antidepressants and weight loss struggle. talk to me.

JoannaLouden

I never struggled with weight until I
A) had 3 kids
and
went on antidepressants.

Feeling hopeless right now.

I saw everyone's success pictures last night and at first it was encouraging and the more I looked the more down in the dumps I got. I'd just like to look like a lot of people's BEFORE pictures.

Is there hope? I'm okay with never being a size 6 again but dang I'd like to lose another 10-20 pounds (lost 20ish last year).

I have to stay on the meds, so not taking them isn't an option.

Would love to hear from people who have successfully lost weight while on Prozac/Lexapro/etc...

B1gH0g

There is always hope. The question is how bad do you want it, and what are you willing to do about it. I hope you get motivated.

Get_Me_Fit1

There is always hope. The question is how bad do you want it, and what are you willing to do about it. I hope you get motivated.

THIS

joecollins9385

im on antidepressants and have lost 9lbs in the past 6 weeks. work hard and eat right and you will get results. feel free to add me

amandamaedchen

I just posted a similar thread this morning. I am taking Cymbalta and have been beyond frustrated. I've gained 20lbs in the past three months. I just try to remember that when you're on these things, you're not in control of your metabolism. Consider talking to your doctor/therapist about how frustrated you are with the weight gain. Just continue to work hard to look and feel your best.
I am also hoping to be able to overcome this.

eflint

Change meds. Welbutrin has a neutral weight effect. Prozac is supposed to help you lose weight. Talk to your doctor and see if switching would be good for you. I was on Lexapro and despite working out 5-6 days a week and never meeting my calorie goal, my scale would not budge. I stopped taking it and switched to another medicine (you should actually taper it off to avoid withdraw symptoms) and have already lost 6 pounds in 2 weeks. Trust your instincts. If you feel that the meds are making you gain weight/ not be able to lose despite your best efforts, you are probably right. There are other choices. Don't give up until you have found a good one for you.

jsj024519

I wish the best for you! Stay motivated!

n25philly

When I get depressed I stop being depressed and start being awesome instead. True Story.

kamakazeekim

I'm on effexor and risperidone. There is no way I can go off the effexor...I have such horrible withdrawals if I am even just a few hours late taking it. And I've found the the risperidone has worked wonders stabilizing my mood. Downside is that is is compounding my weight loss struggle.

JoannaLouden

I just posted a similar thread this morning. I am taking Cymbalta and have been beyond frustrated. I've gained 20lbs in the past three months. I just try to remember that when you're on these things, you're not in control of your metabolism. Consider talking to your doctor/therapist about how frustrated you are with the weight gain. Just continue to work hard to look and feel your best.
I am also hoping to be able to overcome this.

When I went on Cymbalta, I gained around 50 pounds in 3 months. It was horrible! It must have screwed with my metabolism because I wasn't suddenly eating more or eating junk, I just gained and gained. Once I got on a diff med the rapid gain stopped but I've not been able to lose those Cymbalta pounds.

hersheythecat

Definitely see about possibly changing. With Cymbalta, I lost 20 pounds in a month but had to go off of it because if I was just a couple hours late taking it, i would have a massive headache. Now I'm on Welbutrin (I think) and there is no weight gain from it with me. The weird thing for me is that i've tracked my food on and off of it, and my food doesn't change but if I go off mine, I immediately start gaining weight. My body chemistry has to have the pills and I hate having that dependency on them but really don't want to put on weight being off them.

sunshinesonata

I just posted a similar thread this morning. I am taking Cymbalta and have been beyond frustrated. I've gained 20lbs in the past three months. I just try to remember that when you're on these things, you're not in control of your metabolism. Consider talking to your doctor/therapist about how frustrated you are with the weight gain. Just continue to work hard to look and feel your best.
I am also hoping to be able to overcome this.

ME TOO! It's so frustrating! It is comforting knowing that I'm not the only one taking this medication and having the weight gain. Feel free to add me.

Swissmiss

Talk to your doctor. I am on Welbutrin which isn't as bad as most for causing weight gain.

JoannaLouden

There is always hope. The question is how bad do you want it, and what are you willing to do about it. I hope you get motivated.

THIS

:-) TY. I am working at it. Which is why I'm on MFP. I'm counting calories, eating more fruits and fresh veggies, skipping soda, and getting in more physical activity than before. All the things that should add up to some weight loss. I'll keep going at it and see how it goes.

JoannaLouden

When I get depressed I stop being depressed and start being awesome instead. True Story.

lol thanks Neil Patrick Harris.

bethfartman

When I get depressed I stop being depressed and start being awesome instead. True Story.

That's not how depression works. Nice idea though.

gettinsmithy

I recommend you talk to the doctor that prescribed the antidepressants. Some have side effect of gaining weight (lexapro, paxil, zoloft) and some have side effect of losing weight, decreasing appetite. (welbutrin) Talk to your doctor. My thoughts are to take care of your mental health - get your mood stabilized - and then you will feel more like exercising and controlling your eating. Figure out "what's eating you" so you can then better control "what you eat".

CriosDubh

I had similar issues. Depression causes weight gain, the medicine causes weight gain. My doc switched me to Wellbutrin, and a lot of weight dropped off, as well as the incessant carb cravings. What helped even more was when she decided that maybe depression wasnt my only issue, ran some scales, delved into my personal history, and decided that I probably have co-morbid ADHD. She put me on Adderall along with the Wellbutrin. she also prescribed a minimum of 30 minutes/day of exercise. I know that is something we should all do anyway, but having it on a scrip sheet on my fridge has made a lot of difference in how my family and I view my need for exercise.

Corryn78

My dr. just switched meds from Prozac to Celexa and eventually adding Wellbutrin. She believes this will help aid my weight loss efforts. Since starting Prozac a year and a half ago, my weight is up 35 pounds. I know lifestyle is partially to blame, but I'm hoping the med change will stabilize the gain and allow me to lose again.

smowen76

I had to get myself off of those all together for numerous reasons. I switched off the prozac, namely because of the weight gain. (My youngest is six, I couldn't blame it on her anymore)! I went on Welbrutrin which is known for weight loss, however, it can make you agitated and more irritable, but you will be motivated. Since I was so on edge, I got off them with lots of prayer. I am now on a strict calorie counting regimen and working out whenever I can.

Just know you can do this! Don't let those pills run you, run them. Take control of your body and do what you have to do. Those pills are designed to help you as long as they are needed. Now, help your body out and exercise. Eat your proteins in the morning, get that workout in, but have fun with it. Zumba (if you have a Wii, I recommend doing it with the kids, mine love it).

Praying for you!

RhonndaJ

I'm on Cymbalta and Lamictal and haven't noticed either impacting my weight loss. Only my own actions of in actions.

In fact, Cymbalta is actually known more for causing weight loss, than weight gain. One of the reasons my psych thought it might be a good option for me. That and other stuff just wasn't working well.

If you haven't talked to you doc about the weight issue, do so, they should be willing to work with you on your meds. Either in finding something else that works for you without impact on your weight, or possibly finding a lower dose that balances between your mental and physical health.

tyrantduck

I'm on 30mg of Prozac currently and while I haven't lost weight, I also haven't gained any. So essentially I'm at a standstill. My doc is hinting towards switching me to another med, can't remember the name...possibly Wayfarin? I also am on 1/2-2mg of Xanax per day as needed. How long have you been on it? I've been on and off anti-depressants since I was 13 and the combo of Paxil and Risperidal made me pack on 60 pounds at that time, in about 3 months. My eating habits hadn't changed and I rode my bike everywhere, but I still packed on weight. Ever since I haven't been able to get rid of any good amount. The 12lb weight loss you see on my ticker below has happened over the course of the last year and a half. I cut nearly 600 cals away from my BMR and have become slightly more active. Now that my meds are successfully treating my depression, I'm finding that I'm motivated to do a lot of things I used to. For example... I just blew $700 on items to redecorate my bathroom and kitchen. I love redecorating and remodeling and moving rooms around. I also want to crochet more and do more crafts like I used to, and I've been dying to get a good bicycle but I'm having a hard time finding one that will hold my weight (I'm at 328lbs) and having it cost less than $350. I miss having a bike and if I had one I'd make the effort to go out and ride to the corner store to get a drink that I want or on a day off from work, ride up to the nearest breakfast place and grab breakfast (though that's about a mile from my house and downhill so until I get stronger, I'd have to take the bus back home, lol). But yeah, Prozac hasn't essentially done anything to hurt my weight loss except make it happen a little bit slower. But I have gained ZERO pounds while on it.

JoannaLouden

Change meds. Welbutrin has a neutral weight effect. Prozac is supposed to help you lose weight. Talk to your doctor and see if switching would be good for you. I was on Lexapro and despite working out 5-6 days a week and never meeting my calorie goal, my scale would not budge. I stopped taking it and switched to another medicine (you should actually taper it off to avoid withdraw symptoms) and have already lost 6 pounds in 2 weeks. Trust your instincts. If you feel that the meds are making you gain weight/ not be able to lose despite your best efforts, you are probably right. There are other choices. Don't give up until you have found a good one for you.

TY for the encouragement and understanding! I'm trying to be sure and log my food and exercise....I'm eating better and getting in more exercise than before so in theory I should lose weight. If I don't, I'll talk to my doctor (due for a visit in October), show him the logs and see if he thinks we should switch meds, try a different diet, etc etc.

Dawn793

Get off the med's and work out instead. That's what I did. It was really hard the first three months with the withdrawals, but now I'm antidepressent free and rarely get depressed anymore. You need to do what's best for you, but with me I was more depressed being fat and hateing myself because I was so fat.

deborah0123

I am on wellbutrin and seroquel. I didnt gain on wellbutrin but on the seroquel I did..Seems like I just looked at the bottle and gained. Since being on seroquel I have gained 50 lbs. but no chance of getting off. just have to work harder. I am just going to hang in there and prove to myself. I can do it

jharb2

Twice on the last decade I have lost weight on antidepressants. And I too had children.I believe its just the combination of lots of excercise ( which is a natural antidepressant) and calorie counting. Excercise has always been the key for me. A long brisk walk is what I am able to do now d/t arthritis, but it makes me feel good. Makes you more aware of your body and you feel muscles being used. You can overcome the anti-depressant effect I promise!! Keep trying!!!

SuffolkSally

I'm quite stuck and wondering whether the anti-depressants are part of the problem. It's a tough call - when I feel better I'm more motivated to look after myself so I actually eat more regularly and better quality. I'm considering changing to Prozac - I have tried it before but it made me very anxious at a time when I was having a lot of panic attacks. I'm not so bad with the anxiety levels now, but I still struggle with low mood. Has anyone tried Prozac and seen any change in weight loss prgress as a result?

justaride08

I have been on Celexa or Lexapro for the last ten years! I manged to lose 50-60 lbs last year. I gained it back but it wasn't due to the anti-depressants, just due to getting comfortable and then getting lazy! I know you can do it!

smowen76

I completely agree, being heavy makes the depression so much worse. Losing weight is making me feel so much better about myself, and I am so pleased to be off of them! I am just so happy to be heading in the direction of my goal weight! Good post!

amelia_atlantic

When I get depressed I stop being depressed and start being awesome instead. True Story.

Haha, I do love me some HIMYM!

To the OP: talk to your doctor. Feeling hopeless even on anti depressants is never a good thing. It may be time to switch brands. Also, it's hard but FORCE yourself to exercise more. You mental and physical health depend on it.

Good luck, keep fighting. x

quickchekgal

I was wondering the same thing because I was thinking about taking them again. Depression definitely makes it harder to lose weight..I had a bad week last week but trying to get back into the swing of things. Thanks for the post..was definitely curious as to if meds affect weight loss.