Paxil: weight gain

[Christine]

Hi All,
Thanks for this wonderful service!

I have OCD, Panic Disorder & Social Anxiety.  Without medication life is very uncomfortable.  I was on Paxil for 6 months and all my symptoms were greatly relieved.  However, the side effects began to outweigh the benefits.  The side effects were: fatigue, nausea, headaches, loss of libido and inability to orgasm, weight gain and increased PMS.  The fatigue and the weight gain finally caused me to go off the med, I was only able to stay awake about 8 hours a day and I gained about 15 pounds in 1 month.

Question 1:  While on Paxil I was unable to control the weight.  I work out 4 - 5 times a week, eat a very healthy diet, no drinking, and I am HYPERthyroid (not enough to be treated though).  I was very depressed by this out of control weight gain.  Now that I am off the Paxil, will I be able to lose this weight?  I am worried that it is resistant like it was when I was on the Paxil.

I am also looking for advice from anyone out there who has successful strategies for dealing with OCD, Panic & Social Phobia without meds. I have tried other meds (Prozac, Zoloft, Luvox, Ativan, Klonopin).  I reacted horrribly to all of them.  The Panic really focuses on fear of death, impending sense of doom.  I have an irregular heartbeat (PVC's) that scare the hell out of me and cause me to panic.

I am a little scared now that I am off the meds. Anyone out there going through this or can offer advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

Peace to all,
Christine

[cara]

I have been taking paxil for 11 mos and went from a size 7 to a size 14!!  I was taking it for depression, but I wasn't THAT depressed, I don't think.  I'm at 40 mg, but only because I wasn't sleeping well with smaller ones.  Isn't that dumb?  Well, I've decided to go off of paxil.  I hope it all works out.  I'll keep you posted on the weight loss....

[Teresa]

I have only been taking Paxil for about 6 weeks and I have already gained 16 lbs.  I have never in my life had an increase in my weight, I have always stayed the same.  I do believe there has to be a connection here regardless of what countless doctors claim.  When I asked my doctor about this, he said that the drug was affecting my outlook on life, including my eating habits, that I was now having a healthier look at food.
I would like to try other antidepressants, as I have found that Paxil IS working for my depression, but am afraid of the side affects of getting off of Paxil.
Plus my doctor says I need to continue it to see how it will work for me in the long run.
Well, good luck to all of you.

[Natalie Conti]

Finally, I found some information about Paxil and weight gain.  I had been wondering for the past year how on earth I've managed to gain 15 pounds when I work out at least 3 times per week doing kickboxing.  I was getting very discouraged to say the least when a lot of my clothes no longer fit me and yet fitness people and others say my weight gain is due to muscle gain from excercising.  The fact remains my clothes do not fit and I'm having to go into larger sizes.  My appetite is out of control and I can't seem to stop.  I feel much better otherwise on the drug with the exception that I don't seem to be able to express my emotions such as laughing and or crying at times when I think I should be able to.  I feel like a bit of a zombie when it comes to that and I'm only on 20mg per day.  I'm seriously thinking about speaking to my doctor about going off the drug and try life without it for awhile.  I know there are a lot of alternative medicines out there for depression and anxiety and I would be willing to try something else instead if necessary.

[Nancy from Arizona]

I have been on Paxil for almost a year and was not told about any of the symptoms that are described in all your remarks. I am so glad to have found this website, I thought I was going crazy. I too have put on so much wait, at least 40 lbs and have tried everything possible to lose with no success. The reason I was put on Paxil was because I was depressed about being overweight in the first place. When I started taking Paxil I was only 50 lbs overweight, now I am 90 lbs. overweight, more depressed than ever before in my life. I quit taking Paxil on my own "Cold Turkey" as the are saying just two weeks ago. No one told me about what its like to quit taking this horrific drug. I strongly suggest if you are in need of a drug for depression, REFUSE THIS ONE, I can't believe that I was even put on this drug and told so little about its effect on me. I have been extremely dizzy, wierd sounds going on in my head, can't consentrate on anything. My job is very demanding and I feel like I'm going to lose it and my husband if I don't get it together soon. Problem is I don't know what to do. First thing that does come to mind, what I have left of it, is to SUE somebody. Anyone want to join me out there.

My email address is ***@****

Thank you all for sharing your experiences with me and anyone else that has been having these kinds of reactions. I was thinking it was just me.

God Bless You.

[Lou]

My doctor did tell me upfront that the negative side effect of taking Paxil was weight gain.  But I thought since I knew this, I could control it.  Wrong!  I've been on Paxil for nearly a year (20mg) and I'm working my way off of it at 10 mg every other day for a couple of weeks, then 5 mg every other day for a few weeks.  I just started the 5 mg dosage -- I want the extra weight off.  I had probably gained 20 lbs. - but I did not need to.  Because they made me tired, I took at night before I went to bed - seemed to work fine except for weight.  I am shy but I cannot tell that they gave me a boost of confidence but things didn't seem to bother me as much.
Good luck to you and me!

[Colleen]

I am 25yrs old and have been on Paxil for 15 months.  I was prescribed paxil after a difficult and tumultuous divorce.  Well, since then I have gained 45 lbs!  I have always been a "normal/average" sized person.  I now weigh more than I did the day I gave birth to my daughter!  I am trying fervently to come off of the Paxil but the dizzy spells and confusion are almost too much to bear with a small child, house and full time job!  A friend of mine told me her doctor had prescribed Paxil to her and I strongly advised her NOT TO TAKE IT.  Doctors and the FDA need to start recognizing all of these terrible side effects and warning people about them!  I feel like a drug addict who is dependant on Paxil...wish me luck