Anyone on an antidepressant and still able to lose?

ladydark2018

I have been on lexapro for 4 years and although it’s done wonders for my anxiety disorder, I have also gained 40 pounds. Has anyone had success losing weight While STILL staying on their meds? I’m beginning to thinks it’s impossible

Kdp2015

I don’t think the answers will be very different to the other thread you started at the same time.
It is possible and no one is going to say stop taking the meds (I hope.)

Sometimes it’s more of a mindset than anything, have you talked to anyone IRL about what might be stopping you?

Adam__20000

I’ve been on Fluoxetine for about a year and a half and did gain weight for most of that period. I have lost a lot of it recently though

puffbrat

I saw your other thread too, but to respond post here....I have been taking Sertraline for 2.5 years now and have no problem losing weight while on it.

sunfastrose

I've been on 10 mg Lexapro for about a year now - and have been able to maintain at my goal weight with no problems.

kami3006

Have been on SSRIs for decades and no issues from it. Lost, bulked, and maintained as planned.

themexicanbigfoot

I am currently on 3 anti depressants and still losing. It's not impossible. Are you tracking properly? Weighing your food?

cheryldumais

Years ago I lost some weight while on Prozac. In fact it was the best diet pill I ever took, lol. The effect wore off after a few months though. My husband on the other hand has gained alot on anti-depressents. I think it depends on what exactly you are treating. Hubby is Bipolar and so the manic phases that he used to get have gone leaving him more relaxed and eating more. Personally I think I stress eat so when I was calmer I didn't need to eat as much? I don't know, I think everyone is different.

mbaker566

yes, i've lost weight on all ssris.
except remeron. that made me eat all things. no food was safe. but it was brain hunger, not stomach hunger.

lynds1371

I lost around 70-80lbs whilst on citalopram. I did gain most of that back whilst on something for anxiety but I cant remember the name think it was that remeron (mirtazapine) as it sounds familiar, that was absolutely horrendous, never known hunger like it! As previous poster said all mental though.
It can be done, definitely not impossible due to the meds.

kshama2001

There are mistakes that people commonly make that cause them to not lose weight that we might be able to spot if you change your Diary Sharing settings to Public: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

singingflutelady

Yes I have been on multiple antidepressants and no weight gain. The only one that caused weight gain (Mirtazipine) increased my appetite a lot and I binged therefore I gained.

crisma1974

I was on lexapro for over a year and have weaned off it with my dr's supervision. Since then, I have been able to lose weight at a rate of 1-2 lbs per week. While on Lexapro, I did lose but very slowly. But it was a wonderful drug for me. I had more energy and helped with my anxiety. I was also on paxil a couple of years back and lost weight on it. Go figure since it is almost guaranteed to gain weight on that one. However it made be extremely tired all day.

Womona

I am also on Lexapro, have been for 2 years. Originally, I did gain weight- went from 112 pounds but was an anxious, weepy wreck, to 125 but feel happy, well adjusted and healthy. To me it’s worth the weight gain! That said, I am in perimenopause and put on another 7 pounds within the last 9 months. So, can you lose weight on an antidepressant? Absolutely! My weight is now going down because I recently increased my activity and decreased my intake (logging both helps tremendously). Just went from 132 to 130. My next goal is 128, then 125 where I want to stay. It is possible! Just exercise and log your food.

Athijade

ladydark2018 wrote: »

I have been on lexapro for 4 years and although it’s done wonders for my anxiety disorder, I have also gained 40 pounds. Has anyone had success losing weight While STILL staying on their meds? I’m beginning to thinks it’s impossible

I have been on lexapro about the same amount of time as you (though with a couple of breaks). I have not had any issue losing weight on it when I am in the right mindset, but I do find that it calms me to the point that the "I don't cares" can be a problem.

Right now I am not losing weight though but that is due to doctor's orders as I am not mentally in a healthy place to handle the added stress. Since I have anxiety, depression, and OCD calorie counting can be difficult for me. With my dad passing away in August, all three have been worse so my doc wants me to focus on that part of my health before coming back and counting. Cause it is bad when you are crying because all you want is a cookie but the dang things says you can't have a cookie...

must_deflate

I gained 30 lbs on Lexapro but it took 10 years. Nothing I did would keep the weight off and never before in my life had I had difficulty losing weight when I wanted to. At my wits end, I stopped taking Lex. Lo and behold, I immediately started losing weight. I went on Prozac instead. Been on the Prozac for about a year-- not dieting hard or anything but I've lost 20 lbs gradually. Five to go, then I'll see if I can, or want to, lose another 5. I sure hope the Prozac doesn't start making me gain because unfortunately I seem to need these drugs.

debtay123

I have lost weight even though I have been on citalopram for a couple of years. using mfp has helped

cewarren7

I’ve been on 20mg of Lexapro for a while now and gained 50 pounds 😔I had lost a little but it took very long then I gained it all back.

AllOutof_Bubblegum

I've been on antidepressants for years. They don't magically make you gain weight, they only occasionally increase your appetite. If you can control your food intake, there's no reason you have to gain weight while on them.

TrishSeren

I've been on Escitalopram (which is what your taking) for years, no issues with losing weight.

DO NOT stop taking the meds, I went cold turkey once and I was very, very unwell for weeks. My doctor gave me a huge telling off. Also set my recovery back.

daniwilford

I lost a ton of weight while on Paxil. I gained weight when Paxil, stopped working, because I didn't care. I'm on a 3 pill combo now. I am feeling much better and am losing weight. If my depression/anxiety is under control or not has more to do with my ability to lose weight than the medication.

must_deflate

AllOutof_Bubblegum wrote: »

I've been on antidepressants for years. They don't magically make you gain weight, they only occasionally increase your appetite. If you can control your food intake, there's no reason you have to gain weight while on them.

Good for you. But controlling food intake did not work for me. Different people respond differently to medications and to make a blanket statement that "antidepressants don't make you gain weight" is not valid.

must_deflate

cewarren7 wrote: »

I’ve been on 20mg of Lexapro for a while now and gained 50 pounds 😔I had lost a little but it took very long then I gained it all back.

Ask your Dr. if you can try a different antidepressant (perhaps Prozac) and don't let him/her tell you Lexapro can't cause weight gain. One of my doctors finally admitted that he's seen it happen in many people who take it long term. 50 extra pounds is bad for your health-- so if you can find a solution to your mental health that will allow you to lose weight, it's win-win.

endermako

I've been on Wellbutrin XR for well over a year and haven't had any trouble

Katiebear_81

I take a low dose of seroquel (not an anti-depressant, by the way), which is known to cause metabolic disruption. Still maintaining my same weight, while running a successful recomp.

JBanx256

Fluvoxamine, no issues cutting.