Stopped prozac - how long before weight comes off/metabolism returns to normal?

[stefandang]

Hello all I was wondering if any of you could help. I've been on and off antidepressants for many years and have noticed after long term use I gain weight and no matter what I do I cannot shift it.

I tapered off effexor a couple of years ago and despite some weight loss the withdrawal was awful so I went onto prozac. After a year or so on prozac I again have gained weight and despite 1 hour of hard cardio exercise a day I cannot shift the weight. I tapered from 20mg (lowest dose) and stopped completely a week ago. I know the half life of prozac is long, but my weight has not shifted despite being off it. In the past when I haven't been on antidepressants and I do exercise like I am now - the weight easily came off.

I'm worried I'll never lose the weight and that I'll have to resort to starving myself or going on slimming pills (which I do NOT want to do)

Has anyone here stopped prozac and managed to lose weight? If so, how long did it take after stopping prozac for the metabolism to 'wake-up' and for the weight to start coming off?

Please reply!!

Thanks

Stef

[anna1967]

One question, why would you stop taking your depression medication? Do you still need medication? If it is because you have gained weight than you are mistaken in getting off your med. I took prozac for 6yrs and gained weight in the beginning, then I started eating healthier and excercising more. I never had to take slimming pills. That sounds dangerous in itself. If you need your depression med, than please take it. Think about how horrible you will feel for so long until a med starts working again. Don't give up on loosing the weight. Also think about this, honestly, is a few pounds worth your mental wellness? If you had to choose to be thinner and depressed and miserable or carry a few extra pounds but feel good and feel happy , than which would you choose? If you chose to be skinner and unhappy than please go talk to your shrink cause you could have an eating disorder and a self image disorder. I went to a dietition and she helped me learn the portions to eat and the right combinations and she helped me with excersicing. It took about only 10 weeks and I lost 40pounds and I was 35yrs old and I had already had two kids. I weighed 240 pounds, yeah I was big, but I lost it and I wasn't skinny but I was back to my normal weight for me. I am 5'9 so that was an ok weight I could live with and take my meds and feel good. Just think about it. Good Luck.