Written by Paris Kazemian
While medications for mental health are important for feeling better, they can sometimes lead to undesired side effects, such as weight gain. This article will discuss why these medications might cause you to gain weight and suggest ways to minimize this unwanted outcome. It’s common for psychiatric drugs to have this side effect, but understanding why it happens and making some adjustments can help you manage it better. So, let’s explore the reasons behind the weight gain linked to these medications and discover practical steps to reduce its impact on your well-being
Many individuals who experience weight gain due to mental health medications often modify their exercise routines and monitor their calorie intake. Without calorie tracking, it becomes challenging to determine if the weight gain is directly linked to the medication. Changes in weight, whether gain or loss, among those taking mental health medications, may be influenced by physical activity levels and calorie consumption. Adjusting these elements can help mitigate weight gain.
What are the different types of psychiatric medications?
There are five main kinds of medicines for mental health:
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotics
- Anti-anxiety meds (which can also help with sleep)
- Mood stabilizers
- Stimulants
Stimulants usually don’t make you gain weight; in fact, some can make you eat less and lose weight. We won’t talk about stimulants in this post.
Why do antidepressants make you gain or lose weight?
These medications boost serotonin levels in the brain, which affects mood and appetite. Short-term use can reduce impulsive eating and make you feel full, leading to weight loss. However, using them for a long time (more than a year) can lower serotonin receptors, making you crave carb-rich foods like bread and sweets, causing weight gain. Antidepressants like amitriptyline, citalopram, mirtazapine, nortriptyline, trimipramine, paroxetine, and phenelzine have a higher risk of causing weight gain.
Why do antipsychotic drugs make obesity-related diseases worse?
Antipsychotic medications, which are widely utilized and effective in treating various mental health disorders, can be categorized into two types:
- Typical
- Atypical
Typical antipsychotics primarily block dopamine receptors, while atypical ones exert a stronger influence on serotonin receptors.
Despite their distinctions, both types of antipsychotics share common side effects such as dry mouth, drowsiness, and weight gain. However, typical antipsychotics pose a higher risk of causing involuntary body movements compared to atypical ones, which generally result in fewer movement issues. In addition to weight gain, antipsychotics can disrupt glucose metabolism, elevate cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and induce high blood pressure, potentially leading to metabolic syndrome and exacerbating obesity-related conditions.
It’s crucial to recognize that both classes of medications can also lead to more severe side effects, including alterations in heart rhythm and an increased likelihood of experiencing suicidal ideation.
Among antipsychotics, olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine are the ones most likely to cause weight gain.
Anti-anxiety medications can also influence changes in weight.
Traditional anti-anxiety drugs like Benzodiazepines don’t seem to have a direct link to weight gain. However, it’s worth noting that certain antidepressants, which are often prescribed for anxiety as well, can potentially result in gaining weight, as mentioned before.
Many different medications are available to help manage anxiety disorders. Among them, tricyclic antidepressants and atypical antidepressants are known to sometimes cause weight gain. On the other hand, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are often associated with weight loss when used to treat anxiety.
How about sleep medications?
Not all sleep medications have the same effect on weight. Diphenhydramine, found in Benadryl and many over-the-counter sleep aids, has been associated with weight gain. This is because it can make people feel more hungry and tired, leading to reduced physical activity. On the other hand, sleep aids like zolpidem (Ambien) or eszopiclone (Lunesta) have not been connected to weight gain.
Trazodone, a medicine given for depression and trouble sleeping, affects appetite by lowering extra serotonin in some places and raising serotonin levels in others, as mentioned before.
Mood stabilizers and gain weight
Mood stabilizers are a crucial component in the treatment regimen for bipolar disorder, a mental health condition characterized by alternating periods of mania or hypomania and depression. There are several medications available for treating bipolar disorder, but some of them may boost your appetite or alter your metabolism, potentially resulting in weight gain. These medications help to regulate mood swings and prevent episodes of extreme highs and lows.
Mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorder include lithium (Lithobid), valproic acid (Depakene), divalproex sodium (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro, others) and lamotrigine (Lamictal). All of these medications are known to increase the risk of weight gain except lamotrigine.
Effective strategies to minimize weight gain
For those on mental health medications, there are ways to avoid gaining too much weight. It’s crucial to improve your daily habits. This means eating good, natural foods and not too many processed or sugary ones. Stay active, manage stress, and make sure you get enough sleep. Exercise is especially great because it helps both your mental health and prevents weight gain. If you’re struggling with cravings, working with a psychologist on thinking and behavior techniques can be helpful.
Remember, nearly all medications come with potential side effects. It’s crucial to make sure that the benefits of taking any medication are greater than the risks. Talking to your main healthcare provider, psychiatrist, or a specialist in obesity medicine can help you figure out which options are safest and most effective for you.
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There was a period when I was very rigid about my diet and workout routine. I meticulously counted every calorie and never missed a gym session. While this discipline did keep me fit, it also made me anxious and added pressure to my already busy life. I was constantly worrying about maintaining my routine, which ironically made me feel less healthy mentally.
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