Ann Intern Med

How do common antidepressants stack up in terms of weight gain liability?

July 3, 2024

Small variations in weight change were observed between 8 first-line antidepressants, with bupropion consistently showing the least amount of weight gain, although medication adherence over the follow-up period was low.

• Compared with sertraline, estimated 6-month weight gain was higher for escitalopram, paroxetine, duloxetine, venlafaxine, and citalopram; similar for fluoxetine; and lower for bupropion.
• Escitalopram, paroxetine, and duloxetine were associated with 10% to 15% increased risk for gaining at least 5% of baseline weight, while bupropion was associated with a 15% lower risk. Over 6 months, medication adherence ranged from 28% (for duloxetine) to 41% (for bupropion).
• Authors recommend considering potential weight gain when initiating antidepressants.

Source:

Petimar J, et al. (2024, July 2). Ann Intern Med. Medication-Induced Weight Change Across Common Antidepressant Treatments: A Target Trial Emulation Study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38950403/