Anti-anxiety Drugs with Weight Loss Side Effects

Anti-anxiety drugs can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and related disorders as a part of a treatment program under the guidance of a doctor or therapist.

The National Institute of Mental Health encourages that these psychiatric medications are also important in the treatment associated conditions such as panic disorders, obsessive compulsive condition, bipolar affective disorder and attention deficit disorder. The side effects of anxiety medications include changes in dietary routines and body weight.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are anti-anxiety medications that are also referred to as tranquilizers. These powerful medications help to reduce anxiety and associated symptoms such as panic and nervousness, by suppressing the central nervous system. This common class of anti-anxiety drugs consists of the brand name medications Xanax, Valium, Ativan and Klonopin. Benzodiazepines are fast-acting and typically affect the body within Thirty Minutes to an hour of taking a dose. Nevertheless, they likewise have a number of side effects that can result in weight loss. These include nausea, dizziness, vomiting and stomach upset that may cause a loss of regular cravings and make it tough to keep consumed food down, according to iytmed.com. These medications also build up in the body and are metabolized slowly, causing long-lasting side effects, consisting of over-sedation with symptoms just like being intoxicated due to alcohol.

Buspirone

Buspirone is a more recent anti-anxiety drug that is prescribed under the brand name BuSpar. Healthy Place notes that this drug serves as a mild tranquilizer and decreases anxiety in a similar system as anti-depressant medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. Though this medication is slower acting than benzodiazepines, it can cause side effects, including some that impact the intestinal tract and digestion. HelpGuide.org lists these side effects to include queasiness, vomiting, dry mouth, indigestion, constipation and diarrhea. These side effects can cause weight loss due to loss of appetite, taste and distress after eating.

MAO Inhibitors

Antidepressants drugs such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOIs, are also used to treat anxiety in some individuals. MAOIs include the brand medications Nardil and Parnate, and work by increasing levels of specific chemicals, or neurotransmitters, in the brain. Drugs.com notes that this class of drugs can cause a number of side effects that affect nutrition and digestion, leading to weight loss. These include nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, upset stomach and stomach cramping. Furthermore, MAOIs negatively connect with foods including high levels of the amino acid tyramine, such as cheese, yogurt, sour cream, packaged soups, beer, wine and some veggies. Eating these foods when taking MAOIs can cause pain, diarrhea, constipation or vomiting, and can be life threatening.

Q&A

1) What is the best antidepressant for weight loss?

Long-term use of the following SSRIs may cause weight gain:

• paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva, Brisdelle)
• sertraline (Zoloft)
• fluoxetine (Prozac)
• citalopram (Celexa)

2) Which is the best antidepressant for weight loss?

Other research shows weight gain is mostly linked only to three antidepressants:

• The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor Prozac (fluoxetine)
• The atypical antidepressant Wellbutrin (Bupropion)