Millions warned over unwanted side effect of taking antidepressants

Our weight can vary throughout our lives due to a variety of factors. Weight gain can be triggered by numerous elements, not all of which are within our control.

Among other things, changes in diet, decreased physical activity, illness, injury, ageing and mental health issues can contribute. And, if the findings of a recent study are anything to go by, so does taking certain medications.

Research published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine revealed that individuals taking certain antidepressants are at risk of weight gain. The study, which involved 183,118 participants, found that those taking escitalopram (Lexapro/Cipralex), paroxetine (Paxil/Seroxat) and duloxetine (Cymbalta) were most likely to experience weight gain.

A team from Harvard Medical School estimated that individuals who take escitalopram, paroxetine and duloxetine each had an associated 10 to 15 per cent higher risk of gaining five per cent or more of their baseline weight. Escitalopram, paroxetine and duloxetine are all prescribed for depression and anxiety, and are available on the NHS.

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However, escitalopram can also be used to help manage obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic attacks and bipolar disorder. Paroxetine is also prescribed for OCD, panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

In 2023-24, roughly 89 million antidepressants were prescribed to about 8.7 million identified patients in England alone, according to the NHS.

Over a meticulous two-year study delving into the effects of eight prevalent antidepressants, researchers made a groundbreaking discovery. Spanning an age range of 20 to 80 with a median age of 48, the study's participants had no prior history of antidepressant usage nor a recent diagnosis of cancer, pregnancy or weight-loss surgery.

The researchers meticulously monitored weight at the outset, after six months, one year and two years post-commencement of antidepressant medication. Their principal aim was to measure the weight fluctuation after six months on antidepressants, using sertraline, a popular prescription, as a benchmark.

The study revealed that sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram (Celexa) and bupropion (Wellbutrin) were among the most favoured by participants, reports Gloucestershire Live.

After half a year, bupropion showed reduced weight gain when juxtaposed with sertraline. Conversely, escitalopram, duloxetine, paroxetine, venlafaxine (Effexor) and citalopram were linked to increased weight gain. Fluoxetine (Prozac) mirrored sertraline in terms of this side effect.

Wrapping up their findings, the study authors said: "Small differences in mean weight change were found between eight first-line antidepressants, with bupropion consistently showing the least weight gain, although adherence to medications over follow-up was low. Clinicians could consider potential weight gain when initiating antidepressant treatment."