The short explanation
Please do not stop it suddenly on your own. Weight gain is a known side effect of some antidepressants and other mental health medicines. Stopping abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms and may let depression return. It is worth telling your doctor about the weight gain so you can look at the options together. Your doctor may consider a different medicine that affects weight less, adjust treatment, or help you with diet and activity changes. Sometimes weight changes are also linked to improved appetite as mood gets better, or to reduced activity during depression. The aim is to keep your mental health stable while managing weight.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Other medicines, such as some steroids, diabetes medicines, epilepsy medicines and certain contraceptives, can also affect weight.
- Regular physical activity can help both mood and weight.
- If weight gain is distressing you and affecting your willingness to continue treatment, say so openly; your doctor will want to know.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you whether your medicine is the cause of your weight gain or what change is right. Your doctor will advise.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Could my medicine be causing the weight gain?
- Is there an alternative that affects weight less?
- What should I do about diet and exercise?
- How should I stop or change medicine safely if needed?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 if you have thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life.
Book an appointment soon
- See your doctor within a few days if weight gain is rapid or affecting your mood or willingness to continue treatment.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Discuss weight at your next routine appointment.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Weight control MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine)
- Healthy diet World Health Organization
- Type 2 diabetes NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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