Weight loss/anti depressants

Holmesfamily26037

My doctor put me on anti depressant meds a few months ago and just now tells me that's why I'm not losing weight and as long as I am on them..I won't lose anything (unless I weightlift). Need help on how to try to lose weight..what are ur suggestions!

lewispwest

Well definitely do not stop taking them but maybe you need some structured exercise if you aren't already doing it? Otherwise review your goals to have a greater deficit.

MakePeasNotWar

Most antidepressants are not associated with weight gain or difficulty losing. Research the particular drug you are on for a full list of side effects, but even if weight gain is one, it doesn't mean you can't lose weight, it will just mean it will be a bit harder.

I would definitely suggest increasing your exercise if you can, since it has so many mood enhancement benefits, in addition to the caloric burn and general health benefits.

If you still find it is much harder to maintain or lose weight, talk you doctor about possibly switching to a different drug. As I said, most modern antidepressants do not have weight gain as a side effect.

Momjogger

If your anti-depressants are working without side effects, you don't want to mess with that, but almost ALL of them make it hard to lose weight (except Wellbutrin). There is NOTHING wrong with lifting weights (two to three times a week). I recommend getting the gym to put you on a program if you are new to it. Up your protein and fresh fruit and veggies to help you feel fuller and add stretching and cardio a couple days a week as well. Weight lifting can make you hungrier though, so make sure you track your calories. Please don't get discouraged if it is slow, that's the best way to do it anyway.

pander101

You can still lose weight on antidepressants, you need to monitor your intake closely and weightlifting is a good idea regardless.

Liftng4Lis

Start logging your food and eat at a deficit.

ljashley1952

Some people gain on antidepressants and some people lose. I think increasing exercise might help. My daughter is very short (5'1") and wt loss has always been hard. She started running and worked up to half-marathons and then did a full-marathon. With all of the runnng she did, she just couldn't lose that last 15 pounds. The running just didn't so it. She joined a challenge at work with a bunch of girls who joined a 3 month challenge at a gym called Physzique. It was some pretty intensive exercise led by trainers. (Biggest Loser-style.) It worked beautifully and she lost the 15 extra pounds that she had been unable to lose. I have not seen her look as good since high school.

Fatkat121212

I think it depends on the one you take.
I am currently taking them and have lost 38 kg this year.
Which one are you taking?

ErinK09

I'm on them and the only time I gain is when I eat like crap.

FatFreeFrolicking

MakePeasNotWar wrote: »

Most antidepressants are not associated with weight gain or difficulty losing. Research the particular drug you are on for a full list of side effects, but even if weight gain is one, it doesn't mean you can't lose weight, it will just mean it will be a bit harder.

I would definitely suggest increasing your exercise if you can, since it has so many mood enhancement benefits, in addition to the caloric burn and general health benefits.

If you still find it is much harder to maintain or lose weight, talk you doctor about possibly switching to a different drug. As I said, most modern antidepressants do not have weight gain as a side effect.

That's incorrect. Most antidepressants are associated with weight gain and difficulty losing. Antidepressants are notorious for weight gain and are directly linked to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. They are believed to affect metabolism. I am the perfect example of this. I gained 111 lbs within 3 years from antidepressants AND developed insulin resistance due to the drugs (all while being a competitive gymnast… training 5 days a week, 3 hours each day). Before beginning antidepressants, I was a whopping 95-97 lbs and couldn't gain a pound no matter how much I ate. Before antidepressants, I had a RMR well above 2000 calories/day and now my RMR is roughly 1411 calories/day. That just goes to show that antidepressants can cause metabolic abnormalities.

ETA: I have been on basically every SSRI, SNRI, and TCA and they all had the same effect... Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, Cymbalta, Pristiq, Effexor, Tofranil, Klonopin (benzo), Ativan (benzo), Pamelor, Vivactil, etc.

Jojomotivated

I took anti-depressants for a year while I was in marching band and I gained over 20 pounds. For some reason, I had a LOT more food while on those meds. The weight gain just contributed to the depression. I drank a lot more water and that seemed to help, but I ultimately couldn't start losing weight until my doctor took me off of them =(

Alessa71

Not only do the drugs differ in impact, but every body reacts differently. I am surprised a doctor would simply say you will not be unable to lose weight. Plenty of people do while people also gain. It's not out of your control though. Clearly your food and exercise will be the greatest determinants. Just as a point of info, I lost weight on them. It doesn't mean some

Alessa71

^^it doesn't mean someone else will or will not, but it's possible.

catlover66666

Even though I have been on an antidepressant (i.e. sertraline) for several years, I have been able to lose weight. I just watch my portion sizes, eat a lot of fruits/veggies/lean protein/whole grains and I exercise (brisk fitness walking) 5-6 days a week for up to an hour. I have been losing 1-2 pounds a week from doing this. Since August 4th I have lost 21 pounds and I am 30 pounds away from goal. Since the holidays have been here, my weight loss has plateaued. But I haven't really gained. I've kept up with the exercise so that's probably why. You can do it if you really want to!!! I sure feel better and I love how my clothes fit me now, too!

lewispwest

As with others above, I've been on anti-depressants since a week before I started my diet in April and I've lost 70 odd pounds in that time (taking off christmas weight gain!) so it's not a death sentence, you just have to work around it.

pineapple_jojo

Which one are you on? I've been fine losing on Citalopram

lewispwest

pineapple_jojo wrote: »

Which one are you on? I've been fine losing on Citalopram

Yeah that's what I've been on and lost fine (at least for the first six months)

gin_fb33

I had 0 weight gain while being on WelbutrinXL and have not had problems losing weight (except when I eat too much, eg. christmas... oops). And when I was on Effexor years ago, I lost weight because it killed my appetite (along with everything else I could possible feel). So it really is person to person. I've found that lately I don't need to be on my meds anymore (Drs are aware I'm off) simply from exercise and healthier eating (not saying you should come off them, just that it definitely helps a lot for some people).

engagedprincess

I'm on fluoxetine (Prozac), risperidone and tegrotol. It may take some extra work for me to lose weight but it's not impossible. I've lost 39lbs...

cblue315

I've been on Sertraline for over 20 years. Lost 60 pounds since June 1. I can't blame the drugs.

Phrick

I've taken a host of psychiatric medications over the years, including some BIG time gainers like Seroquel, Zyprexa, and Dalmane - and have successfully lost over 100 pounds. It can be challenging but it is NOT impossible. You will likely have to do some work around finding what YOUR personal metabolism is set at, given that the medication you take has the potential to affect that (not that the meds ALWAYS affect metabolism, but it is a possibility you cannot deny). Your personal Calories In / Calories Out equation may be different than average and you will need to do some experimenting to figure out just how different it is in order to calculate *your* personal intake needs. But it is not as catastrophic as to be IMPOSSIBLE as your doctor has apparently indicated.

Phrick

The formula I was given to figure out individual Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE, a term you'll see on the forums frequently) is as follows. And note that you will need to figure this over a MINIMUM of 14 days - the longer your calculation period, the more accurate your equation will be. A range of less than 14 days is going to be pretty much useless. The process takes patience and diligence but is so worth it. Anyway, the formula:

Total Gross Calorie Intake + (3500 x weight lost in pounds) / days = TDEE

or if you gain in the time period then I believe the formula changes to

Total Gross Calorie Intake - (3500 x weight gained in pounds) / days = TDEE
(someone please correct that if I'm wrong, math is not my strong suit)


Since this TDEE figure is how much you would need to eat in order to maintain your weight, then from that figure you need to subtract a percentage of calories in order to lose. Anywhere from 10% to 25% is appropriate, depending on how much you have to lose.

47Jacqueline

I've heard this for years, but never experienced weight gain from antidepressants in the 13 years I was on them. My doctor said to just watch what I ate. I'm now off them because it turns out I was misdiagnosed, but the main difference I've experienced is I no longer have dry mouth.

chele402

Never had the issue either - successfully lost 50lbs on Zoloft and now on Wellbutrin losing pretty consistently.

From what Doctor's have told me, it's not directly the meds that make you gain weight. It's a change in appetite or lifting of depression (during which people feel better and start to eat more). If you are good about logging, weighing and measuring what you eat, you should have no issues.

Noogynoogs

Side effect weight gain unfortunately.

mykaylis

FatFreeFrolicking wrote: »

MakePeasNotWar wrote: »

Most antidepressants are not associated with weight gain or difficulty losing. Research the particular drug you are on for a full list of side effects, but even if weight gain is one, it doesn't mean you can't lose weight, it will just mean it will be a bit harder.

I would definitely suggest increasing your exercise if you can, since it has so many mood enhancement benefits, in addition to the caloric burn and general health benefits.

If you still find it is much harder to maintain or lose weight, talk you doctor about possibly switching to a different drug. As I said, most modern antidepressants do not have weight gain as a side effect.

That's incorrect. Most antidepressants are associated with weight gain and difficulty losing. Antidepressants are notorious for weight gain and are directly linked to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. They are believed to affect metabolism. I am the perfect example of this. I gained 111 lbs within 3 years from antidepressants AND developed insulin resistance due to the drugs (all while being a competitive gymnast… training 5 days a week, 3 hours each day). Before beginning antidepressants, I was a whopping 95-97 lbs and couldn't gain a pound no matter how much I ate. Before antidepressants, I had a RMR well above 2000 calories/day and now my RMR is roughly 1411 calories/day. That just goes to show that antidepressants can cause metabolic abnormalities.

ETA: I have been on basically every SSRI, SNRI, and TCA and they all had the same effect... Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, Cymbalta, Pristiq, Effexor, Tofranil, Klonopin (benzo), Ativan (benzo), Pamelor, Vivactil, etc.

yup.

i'm on a nice complicated cocktail of psych meds, all of which have weight gain as a side effect. one, though, can go either way - it's more common for a patient to LOSE weight than gain weight. it's called bupropion (wellbutrin). unlike SSRIs, which raise serotonin, or SNRIs which raise serotonin and norepinephrine, it is a different class of drug which raises dopamine.

the ONLY way to get real answers is to talk to your doctor. we can only provide you with basic info and suggestions. MFP has helped me greatly in the 2 months i've been doing it. even though my meds make it extremely difficult, following its principles do set you in the right direction.

lsgibbs83

I struggle with seasonal depression in the winter. I spoke to my doctor about it as well as my concerns about weight gain with some of the medications. If I were to gain, I believe it would be counter-productive. He prescribed Wellbutrin and I have continued to lose consistently.

Holmesfamily26037

Thank you so much with all the info! Def helps me a lot! I'm on Prozac..btw.. I workout a few times a week(3)..eat within my calorie intake 1200-2000..drink lots of water..so I'm not giving up..just needed to know others opinions to make sure I was or was not the only one in this rut..

Holmesfamily26037

Oh yeah and I work 5-6 days a week constantly on my feet..factory fast pace job

LAWoman72

I only gained on antidepressants when they sent my appetite off the hook. IOW, I didn't gain while eating well, I did gain directly from overeating.

I was on Abilify for a month and my God. I could not put the fork down. I'd be sitting there with the tears streaming down my face WHILE shoveling the fork into my mouth, feeling like I was totally unable to stop.

Over the course of 25 years or so, I was on various antidepressants (am not on any now), including, let me think...Prozac (Fluoxetine), Pristiq, Effexor, Viibryd, Welbutrin (that one made me nasty and aggressive as hell) and Zoloft.

On none of them did I gain without overeating. When I ate at a deficit on any and all of them, I did lose weight (except Abilify, on which I never ate at a deficit, I was like a food monster). Several made me so exhausted that I had to nap multiple times a day; that did make my weight loss efforts worse, but again, it was obviously directly related to not expending as much energy during the day (I mean...I was sleeping, not much energy expenditure there except respiration and so on) but not lowering my calories to reflect that lower expenditure.

Are you saying you're gaining from hunger on the meds? Or that you're gaining even though you're eating at a deficit?

esjones12

Exercise is a free anti-depressant that also helps you lose weight....

Holmesfamily26037 wrote: »

Thank you so much with all the info! Def helps me a lot! I'm on Prozac..btw.. I workout a few times a week(3)..eat within my calorie intake 1200-2000..drink lots of water..so I'm not giving up..just needed to know others opinions to make sure I was or was not the only one in this rut..

1200-2000 calories is a huge range. Have you figured out a deficit and have you been weighing and logging all of your food? Definitely start there. Talk with your doctor about your concerns. Especially if weight is effecting your depression. If he or she does not seem concerned or offer help - find a new doctor.