(updated 12/2014)
Use this table with caution. The calculations here are based on the side effects frequencies in the PDR. Dewand Except for the weight curves below, that’s direct 1-year weight gain data.
In addition, because these medications were not compared directly to one another (except in a few of the weight studies), the comparisons below might not be found in a direct comparison study. This table reflects a working estimate of side effect burden, based on available data.
| Drug | GI | CNS | Sexual | Weight gain | Total |
| Wellbutrin/bupropion | ++ | ++ | + | 0 | 5 |
| Celexa/citalopram | ++ | + | ++++ | see below | 9 |
| Serzone/nefazodone | +++ | +++++ | + | see below | 10 |
| Prozac /fluoxetine | +++ | ++++ | ++++ | see below | 13 |
| Effexor/venlafaxine | ++++ | ++++ | ++++ | see below | 13 |
| Zoloft/sertraline | ++++ | ++++ | ++++ | see below | 13 |
| Remeron/mirtazepine | +++ | +++++ | + | worst | 14 |
| Luvox/fluvoxamine | +++++ | +++++ | ++++ | who cares? just look left! | 15 |
| Paxil/paroxetine | ++++ | +++++ | ++++ | worst | 16 |
Weight
Let’s make it easy: all antidepressants cause weight gain except for bupropion/Wellbutrin. Really. Here are the 1-year data on that.Blumenthal There’s only one flat curve; if you can’t see the small print, yep, that’s bupropion.
Why isn’t bupropion the most widely prescribed antidepressant, you might ask? So thought a bunch of mood experts.