Losing weight on Remeron?

TCamardella

Hi everyone.

I'm at 287 pounds, my highest ever, and I'm determined to lose weight. However I've recently been diagnosed with Bipolar 1 disorder, and my doctor thinks Remeron will help my mood swings/manic depression greatly. The kick is that the medication seems to make a lot of people GAIN a lot of weight. Should I not take it? Is there anyone who has experience with this medication and can let me know what they experience? I have an appointment with her later this week, but I have to start it tonight and I'm worried about tipping the 300 pound mark.

nikkit321

Remeron has both weight gain and weight loss as potential side effects. My father has been on Remeron since 9/11 and has lost 6 pounds. He is on several other medications that have appetite suppression as a potential side effect so I can't attribute the loss solely to Remeron. I would discuss your concern with your doctor but would not avoid a medication the doctor thinks would be a benefit because of the possibility of a side effect. If you do gain weight on the medication, I'd then discuss it again with your doctor.

TCamardella

nikkit321 wrote: »

Remeron has both weight gain and weight loss as potential side effects. My father has been on Remeron since 9/11 and has lost 6 pounds. He is on several other medications that have appetite suppression as a potential side effect so I can't attribute the loss solely to Remeron. I would discuss your concern with your doctor but would not avoid a medication the doctor thinks would be a benefit because of the possibility of a side effect. If you do gain weight on the medication, I'd then discuss it again with your doctor.

Thank you very much, this made me feel a bit better. I'll definitely avoid going off it cold turkey.

nikkit321

Never go off a medication cold turkey - you always need to consult with the doctor who prescribed it. But I wanted to let you know that I'm just back from an appointment with my father. The dr said that weight gain isn't typically seen with doses less than 65mg, so I think it will really depend on the dose. But regardless, if you stock healthy foods in your kitchen, I think you'll be fine. You can't gain weight eating carrots!

PinkPixiexox

Take the medication prescribed. Mental health is just as important as physical health - you clearly need this medication and your doctor knows best in that regard. With your weight gain worries, speak to your doctor and see if he can suggest ways to avoid this happening. I've been on an Anti-Depressant for around 8 years and I believe the ingredients can cause an increased appetite which LEADS to weight gain and there are definitely ways around that. Keep tracking and you'll be absolutely fine. Be well.

duddysdad

I am on 15mg Remeron and have been for 5 years. I recently lost over 150 pounds in 9 months. I started out on 45mg and even then had no problems losing weight. I read that it can increase appetite, but I never found that true for myself. YMMV.

LKArgh

TCamardella wrote: »

Hi everyone.

I'm at 287 pounds, my highest ever, and I'm determined to lose weight. However I've recently been diagnosed with Bipolar 1 disorder, and my doctor thinks Remeron will help my mood swings/manic depression greatly. The kick is that the medication seems to make a lot of people GAIN a lot of weight. Should I not take it? Is there anyone who has experience with this medication and can let me know what they experience? I have an appointment with her later this week, but I have to start it tonight and I'm worried about tipping the 300 pound mark.

You cannot experiment on your own with bipolar disorder. It will take a lot of experimenting with your dr regarding different meds and dosage, and it is important to follow advice to get your health under control. Discuss your concerns with your dr. Avoid googling your treatment plan, every person is different and you will end up super stressed for things that might not apply to you at all.