Frequency of Weight Gain with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in Patients Presenting at Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar

Abstract

This article explores, the side effects of SSRI's - a class of drugs commonly prescribed for MDD, anxiety disorders and certainly other psychiatric indications. Weight gain is one of the most frequent side effects of SSRIs, affecting negatively treatment compliance and patients' quality of life, and exerting a negative effect on health in the long term. Aims of the study The objectives were to measure the frequency and severity of weight gain and to investigate the incidence of weight gain in patients on SSRI in Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar (KTHP), a tertiary care hospital in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In addition, the research evaluates the cause of weight gain among the patients like, type of SSRI, duration of treatment, and presence of comorbid conditions. This article uses an examination of medical records and those of one-on-one interviews to provide evidence of weight gain's relative commonality in patients taking the class of drugs, along with pointing out and describing risk factors for weight gain based on the symptom. The findings offer clues to the processes that contribute to SSRI-induced weight gain and may be applied by clinicians to adjust and maximize the success of treatment in patients taking SSRI antidepressants.. Keywords: ASelective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, weight gain, depression, anxiety disorders, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, SSRIs side effects.