Zoloft is the brand name of sertraline, an antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorders. It is in a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). They work by controlling levels of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) in the brain.
In addition to treating major depressive disorders, Zoloft is given to those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), premenstrual dysphoric, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), along with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and panic disorder.
Like many other antidepressants, the use of Zoloft has been associated with weight gain. Weight gain caused by Zoloft may be due to fluid retention, lack of exercise, increased appetite, or other factors. It may be the medications trigger changes in metabolism that cause the body to use up calories less efficiently, or that they affect the appetite, leading a person to overeat.
Another hypothesis is that weight gained while on an SSRI may be partially due to the fact that some people don't feel like eating when they're depressed and so they lose weight. Once they start feeling better while on medication, their appetite comes back, they eat more and eventually return to their regular weight. Research suggests that the amount of weight typically gained while on an SSRI is modest.
Experts recommend physical activity and eating fewer high-calorie foods to manage weight gain while taking Zoloft or other antidepressants.
Zoloft carries a black-box warning because of an increased risk of suicide among people taking the drug. Studies have shown that antidepressants like Zoloft can increase suicidal thoughts and behaviours in children, adolescents and younger adults who already have major depressive disorders or other psychiatric problems. However, in those older than 24, there was no increased risk and there was actually a reduction in risk among adults 65 and older. Your doctor will decide if the risks are acceptable and will monitor you closely.
It is dangerous to just stop taking an antidepressant: With many of them, going cold turkey can lead to an array of unpleasant withdrawal side effects known collectively as discontinuation syndrome.
Here are other, less drastic, measures that you can take to lose weight while on an antidepressant.
First, eat less.
This is a tried-and-true approach to losing weight, at least for people who aren't grappling with a medical condition that gets in the way of that. A dietitian or nutritionist can help a person determine the ideal weight and how to get there. It may be as simple as giving up ice cream or preparing one’s own food. A useful tip is to eliminate or cut way back on low-fibre, simple carbohydrates such as bread and pastries made with only white flour, sugary desserts, candies, sodas, and soft drinks.
Second, exercise more.
Adding aerobic activities like fast walking, running, cycling and swimming into a person’s daily routine, especially while also cutting calories, will help a person lose weight.
Third, switch meds.
Although most antidepressants potentially cause weight gain, this is more of a risk with some than others. Research suggests that paroxetine is linked to more weight gain than sertraline or fluoxetine. It may be worthwhile to try Bupropion, a non-SSRI antidepressant, that is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI). It works differently in the brain than SSRIs do. Some people even lose a little weight while taking Wellbutrin.
Fourth, ensure that one gets 6 to 8 hours of sleep at night.
Good sleep habits can help regulate weight.
