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Real talk about antidepressant weight gain

Has anyone ever been in my boat?  I have been on some antidepressant/SSRI or another relatively solidly for the past six years.  I have been on Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa and am currently on Effexor/Lithium w/Trazadone for sleep.  ALL of these drugs made me gain SIGNIFICANT amounts of weight.  Prozac and Serzone were weight neutral, but lost effectiveness or didn't work at all.  I started antidepressants, at 27, 5'7" and 125 lbs.  I am now 33 and weigh 178.
When I have gone off my meds in the past (I used to have a fantasy that I wouldn't need them forever.)or have been transitioning to a new one, I have lost SIGNIFICANT amounts of weight.  When I went off Paxil in 2003, I lost 30 pounds in 3 months (and no-- my eating/exercise didn't change).  I absolutely know that if I went off my meds right now, I'd lose a lot of weight in a short time.  I also know that a deeply debilitating depression would most likely follow at some time and that I'm probably "A Lifer" as far as depression treatment goes.
Yes.  I have had my TSH checked for thyroid problems.  My doctor will not prescribe Topamax because of the side effects.

I want to scream when I see websites that say just lower your calorie intake and exercise.  Yes I do that, but these medications absolutely do something to my body that no amount of diet and exercise seems to offset.  Yes!  That works for people not on antidepressants and even some who are, but not for everyone.  What about us?!!  As slender as I was, I could handle even a thirty pound weight gain, but at an extra 53 pounds, I feel huge, unattractive and though its really hard to exercise carrying all this extra weight around, I do.  I feel like I'm never going to date again.  I hate it!  Clothes never look right on me.  Adult onset diabetes also runs in my family, not to mention all the other health problems being overweight can bring.  For a long time I thought better to be bigger and emotionally healthy than skinny and sick.  But it's just gone so far and I just feel hopeless.  I think that if something doesn't change it's going to get harder and harder to exercise at all as I get heavier and heavier.

Is there anyone out there who was in a situation like mine, but then found the right medication, supplement, therapy, mindset or medication that actually allowed them to lose weight.  Is there some kind of special SSRI blend or new medication that I haven't tried that will stop me from putting on more and more pounds?  Please help!  I don't know what to do.  I need real help.  Something that works.
44 Responses
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242532 tn?1269550379
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Ask your doctor about wellbutrin, it works and there is no weight gain.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
AJC
Look up "Gwen Olsen" on youtube or google video.
Helpful - 0
246464 tn?1249452147
10 years of Paxil- i gained 75 pounds.
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Avatar universal
I am having the same EXACT situation, add lamictal to that collection as well for my epilepsy.  I just had my doctor wean me off of everything except the lamictal, and I feel like I'm losing my mind.  Even on all of the other meds, I was feeling awful..but I just waited and waited to see if anything would change, but it never did.  Except for the weight.  Oh, and I have viciously bad menstrual cycles, and irregular to the point I have absolutely no clue when I'm getting it.  I've heard suggestions about other meds to relieve some of the depression around that time...problem is..I never know what time that is for me!!!! I feel like I'm in a fishbowl.

Any suggestions on an anti-depressant/mood stabilizers that can get me back on track.  I literally don't know what to do with myself.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes!! I, too,  have experienced weight gain with Lexapro.  Over the past 8 years my doc has changed my anti depression meds so many times I am not sure I could tell you all of the ones, or all of the combinations.    Over the past 6 mos. have been on 300 mg of Wellbutrin XL, 100 mg Lamictal and 20 mg Lexapro.   Although I have always been med compliant.... recently, I decided to cut out the Lexapro.  I went to 10 mg for a week, 10 mg every other day for 2 weeks and now no Lexapro at all.  I have not changed the other two.  

What have any of you found to be side effects of cutting back the Lexapro?  I have had foggy thinking,  blurred vision, odd dreams, cranky disposition, aches in neck and back of head, less hungry and I cry very easily. Are these similar to yours?    When will this get better?  

I would like to lower the Wellbutrin, too, but am not quite ready to think of that yet.  I understand that the Lamictal is a leveler and maybe that should stay.  (Ha. Back in the 60s I almost flunked chemistry, so am a little leary to be playing games with these meds. Ha.)

My initial complaint, 8 years ago to my family doc was that I was so totally fatigued when I got home that I went to bed at 5:30PM and got up at 7AM and back to work, and on and on until the weekend when I would sleep the whole weekend away.  I also had a very foggy brain at work and in social situations.  

After all these years and all these meds, I still complain of extreme fatigue and foggy thinking.  I sleep now from 9PM to 7AM and a bit more on weekends.  Additionally, if I am hit with any conflict or serious problem at work, I sleep as soon as I can get home.  

Why am I not a lot better by now?

I would love to be without meds.  My doc tells me that I will more than likely need meds my whole life.  Who knows?  I have had three psychs, all really good, all seeming to think we have not found the right combination yet.

Any suggestions you all could give would be appreciated. Thanks.
KatieOne
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm down to about 35 mm of imimprimine/tofranil from 150 and am on 200 mm of welbutrin. I had a bad day yesterday with depression and anxiety. Don't know whether it is lack of imimprimine, effects of welbutrin or just me talking myself into it because it is so terrifying to me to have it all come back! I don't know if I've lost any weight as I don't weigh myself. I'll have to wait until I go to the doctor and see if I've lost any since I won't let them tell me exactly how much I weigh because it is too darn depressing.

I am also having chest pains. Don't know what that's about.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
After a week of measuring all my food, eating tons of healthy veggies and other good stuff and exercising more.  And after my 2nd day of adding 10 mgs. of ritalin to my med regime, sine the beginning of June, I have lost 5 pounds.  I'm so excited!  I've never been able to lose a single pound while on antidepressants!
Not even when I went down to 1200 calories a day and put personal training on my credit card when I was on awful Paxil.

I'm so excited!  I'm still experiencing side effects from the ritalin, but they are far less today.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi!

I'm so sorry to hear about your problem!  Have you had your thyroid checked?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Depression is a disease of the brain, chronic disease similar to diabetes.  Though meditataing may be helpful, I probably would be completely disabled without it, as depression is not just about being in a bad mood.  People have genetic predispositions.  It runs in families.  It can in some people have horrific physical symptoms.  It can completely destroy lives.  It kills.  Scans of the brain show that depressed brains during a time of depression look very different from healthy ones.  Part of the brain looks inactive.  
I recently read in a book by Peter D. Kramer, professor of psychiatry at Brown University who also wrote talking to Prozac.  A woman studied brains of dead who had had a significant spell of depression at some point in their lives.  In this study, they found a number of brain abnormalities as compared with never depressed brains.  Depressed brains often do not have glia cells or if they do they are deformed or dead.  Glia cells protect the nerves in the brain for example.
This should be a supportive place where people who have a serious chronic disease can get help, not a place where our pain should be dismissed or have to deal once again with the stigma of the disease.
I know that the information I have about all this is good and correct.  I am a librarian with a Master's degree in Library and Information Science.  I also know that there is a lot of misinformation out there, so Amit, I would seriously question your source.  Not everything on the internet is true
Yes!  The meds change our brain chemistry.  That's the point.  The purpose in our immediate lives is to end our suffering so we can live normal lives, but it is also to stop damage to our brain.  They do have VERY unpleasant side effects for many people.  No one whose health didn't depend on them would take them!  In my case, I gained over 50 pounds.  I stayed on it despite that because I feared literally putting my life in danger if I changed meds again.

Again, I want to thank all the supportive people who have posted!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
my doctor has just given me an anti depressant called CITALOPRAM. does any1 know anything about this. im hoping that it will put some weight on me too! has any 1 got any information about this?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

HI
first of all thanks for replying to my question.
ya i checked my thyroid, n its normal.
I gained some knowledge from reserching about these things n came to conclusion, which i think u people must know that
these antidepressants are actually drugs
what i mean is ---- those who take these some or the other time in their life become habitual to these ----
its a fact n over to this, private doctors who suggest these actually want to earn more and more $$$ in number of sittings which can be more dangerous than your problem. What my suggestion to this is
1. Meditate n
2. Involve in your surroundings(activities)

its actually depend on the extent of problem to which it has been grown.
I felt that in AMERICA n in develop/rich countries people tend to take these more often which is VERY VERY DANGEROUS.
(according to my study through newspapers n internet)

too big, i wrote thes to you because i think u can understand my feelings as u already did, and i want you to share thse things within your forums...people
-thanks for bearing me so long
aamit
"share things and you can make this world a beautiful place to live in"
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If you have depression, the med that causes the most weight gain seems to be Paxil.

Wellbutrin is the least likely to cause weight gain.  But, keep in mind that not all people gain weight on antidepressants.  Many do as is obvious from this post, but not everyone.  You could surely find people who have been on a few different antidepressants and not gained weight.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi All!

I finally saw my doctor.  He didn't want to give me wellbutrin because I tried it two years back and it made me jittery.  I wanted to try it again because I didn't give it much time.

Former weight gain recipe=effexor/lithium.  Since I'm also feeling a bit off and need my med adjusted, he decided to transition me from lithium to ritalin (yes-what ADD kids take--a mild amphetamine)He didn't give it to me for weight loss, but because he thought it was the best adjustment, but of course it doesn't hurt that it might also help me lose weight.  Today was my first day taking 5 mgs. 2xs/day.  I'm super med. sensitive and had nausea, dizziness and listlessness, hopefully that will subside in time and I will be able to wean off the lithium.

I've also been eating only 1400 calories a day and exercising more.  In the past two weeks, I've lost 3 pounds.  I know it isn't much, but considering the fact that I've done nothing but gain over and over for the past year.

If you pray and can spare a prayer for me, please do.  If not, wish me luck.

I'm not happy that so many of you have this problem, but I am glad that so many of us have been able to communicate and hopefully help each pther out.  All the best!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi everyone

im not gaining weight from last 10 years.
Im 6'.3" n weigh around 120lbs.
Shall i take some sort of antidepressant, like Wellbutrin
as i have slight anxiety problem.

Suggest me something
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

I have had insomnia for about 7 months in 2004 and was put on 2 medications lithium and respridol, which made me eat like crazy, i grabbed everything of food in sight. Naturally i have medium apetite and always had a sweet tooth. I weighted about 128lbs at the time, and gained 10lbs in 10 days, and then 18 more lbs during the next couple of months. I was quickly put off respridol coz it made me depressed, but i was on lithium for over a year. I have been off of it for about 7 months now, but havent lost a pound. What can i do to lose this weight? I dont eat so much anymore
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I went on Effexor 18 months approximately 18 months ago.  I gained about 15lbs on it.  Lithium was added last year and I luckily only gained another 5lbs on that...  I went off the lithium at the beginning of this year and was able to lose a few pounds... I was taking 225mg Effexor and have weaned myself down to 75mg (trying to get off it) and am currently trying to actively lose weight.  I'm having a very hard time of it.  My psychiatrist did tell me that while the literature on Effexor doesn't list weight gain as a side effect, he said a lot of people gain at least 15lbs.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was on Lexapro for several months and gained 14 pounds very quickly.  I did some research and recently asked my doctor if it would be an ok idea to switch to Wellbutrin.  He said we could try it.  The good news?  Along with the medication switch and restricted caloric intake I have lost 10 pounds in the last three weeks.  The bad news?  The Wellbutrin hasn't kicked in yet and the depression symptoms are back.  I'm trying to stick it out and wait until I've been on Wellbutrin 4 weeks before I make any decisions about going back to Lexapro or trying yet another antidepressant.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
im really skinny , im desperate to put weight on, and have tried everything to put on weight so do you think antidepressants would work on me. i am depressed anyway so shall i try it?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been on Lexapro for a year now, and am trying to come off it..I cannot stand the loss of sexual feelings and really just most feelings in general. I also gained 30 pounds, I started taking birth control about 6 months back after having an iud for 10 years..I did lose 10 pounds i was carrying due to harmons. But I have also been eating much less and excersing and getting no where. I have always been small and never had a problem with losing a few pounds if I wanted..but on the Lexapro..I have never been so heavy in my life and never been so unable to get rid of even a few pounds. I stopped cold turkey from 10mg a day about 4 days ago, but the bouts of crying and unable to even function are too much so i took 10mg today. I realize I have to cut down slower to come off this drug instead of cold turkey. I wondered though if anyone has been able to lose wieght with just cutting down on the drug, or do you have to come off it all together? I have taken WB befor..not good for me AT ALL...
Really want to know if I may be able to lose the wieght while I spend the time to come off the drug.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Once again, it's good to hear about some success.

Monday is my last day of work for the summer.  I have bought all the measuring utensils, a food scale, figured the amount of calories I should need to eat to lose two pounds a week.

On Tuesday, I see my doctor about meds and hopefully Wed. I will be started on my way to weight loss.  It's hard to let myself hope after so many disappointments, but I have to get up and try.  I want to move out of pre-diabetes and never into diabetes.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,

I would not go off the meds before my wedding...

I would excerise with weights before the wedding...if you can increase your muscle mass you will burn more calories in addition to looking fit.

I was trying to lose the last 5 lbs and then decide to just start lifting weights again...I have toned up fairly well in the past month...and my pants were actually falling down the other day!

And my friend asked me if I had lost weight!! And I didnt lose a pound...just toned up!

Hope this helps!
Jogirl
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hanging in there. The "self-talk" is tough..."Oh, no, I think I feel dizzy! Maybe it's the meds! Is it the meds? Do I really feel dizzy or do I just think I feel dizzy!" You know how it goes. My daughter and grandsons were over last night, so it was a good way to keep my mind off things. We are going to Chicago for a long weekend on Friday. WIll be interesting to see how that works out. I wish I could just go to a country retreat for a month or so and get things all regulated and steady, but instead, I have to live my regular life while dealing with my inner life as well.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey what about takin g the combination of Effexor and Cymbalta---plus I am taking Phentermine to hyelp me lose weight but it seems I am at a stand still----could it be from these anti-depressant pills
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Glad to hear you are hanging in there.  Has anything changed with your weight yet.  I know dealing with dizziness and everything else probably seems more important, but I'm just curious.
Helpful - 0
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