Anyone taking antidepressants...

[jobhunter]

Who did NOT have weight gain? I am about to start taking Lexapro and I am SERIOUSLY freaked out by all the things I have read on the net about blowing up even while eating little, and having a very hard time losing the weight even after coming off of it. It certainly isn't going to help my depression to gain 10 pounds in a month, like a few people I read about.
Please advise. I am having a lot of misgivings!

 

[froglady]

I lost weight when I started taking Celexa, as I was more motivated to exercise, diet, etc when I was no longer depressed. I was weaned off, and the weight came right back on. I'm seeing my Dr in a couple of weeks, and will probably go back on it.

 

[kmp1191]

I take Zoloft. I haven't noticed any weight gain, but I haven't noticed any loss either. I told my doc that I was trying to lose weight and nothing was happening....he said give it a month and let him know....if I'm still having trouble, he'll switch meds.

Good luck!!

 

[LJC1861]

I recently started taking Prozac and have lost approximately 12 pounds this past month. Now, before starting the meds I was a bit of a compulsive snacker.....sitting at the computer at work I had to have something to snack on. Now that I am on the medication my desire to snack is all but gone! Prozac does help with obsessive compulsive stuff as well as depression and that could have something to do with it. Whatever the reason, I am just thrilled that I not only feel better but am more able to control my snacking.

Linda

 

[dcentity2000]

Many psychiatric drugs do cause weight gain - Olanzapine, an anti-psychotic, comes to mind.

Remember, anti-depressants are powerful drugs that are not yet fully understood. If this particular drug causes weight gain that is distressful, there are many other in that family (Escitalopram, brand name Lexapro, is an SSRI or Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor) that you can fairly easily switch to.

I'd imagine you'd be on a dose close to 10mg daily - if so, you have virtually nothing to worry about in relation to any withdrawal symptoms.



Rich::

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've been on Effexor for over 5 years. Although I've probably gained about 15 pounds in those years, I wouldn't attribute it to the medication. I hadn't been eating when I started taking Effexor (one of my symptoms was I just "didn't bother to eat-too much effort"?!) so once I felt better, boy did I make up for lost time! Don't let fear of weight gain stop you if you need the medication.

 

[2sweetangels]

I just switched off of Fluexitine (prozac) becaus it made me tired and sleepy all day, I am now on Paxil and I have not noticed any symptoms yet.

 

[Tiffann4k]

2 years ago my dr actually prescribed antidepressants for me to loose weight. It was a combo drug phen-pro ( the good phentermine, not the fen fen & prozac) I am happy to report that I lost 50 lbs in 4 months on it. ( too bad after 2 years I didnt change my eating habits so it all came back...lol)

 

[MUFFYCAT]

I lost weight when I started taking Celexa, as I was more motivated to exercise, diet, etc when I was no longer depressed. I was weaned off, and the weight came right back on. I'm seeing my Dr in a couple of weeks, and will probably go back on it.

The doctor just put my DD on Celexa. She is suffering from severy anxieties(also seeing a therapist). How long did it take before you felt a little better?

 

[froglady]

The doctor just put my DD on Celexa. She is suffering from severy anxieties(also seeing a therapist). How long did it take before you felt a little better?

At the minimal dose (10mg) about 3-4 weeks, but it's gradual. You don't wake up one day and feel fine; you just start to realize that little things that would overwhelm you are now managable, and you have fewer negative thoughts and frustrations. For instance, in the past I would automatically say "I have too much to do, I just don't have time to exercise" whereas when I was on medication I would say "Well, I'll just walk/exercise for 10 minutes; I'll just spend less time on the computer, in the showere, etc." I usually felt so good walking that I'd do the full 2 miles.

I'm having a harder time getting over the hump these days, which is why I want to resume treatment.

 

[Sonya]

My Dr said it was because you felt better that you eat more and they is why you gain weight. I don't know if I believe that or not. I am having a very hard time losing weight and of course that is not helping things.

 

[Christine]

My Dr said it was because you felt better that you eat more and they is why you gain weight. I don't know if I believe that or not. I am having a very hard time losing weight and of course that is not helping things.

Well, that's probably not true.

My doctor told me that they don't quite know the "mechanism" involved, but the SSRIs (some of them) do effect a metabolic change and, in some people, cause horrible carbohydrate cravings.

 

[disneyfan551]

My OB put me on Effexor (for anxiety), and said that most of the other drugs tended to cause weight gain. I'm already overweight, so I did not need that!

 

[Rajah]

I've been on Effexor for 2 years, as has my mom. Neither of us have experienced weight gain because of it.

 

[ozarkmom]

My daughter was on lexapro for almost a year and she didn't have any weight gain. She was the same size when she stopped it as when she started.

 

[Marseeya]

I went on Desyrel several years ago and gained quite a bit of weight with it.

I had a lot of luck on Celexa and even lost weight with it. Also, I did GREAT with Wellbutrin. Stopped all my cigarette cravings (bonus! ) and gave me energy.

 

[hydster]

I'm on Wellbutrin XL and haven't noticed any weight gain. I have weight I'm trying to lose but I attribute that to poor eating during the holidays and a recent vacation. My dh is on Lexapro and I don't think he's gained any weight from it. I've been on anti-depressants for almost 12 years and haven't had any problems on any of them gaining a tremendous amount of weight or having problems getting it off. I've been on I think just about all of them at some point.

 

[beckmrk04]

I've been on Effexor, and have lost 6 pounds in the last 2 weeks. Of course, I am feeling better, and thus I was more motivated- I joined weight watchers and Curves, and I force myself to get out there and work out and watch my diet.

 

[Aidensmom]

I've taken both Desaryl and Paxil in the past, I did not gain weight on either. However, I have always done regular exercise, and I eat pretty healthily.

 

[skooniebird]

Who did NOT have weight gain? I am about to start taking Lexapro and I am SERIOUSLY freaked out by all the things I have read on the net about blowing up even while eating little, and having a very hard time losing the weight even after coming off of it. It certainly isn't going to help my depression to gain 10 pounds in a month, like a few people I read about.
Please advise. I am having a lot of misgivings!

There are choices out there that don't cause weight gain. Wellbutrin is one. There are quite a few others. Weight gain makes my depression worse so I told my Dr. that and they make sure to avoid anything witht that side effect . That's her job.