Weight gain caused by anti-depressants
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magnusthenerd wrote: »rickiimarieee wrote: »Also with the increase of appetite with it, you don’t need medicine to decrease your appetite. It’s called self control. Plus there’s things you can do to help yourself from snacking. Drink more water, brush your teeth, have a small healthy snack, eat something high in fats or protein (tends to fill you up more), keep yourself busy, or just tell yourself “no.” I know it’s hard but if you want this, gotta have the self control to do so!
Generally, exerting self-control takes a certain amount of mental resources that tend to be low in depression. Far better to find strategies that don't rely on what is an unreliable resource.
Brushing one's teeth to avoid eating is usually associated with anorexic behavior.
Be careful making broad statements like that. I use this strategy every night to avoid nighttime snacking and I know many other people who use this same strategy. I am not and have never had any type of anorexic behavior.12 -
I'm currently on venlafaxine, lamotrigene and amipiprazole (Effexor, Lamictal and Abilify). My own experience is that they stimulate your appetite while making me really tired (although hard to tell if it's the depression instead).
Of course, I was just about to throw a hissy fit and blame the meds for the weight gain when I started using MFP and tracked my eating for just a week. I found out how much I was over eating and how low my tdee is. I've been trying to keep to my target calories and I've lost 11lbs in 11 weeks. I now worship at the alter of CICO.
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magnusthenerd wrote: »rickiimarieee wrote: »Also with the increase of appetite with it, you don’t need medicine to decrease your appetite. It’s called self control. Plus there’s things you can do to help yourself from snacking. Drink more water, brush your teeth, have a small healthy snack, eat something high in fats or protein (tends to fill you up more), keep yourself busy, or just tell yourself “no.” I know it’s hard but if you want this, gotta have the self control to do so!
Generally, exerting self-control takes a certain amount of mental resources that tend to be low in depression. Far better to find strategies that don't rely on what is an unreliable resource.
Brushing one's teeth to avoid eating is usually associated with anorexic behavior.
Be careful making broad statements like that. I use this strategy every night to avoid nighttime snacking and I know many other people who use this same strategy. I am not and have never had any type of anorexic behavior.
This. I do it for the same reason and I have never suffered from anorexia. I’m also a fan of minty breath vs tasting what I just ate all evening long.
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You mean the one who made my point pretty elegantly by noting that a. she has bipolar b. she has experience taking Zoloft and c. she's on a number of different psychotropic medications? Again, that's some assuming you did, some really impressively inaccurate assuming.Coffee0ooYummy wrote: »Just an FYI, a lot of people here have a history of being on antidepressants (among other meds). It's not really the best to just assume someone has no experience with something when you have no basis for that assumption. Even if you do have some basis, assumptions are just that.
Lol tell that to the one who judged her....
I've been on meds since I was 14.... I'm 46 now. I would never ask someone that question.....
Get real
Whether you like it or not, weight loss and gain comes down to how many calories you're consuming vs how many calories you're burning. It is only logical to ask the OP if she was tracking her calories while on Zoloft because how else would she have gained weight (not water weight) other than eating more calories than she burned? If you think that's judging then I'm not sure what to say other than maybe pointing to a dictionary definition of the verb "to judge".
While it might seem to you like you're some sort of unique person by having been on meds for the bulk of your life, I can assure you, you aren't. I wish I could say otherwise.
Signed,
One of the many forum members who deals with chronic mental health issues19 -
I think for me Zoloft def. lowered my energy level. I’m always tired. I’m hoping with making better choices I’ll be able to lose the weight I gained. If you’ve never been on a psych med it’s super hard to just not eat. You’re always hungry and it like hunger pains. 😩
Honestly I gained both while on and not on psych meds. I tried over a dozen before realizing that meds weren't going to touch my depression (I suspect ketamine might help, but given that I'm hopefully going to grad school within a year and a half, I probably wouldn't be able to stay on it). I honestly don't remember any of the ones that I was on, Zoloft included, making me especially hungry. That said I'm also someone who will forget to eat when I'm especially depressed. Think the, "I'm not able to get out of bed" sort of episode.
edit: Let me be clear, I'm talking about the legal use of ketamine to treat depression. One of my previous psychiatrists, who worked at teaching hospital, and I discussed that I would have probably been eligible for a clinical trial.4 -
magnusthenerd wrote: »rickiimarieee wrote: »Also with the increase of appetite with it, you don’t need medicine to decrease your appetite. It’s called self control. Plus there’s things you can do to help yourself from snacking. Drink more water, brush your teeth, have a small healthy snack, eat something high in fats or protein (tends to fill you up more), keep yourself busy, or just tell yourself “no.” I know it’s hard but if you want this, gotta have the self control to do so!
Generally, exerting self-control takes a certain amount of mental resources that tend to be low in depression. Far better to find strategies that don't rely on what is an unreliable resource.
Brushing one's teeth to avoid eating is usually associated with anorexic behavior.
I don’t see how that’s associated with anorexic behavior I can see if it is to avoid eating ALL together but to avoid snacking, I think it’s a great option so you don’t go over calories.4 -
magnusthenerd wrote: »rickiimarieee wrote: »Also with the increase of appetite with it, you don’t need medicine to decrease your appetite. It’s called self control. Plus there’s things you can do to help yourself from snacking. Drink more water, brush your teeth, have a small healthy snack, eat something high in fats or protein (tends to fill you up more), keep yourself busy, or just tell yourself “no.” I know it’s hard but if you want this, gotta have the self control to do so!
Generally, exerting self-control takes a certain amount of mental resources that tend to be low in depression. Far better to find strategies that don't rely on what is an unreliable resource.
Brushing one's teeth to avoid eating is usually associated with anorexic behavior.
Be careful making broad statements like that. I use this strategy every night to avoid nighttime snacking and I know many other people who use this same strategy. I am not and have never had any type of anorexic behavior.
Exactly!0 -
Fitgirllife72 wrote: »magnusthenerd wrote: »rickiimarieee wrote: »Also with the increase of appetite with it, you don’t need medicine to decrease your appetite. It’s called self control. Plus there’s things you can do to help yourself from snacking. Drink more water, brush your teeth, have a small healthy snack, eat something high in fats or protein (tends to fill you up more), keep yourself busy, or just tell yourself “no.” I know it’s hard but if you want this, gotta have the self control to do so!
Generally, exerting self-control takes a certain amount of mental resources that tend to be low in depression. Far better to find strategies that don't rely on what is an unreliable resource.
Brushing one's teeth to avoid eating is usually associated with anorexic behavior.
Be careful making broad statements like that. I use this strategy every night to avoid nighttime snacking and I know many other people who use this same strategy. I am not and have never had any type of anorexic behavior.
This. I do it for the same reason and I have never suffered from anorexia. I’m also a fan of minty breath vs tasting what I just ate all evening long.
Yes!0 -
I wasn't on Zoloft, but I *was* on Lexapro. Never before in my life had I had trouble maintaining a nice lean weight.
But I gained 30 lbs in 10 years on Lex and it was all I could do to keep it from being even more.
Eventually -- out of desperation-- I stopped taking Lex, and immediately began losing weight with NO OTHER lifestyle change. After a couple of months I went on Prozac which so far has not impacted my weight. I've lost 24 lbs in 18 months which may sound excruciatingly slow, but since I already ate healthy and exercised there wasn't a lot of room to make major changes along those lines.
From what I've read, Zoloft is one of the SSRI's most associated with weight gain. (More so than Lexapro) See if your Dr. will work with you to try a different SSRI.5 -
I think for me Zoloft def. lowered my energy level. I’m always tired. I’m hoping with making better choices I’ll be able to lose the weight I gained. If you’ve never been on a psych med it’s super hard to just not eat. You’re always hungry and it like hunger pains. 😩
Lots of AD's besides Zoloft. Talk to your doctor.2 -
I am on Zoloft, Lamictal and Abilify and have been losing weight at rate consistent with my deficit. I lost and gained weight on Paxil. I gained weight when my depression was not controlled. I therefore choose to blame the depression and not the medications for the weight gains. No matter which medication I was on, walking helped with both weight loss and mental health. My psychiatrist suggested I walk for an hour 5-7 days a week. She said while walking for exercise to prevent cardio-vascular disease can be done three times a week she recommended walking more days for mental health. Good luck on your weight loss and mental health journey. If you are not losing weight, it is my experience, it is because you are not eating at a deficit. Your medications may need to be changed but not because they of themselves cause weight gain.5
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" wrote:Also with the increase of appetite with it, you don’t need medicine to decrease your appetite. It’s called self control. Plus there’s things you can do to help yourself from snacking. Drink more water, brush your teeth, have a small healthy snack, eat something high in fats or protein (tends to fill you up more), keep yourself busy, or just tell yourself “no.” I know it’s hard but if you want this, gotta have the self control to do so!
If you read my first post you will see i said you try all the things you mentioned.... except the brushing your teeth bit ...
And the self control eventually goes out the door. You can only take so much especially when you're depressed. I'd tell you to try it but I wouldn't wish that on anyone....
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I've taken Zoloft, Effexor, and now take Lexapro. Zoloft was not a good fit for me. Effexor had nasty withdrawal side effects. Lexapro is a good fit for me. None of these caused me to gain weight. I've been on Lexapro for about 18 months now and am down 41 lbs. I also have diabetes, Hashimoto's, and vitiligo. I take 5 medications daily to manage my autoimmune conditions and associated symptoms.
It does come down to tracking your calories. Many people can gain weight because feeling less depressed or less anxious can lead to people eating more (more socializing, less time in bed, more energy to getting food/making meals).
No one here is judging anyone. Living with depression and anxiety is horrid. Meds can also make us feel icky and yes, some medications do increase hunger, leading us to consume too many calories.
Maybe investigate another medication. Weight gain could cause you to become depressed, so maybe your med just isn't the right fit. There are so many to choose from. I hope you find something that helps you to feel more like yourself without any undesirable side-effects. I've been through 3 different medications before finding something that jives with my body.1 -
So many medications have the side effect of weight gain. I would try to avoid medication at all cost. I take no meds, supplements or vitamins. I am a healthy female in my late 50's. My goals to stay in my size 10. This size is realistic for me.11
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Coffee0ooYummy wrote: »" wrote:Also with the increase of appetite with it, you don’t need medicine to decrease your appetite. It’s called self control. Plus there’s things you can do to help yourself from snacking. Drink more water, brush your teeth, have a small healthy snack, eat something high in fats or protein (tends to fill you up more), keep yourself busy, or just tell yourself “no.” I know it’s hard but if you want this, gotta have the self control to do so!
If you read my first post you will see i said you try all the things you mentioned.... except the brushing your teeth bit ...
And the self control eventually goes out the door. You can only take so much especially when you're depressed. I'd tell you to try it but I wouldn't wish that on anyone....
I have depression and anxiety, trust me I know all about it but if you want something bad enough, you can do it regardless of what stands in the way. At least that’s the way it is for me. Depression affects my daily life and my enjoyment in things but when I want something I do it. But my Zoloft definitely helps.3 -
You mean the one who made my point pretty elegantly by noting that a. she has bipolar b. she has experience taking Zoloft and c. she's on a number of different psychotropic medications? Again, that's some assuming you did, some really impressively inaccurate assuming.Coffee0ooYummy wrote: »Just an FYI, a lot of people here have a history of being on antidepressants (among other meds). It's not really the best to just assume someone has no experience with something when you have no basis for that assumption. Even if you do have some basis, assumptions are just that.
Lol tell that to the one who judged her....
I've been on meds since I was 14.... I'm 46 now. I would never ask someone that question.....
Get real
Whether you like it or not, weight loss and gain comes down to how many calories you're consuming vs how many calories you're burning. It is only logical to ask the OP if she was tracking her calories while on Zoloft because how else would she have gained weight (not water weight) other than eating more calories than she burned? If you think that's judging then I'm not sure what to say other than maybe pointing to a dictionary definition of the verb "to judge".
While it might seem to you like you're some sort of unique person by having been on meds for the bulk of your life, I can assure you, you aren't. I wish I could say otherwise.
Signed,
One of the many forum members who deals with chronic mental health issues
YES, speak the truth!0 -
So many medications have the side effect of weight gain. I would try to avoid medication at all cost. I take no meds, supplements or vitamins. I am a healthy female in my late 50's. My goals to stay in my size 10. This size is realistic for me.
Side effects are a very small price to pay when the alternative for me would be that I'm dead.
It's not as though people with depression are taking those meds recreationally. It's one thing to encourage various avenues of treatment, but meds are lifesavers for many and I can't imagine why anyone would feel the need to make vulnerable people feel shamed for trying to survive.23 -
So many medications have the side effect of weight gain. I would try to avoid medication at all cost. I take no meds, supplements or vitamins. I am a healthy female in my late 50's. My goals to stay in my size 10. This size is realistic for me.
Side effects are a very small price to pay when the alternative for me would be that I'm dead.
It's not as though people with depression are taking those meds recreationally. It's one thing to encourage various avenues of treatment, but meds are lifesavers for many and I can't imagine why anyone would feel the need to make vulnerable people feel shamed for trying to survive.
I agree with this. If I weren’t on my meds, I definitely wouldn’t know where I’d be. I definitely wouldn’t be where I’m at now and definitely not in a good place in my life.6 -
rickiimarieee wrote: »Coffee0ooYummy wrote: »" wrote:Also with the increase of appetite with it, you don’t need medicine to decrease your appetite. It’s called self control. Plus there’s things you can do to help yourself from snacking. Drink more water, brush your teeth, have a small healthy snack, eat something high in fats or protein (tends to fill you up more), keep yourself busy, or just tell yourself “no.” I know it’s hard but if you want this, gotta have the self control to do so!
If you read my first post you will see i said you try all the things you mentioned.... except the brushing your teeth bit ...
And the self control eventually goes out the door. You can only take so much especially when you're depressed. I'd tell you to try it but I wouldn't wish that on anyone....
I have depression and anxiety, trust me I know all about it but if you want something bad enough, you can do it regardless of what stands in the way. At least that’s the way it is for me. Depression affects my daily life and my enjoyment in things but when I want something I do it. But my Zoloft definitely helps.
I can appreciate that it works for you and for some others, but depression has numerous causes and underlying symptoms with an enormous range of intensities. I also can will my way though a lot of things but there was a time where I couldn't even see what needed to be done, much less know how to do it. Comparing one person's depression to another's is an exercise in futility. Being unable to do something while in a depressive state in no way equals not wanting it enough. It's highly demeaning to tell someone otherwise, IMO.5 -
rickiimarieee wrote: »So many medications have the side effect of weight gain. I would try to avoid medication at all cost. I take no meds, supplements or vitamins. I am a healthy female in my late 50's. My goals to stay in my size 10. This size is realistic for me.
Side effects are a very small price to pay when the alternative for me would be that I'm dead.
It's not as though people with depression are taking those meds recreationally. It's one thing to encourage various avenues of treatment, but meds are lifesavers for many and I can't imagine why anyone would feel the need to make vulnerable people feel shamed for trying to survive.
I agree with this. If I weren’t on my meds, I definitely wouldn’t know where I’d be. I definitely wouldn’t be where I’m at now and definitely not in a good place in my life.
I'm always happy to see when someone is able to find a way to function though the grips of depression.3
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