weight come off in lieu of discontinuing the medication or is this something that I will have to do extra cardio/dieting to get rid of regardless of meds or no meds. I haven't had any changes in my diet or exercise regiment since starting on antidepressants. Just wondering if the absence of the med will have the opposite effect (weight loss in lieu of weight gained only because of medication) once it's out of my system without additional exercise and a tighter diet.

Thanks,
Melissa

Answered by Dr. Jasvinder Singh (41 minutes later)

Hi,

Thanks for your query. Reducing the dose or stopping the antidepressant will likely ensure a minimal or no gain in body weight. However you will need to do some regular exercise and have a control on diet by not taking excess carbohydrates and fatty foods as this will ensure that you lose the weight that you have already gained.

Stopping and tapering of the antidepressant will not help on losing weight that you have already gained.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions then please do post us. Wishing you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar