Psychiatric drugs are prominent in the medical field for working with mental health patients, however there are certain side effects that can impact the physical and psychological well-being of its recipients.
Antipsychotics are an effective treatment for various mental health symptoms, and they are often used in conjunction with antidepressants to address depression that hasn’t otherwise been successfully treated. However, this class of drugs appears to disrupt chemical signals that control appetite, which in turn leads to weight gain in a short time frame. Studies have shown that Zyprexa and Clozaril pose the greatest risk for weight gain, with an average gain of eight pounds in ten weeks. Conversely, Abilify and Geodon are known to have the lowest risk of weight gain within the class of antipsychotics. Given that there are broader positive effects of antipsychotic medications, the utilization of other drugs can assist with reducing weight gain caused by antipsychotic medications. Behavioral interventions including personalized diet and exercise regimes have also been effective in helping individuals maintain or lose weight while taking antipsychotic drugs.
Antidepressants have been studied to show less significant weight gain compared to antipsychotics, however such outcomes vary depending on the drug brand. An analysis of several brands within the class of antidepressants showed that Remeron and Paxil cause the greatest weight gain, whereas Wellbutrin actually demonstrated a link to slight weight loss. It is important to note that depression and obesity are cross-linked, so depression leads to an increased risk of becoming obese, and obese people are more inclined to experience depression. Richard Shelton, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, indicates that, “it is easy to misattribute the weight gain to a medicine when, in fact, it may largely be related to the illness being treated.” Therefore, all relevant factors should be considered when determining how such medications impact an individual.
Stimulants are typically used for attention-deficit disorders, and this drug class is commonly affiliated with weight loss side effects. In fact, many stimulants are marketed explicitly as “anti-obesity drugs”, which can lead to potential abuse for weight loss purposes. One popular ADHD medication, Vyvanse, has become the first drug approved to treat binge-eating disorder. Despite its positive effects for psychiatric conditions, studies have shown that children taking stimulants for ADHD have relative side effects. For instance, a 2014 study demonstrated slower growth rates during early childhood compared to those not taking the medication, however their growth bounced back in later childhood. Overall, the use of psychiatric medications can be invaluable for treating mental health symptoms, so it important to be aware of both the benefits and risks that arise with utilizing this treatment method.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/many-psychiatric-drugs-have-serious-effects-on-body-weight/