antidepressants and weight loss struggle. talk to me.

laserturkey · August 2012

When I went off Remeron, I lost 50 pounds so fast I wondered if I might have cancer or something. Switched to Wellbutrin, not gaining weight from it.

My daughter (when she was about 8 years old) tried Zyprexa and gained 50% of her weight in 6 weeks! Took her years to get back to her normal body type.

Asha0714 · August 2012

There absolutely is hope. My brother, who is MR (higher functioning), takes TONS of medication that make him gain, including anti-depressants. When i started teaching him how to eat healthy, he did not understand the concept of a calorie. A few months later, he's down 12 lbs, and he did it by himself. He WANTED to learn, so he did. I help him with grocery shopping, but he cooks himself. Every day, he walks to the YMCA by himself. He WANTS to lose, so he is. If he can do this, so can you.

Gizziemoto · August 2012

I have been on medication for 20 years. You can lose weight. Some meds make it harder. The one I am on now makes it very difficult but I did manage to lose 4 sizes (did not own a scale then). I have been bouncing around the same weight for about a year. I added more exercise and my goal is .5lb. My doctor has helped me to realize that even going down .1 on the scale is still down ward movement and be proud of that. Since I added more exercise I have lost 5lbs in 2 months. Which I am very happy with.

If you are feeling hopeless and down, please see your doctor. There are so many options you need to find the right one.

Good luck and hang in there. You can do this.

Asha0714 · August 2012

Seeeee you CAN do this!

jmedfoster · August 2012

I have been on antidepressants for YEARS My dr. is great and when I feel one is not working well with my ENTIRE self, she changes it up for me. I am on a very high dosage of Zoloft and it has made me gain 10lbs this past month. That is why I have joined here to lose weight, with her suggestion. I have no energy still, but by following my calorie counter I have lost 7lbs in 13 days. You can do it, trust me. If I can do that, you can do it too!! I have a very hard time becoming motivated and I have done it thus far. I even made my husband make an account and become my "friend" so he could track my progress too.

RainHoward · August 2012

Before I started taking welbutrin and lexapro I didn't care if I lived or died. I didn't care if I got out of bed in the morning, how much I did or did not eat. I have been fat most of my life because of depression and an incessant need to fill an endless void inside me with food. Now, I want to live and I care about what I put in my body. That, to me, is well worth gaining a few additional pounds.

By doctor did put me on abilify briefly and after I gained over 30 pounds in what seemed like overnight, I stopped taking it. I still have the weight on me, but I quit gaining. One thing I have learned through both personal experience and much research is that all anti-depressants affect people differently. It may be worth experimenting with yours to find something that works for you and your weight.

I know that my meds make it a little harder for me to lose weight but I also know that without them I probably wouldn't be alive today. If I was, I know I would be significantly larger than I currently am and I'm pushing 600 pounds. When you just don't care, about anything, weight loss seems pointless. I am very glad I don't feel like that anymore. I am on the long road to a healthy, better me I couldn't be more excited about that. You can do it and there are lots of people willing to help.

red_road · August 2012

I was on risperidone and i gained 30 pounds in a little over a month! I literally did not even know it was possible to put on that much weight so fast. My doctor was shocked. After I gained all that weight i truly HATED my doctor. Why would you give someone who suffers from depression, pills that are FAMOUS for having a weight gain side effect ( i did not know this at the time). I dont think its news that being overweight and depression are linked. He said he would give me an appetite suppressant to help with the weight gain but after spending all my money on the anit dperessant pills i couldnt affort the diet pills. I had never been so bitter in my entire life. I know he had my best interest in mind but there are alot of pills on the market for depression and i cant believe his first pick was one that caused weight gain! I am now on Zoloft 200mg ( prescribed from a different doctor) and have not gained anymore weight and am very slowly losing weight now.

jkandktmom · August 2012

My doctor just swithched me from Effexor to a new antidepressant called Viibyrd. I can't honestly say that it has made a difference yet but I'm optimistic. When I tlaked to my doctor I showed her my MFP diary so she could see how hard I was trying without results.

My advice is to work with your doctor and discover what will work for you! Good luck!

DelilahCat0212 · August 2012

Then you truly weren't depressed.

Beleg · August 2012

I started taking zoloft in 2006 weighed 275lbs. within 5 months I was done to 205. Stopped taking zoloft and started taking geodone because i was maxed on dose and I jumped back to 290 within 3 months. They took me off of that and put me on another that i can't remember the name of and i jumped to 343 which is when I had had enough. I am back on zoloft and I have lost 28lbs.

jlplove · August 2012

I have been on Zoloft for 6 years I packed on 30 lbs! Going off of Zoloft is not an option. I started this diet 4 weeks ago, and have lost 8 lbs! You can do it!!! Diet and excercise and loving support from Friends and family! You can be on a anti-Depressant and lose weight! It is possible!

teamryanmama · August 2012

This isn't very helpful

You can't just decide to stop being depressed

Skinny_Jeans_Soon · August 2012

Just my experience - I had the same concern so I quit taking them at the beginning and lost 83 pounds. It was hard to transition off of them (on prozac since I was 18). The exercise makes a huge impact on helping also when not on meds.

A_New_Horizon · August 2012

I am with you, and I don't know which anti-depressant you are on. I have been on them since Nov. Before the anti-depressants, I was down 62 lbs - well over time the weight started coming back on - it was steadily coming back on (like 1-2 lbs/week). I was on Celexa during that time. Well, about 2 months ago, I went to my dr with the weight concern. I had worked far too hard to allow all this weight to go back on. She switched me to Wellbutrin, and I have quit gaining weight. Right now, I am maintaining. You see I really can't do much when it comes to exercising because I am suffering from a knee injury. I am just happy that I am not gaining anymore - I have put on about 25 lbs from my lowest weight back in Nov, but I am still much smaller than what I was almost 2 yrs ago when the scale almost hit 200 lbs. I know once I can get my knee back to normal AND get off the anti-depressants in time (after my divorce) I can get the weight back off. Right now, I am just trying to maintain. It is doable with alot of work - trust me!!!!

tbskipp · August 2012

THIS!

Angie_Fritts · August 2012

I take Wellbutrin XL and it does not have the side effect of weight gain. Thank God.

I would sugges talking to your Doctor about possibly changing your meds. But it is my understanding that Lexapro is supposed to be weight neautral. I don't know anything about Prozac.

Good Luck!

MinMin97 · August 2012

A few years ago I experienced depression for the first time ever.
Took me by surprise!
Now I can empathize with those who experience this.
My experience was to get complete healing from it:
Use exercise as part of your treatment! The healing combo for me was exercise, stress reduction, vitamin d3, fish oil and St John's Wort (herb) extract. ( I took the herb for 6 months, and sometimes take it during the winter months as preventative).

PM me if you want more details.

Best wishes and blessings!

A_New_Horizon · August 2012

You can't just "stop being depressed". It is a medical fact that it is usually an imbalance in hormones (which is my problem).

danasings · August 2012

I wish it worked this way!!

DelilahCat0212 · August 2012

Prozac took away my appetite...for a week. I also didn't sleep much that week. It's not doing that anymore. Thankfully, I'm only on it to get off Celexa (no brain zaps...yay) and in a week or so I will taper off the Prozac for good.

I wish I could have taken Wellbutrin - it turned me into Cranky McCrankerpants when I took it alone or with other meds. I was wayyyy too agitated.

ahinescapron · August 2012

I was on Lexapro for 5 years and could not lose an ounce on it. I switched to Viibryd and have been able to lose. Every person's body chemistry is different, so you really need to find what works for you. I would express your concerns to your doctor and discuss options for medication.
Also, please ignore the advice to stop taking meds and simply exercise. Exercise can be a good part of your treatmen and can help control weight gaint, but not taking medicine is not an option for many of us. Some people really don't know what severe depression is like and how destructive it really is.
I hope you are able to find something that works for you!

betsywalton · August 2012

Best advice is talk to your provider. Cymbalta is an SNRI (same class as Effexor). Weight gain isn't normally a side effect, but could be caused by something else going on with your drug regimine or your metabolism. Wellbutrin, recommended here by a few respondants, is a different class of anti-depressant. It also helps with smoking cessation if you happen to be a smoker. Celexa is a good SSRI, similar method of action as your Cymbalta, but may work better. Whenever you are taking SNRI or SSRI you should taper off (and on). Don't stop suddenly or you may experience negative side effects. If you taper up or down, you won't have those issues.

Your depression may also require counseling to complement the pharm therapy. Have you tried that? This is especially important in post partum situations such as yours.

amelia_atlantic · August 2012

It's a quote from the T.V. show How I Met Your Mother. I'm sure the person that posted it is not trying to be cruel...

Gizziemoto · August 2012

So true! I take my meds every day and have found that adding exercise has helped too. I will never be without medication (did that once and did not turn out well) and plan to continue to exercise not just for my physical health but my mental health as well.

MinMin97 · August 2012

I think I about had this attitude before experiencing depression/anxiety myself.
It's not a joke!
I never take meds, don't even own aspirin/tylenol. Had 5 babies completely natural, no meds/procedures.
BUT When I got depressed/anxiety, I started looking at my husband's drug book!! (he's an orthopedic nurse)
So don't think you can just muscle your way out of this with bootstraps and tough love! Depends on your situation and life dynamics!
Fortunately, I was able to address my situation naturally, as stated in my above response in this post.

sevsmom · August 2012

It's been ages, but at one point I was on wellbutrin/lexapro combination. I was already scary skinny from my divorce-diet (NOT recommended!!) and needed some help. The combo actually pushed me down another 6 lbs to 124 (and while I'm 5'5", that weight looks AWFUL on me). I ate like a horse, but stayed at 124 for 6 months. Then I slowly gained the 6 lbs back. Then, I met someone new, and fell in love, stepped down off all the meds. . . and after marrying, life stress, another baby, juggling 5 kids, and what not. . . popped up to 168 not pregnant or postpartum (and THAT weight does not look good on me either!).

I hope you find a some medicine which helps your emotional stability and actually helps you feel hopeful and excited. I know that it's possible!!!

spikefoot · August 2012

Some people are saying that you can just lose weight on them. That is not true because depending on how they effect your body they can cause weight gain even if you are doing all the right things.

You have a few approaches from what I can see:

1. Don't take them and focus on fixing the things in your life that bother you. Sometimes this is not always possible (not situational or cannot be changed) and I realize that.

2. Take some that don't cause weight gain but don't help you feel less depressed.

3. Take the "right" ones and gain and accept how you look and be happy.

All of these options sound a little damned if you do, damned if you don't and kinda contradict the purpose.

In the end I would say stick with them and a healthy lifestyle for a bit and get a good understanding of what the problem is, you can always switch meds and you can always get off them and go without. Everyone is so different in the way they will react. Perhaps just make a list of the pros and cons.

Good luck

confettibetti · August 2012

me too! :-) Chin up buttercup, and like others have said, try a different medication! I take generic prozac, once weekly, and my weightloss is slow, but steady.

wxchaser · August 2012

I was on Lexapro and I managed to lose 17lbs before an injury sidetracked me. I'm back on my diet and back at the gym.

I know you can do it too. It's tough when you're on antidepressants, but once you start regularly exercising, things get better. You start to feel better, and eventually you'll feel so good, you won't need the drugs anymore. That's what happened to me. I've been off the Lexapro since March and I couldn't be happier going to the gym 6 times a week. It's motivating to just go for half an hour or more and work out because it gets the natural feel good chemicals working in your brain.

ElicitDreams · August 2012

I was on Lithium for 2 months and not only was it nasty stuff for me, but I also gained 30 pounds and now I can't seem to get any of it off. It definately sucks having the need for an antidepressant AND the need to lose weight and not being able to get either under control. (While getting the meds to work is awesome, having them counteract the weight loss aspect is daunting.) As much as I hate hearing this myself, it helps if you just focus on one of those things at a time. While I have not completely lost sight of my WL goal, I've sort of put it on the back burner to make sure I'm mentally ok first. I still work out and I still eat well, it's just not my main focus now. Maybe you could give that a try? Whatever you do, don't give up on either goal. I mean, they say losing weight is mostly mental, right? It's equally as important as proper diet or exercising.

antidepressants and weight loss struggle. talk to me.

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