Jeffrey S. MacDaniels, MD Clinical Assistant Instructor
Thomas L. Schwartz, MD Professor
Department of Psychiatry SUNY Upstate Medical University Syracuse, New York
Disclosures The authors report no financial relationship with any company whose products are mentioned in this article or with manufacturers of competing products.
Discussing with your patient the possibility of changing or worsening depressive symptoms when adding or switching medications allows them to be aware and engaged in the process and can encourage them to notice and report changes. Developing a sensible schedule to taper an existing medication slowly over several weeks and allowing a new one to build up gradually to a therapeutic level can help minimize adverse effects or a discontinuation syndrome.
If switching antidepressants is not possible, or is ineffective, an anti-obesity medication (Table 122-29) can be considered. These medications should not be considered first-line in weight loss management, but reserved for more difficult or refractory weight loss challenges and in patients who are not able to participate in weight loss or dieting programs because of cognitive disorders, a history of nonadherance, financial or travel limitations, or in those with poor social support systems such as homelessness.
Some of these medications are not reimbursed by insurance companies; therefore, consider the financial burden to the patient and their capacity for adherence to therapy, and discuss this challenge before initiating treatment. There is some evidence for using medications off-label to treat obesity (Table 2,30-34).
Anti-obesity medications typically are considered for patients with a BMI >30 or in any overweight patient with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, or cardiovascular disease. As always, discuss with patients and their primary care provider the potential benefits and risks of adding any of these or other medications to an existing treatment regimen.
If weight loss goals are not met, consider discontinuing anti-obesity therapy. Patients and physicians should be cognizant of the need to continue long-term maintenance on these medications after successful treatment—perhaps indefinitely, because patients frequently regain weight after medication is discontinued.
Bottom Line Many antidepressants are known to increase the risk of excessive weight gain, although risk of weigh gain varies among antidepressant classes. First, advise changes in diet and exercise; next, initiate psychotherapy as indicated, and then consider referral to a nutritionist. Consider switching to an antidepressant with less potential for causing weight gain or adding bupropion, which could lead to weight loss, if your patient can tolerate it. If these strategies are unsuccessful, consider an anti-obesity medication.
