According to studies conducted
by Zoloft’s parent company
Pfizer, Zoloft does not cause
weight gain. However some independent
clinical studies do show that
Zoloft is connected with people
gaining weight.
Zoloft is basically an antidepressant
used in persons older than age
13 to treat depression, obsessive
compulsive disorder, panic attacks,
post traumatic stress disorder,
and social anxiety disorder.
It is also used to ease the
symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric
disorder. Some doctors also
prescribe this drug to treat
headaches and sexual problems
as well. Recently Zoloft has
also been found effective in
alleviating symptoms of anxiety,
insomnia, and psychomotor agitation
that sometimes accompany depression.
A SSRI (selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor) drug, Zoloft
relieves symptoms of depression
without many of the side effects
that people experienced with
older tricyclic antidepressants
and MAO inhibitors. It is very
important to note here that
that Zoloft should not be taken
in combination with any antidepressants
especially MAO (MonoAmine Oxidase)
Inhibitors such as Nardil, Parnate,
or Marplan, as serious drug
interactions can occur, which
can in some cases even be fatal.
Zoloft belongs to the SSRI
class of antidepressant drugs.
At first, it was thought that
SSRI drugs like Zoloft were
associated with weight loss
and reduced appetite. For a
short period these drugs were
even marketed as anti-obesity
drugs. However it is now known
that in the long term, the use
of SSRIs is associated with
people gaining weight.
The exact reason why Zoloft
and other SSRIs contribute to
weight gain is not exactly known.
But it is believed that these
drugs which increase serotonin
output decrease hunger but only
for a short while. Patients
using SSRIs often report symptoms
of hypoglycemia which include;
weakness, dizziness, frequent
hunger and headaches when they
do not eat. Zoloft like all
antidepressants slow down the
body’s metabolism and
hinder specific enzymes in the
liver that allow the metabolism
to function correctly. In this
way Zoloft increases a persons
appetite and carbohydrate cravings.
Additionally it has been found
that drugs like Zoloft also
cause hormonal changes, which
further add to a person gaining
weight.
The five most common SSRIs
currently prescribed are:
- Citalopram (Celexa®)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac®)
- Fluvoxamine (Luvox®)
- Paroxetine (Paxil®) &
- Sertraline (Zoloft®)
The antidepressant Paxil has
been found to have the most
significant impact on weight
gain of all of the SSRI drugs.
Studies show that people using
Paxil experience not only weight
gain but an increase in breast
size and serum prolactin as
well. The average weight gain
of other SSRIs like Zoloft,
Prozac and Celexa are 15-20
pounds over a period of time.
In the case of Zoloft, the
weight gain is not about the
amount of food eaten, but is
about the body’s ability
to metabolize properly. It can
be seen that even if you cut
your food intake, eliminate
fatty foods and exercise on
a regular basis, you will still
gain weight while on Zoloft.
Basically this shows that Zoloft
does indeed contribute to weight
gain by making the body’s
metabolism process sluggish
and slow. |
