- Antidepressants are a common group of medications that help treat several mental health conditions.
- Doctors need to consider potential side effects when prescribing specific antidepressants.
- A recent study highlighted the weight changes associated with several antidepressants.
- Buproprion was associated with the least amount of weight gain, while antidepressants like escitalopram and paroxetine were associated with the most weight gain.
Every medication carries potential risks and sometimes unpleasant side effects. Doctors must consider possible side effects and how these effects may impact outcomes like medication adherence.
Antidepressants are a group of medications commonly used to treat chronic mental health conditions, particularly major depression. Reports have suggested that certain antidepressants can sometimes have weight gain as a side effect.
A study recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine examined weight changes related to several common antidepressants.
Through their research, which included 183,118 participants, the study authors found that people taking bupropion (brand name Wellbutrin) were the least likely to experience weight gain, while participants taking escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex), paroxetine (Paxil, Seroxat), and duloxetine (Cymbalta) were the most likely to experience weight gain.
The results highlight the importance of discussing antidepressant side effects and medication adherence with individuals taking these medications.
This study was an observational cohort study that took place over 2 years. Researchers included 183,118 participants in their analysis and looked at the use of eight different common antidepressants.
They used electronic health record prescription data to help collect information. They specifically focused on people who were new users of antidepressant medications and only included participants who were prescribed one antidepressant medication.
The average age of participants was 48. Researchers included…
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