Antidepressants

jwooley13

Hi All,

I've been dealing with depression for quite a long time now, and my therapist thinks that I should start considering adding a medication into the mix to see if that may help. I've taken Lexapro before, and gained a lot of weight and didn't benefit much from it at all.

My weight has always been somewhat of a factor in my depression - I gained about 60lbs over four years because of it. I don't necessarily want an anti-depressant that will make me lose weight (I don't believe in miracle pills), but I am hoping to find one that at the very least won't make me gain. So far, my basic research leads me to believe that Wellbutrin might be a good option for me.

Does anyone have any experience with how antidepressants have impacted their weight loss goals?

riotatme23

Check out my profile.


You need to focus first on your mental health. You can always lose weight later, but your mental health is paramount.

becky10rp

My daughter is on Wellbutrin and it has helped her immensely - she takes that in addition to Zoloft.

She has mentioned that the Wellbutrin has made her lose her appetite - which I've read is a common side effect.

Talk to your doctor - see what he/she says.

jwooley13

I totally get that, and I'm working on it. I'm in therapy and I have all of the necessary support. However, part of depression for me includes mindless, often emotional eating. My weight loss goals aren't aggressive or unrealistic and I think having a healthy body will make it easier to have a healthy mind.

What I'm really looking for are some examples of people who have taken antidepressants and how those medications impacted their goals.

mallorytravels

Wellbutrin is where its at if you want increased energy and decreased appetite. When I was on a high dose I barely needed food or sleep. All my social inhibitions were dramatically reduced and well... let's just say I loved to chase the boys! haha.

cicisiam

Research online..Google all articles on side effects from anti-depressants from respected websites.

CoachJen71

I'm bipolar 2 (leaning depressive rather than manic) and am on a cocktail of meds. Prozac and wellbutrin both seem to be at least weight gain neutral for me. My mother took prozac and lost weight, however she was also doing Weight Watchers and exercising so it's not clear what role it played. It may have just been that it gave her enough of a pick-me-up that she was able to get out there and exercise.

jwooley13

Wellbutrin is where its at if you want increased energy and decreased appetite. When I was on a high dose I barely needed food or sleep. All my social inhibitions were dramatically reduced and well... let's just say I loved to chase the boys! haha.

That's fantastic! Did you find that it kept you from sleeping at all or did you just feel energized and refreshed? Low energy is one of my biggest struggles these days.

maz504

Been on Lexapro for 3 years, didn't impact my weight and was extremely helpful in my case.

NotJustADieter

I'm on three different meds that "should" be making me gain weight- an antidepressant (SNRI), a benzo and birth control.

I've lost nearly 30lbs in 3 months.

Your mental health needs to come first. Speaking as someone with a serious mental health condition (CPTSD) it is SO MUCH EASIER to lose weight when I care about myself. I want to take care of myself, I have the energy to put into picking good foods and exercising. Before the meds, I ate whatever was at hand and stayed in bed all day.

CoachJen71

Wellbutrin is where its at if you want increased energy and decreased appetite. When I was on a high dose I barely needed food or sleep. All my social inhibitions were dramatically reduced and well... let's just say I loved to chase the boys! haha.

Hmmm... Mallory, is there any chance you might have been hypomanic at all? I have that reaction to some meds. Boosts me up to a little too happy, if you know what I mean. :^)

odusgolp

I'm not a doctor. Listen to them.


But also listen to me... Paxil and Effexor are pretty much the devil's nectar. So hard to get OFF of. Be very careful and very well informed with whatever you decide to do. And good luck! Depression is horrific.

Italianma7

.Wellbutrin does have a side effect to decrease appetite. It also increases anxiety at least for me. All those medications are all trial and error. Not everyone has the same effects. It takes 4-6 weeks before you will notice difference. most side effects subside. Talk to your doctor and see what works best for you. Also FYI exercising releases the same chemicals in your brain as the pills do Good Luck!:flowerforyou:

jwooley13

I'm on three different meds that "should" be making me gain weight- an antidepressant (SNRI), a benzo and birth control.

I've lost nearly 30lbs in 3 months.

Your mental health needs to come first. Speaking as someone with a serious mental health condition (CPTSD) it is SO MUCH EASIER to lose weight when I care about myself. I want to take care of myself, I have the energy to put into picking good foods and exercising. Before the meds, I ate whatever was at hand and stayed in bed all day.

Thanks so much for the encouragement. I think I have a pretty solid plan for managing my mental health at this point, and that will always come before weight loss for me. I think a lot of my weight loss issues are rooted in mental issues, so the two are definitely linked in my case.

I feel you on the staying in bed and eating all day. When I'm at my worst, that's about all I can manage.

twasadark

I've been on Effexor XR for years - no weight gain from that. I'm also on Fetzima which hasn't made me gain weight. I tried Wellbutrin before, Lexapro, and others like Zoloft but they just didn't work for me. It's more important that you find a med that works for you rather than picking one based on the potential to gain weight, in my humble opinion.

This study touts the benefits of the active ingredient in turmeric (no side effects), saying it's as effective as Prozac. I've added it to the mix lately. :-) http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/07/31/study-finds-turmeric-is-effective-as-prozac-for-treating-depression/

Also, exercise, exercise, exercise.

I've had lots of therapy and while it helped, I've always had to do a bunch of things to be able to function.

Best of luck. Message me anytime.

ladybird89

Wow, good timing. I'm in EXACTLY the same boat as you, except my issue is anxiety as well as depression. I understand how frustrating it can be...the idea that the only "cure" out there might cause you to gain weight is disheartening. Like you, a lot of my symptoms revolve around body image issues. I decided to try Wellbutrin because it was the only medicine that is weight neutral, but after 2 weeks my depression was worse than ever. I'm going to see my doctor next week to discuss other options. Even though I had a bad experience, I'd still recommend giving Wellbutrin a shot. A friend of mine lost a ton of weight while on that medication, and it also seems to have helped with her depression and body image issues, so I guess everyone reacts differently. Note: Wellbutrin increases dopamine while other antidepressants target serotonin. For some, increased dopamine can make anxiety worse.

jwooley13

I'm not a doctor. Listen to them.


But also listen to me... Paxil and Effexor are pretty much the devil's nectar. So hard to get OFF of. Be very careful and very well informed with whatever you decide to do. And good luck! Depression is horrific.

Good to know. I had some trouble coming off of the Lexapro a few years ago too. This is all definitely going to be discussed with my doctor!

jwooley13

Wow, good timing. I'm in EXACTLY the same boat as you, except my issue is anxiety as well as depression. I understand how frustrating it can be...the idea that the only "cure" out there might cause you to gain weight is disheartening. Like you, a lot of my symptoms revolve around body image issues. I decided to try Wellbutrin because it was the only medicine that is weight neutral, but after 2 weeks my depression was worse than ever. I'm going to see my doctor next week to discuss other options. Even though I had a bad experience, I'd still recommend giving Wellbutrin a shot. A friend of mine lost a ton of weight while on that medication, and it also seems to have helped with her depression and body image issues, so I guess everyone reacts differently. Note: Wellbutrin increases dopamine while other antidepressants target serotonin. For some, increased dopamine can make anxiety worse.

Sorry the meds aren't working out for you. That was my reaction to Lexapro when I tried it. It really is a lot of trial and error. I was thinking that maybe Wellbutrin might be worth a shot for me since I already struck out with one of the SSRIs.

Hope you start feeling better soon!

redromad275

I take Pristique and have no issues with weight gain. My wife on the other hand, took another type (forgotten) and she had weight loss issues. Now that she no longer takes it, her weight loss has improved. I am so very proud of her.

MelRC117

I'm on wellbutrin and I have no reason to attribute any weight gain because of it. I haven't been on any other antidepressants prior so I can't compare, but I've had no issues with my weight or feeling hungry because of it. Hopefully its something that will work out for you!

HeidiCooksSupper

I would concentrate first on finding the drug or mix of drugs that work for your depression. For me it's the generic for Prozac (fluoxetine) and generic Welbutrin (bupropion). I add a Syrcadian Blue SADD light from about August through February. I've been treated for depression for decades. I never noticed any particular effect on weight except that when the depression is bad, I tend to self-medicate with excess food. Like many in my father's side of the family, I tried self-medicating with alcohol. That doesn't work and has the worst long-term bad side effects of all. Exercise like walking, vitamin D, and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet do help.

Clinical depression sucks but you can certainly live with it and have a good life. My life-long friends call me the happiest depressed person they've ever known. Seek things that make you happy like the beauty of art and music, kitten videos, flowers, etc. They won't cure your depression but they help strengthen you to fight its symptoms. Give yourself time to escape from yourself with some escapist fiction. It's hard to pay any attention to depressive thoughts when you are worrying about whether the heroine will escape and find the real killers! Do some small thing good for the world so you feel useful. I volunteer at the local food bank.

Do seek counseling periodically to learn new things about how you, yourself, think and how to work on getting yourself out of self-defeating patterns. Keep an eye on what works and what doesn't long haul. And don't beat yourself up. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and, as the song says, start all over again. Life is good.

Heidi

mamaoftwins9197

I was on Wellbutrin for years and I didn't have any weight gain with it. It worked wonders for a long time. I guess it eventually stopped working for me and I switched to Lexapro last year. I started it and the depo shot around the same time and put on 25 pounds in just a few months. Don't know which was the culprit or if it was a combination. I LOVE what Lexapro does for my depression and anger issues though and I enjoy not being pregnant, so the weight gain was worth it to me. I would give the Wellbutrin a try.

Mexicanbigfoot

I have been on almost every antidepressant in the book.

Currently, I am taking both Pristiq and generic Wellbutrin together and I have had zero weight gain side effects. In fact, in the past 80+ days I've lost 36 pounds. :bigsmile:

I also went through ALOT of therapy to help me deal with the root of my depression. I am pretty sure you said you are seeing a therapist. Don't stop that just because you start taking an antidepressant. I don't believe in miracle pills either, but I definitely feel better and I can tell when I don't take my meds.

Keep doing what you are doing, I promise it can get better for you.

1princesswarrior

I'm not a doctor. Listen to them.


But also listen to me... Paxil and Effexor are pretty much the devil's nectar. So hard to get OFF of. Be very careful and very well informed with whatever you decide to do. And good luck! Depression is horrific.

I've been on both. I'm on Effexor now and I have no issues when my dose is changed. Antidepressants affect each individual differently so saying one or two is the devil's nectar is just wrong. I'm sorry you had issues coming off of them but maybe that had something to do with your doctor and not the pills.

jwooley13

Thanks everybody for the encouragement! It makes me feel great to hear how many people really benefited from their treatment!

1princesswarrior

I have been on too many antidepressants to count. The only one I've ever had weight gain issues with is Elavil (sp?) but that's why they put me on it. It's a really old one and hardly ever used anymore though.

Many of the newer ones do not have the same weight gain side effects, people just like to blame the pills. At least I was like that when I ate myself up to 236lbs after I was diagnosed bipolar II a few years ago. But then I sat down and realized it was the night after night of large pizzas, 18 wings with fries, two large subs, mozzarella sticks, two pints of ice cream at a time, etc.

That's why you should continue with your counselor in addition to an antidepressant. Once you get your mental health on track weight loss is a piece of cake.

Miss_1999

I've been on everything under the sun- Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Sarafem, Pristiq, Lexapro, Celexa, Wellbutrin, Paxil, Effexor XR, Depakote along with some Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan. Over 18 years, they've had me on everything under the sun. The first time I came off of Effexor XR, yeah, it wasn't pleasant. I didn't detox correctly. The second time, right before I had my daughter, it was a breeze. This isn't a drug you can just STOP taking. You have to step down period (with the 37.5), usually combined with a lower dosage of another anitdepressant- such as Prozac. Within a month, I was completely detoxed from it all with zero withdraw symptoms. The only drug I had a severe reaction to was Depakote. I ended up in the ER with it. It was a very, very wicked drug for me, but I know it has helped many others.

I am now on Effexor XR and Topamax. I have really good results with both, and as far as weight issues go, neither caused weight gain.

The biggest thing I'd suggest is talk to your doctor. I don't know what your official diagnosis is, and I know that certain drugs work better for certain people. Even though Depakote is a drug that is commonly given to those who are struggling with Bipolar/Borderline, it messed me up horribly, and had I continued taking it, ultimately, I would've most likely ended up dead. You just don't know until you take them. It's trial and error. I've taken so many that didn't do anything. Lexapro made me extremely mean. Celexa made me cry all the time. Paxil made me incontinent. High doses of Effexor XR made me depressed, while the lower dose (75mgs) level me out correctly. It's hard finding the right combination, so if you are able to find something that works well for you, not saying it's a *bad* thing to try out something new, because you may find something better, but it may take some trial and error along the way.

losingforgood120

I was put on a generic to zoloft after one doctor visit in which I cried and said I'd not been sleeping well for a week. (I think that was pretty extreme- straight to the drugs! No counseling first! But I was young and just did what the doctor said.)
I was at a healthy weight when I started taking it and quickly lost a lot of weight- became underweight- due to nausea and no appetite. They tried lowering my dosage and told me to drink ensure but I just kept dropping weight so the doctor switched me to lexapro. I gained back the weight I lost and then some. I still had lots of unwanted side effects so after trying for a few months I decided to stop taking it and just go to counseling. Which worked out for me. I wish I had done that in the first place.

Antidepressants seem to help some people- for me they were just really hard on my system, even at small doses. I can't say if they helped me because making me underweight was so detrimental.. it was hard to tell. I felt like lexapro was "better" because it didn't make me feel horribly nauseated. I'd rather be overweight than underweight! Being underweight was the worst I've ever felt- no energy!

My case was a bit extreme- I hope you find something that works for you. Mental health first and then you can figure out the weight thing. :flowerforyou: Good luck!

carolineb81

I take citalopram, has changed my life as was really struggling with depression and anxiety, In terms of weight loss it actually suppresses my appetite and im never hungry so has not stopped me losing weight!

Ohnoes

Antidepressants are killing my appetite. I'm on Zoloft and I don't feel hungry or full, ever. I'm trying to log to make sure that I'm actually eating enough, and eating the right things. Good luck, there seems to be a huge variance in the side effects of these drugs. Celexa made me lose my appetite as well. I have about ten more pounds to lose but I intend for that loss to be purposeful and healthy rather than something caused by me neglecting myself, so I'm focused on maintenance for the moment.

rheamunroe

My doctor was reviewing my medications in relation to weight gain and he said the only one that I was on that doesn't cause weight gain is wellbutrin and I super trust my doctor, so I'd say it's worth a shot (it's also really cheap so that's an added bonus!)