Anti-Depressants- How I Gained My Weight

YummyTpn

Are you implying that the antidepressant directly caused weight gain? Or it caused you to overeat? From my understanding, antidepressants do not directly contribute to weight gain but only the possibility of overeating.

Everyone really needs to read ALL the posts before they respond!

To state again:
Antidepressants CAN, but don't necessarily, cause:
Weight gain.
Cravings for sugary foods.
Cravings for more food.
Weight to hold on and not let go easily.

A lot of this is trial aand error; the doc doesn't know which antidepressant will not cause you to experience all the above. Hopefully, they can *kitten* your situation and make an educated guess...

The very first depressive episode I had, I was put on antidepressants that made me feel WORSE...I just wanted to die to end the suffering...It was nearly unbearable...So when I was put on the correct meds, it was like a huge weight was lifted off my chest...It helped me to function somewhat, so that I could get out of bed, go to school, and go to therapy, which really was key in my recovery.

YummyTpn

I don't understand why you're getting your panties in a bunch. Some of us are simply explaining that there is no known mechanism by which the antidepressant would alter you physically to cause direct weight gain. Weight gain occur when one takes in more calories than they are expending. The only reason any of you gain weight is because you end up overeating. Now, obviously, that's a side effect of going on antidepressants. It's difficult to avoid overeating when you're chemically altered. You can easily do this research yourself. It's the explanation for why most of you are gaining weight. Now, I'm not saying you'll be able to control it but rather I was just mentioning it. No need to get offended. This is the internet. It isn't serious business.

Also, @Apa93: a healthy diet does not mean you won't gain weight. What an absurd notion. I couldn't care less if you eat like Michael Phelps or Lustig. Healthy eating =/= no weight gain.

You are another example of why I'm getting frustrated. You're obviously not reading anyone else's reply. I lead a healthy lifestyle food and exercise and still gained weight and could NEVER lose it. I didn't overeat. I wasn't lazy. This medication made me gain the most weight I've ever weighed. If it was fault of my own, I would admit. Let alone not post on the forum. You all just need to pay attention and read before you open your mouth

YES PLEASE READ THE GD POSTS BEFORE YOU REPLY!!!

MaryPhillips90

Thank you!

AeolianHarp

That's bull****. You can lower metabolisms whilst playing around with the hormones in the body.

Let's say that happens, okay? How do you propose that causes weight gain unless a caloric surplus is present? The medication indirectly causes weight gain but, in the end, a caloric surplus (overeating) is the direct cause for the weight gain. I don't understand why that is so complicated to understand. Google is your friend. You can find this stuff out easily.

AeolianHarp

You are another example of why I'm getting frustrated. You're obviously not reading anyone else's reply. I lead a healthy lifestyle food and exercise and still gained weight and could NEVER lose it. I didn't overeat. I wasn't lazy. This medication made me gain the most weight I've ever weighed. If it was fault of my own, I would admit. Let alone not post on the forum. You all just need to pay attention and read before you open your mouth

I'm not saying it's entirely your fault. Again, you are getting your panties in a bunch. You have to realize that the medication itself cannot directly cause weight gain. You cannot take a pill that will cause you to gain 20lbs. It's obscene to suggest something like this. It's like the people who suggest that they're addicted to food like cocaine and thus cannot prevent binge eating. Honestly, very few people on here understand the science behind the things they discuss.

Let me reiterate for a way that won't offend you: the medication does cause weight gain BUT NOT DIRECTLY. If it was direct then simply taking the pill would result in weight gain regardless of caloric intake yet this is absurd notion. Yes, the pill could decrease your metabolism (I haven't seen evidence that it does but let's say it does). If it does then eating more than you're expending will cause the gain.

And, one more time: healthy lifestyle means jack **** when you're trying to gain or lose weight, so please stop bringing up your "healthy" lifestyle, whatever that means.

Look, I know it's not your fault you gained weight. I'm not trying to suggest that it is.

jg627

My advice, you don't have to take it or agree with it, try to change your life without taking these drugs unless you absolutely have to. This is one of those cure is worse than the disease situations.

^^ That may be true if you just need some therapy to deal with a difficult life situation, but it sounds like you've never had severe depression caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Otherwise, I don't think you'd say the cure is worse than the disease.

Situational or clinical, real or imagined, what's the difference? Either way, it still doesn't just go away. It's something that you have to deal with for the rest of your life.

^^ I don't understand what you mean. With proper treatment, depression can and does go into remission. I guess the cure could be worse than the disease if your disease is mild and your treatment side effects are bad. In that case, I wouldn't want the drugs either. But if your disease is extreme and severely restricts or threatens your life, and you don't suffer any noticeable side effects, or if the side effects are manageable, then how could the cure be worse than the disease?

I mean: how is clinical depression any worse than situational depression or vice versa?

^^ One is NOT worse than the other. There are different treatments for different kinds of problems. Situational depression generally has an identifiable trigger or underlying cause. Sometimes it's reassuring to know that there's a reason for your feelings and it helps to work through it. Chemical imbalance can happen seemingly randomly and for no reason. It's scary to experience emotions that are out of control and have no reason for why it's happening. Both types of people suffer, yes. Medication may or may not be the appropriate treatment for situational depression. Talk therapy alone may do nothing for a chemical imbalance. Please don't say that the cure is worse than the disease if you don't know what other people are going through.

A situation is an event, usually traumatic. Therapy alone doesn't cure situational depression if the depression is exasperated by post traumatic stress disorder.

This is a generalisation. It may be true for one person, but not everybody who is depressed has PTSD...these are two separate diagnoses.

Actually it was more of a specific case I was referring to.

dyannajoy

I have read this thread with interest and in part amazement by how many people,and what appears to be particularly young women are taking anti depressants. In a generic and non judgmental view, it appears we are over prescribed. I had experience with a son that took anti depressants for a time and it was not a positive thing. He eventually no longer took them and the story had a happy ending. Maybe that is the way to look at these medications. We break a bone, use crutches for a while, it heals and we no longer need the crutches. I hope it can be that way for all who are taking these medications. The medications cause various side effects, that is known and unknown in complete scope. And it is never good, like "on this medication you will lose weight". For young women, what can be more depressing than gaining 20 pounds while taking a medication that is supposed to help with depression. It seems like a pharmalogical trap to me. I know that anyone that may be taking these meds may have looked at natural solutions, but maybe not. Just in case someone doesn't know, fish oil is indicated to help alot with depression. So if you have not looked at natural meds, please do. Good luck and best wishes with all these challenges.

I totally agree with you, antidepressants and ALL medications are way over prescribed. I am glad your son has a happy ending.....some do not. I work in the field of mental health and have heard horror stories about medications. I too am VERY cautious with what I put in my body and use natural products as much as possible. I hope everyone here proceeds with caution and understands that the pharmaceutical companies are BIG business and want to keep it that way! I also wish NO ONE used drugs for depression/anxiety etc UNLESS they were also doing counseling along with it. We must get to the root of the issues to heal and while drugs may be necessary for a period of time, or to do the hard emotional work, we will never heal unless we face and feel our sadness, hurt, etc. Please know I care and I am NOT judging anyone here for what you are doing. You are doing the best you can with what you know and you are hurting or you would not be medicating. Just be very very careful. Hugs, Dyanna

jg627

Whether or not I'm depressed enough to have an opinion isn't for anyone here to decide. All I'm saying is this: before you ask your doctor about SSRI's, make sure you've exausted every other option first. If one possible side effect is DEATH, then you could end up worse off than you were before.

The UK has already started to ban SSRI's. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/4861.php

Now I'm going to quote Keith Hodge here, but this is just my opinion. That's all it is. You don't have to agree with it or even like it. It's just an opinion. There's no need to get all butthurt and rectal bleeding and spotting on the toilet paper. You can do whatever THE F YOU WANNA DO!

dyannajoy

AND we also live in a world that expects us to be up and happy all the time. We are given two weeks to be depressed before it is called clinical depression and then we need to medicate!!?? I remember when my husband was diagnosed with cancer, the FIRST thing they wanted to do was put him on antidepressants. SEVERAL medical staff talked with him and finally he said, "I was just diagnosed with cancer, am I supposed to be happy about it"!! They finally let him be. Sometimes life is VERY very difficult and few of us have others we can talk to about the TRUTH and we end up depressed.......I wish you well and I wish you someone in your world who truly cares enough to listen with out judgement!.....Dyanna

YummyTpn

AND we also live in a world that expects us to be up and happy all the time. We are given two weeks to be depressed before it is called clinical depression and then we need to medicate!!?? I remember when my husband was diagnosed with cancer, the FIRST thing they wanted to do was put him on antidepressants. SEVERAL medical staff talked with him and finally he said, "I was just diagnosed with cancer, am I supposed to be happy about it"!! They finally let him be. Sometimes life is VERY very difficult and few of us have others we can talk to about the TRUTH and we end up depressed.......I wish you well and I wish you someone in your world who truly cares enough to listen with out judgement!.....Dyanna

You are absolutely right.
As has been already stated in the posts, antidepressants are oversprescribed and yes, pharmaceutical companies are big business...we've already covered that ground, if you read the previous posts.
You husband's experience is an example of the quickness that exists in the medical field to instantly want to put a pill into someone who is ailing.
However, when you mentioned that someone only needs to feel "depressed" for two weeks and then they're put on a pill...This isn't exactly accurate.
The diagnosis for Clinical Depression is based on the DSM-IV, a the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. It's what all mental health professionals, myself included, base diagnoses on.
The depression has to be experienced for two weeks, yes, but a host of other symptoms must ALSO be present, not just the downer feelings...
There are actually several criteria that have to be met in order for a clinical diagnosis to be made. This includes but isn't limited to:
Loss of interest in usual activities.
Increase/decrease in appetite.
Increase/decrease in sleep.
Feelings of hoplessness.
Lack of ability to function "normally".
Thoughts/feelings of suicide.

Short of whipping out my DSM, this is a short list. It's not just "Oh, I feel depressed, and it's been about two weeks now" and the doctor responds "OK let's put you on an antidepressant". If the doctor is practising like this, then run away,. and run away fast and find a doctor who will ask more questions and spend more time getting to know your problem. Ideally, this should be done by a psychiatrist, who is someone who specialises in mental illness and is the most familiar with current pharmaceutical options.

LizKurz

Well, since it was ALL the medication's fault and had NOTHING to do with what you put in your mouth, then we should give anti-depressants to children in Africa and end world hunger for less than the cost of food!!!!!

WHAT THE ????
I don't think anyone was saying THIS and this thread is now going way off track!
We are saying antidepressants can potentially cause weight gain in some people, not that it's a substitute for food and nutrition.
Where you got this is beyond me, but this is how half-baked truths are born.
Nobody said it had nothing to do with what you put in your mouth, either. Of course, that is a factor, just like everything else!
I'm getting tired.

Maybe you misunderstood me. My point is, the anti-depressant in and of itself does not cause weight gain. We are all in control of what we put in our mouths and whether or not we gain weight. Period. Take accountability for your gains. AHcceptance is the first step to losing the weight.

This might be the most asinine thing I've read yet on these boards, and that's saying a lot.

Did you have anything to add other than rushing in on your high horse to tell everyone how low their willpower is to yours? You've obviously never been depressed, never wanted to kill yourself after just having a baby when it should be a happy time in your life, never had anything challenging thrown at you. Your privilege though, doesn't extend to other people.

You should come down off that high horse, the air has more oxygen down here,.

LizKurz

You are another example of why I'm getting frustrated. You're obviously not reading anyone else's reply. I lead a healthy lifestyle food and exercise and still gained weight and could NEVER lose it. I didn't overeat. I wasn't lazy. This medication made me gain the most weight I've ever weighed. If it was fault of my own, I would admit. Let alone not post on the forum. You all just need to pay attention and read before you open your mouth

I'm not saying it's entirely your fault. Again, you are getting your panties in a bunch. You have to realize that the medication itself cannot directly cause weight gain. You cannot take a pill that will cause you to gain 20lbs. It's obscene to suggest something like this. It's like the people who suggest that they're addicted to food like cocaine and thus cannot prevent binge eating. Honestly, very few people on here understand the science behind the things they discuss.

Let me reiterate for a way that won't offend you: the medication does cause weight gain BUT NOT DIRECTLY. If it was direct then simply taking the pill would result in weight gain regardless of caloric intake yet this is absurd notion. Yes, the pill could decrease your metabolism (I haven't seen evidence that it does but let's say it does). If it does then eating more than you're expending will cause the gain.

And, one more time: healthy lifestyle means jack **** when you're trying to gain or lose weight, so please stop bringing up your "healthy" lifestyle, whatever that means.

Look, I know it's not your fault you gained weight. I'm not trying to suggest that it is.

Google is your friend dear, it's actually been studied and obese people have a much stronger reaction in the brain to even the suggestion of food, than non obese people. JFGI.

Now which comes first the chicken or the egg, no one is really sure. But either obese people have a tendency via neural stimulus to over eat and that is how they become obese, or the current thinking is that the human body is conditioned through millennia of ensuring the survival of the species by making high cal foods taste good in your mouth, so you'll eat them. And that the heavier you get, the more neural stimulus you receive, so it gets harder and harder to break the cycle.

I wish people would stop being so black and white, not everything is black and white, and I'd actually say that most things are a shade of gray.

cincymomof3

Celexa did the exact same thing to me!!! 20lbs in 2 months after being skinny my whole life. I tried coming off and can't, so my doc is switching me to Wellbutrin. Already spent 50 days spinning my wheels with minimal loss, hoping the Wellbutrin helps. antidepressants really suck!!!

cincymomof3

No depression? No opinion.

Love this!

YummyTpn

You are another example of why I'm getting frustrated. You're obviously not reading anyone else's reply. I lead a healthy lifestyle food and exercise and still gained weight and could NEVER lose it. I didn't overeat. I wasn't lazy. This medication made me gain the most weight I've ever weighed. If it was fault of my own, I would admit. Let alone not post on the forum. You all just need to pay attention and read before you open your mouth

I'm not saying it's entirely your fault. Again, you are getting your panties in a bunch. You have to realize that the medication itself cannot directly cause weight gain. You cannot take a pill that will cause you to gain 20lbs. It's obscene to suggest something like this. It's like the people who suggest that they're addicted to food like cocaine and thus cannot prevent binge eating. Honestly, very few people on here understand the science behind the things they discuss.

Let me reiterate for a way that won't offend you: the medication does cause weight gain BUT NOT DIRECTLY. If it was direct then simply taking the pill would result in weight gain regardless of caloric intake yet this is absurd notion. Yes, the pill could decrease your metabolism (I haven't seen evidence that it does but let's say it does). If it does then eating more than you're expending will cause the gain.

And, one more time: healthy lifestyle means jack **** when you're trying to gain or lose weight, so please stop bringing up your "healthy" lifestyle, whatever that means.

Look, I know it's not your fault you gained weight. I'm not trying to suggest that it is.

Google is your friend dear, it's actually been studied and obese people have a much stronger reaction in the brain to even the suggestion of food, than non obese people. JFGI.

Now which comes first the chicken or the egg, no one is really sure. But either obese people have a tendency via neural stimulus to over eat and that is how they become obese, or the current thinking is that the human body is conditioned through millennia of ensuring the survival of the species by making high cal foods taste good in your mouth, so you'll eat them. And that the heavier you get, the more neural stimulus you receive, so it gets harder and harder to break the cycle.

I wish people would stop being so black and white, not everything is black and white, and I'd actually say that most things are a shade of gray.

Yes, about 90% of the world is gray, not black and white and I wish more people would understand that too!

suziblues2000

That's bull****. You can lower metabolisms whilst playing around with the hormones in the body.

Let's say that happens, okay? How do you propose that causes weight gain unless a caloric surplus is present? The medication indirectly causes weight gain but, in the end, a caloric surplus (overeating) is the direct cause for the weight gain. I don't understand why that is so complicated to understand. Google is your friend. You can find this stuff out easily.

I wish it were this simple, but sometimes it's NOT!

suziblues2000

You are another example of why I'm getting frustrated. You're obviously not reading anyone else's reply. I lead a healthy lifestyle food and exercise and still gained weight and could NEVER lose it. I didn't overeat. I wasn't lazy. This medication made me gain the most weight I've ever weighed. If it was fault of my own, I would admit. Let alone not post on the forum. You all just need to pay attention and read before you open your mouth

I'm not saying it's entirely your fault. Again, you are getting your panties in a bunch. You have to realize that the medication itself cannot directly cause weight gain. You cannot take a pill that will cause you to gain 20lbs. It's obscene to suggest something like this. It's like the people who suggest that they're addicted to food like cocaine and thus cannot prevent binge eating. Honestly, very few people on here understand the science behind the things they discuss.

Let me reiterate for a way that won't offend you: the medication does cause weight gain BUT NOT DIRECTLY. If it was direct then simply taking the pill would result in weight gain regardless of caloric intake yet this is absurd notion. Yes, the pill could decrease your metabolism (I haven't seen evidence that it does but let's say it does). If it does then eating more than you're expending will cause the gain.

And, one more time: healthy lifestyle means jack **** when you're trying to gain or lose weight, so please stop bringing up your "healthy" lifestyle, whatever that means.

Look, I know it's not your fault you gained weight. I'm not trying to suggest that it is.

YOU are talking in circles!
First you say it's not directly 'her' fault;
Then you say it's not the 'pills' fault; (why does it have to be somebody's/somethings fault?? can't it just BE)
But then you say the "medication does cause weight gain" BUT NOT DIRECTLY (whatever that means!, directly or not, wieght gain is weight gain!"


Then you say the most absurb thing ever: "A healthy lifestyle means jack**** when you're trying to gain or lose wieght" HUH?

Like I said before: I gained wieght on a certain med. I ate the same food. Same amount of food. My daily activity level was the same; yet I gained wieght when I took the meds. I lost weight when I stopped.

I don't know WHY. I don't really care why. But I do know what I experienced.
I know the medication wasn't a million calories (duh) but I also know that it caused wieght gain somehow.

BeautyFromPain

That's bull****. You can lower metabolisms whilst playing around with the hormones in the body.

Let's say that happens, okay? How do you propose that causes weight gain unless a caloric surplus is present? The medication indirectly causes weight gain but, in the end, a caloric surplus (overeating) is the direct cause for the weight gain. I don't understand why that is so complicated to understand. Google is your friend. You can find this stuff out easily.

You really don't understand? o_o say that someone is fit and healthy wthout any weight to lose so they are eating maintenance calories. By the metabolism lowering itself if you keep eating at the same rate you will GAIN weight by eating the same amount of calories rather than maintaining. :noway:

Rachel2617

I am still on my anti depressant, have been for almost a year, in that year I have put on about 25lbs, I work out 3x/wk minium, and eat right. But the weight won't come off, I like what the med does for my mood. But my weight is really getting to me. I have to speak with my doctor. Maybe once I come off of it the weight will come off.

Nansweetnan

thank you!

Hilpup24

I have the same experience. For all you people that say "pills" cannot make you gain weight, you clearly do NOT HAVE A CLUE about how science, etc works. A pill can DEFINITELY make you gain weight as it alters your body's chemistry, metabolism, etc. Look at steroids (not the body-building kind)- they cause you to retain fluid which makes you gain weight, etc. Just one example.

I have been on an anti-depressant for years and I have to say that over the first 3 years I put on around 40 lbs. I too, work out religiously, eat very well (yes of course I cheat once in a while), and have the HARDEST time losing weight. I am actually seeing an acupuncturist to see if that will help. Don't know if I believe in acupuncture but at this point I am desperate!!!! Her take is that anti-depressants are "cold" and therefore cool the metabolism as well as the kidneys (which affect how you process sugars, etc). Don't know how much I believe her take on it but again, am going to give it a try.

Anyway, just know you are not alone and that at least one person believes and understands what you are going through. Just keep doing what your doing and hopefully those in our position will figure something out some day soon.

PeachyPlum

I am both relieved and terrified to have come across this thread. I have suspected that my weight gain was related to the Lexapro which I have been on for about a year now.

Guess I'll have to talk to my doctor.

raverhayley

i was on citrilopram from 6 months and i gained nearly 2 stones although i was eating the same amount as always. thats the thing your depressed anyway and weight gain makes it worse its a crappy situation

raverhayley

Anti-Depressants, especially SSRIs, do chemically CAUSE weight gain or the inability to lose weight in some patients. They alter your hormones AND your metabolism. Some meds are worse than others. Some will experience this side effect, some will not.

I've been on Sertraline for over a year for PPD/Anxiety. In that time, I have somehow added to the "baby-weight" - instead of losing it. My doctor recently recommended changing from Sertraline to Citalopram. I've been weaning from the Sertraline for a week now. I am undecided as to whether or not I will start the Citalopram right away or wait it out and see if I still need it. (I've been doing some of my own research and I am finding that Citalopram can cause a side-effect of weight gain too.) If my panic attacks and sleep anxiety don't rear back up, I plan to stay off of the meds.

We shall see!

be warned citalopram made me gain nearly 2 stone (24lbs) when i took it

EAlexandraB

To all out there who are taking antidepressants and feel it's contributed to their weight gain, you should speak to your doctor and ask for a prescription for an antidepressant that is "weight-neutral" (i.e. that will NOT cause weight gain). My Dr is very conscious of not giving me prescriptions that could cause me to gain, and has found an Rx that works for me and has not added to my weight at all.