fluoxetine to paroxetine because of weight gain?

[traceUK]

I have been off fluoxetine for about 2 weeks now, because nomattterhow strict my diet, i cant seem to loose weight I gained whilst taking fluoxetine, which was getting me very down.
I went to gp who has prescribed me paroxetne.
Looking on the web, it seems that this ADis even worse for weight gain, So I now dont know what to do.
Should i stay off all ad and see, or take the prescribed paroxetine or go bak to fluoxetine, i just dont know.
I was aking effexor for five years, which helped my deprssion and did not affect my weight, BUT, they made me more anxious if i missed just one, and  was grinding teeth all the time, and found it a struggle to come off them. Hd to change to fluoxetine because i fell pregnant, baby is 11months now, but im stll about 3 and half stone overweight , despite  very healthy eating , and excercise, which is why i think its the fluoxetine.
Please help me im so confused.

[Paxiled]

Unfortunately, Prozac, which you were on, is the least likely of the ssris to cause weight gain.  Any can, and Paxil is particularly culpable on this front.  It's also much harder to quit.  Often one has to balance what feels better, to be free of the underlying problem or to be overweight.  I gained 50 pounds on Paxil over a period of years, and was never able to lose it despite being very active physically and eating the same diet I always did.  This doesn't happen to everyone, however, so nobody can predict for you how any drug will affect you.

[nursegirl6572]

Unfortunately, most of the SSRI-type AD's cause weight gain, that is one of the more bothersome effects.

I'm with Maddie above, personally, I would rather be somewhat overweight and my issues (mine are severe anxiety and panic attacks) in check than worry about weight and be in constant mental turmoil.  Everyone is different, however.

I have found that once I found the right AD, I was better off just sticking with it than "rocking the boat", so to speak.  Many times, we'll switch meds, only to find out we were doing better with the first one.  Especially if you are tolerating the med well, and if weight gain is the only issue you are worrying about, personally, if it were ME, I would stay put.

Of course, everyone is different and it is a personal choice.  Just know ahead of time that it IS a gamble...you may do great and find the weight gain issue isn't as bad with the new med, but also, you must be prepared that you will still have the same issues, if not a few new ones.  It's just the nature of these types of meds.

Whatever you decide....remember that you must give any new med (or dosage adjustment) at LEAST 4-6 weeks to be able to TRULY assess any improvements.

Best of luck!

[4Maddie44]

Hello, congratulations on the baby.  I live in Dorset in England.

Strangely, unlike you I put on 3 stone with Effexor, and stopped taking it.  Within a year I was very depressed again, and re-started it again 7 weeks ago.  I lost all that weight, and am back to what I should be, but know, I will now gain all that weight again.  Some anti-depressants do that.  I know why I put on the weight - it was because I craved carbohydrates all the time.  When I stopped I completely lost my appetite and could hardly eat.  I don't know what is worse.  One thing I do know is I would rather be overweight and the depression under control, than off medication with terrible depression.

It is a difficult one this.  It is your decision of course, but different meds affect different people, in different ways.  I mean why did I put on weight with Effexor and you didn't?

Take care.

An English Friend