What antidepressant doesn't make you gain weight ?

taiyola

I was on and off anti-depressants for 8 years and at the time I didn't think I could cope without them. Then in 2010 I decided I didn't want to be on them anymore and wanted to be "normal". I still had a hard time without them at first. Then I sought counselling and just dealt with my problems instead. I found Prozac to be the best one, and I didn't gain any weight.

I feel much better being off them, and knowing that I can deal with things myself. Do I still get anxious? Yes, sometimes for very small reasons, and sometimes nothing at all triggers it. I in fact feel anxious now. Instead of thinking about it so much, I just carry on and try to forget about it, whereas before I would sit there and panic and dwell on it until it went away. That though would then cause me panic attacks and I'd end up hiding in the toilets crying.

I know you've heard it before, but it's much better to find out why you're depressed and sort out those problems rather than relying on tablets for the rest of your life.

Good luck :flowerforyou:

htimpaired

Talk to your Dr. Don't take advice from anyone else. It's fine to share experience's but everyone is different.

Every topic I see about medications ends up having very dangerous advice from people who have no idea what they are talking about.

^this
I can share my experiences, having been on antidepressants since I was 18. I can share my experiences working as a therapist in the mental health field for 11 years. But a doctor would know better. What I can tell you is that everyone's responses to antidepressants is different-what makes one person gain weight turns out to be weight neutral for someone else. I have never gained weight from any of my meds, and I've been on Prozac, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, and Effexor. I lost with Wellbutrin-it killed my appetite. Of course back then I didn't NEED to lose the weight so it wasn't necessarily a good thing.

I have heard that Paxil is most notorious for weight gain. A poster a bit above mentioned Geodon and Abilify-it should be noted that those are not antidepressants, they are antispychotics and should only be used to augment an antidepressant after a bunch of failed attempts. Antipsychotics do tend to be weight gainers.

Best wishes and if you do'nt feel happy with your PCP providing meds, don't hesitate to ask for a referral to a psychistrist. Therapy is another non-drug option to help you learn new methods for coping with stress.

MaraDiaz

Exercise. It really does work well for some people as an anti-depressant, no joke!

hiawathaperez

ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN......with that being said....


Wellbutrin is buproprion......does not murder your sex drive (important if you are in a relationship) and a welcome side effect is that you may loose weight.

Multi mineral/vitamins, a great way to chase the blues away is vit c and niacin (low dose it till you get used to B3 Niacin) Common psychiatric symptoms of niacin deficiency include irritability, poor concentration, anxiety, fatigue, restlessness, apathy, and depression. Famous for lowering cholesterol. MD's prescribe niacin which can be purchased OTC for $4.00 plus or minus.

Three times per day at meals w vitamin c.....dark blanket with black edges be gone......

Niacin works by dilating your capillaries thereby oxygenating your blood and sending increased nutrients to your brain. yea!

More than you want to know; Drs Hoffer and Osmond did a great deal of work w schizophrenics with positive results. They first put their patients on a nutrition program eschewing ALL processed foods, then supplementing with mega vitamin therapy!
Coupled with long walks as their regimin of exercise is a total win win diagnosis.

Good Luck,

Lisa

MinMin97

I had to take something one time...during a time when I was overwhelmed by stress.
I had a strange, sinking feeling emotionally, and unreasonable anxiety....not like the usual me at all.
I don't like meds and dr appointments, and my husband is an orthopedic nurse, so I looked in his drug reference book.
St. John's Wort Herb extract is listed among the meds.
I was willing to use that!
It worked great, and i was healed...no weight gain or other side effects....also, it's not addictive.
I was normal in 6 weeks, but took it a total of 3 months, then backed off the dose.
I occasionally take it as preventative in the winter months.

DarkNebula84

I have tried a whole bunch of them. Welbutrin helped me drop about 30 pounds in a few months and I quit smoking because of it and have been smoke free for over a year now but I could not keep taking it and gained the weight back almost immediately. I have really bad anxiety, OCD and come to find out I am also bi-polar, the Welbutrin made my mood swings worse. I was put on Seroquel and had to stop after 2 days because it made me suicidal and violent which has NEVER happened before and not really a quality that I found attractive. I am about to try Zoloft again, I was on it years ago for a short amount of time and never really gave it a chance but I didn't gain any weight while on it. Whatever happens I wish you luck.

MinMin97

Okay, for all the people saying "exercise" - you're not doing anyone any favors. Yes, exercise is great for your mood. But when you are depressed to the point where you can barely get out of bed every day, someone telling you to exercise is unhelpful at best and exacerbating at worst - one more thing to feel guilty about because you don't have the energy/motivation to do it. Taking an antidepressant can help someone to improve to the point where they can take care of themselves in other ways.

Yes, I have to agree with this.
If you have never experienced anxiety/depression, you have no idea how incapacitating it is.
It's the weirdest experience.
I felt so vulnerable.
I've never been like that, and would not have been able to relate if I had not experienced it myself.
As i said in my post above, I don't like meds, but the st. john's wort extract got me out of the woods in 4 weeks, felt normal at 6 weeks, was able to stop taking it after 3 months.
I also took fish oil at the same time. And since there was no sunshine at that time of the year, I took vitamin d3 6000iu/day.

hsmithway

I'm also on Bupropion (generic Wellbutrin) now after gaining weight on Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, or Cymbalta. However, as PP mentioned, the Bupropion can exacerbate any anxiety problems, so it's not ideal for everyone. And it gives me insane carb cravings, which is weird, because it's supposed to have the opposite effect. I have less appetite on it, but eating a donut is practically orgasmic while I'm taking it :laugh:

All the SSRI's had a sedating effect on me, which did not help, and part of the weight gain problem was mental - on the SSRI's, I felt okay being fat. I was very apathetic, and weight just didn't seem like it mattered.

And I know from experience that even though it's more difficult to lose weight on Paxil, it can be done. I had all sorts of weird post-partem anxiety after my son was born, and I still managed to lose about 50lbs while taking it.

I also lost weight on Savella, which I was on for Fibromyalgia. Made me nauseous, killed my appetite, and worked wonders for my Fibro, which really helped me move more and get things done. Unfortunately it also raised my blood pressure a ridiculous amount, so I had to stop taking it :sad:

And don't knock exercise as an anti-depressant. Right now I'm laid up with a couple of injuries, so I have to be medicated or else I get *severely* depressed, but when I work out vigorously 5 days a week it really does work just as well as an antidepressant for me. Last fall I was taking no meds and going to the gym all the time, and I felt at least as good, if not better, than I do now. Now, I know it doesn't work that well for everyone, and I wouldn't recommend trying it without working closely with your doctors, but it is an option for some people.

bookyeti

The effects of anti-depressants are VERY individual. Someone else's experience may completely differ from another.

For instance, I was told by various acquaintances that Wellbutrin is "least likely to cause weight gain". Unfortunately, in addition to not helping me with my depression issue, it had the opposite effect on me physically... I actually gained weight (almost 10lbs) in 3 months. On Wellbutrin, my appetite was insatiable, and I craved the worst food (esp. refined carbs) constantly - I've never struggled with this before! The worst, though, was being completely energy-less from morning to night, which actually exacerbated the depression problem. Needless to say I didn't stay on it, and sought other avenues of treatment. I lost the weight I gained on Wellbutrin, and regained a measure of my energy, as soon as I stopped taking it.

Conclusion: Medication affects *everyone* differently.

Talk to your doctor... better yet, a specialist.
Sometimes it takes various tries to find what works best for YOU.

NoahandPresleysMom

Wellbutrin has quite literally changed my life. One of the major side effects for many people is actually decreased appetite. It is often prescribed under another name for smoking cessation (zyban), which makes sense if I think of it in terms of helping to minimize some of those otherwise undeniable urges.

Here's the thing, Wellbutrin doesn't make you lose weight. What it did for me is help to quiet the part of me that was thinking about food all the time. As soon as that part of me stopped obsessing about food and eating, I was able to take control. I count my calories, I avoid too much processed food, I am moving more because I feel better and have more energy. Those are things I HAVE TO DO MYSELF. but the Wellbutrin absolutely helped me to change the way I was thinking, the way I was looking at food and exercise, and even though I still have over 100 pounds to lose, I can see my potential for the first time in many years.

I went from feeling like I had no control, to making good choices and logging everything I eat almost immediately. I am not one to promote a magic pill, there are no magic pills, I still have to make good decisions, but it makes it a lot easier.

I agree!

NoahandPresleysMom

Hi I am Mark's wife and currently a pharmacy student. There aren't any anti-depressants out there they won't make you put on the weight. All of the drugs in that class (Prozac probably being the worst) are also meant to be anti-anorexia drugs. They don't for instance make you eat, but your body responds by causing possible weight gain. Sorry

my hubs is a pharmacist. he's says that is very untrue. Welbutrin is classified as the ONLY antidepressant that doesnt not contribute to weight gain.

NoahandPresleysMom

I'm also on Bupropion (generic Wellbutrin) now after gaining weight on Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, or Cymbalta. However, as PP mentioned, the Bupropion can exacerbate any anxiety problems, so it's not ideal for everyone. And it gives me insane carb cravings, which is weird, because it's supposed to have the opposite effect. I have less appetite on it, but eating a donut is practically orgasmic while I'm taking it :laugh:

All the SSRI's had a sedating effect on me, which did not help, and part of the weight gain problem was mental - on the SSRI's, I felt okay being fat. I was very apathetic, and weight just didn't seem like it mattered.

And I know from experience that even though it's more difficult to lose weight on Paxil, it can be done. I had all sorts of weird post-partem anxiety after my son was born, and I still managed to lose about 50lbs while taking it.

I also lost weight on Savella, which I was on for Fibromyalgia. Made me nauseous, killed my appetite, and worked wonders for my Fibro, which really helped me move more and get things done. Unfortunately it also raised my blood pressure a ridiculous amount, so I had to stop taking it :sad:

And don't knock exercise as an anti-depressant. Right now I'm laid up with a couple of injuries, so I have to be medicated or else I get *severely* depressed, but when I work out vigorously 5 days a week it really does work just as well as an antidepressant for me. Last fall I was taking no meds and going to the gym all the time, and I felt at least as good, if not better, than I do now. Now, I know it doesn't work that well for everyone, and I wouldn't recommend trying it without working closely with your doctors, but it is an option for some people.

yes it can cause anxiety. Thats why i take 2 mg klonopin with it and no probs!!!

Derameth

STOP THIS INSANITY NOW! You can't prescribe medications in a forum! Each individual is different. "Exercise more" "I don't take my anti-depressants any more"...STOP IT PEOPLE.

This is a dangerous subject to be dealt with by professionals. SSRI's are a neurotransmitter blocker...it means that your brain doesn't function properly with serotonin ...so don't stop taking your medications because you "FEEL like you want to deal with this on your own"....Diabetics need their medication, cancer patients need theirs....it is NOT a crutch.

Bottom line...1. Stop Prescription shopping in forums
2. Stop giving dangerous and possibly life threatening 'advice'
3. See your Health Care Provider or Mental Health Professional
4. Remember every person is unique in how they respond to treatment, medications and exercise.

macpatti

STOP THIS INSANITY NOW!

While I agree with everything you said, I can't help but point out the irony of you using a medical diagnosis of "insanity" to scold people in this thread.

Regardless of what advice she's getting, her doctor still has to write the script. It's not like she can go in and say "Hey, a bunch of people on MFP suggested I take this", and he'll listen to her. The only dangerous advice here is telling her to get off her meds, especially the one who said she felt "normal" when she got off hers. Having depression and anxiety and needing meds to treat it does not make someone "abnormal".

Wenchilada

Okay, for all the people saying "exercise" - you're not doing anyone any favors. Yes, exercise is great for your mood. But when you are depressed to the point where you can barely get out of bed every day, someone telling you to exercise is unhelpful at best and exacerbating at worst - one more thing to feel guilty about because you don't have the energy/motivation to do it. Taking an antidepressant can help someone to improve to the point where they can take care of themselves in other ways.

I know others have already said it, but THANK YOU. Shaming people for taking medication for their problems is not going to fix anything.

When I was 13, I was very depressed for no discernible reason, and began to have some frightening thoughts. I tried Prozac for about a month, but it was expensive (we didn't have prescription coverage at the time and there was no generic yet), and I hated how it made me feel. My dad said I seemed to be a little more pleasant, but I just felt numb and apathetic. So when I had a major, extremely frightening bout of depression as a sophomore in college, I knew I needed to get help, but I was scared to ask for it in the event that they'd put me on Prozac again. I did find a doctor in my college town, and told her what had been going on (intense ideation that came out of NOWHERE), and that I did not like my previous experience with Prozac and also didn't want to gain a bunch of weight if I could help it. She recommended I try either Wellbutrin or Serzone. I made the right choice, apparently, because Serzone was taken off the market about a year later due to some pesky side effects like destroying one's liver.

I took Wellbutrin off and on throughout the rest of my college years, when I could afford it (my dad did get prescription coverage by the time I went to college, but when I was out & newly married we didn't have anything for a while, so I just went without). I have been on it steadily for at least the last 6 years, and it still seems to work for me. I can tell if I haven't taken it within about a week - nothing dramatic, but I tend to have a crying jag or two before settling back into what more or less amounts to chronic dysphoria. It hasn't helped me lose any weight, so far as I can tell, but I don't think it's been to blame for any of my gains, either. I also currently take Adderall XR 30mg daily for ADD, and have taken Ritalin in the past - but despite everyone saying it kills your appetite and makes you lose weight, I was at my highest weight ever just about 6-8 months ago.

In 2009, I wound up in the hospital due to a bad reaction to some unrelated medication. Afterward, I was suffering from some PTSD, and the doctors suggested therapy along with adding an SSRI to supplement my Wellbutrin. Grudgingly, I agreed to try Celexa, as I'd not heard too many evil things about it, and it seemed like a safer bet than some of the other choices. Well, I did gain weight while I was on Celexa, and the numbness and apathy returned. My brain-to-mouth filter was gone, kind of like when I have to take prednisone, except none of the wild mood swings to go along with it. I had absolutely zero interest in sex, which was probably for the best, all things considered - I said some horrible things to the people I loved most, and I'm sure part of that was the PTSD talking, but it just wasn't good. I also gained about 40 lbs during this time - again, not completely attributable to a medication side effect, but I discovered later that it likely had a hand in it. I ended up quitting the Celexa cold-turkey (dumb, I know, but being crazy makes you do dumb things sometimes), and within a couple of months, my normal emotional responses returned, I began filling in some of the holes I'd dug for myself with my loved ones, and I dropped 20 lbs without trying.

In the last year or so I came to terms with my birth defect. I was born with mild hydrocephalus, which put extra pressure on my right hemisphere, and resulted in textbook Nonverbal Learning Disorder. As I was reading through the documentation and as my neuropsychological testing results came back, I realized something - I never would have classified myself as being "anxious," but that's because my anxiety level is continually high compared to most people, so "anxious" is my normal way of being. And honestly, the Wellbutrin and Adderall probably aren't helping matters, but they do help me to get out of bed and cope with the other issues I deal with on a daily basis. So after all of this testing was done, I was referred to a psychiatrist for a medication evaluation, and he ended up adding Ativan for anxiety and trazodone for sleep (both PRN) to my cocktail. I don't give myself permission to take either of them very often, which is probably not great, but when I do decide I really need it, they work.

I feel a lot better now, and am also continuing to go to weekly therapy. Exercise does make me feel "better" sometimes, I guess - a couple of my best workouts this summer have been right after receiving really bad news - but it's not always the cure. And I don't really feel "high" after working out - just accomplished, and tired.

I also hope you realize that, even though I am relating my story to you, it doesn't mean that my experiences will be the same as yours. I have several friends and family members who've tried Wellbutrin at different points in time and had horrible experiences with it (usually severe headaches, sleeplessness, or new & unprovoked panic attacks). I have other friends who swear by Effexor and claim that it has transformed their lives into magical wonderlands, while it nearly destroyed my husband's life. Wellbutrin just happens to work for me with minimal side effects. But it doesn't make or even help me lose weight, and it doesn't cure my ADD (some doctors prescribe it for this, but I'm just as distractible as ever if I don't take an actual stimulant).

TL;DR version: if you can get in with a psychiatrist, please do - but don't let them bully you into a drug you're not comfortable taking, or staying on one that is causing you to have side effects you can't cope with. There's no point in taking something to make you "feel better" when it's making other aspects of your life unbearable. And therapy is another helpful option for a lot of people, instead of or in addition to medication.

proudgrandma24

I am on a combo of Wellbutrin & Zoloft, but ur doctor has to make the cal depending on your symptoms. I have anxiety (worry too much & obsess about things I cant change) and have been depressed forever, exercise works for some but not all, I was suicidal as a child, it is chemical for me & a struggle everyday but with this combo I am much better. I am happy & able to focus on what is important even when bad times arise. I hope you find the right combination for you & if you want to add me as a buddy please do, proudgrandma24

hsmithway

Exercise is a great antidepressant in many cases; however, if you are clinical... it will not be sufficient. From your post I am supposing that your depressive mood has been sufficient to affect your ability to be a productive employee.. that it is affecting your quality of life. If you have been dealing with it through a general practitioner, I would recommend seeing one who specializes in mood disorders... Psychiatrist. In some cases counseling is the best answer... In other cases, it is a combination of medication and counseling... Exercise works really well as a mood enhancer in those with mild depressive symptoms or merely "the blues". However, as I suspect you are aware, there is a difference between the blues and clinical depression.

While exercise is not sufficient for many people, it made a HUGE difference for me, and honestly, I resent the implication that because I recommended it I don't know the difference between "the blues" and depression. Suffice it to say that I'm most definitely clinical, and I'd rather not air all my dirty laundry to prove it.

I did not go off all my medication willy-nilly just for kicks. The Savella raised my blood pressure to the point that my doctor was concerned that might have a stroke, so she took me off everything cold-turkey (which was a godawful experience - there's a reason they usually have you taper the dose if you stop.) And after my BP went back to normal, I started going to the gym regularly - 5+days of cardio for at least 30 minutes, and strength training 3x a week, and I honestly felt great. Without all the side effects of medication. The difference was amazing.

While I would never advise someone to go off their medication or anything like that, if anyone gets in a position like I did where they just can't deal with the side effects and they have to stop taking their medication, or if their medication is helping but not taking them up to 100%, exercise can be really helpful.

Depression is serious business, but there are many tools in the toolbox for dealing with it. Medication is one very viable option, but it's certainly not the only thing out there that can help.

littlemermaid1048

Antidepressants give me acne....then I get more depressed! Exercise daily has helped me better.

Derameth

STOP THIS INSANITY NOW!

While I agree with everything you said, I can't help but point out the irony of you using a medical diagnosis of "insanity" to scold people in this thread.

Regardless of what advice she's getting, her doctor still has to write the script. It's not like she can go in and say "Hey, a bunch of people on MFP suggested I take this", and he'll listen to her. The only dangerous advice here is telling her to get off her meds, especially the one who said she felt "normal" when she got off hers. Having depression and anxiety and needing meds to treat it does not make someone "abnormal".

Just to point out "insanity" Is NOT a medical diagnosis The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DMS does not classify "insanity" in medical terms....so all due respect get your information correct. Additionally you would be amazed at what people tell Doctors about "let's try this" ....

So the basic point is, talk to your health care provider about this question....not people who really don't know you or your body, in a forum.

afgivens4

Are you seeing a psychiatrist or a PCP? Don't listen to people who don't know you about what pills are best. Some of the pills will be the wrong fit for you.

Exercise does not do it for me when it comes to managing my anxiety. The only thing that did was the right anti-depressant.

^ this ^
I work in the mental health field. Please, for the love of all those around you, do not stop taking meds because of other input from people who do not know you personally. Talk to your doctor!

macpatti

Just to point out "insanity" Is NOT a medical diagnosis The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DMS does not classify "insanity" in medical terms....so all due respect get your information correct. Additionally you would be amazed at what people tell Doctors about "let's try this" ....

I think you know good and well it was once used as a medical diagnosis. It is now a legal term. I didn't say she wouldn't walk in and say that to her doctor. I said it's not like he's going to give it to her just because someone on MFP suggested it. Read the posts correctly before you act all high and mighty.

So the basic point is, talk to your health care provider about this question....not people who really don't know you or your body, in a forum.

She was asking everyone what worked for them. She was just looking for opinions. Just like any advice asked and given here, whether it's about how many calories to eat, or what exercise plan to use. I see no problem in her asking the question, and I see no problem with people sharing their experiences with her. LIke I said, the biggest problem I saw here was people telling her to exercise and stop taking meds.

elisa123gal

two of my sisters went on paxil..they gained weight and went nuts when they tried to get off of it... i'd stay away from the pills if you can. But, I understand if you're in mental pain..how it does help. Just be careful. It is smart you are asking on here to get opinions.

erinskya

Definitely Wellbutrin! It at least won't make you gain weight, and you may even lose some. I take it (but don't know if it sped up my weight loss or not).

seamonkey789

my son's doctor says that abilify isn't supposed to make you eat more or gain weight but he is wrong.....i also know of a couple more from personal experience that don't help with not gaining weight. They are for mental health issues, paxil, geodon, and celexa.....I have been on all four of these over the past 2 years and have gained 100 pounds during that time....now i'm no longer taking them and am finally losing weight.

Abilify and Geodon are antipsychotics, not antidepressants.

To the OP, I have mental issues and the weight gain thing is going to be different for pretty much everyone because no one reacts the same to each med. Most of the meds that have a reputation for making people lose weight did not change my weight at all.

I've been on seroquel, which is a huge weight gainer, for 2 years with no weight gain.

If certain antidepressants make you agitated, have you been evaluated for bipolar? I cannot take anything in the SSRI family because it makes me a raging monster

jennaworksout

I was on Celexa for 1.5 years with no weight gain at all , lost a bit actually, however when I went off them Iin april of this year, I have gained 10 pounds unexplanably.....going for thyroid bloodwork, as I guess anti-depressants mess with yout thyroid, and now that i'm off them it could be out of whack? Unreal, I havent changed my diet or exercise in years and now gaining weight...its sooo frusterating and making me depressed again!!! go figure ...can't win...if it is my thyroid I hope there is meds for that to get it back ontrack *sigh*

A_Shannigans

I didn't read all the answer to your question so if someone has covered what I'm about to say my apologies.

I haven't taken an anti depressant for quite some time but last I knew most anti depressants have similar side effects. The catch is while you may experience side effect A. taking one you may experience side effect C. taking the next one and none at all on still a different one.

My advice is to speak to your doctor and let them guide you in which one/s might be your best options. Be patient some people have more trouble finding the right anti depressant than others.

alliejoberry

I've had success with Lexapro. My doctor has me get blood work done for a lipid profile test every 6 months to make sure it's not affecting my weight, and it hasn't so far after 7 years.

It's different for each person, though, but that's my experience.

mingecrackers

Fluoxetine (Prozac) made me lose weight, mirtazapine (Remeron) made me gain weight like crazy and sertraline (Zoloft) was weight neutral for me.

amy1612

Just to point out "insanity" Is NOT a medical diagnosis The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DMS does not classify "insanity" in medical terms....so all due respect get your information correct. Additionally you would be amazed at what people tell Doctors about "let's try this" ....

So the basic point is, talk to your health care provider about this question....not people who really don't know you or your body, in a forum.

THIS!

For goodness sake, stop asking random individuals about medication. Go see your doctor, if you NEED them, which it doesnt sound like you do, then they will be the best advice you can get.

Now, just because you're working doesnt mean you wont have time to fit in 30 mins of exercise a day. 30 mins, you could do it while your dinner cooks. You honestly sound more like you need to see a counsellor and deal with some of your anxiety instead. Depression isnt ALWAYS just a chemical problem, sometimes it can be solved with counselling, CBT etc. Its not like a viatmin pill 'oh I wont be able to eat much nutritious food whilst away so I'll just take a vitamin instead'. Deal with the cause, not just the symptom.

maryashley4

celexa or welbutrin. good luck.