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Mixed / dose-related

Does Amitriptyline cause weight gain?

The honest answer from the FDA-approved label for Amitriptyline— what the trials actually reported, not the “every drug makes you gain weight” folklore.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA drug label for Amitriptyline sourcesUpdated Jul 21, 2026How we research

What the label reports

Under Adverse Reactions, the label lists "weight gain or loss" (in the "Other" category), so it names both directions of weight change as possible adverse reactions. No frequency or rate is given, and the label does not characterize one as more likely than the other.

Frequently asked questions

Does Amitriptyline cause weight gain?

The label's picture is above. Amitriptyline's weight effect is mixed / dose-related — read the summary rather than the folklore, and track your own trend.

How much weight can Amitriptyline cause?

The label reports what the trials found (above) and does not hand out a single number that applies to everyone — weight change depends on dose, duration, your starting point, and why you are taking the drug. If your weight is changing in a way that bothers you, that is a specific, fixable conversation with your prescriber, not a reason to quit abruptly.

Does the weight come off after stopping Amitriptyline?

Often at least partly, when the drug's effect on appetite or metabolism was the cause — but that is individual, and some weight tracks lifestyle rather than the drug. Never stop a medication just to lose weight without talking to the prescriber first; for several of these drugs abrupt stopping has its own risks.

More guides for Amitriptyline

Source

Amitriptyline Hydrochloride — DailyMed FDA label

Other drugs: Amlodipine · Bupropion · Citalopram · Duloxetine · Escitalopram · Fluconazole · Fluoxetine · Gabapentin · Ibuprofen · Levothyroxine · Metformin · Mirtazapine · Naproxen · Olanzapine · all drugs.

The weight information is what the drug’s FDA-approved label reports from its trials. This is general reference information, not medical advice, and weight change is individual — do not start or stop a medication to change your weight without your prescriber.