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Part I: Antidepressants, Anticonvulsants,
Mood Stabilizers and Antipsychotics
Does this sound like you? You started taking antidepressants
with the hope they would give you a boost, but instead, you
feel like they're creating another problem. You've
gained 20 pounds since you started them, and it looks like
the pounds are continuing to pile on. Or maybe you don't
even realize it's the medicine that's causing
the weight gain.
Either way, being informed makes for your best health care.
While studies show a growing number of commonly prescribed
medications – for conditions ranging from depression
to high blood pressure -- may cause weight gain, there may
be alternatives that don't have that effect, or may
not cause as much weight gain as others.
The following chart lists the effect of antidepressants,
anticonvulsants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotics on weight.
Part II will review other medications and suggest weight-neutral
alternatives for popularly-prescribed medications that you
may discuss with your healthcare practitioner. If medication
alternatives aren't available, you may be able to discuss
eating and exercise modifications with your nutritionist to
help minimize weight gain.
| |
May affect
weight by decreasing metabolic rate; can also affect appetite. |
|
| Selective
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) |
Paxil®
Zoloft®
Prozac®
Celexa® |
Of popular
SSRIs, Paxil has the most significant impact on weight
gain. |
SSRIs cause
less weight gain than tricyclic antidepressants |
| Tricyclic
Antidepressants (TCAs) |
Elavil®
Janimine®
Tofranil®
Asendin®
Anafranil® Norepramine®
Pamelor® |
Elavil,
Janimine and Tofranil appear to cause greatest weight
gain among TCAs. |
TCAs appear
to slow metabolism and may promote carbohydrate cravings.
|
| Monoamine
Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) |
Non-selective:
Marplan®
Nardil®
Parnate® |
Non-selective
MAOIs are associated with weight gain. |
|
Selective:
Manerix®
Humoryl® |
Selective
MAOIs appear to be weight neutral. |
|
| Other
Antidepressants |
Desyrel®
Effexor®
Remeron® |
Remeron
associated with significant weight gain. |
|
Wellbutrin®
Serzone® |
Wellbutrin
does not appear to be associated with weight gain. No
data on Serzone re weight impact. |
Tegretol®
Depakote®
Neurontin® |
May cause
hyperinsulinemia (high blood levels of insulin), which
may increase appetite and testosterone levels and may
lead to PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), which is associated
with obesity. |
|
| Lamictal® |
Lamictal
appears not to be associated with weight gain. |
|
Cibalith®
Duralith®
(both are brands
of lithium) |
Associated
with significant weight gain |
Studies
show as many as two-thirds of patients taking lithium
gain weight. |
Newer:
Clozaril®
Zyprexa®
Risperdal® |
Newer antipsychotics
are associated with significant weight gain; of these,
Clozaril and Zyprexa cause the most gain. |
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Older:
Haldol®
Peridol®
Mellaril®
Novo-Ridazine®
Apo-Thioridazine® |
Mellaril,
Novo-Ridazine and Apo-Thioridazine appear to have the
greatest potential for weight gain among older antipsychotics. |
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Next month's FitBriefing will review the effect
of anti-hypertensives, steroid hormones, diabetes medications
and miscellaneous agents, including medications for treatment
of migraine and epilepsy.
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©2007
Green Mountain at Fox Run, Ludlow, Vermont. This information
is the property of Green Mountain at Fox Run. Permission
to use single copies for personal, noncommercial use is
authorized. For all other purposes, please see details.
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