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Which Antidepressant Is Most Likely to Cause Weight Gain?

By Nancy Schimelpfening, About.com

Updated August 22, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Question: Which Antidepressant Is Most Likely to Cause Weight Gain?
Answer: The antidepressants most likely to cause weight gain are the tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and Remeron (mirtazepine). Among the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which as a class are least likely to cause weight gain, Paxil (paroxetine) is the drug most associated with weight gain. Weight loss or weight gain may occasionally occur with Wellbutrin (bupropion), however, in most cases it is weight neutral.

Sources:

Moore, David P. and James W. Jefferson. Handbook of Medical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Mosby, 2004.

Rakel, Robert E. Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier, 2007.

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