[Guest]

I have gained 30 lbs during 1 year of taking Paxil for anxiety/depression. A study by Fava et al (J. Clin. Psychiatry, November 2000) showed that 26% of Paxil patients gained 7% or more of body weight after 6-8 months on Paxil (Those taking Prozac or Zoloft had minimal weight gain). My question is: Why does Paxil cause weight gain. What is the neurobiological mechanism that causes weight gain. In the short term (6-8 weeks) Paxil does not cause weight gain, so in a way the clinical trials with Paxil were misleading in that they showed nonsignificant weight gain. What happens in the longer term (6-8 months or more)?

Thanks.

[Guest]

Both long term studies and clinical experience do show that Paxil and other SSRIs do cause weight gain in many people if taken over the course of a year or more. The initial reports of them being weight neutral were misleading (but not innacurate as they were weight neutral in the short run). No one knows the exact mechanism. Some theorize their is a relationship between serotonin and carbohydrate craving but this is by no means clear. Excercise of 120 min per week, higher protein and lower calorie diets, reducing the dose, switching agents, adding Topomax have all been suggested as ways to combat the weight gain.
[quote] I have gained 30 lbs during 1 year of taking Paxil for anxiety/depression. A study by Fava et al (J... [/quote]