paxil and weight gain?!

giag09

hi i have gained about 5 lbs in 6 wks since i have been on paxil, i was put on it for anxiety attacks previously i was on lexapro for my ocd but it didnt help with the anxiety attacks that had started to appear.... i havent changed my eating habits and have been working out even more! anyone have any suggestions for alternatives to paxil without the weight gain that i can kinda discuss with my obgyn when i go and see her on thursday?!
ps i am a fit momma to a 3 1/2 yr old and 10 month old
27 yo
5'2 1/2
140 now!!! ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

giag09

bump

AmyFett

I'm 5'2 as well and I'd LOVE to be 140 LOL... I gained a **** load of weight on Prozac and Zoloft. I stopped them. I'm not on anything anymore. To me, being off the meds and dealing with my anxiety and borderline bipolar is easier than gaining, gaining, gaining, and not being able to lose. As I lost more, I'm happier. Now I just have my Ativan for anxiety and panic attacks.

Angie_1991

None of those drugs are good...what is causing the anxiety attacks? If you have to be on them...try one PRN...xanax maybe.

Sh1tsRainbows

i was on paxil for years..didnt notice any weight gain...much lower sex drive though...whats your dosage?? mine was 20-30mg

Espressocycle

I gained 10 lbs after I went on Celexa, but then I joined MFP and lost that and then some. I think the weight gain just comes from the drug increasing your appetite, so as long as you are tracking on MFP, you should be fine.

virginia65us

Years ago I tried a few of the drugs in the same category as Paxil (SSRIs) and couldn't tolerate the side effects (including weight gain.) I switched to Wellbutrin, which is a different type of drug and found it very helpful for anxiety. I stopped taking if for years and just started again a week ago due to stress, mostly at work. I already feel calmer, even though they say it takes three weeks to take full effect. As far as weight goes, if anything, Wellbutrin is thought to have somewhat of an appetite suppressing effect. You might was to ask your doctor about it.

giag09

I started having anxiety attacks about 3 months ago just alittle added stress of having 2 kiddos 3 1/2 and 10 months and trying to juggling a job household and a hubby..... some things that arent a big deal to some ppl affect me differently cuase i tend to obsess over stuff because i have OCD also.. lucky me lol! but now with this weight gain and not changing anything with my diet and lifestyle makes me upset and now i am tending to obsess about this now! vicious cycle... hopefully i can find a happy medium

HappyathomeMN

My BF is on paxil and it can have some crazy side effects. A place that has helped us in learning more about it is paxilprogress.org. which is not a medical site but one for people on paxil with others on paxil talking about their experiences.

Talk to the Dr about a med (or other therapies) that you can employ to help with the anxiety instead of paxil. I say this as a partner to someone who is on the drug and I see how it affects them on a daily basis.

jiva57

It's very interesting that you gained weight on Paxil and not Lexapro. They are both SSRI's and both commonly have weight gain as a side effect. You may have to experiment for a while with your doc on getting just the right dose and medication for you, with the goal being no weight gain and no panic attacks. You are approaching this intelligently! Don't lose patience.

anemoneprose

I gained 10 lbs after I went on Celexa, but then I joined MFP and lost that and then some. I think the weight gain just comes from the drug increasing your appetite, so as long as you are tracking on MFP, you should be fine.

I`ve heard this explanation and don`t buy it. There is ****no way**** I ate enough to go from 140 to 200 in the year I took it (which was a looooong time ago). People who lived with me & saw what I ate could confirm that. (I am not and was never a `secret snacker`, either.)

Paxil is a pretty blunt tool, and lots of people don`t prescribe it anymore. Change doctors.

LadyIvysMom

I'm 5'2 as well and I'd LOVE to be 140 LOL... I gained a **** load of weight on Prozac and Zoloft. I stopped them. I'm not on anything anymore. To me, being off the meds and dealing with my anxiety and borderline bipolar is easier than gaining, gaining, gaining, and not being able to lose. As I lost more, I'm happier. Now I just have my Ativan for anxiety and panic attacks.

This. /\

To the OP: Obviously only do this with a doctors approval, but I personally went off of my meds after they made me gain 30 lbs in 3 months. The depression and panic I felt from gaining weight was far worse than the usual depression and panic I was feeling every day before the weight gain.

Instead of drugs, I now see a therapist once a month and when I feel depressed or feel panic-y, I go for a run or do a quick workout. I find that the exercise has the same effect on me that the drugs were having.

If I begin to feel a massive panic attack coming on at work, which is where I primarily experience all of my panic and depression, I do breathing exercises or, if possible, I get up and go for a quick walk, even if just to the ladies room and back.

Talk to your doctor and see if she thinks there may any drug free choices for you.

iAMsmiling

I'm trying too ween myself off of prozac right now.
I suspect it may have something to do with my difficulty losing weight, but I might just be grasping at straws there.

I have to say, we are all usually on these meds for a reason. Getting off of them for weight loss may create other, even worse, issues.

demery12371

hi i have gained about 5 lbs in 6 wks since i have been on paxil, i was put on it for anxiety attacks previously i was on lexapro for my ocd but it didnt help with the anxiety attacks that had started to appear.... i havent changed my eating habits and have been working out even more! anyone have any suggestions for alternatives to paxil without the weight gain that i can kinda discuss with my obgyn when i go and see her on thursday?!
ps i am a fit momma to a 3 1/2 yr old and 10 month old
27 yo
5'2 1/2
140 now!!! ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many years ago (before kids) I was put on Paxil, after my rape, for anxiety attacks and depression... In 3 months I had gained 30 pounds and only wanted chips and ice cream... Everything else tasted awful to me... Bad time and within 2 months of going off of Paxil I had lost over half the weight.... See if you can get your dr to put you on a med that doesn't cause weight gain. I took something different and it was much better. No more weight gain. I can't remember what the name of it was. Zoloft is also bad for weight gain.

Good Luck!!!

newman84

I have taken Celxia, Rameron, prozac, and zoloft
I didn't see any weight gan with prozac but i was like a zombie.
WIth the others i either gained weight or stayed the same.
I gained 25 lbs in 2 months and haven't been able to loose it.
I hope that you can find something that works.

anemoneprose

I have to say, we are all usually on these meds for a reason. Getting off of them for weight loss may create other, even worse, issues.

Lots of assumptions packed into this, all can be challenged. Diagnosis of mental illnesses & disorders is very unlike diagnosis of eg diabetes. The process couldn't be more subjective.

In fact the evidence suggests that SSRIs are only really useful, long-term, for people with very severe depression. The people, in other words, who'd actually benefit from electroshock therapy.
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0050045

Exercise has an excellent evidence base to support its role as an effective mood regulator. Anyone interested can look into it, but
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression-and-exercise/MH00043

SSRIs are meant to treat depression, but instead, they increase risk of suicidal ideation and action. To treat anxiety, but cause irritability. To increase participation in life, but cause apathy. To treat insomnia, but cause insomnia.

There are better ways to cope.

edit: yes, discontinuing too quickly can totally cause problems. Second paxilprogress.org for help (people on there are weaning from a range of SSRIs). See also
http://www.benzo.org.uk/healy.htm

giag09

I feel like i need to get my ocd and anxiety under control on my own but the problem is right now i need a little extra help... i hate switching between drugs because that causes more dr appts and time off from work i know im just complaining i work in the medical field so i understand you need to be monitored but sometimes i just wish that i didnt have these issues!

sherisse69

You could try Cymbalta? I had tried a few, and this seemed to be the one with the least side effects. Unforturnatley my insurance wouldn't cover it, so I ended up long term on Celexa - which helped me gain about 20lbs. 10 in the first month. Not fun, but really 5lbs isn't too bad, just keep watching to see if it levels off or if it keeps going.

I feel your frustration! Best of luck in finding what works for you

evansjaohseven

I used to take paxil and gained a lot of weight on it. I am on Zoloft now for anxiety/panic attacks. Zoloft unlike a lot of the SSRIs, is not supposed to make you gain weight. I didn't see any weight gain with the Zoloft. I feel better on Zoloft too. I also take Klonopin prn. I'm 5'3" and 138 pounds, trying to get back down to 125. MFP is definitely helping I think. On these meds though, I think it is important to watch your diet and stay active.

cindyhoney2

I've been dealing with the same issues for years. I put on 60 lbs w/seroquel and had a doc tell me it wasn't possible, drugs don't do that...yeah right. She might have weighed 100 lbs herself, I wanted to break her in half. I'm on 3 drugs for bi-polar and anxiety. I have cut my doeses and went off of one drug all together since I feel better when I'm exercising and since I've lost weight. I have been on heavy drugs since 2005 and I really worry about the long term affects (they never seem to study long term affects, just short term) which is why I'm happy to be off of one of them. I agree w/other posters, I lost weight while on wellbutrin, but the others made me pack on weight and/or go a little more crazy. I take xanax for the anxiety and I feel for you having panic attacks. Mine just hit out of the blue, I don't usually have time to prepare for them (like taking a walk or deep breathing) I definatley recommend exercise on a regular basis, it has helped me tremendously! Talk to your doc or find a new one!

sherisse69

I feel like i need to get my ocd and anxiety under control on my own but the problem is right now i need a little extra help... i hate switching between drugs because that causes more dr appts and time off from work i know im just complaining i work in the medical field so i understand you need to be monitored but sometimes i just wish that i didnt have these issues!

I saw a post hear that tried to debate the use of medications. I just want to remind you, you know what has worked for you. Don't let people make you feel bad for taking medication to help you get to a place of contentment and control. People who have never dealt with issues like these, don't realise how dibilitating (spelling??) it can be.

You have support here. Just look at how many others have found success with the aid of medication. Taking medication doesn't mean you will forever need them - but you may need them for now. That is ok!

Yes, seeing a psychologist is helpful. And medication can help. Exercise can help. Sure! It is finding the right combination that will help YOU. This is for YOU.

Health, healing and positivity coming your way

mitch16

After a life-shattering event 5 years ago I was on Effexor XR. I actually lost a lot of weight because I don't think it was quite cutting my depression but I was terrified of going to a higher dose (I work in the pharma industry).


I ended up having to quit quite suddenly instead of tapering off as recommended due to circumstances beyond my (and my physician's) control... This is when I starting gaining lots of weight, and it messed me up pretty bad (both mentally and physically). I definitely would not recommend doing this, nor would I do it myself again.

Pay attention to your side effects, but definitely discuss any changes you want to make/plan to make with your physician. You have to decide (together) what is important for you. And if your doctor is not willing to work with you, it's time to find a new one.

anemoneprose

I saw a post hear that tried to debate the use of medications. I just want to remind you, you know what has worked for you. Don't let people make you feel bad for taking medication to help you get to a place of contentment and control. People who have never dealt with issues like these, don't realise how dibilitating (spelling??) it can be.

I am not anti-medication, and would never judge anyone for wanting help. All drugs have risks and benefits. (Benzodiazepines like Ativan have a longer track record and are better understood.)

I do think SSRIs are bad drugs. As Cindy said, the studies supporting them have all been short-term, on doses that are often far less than what winds up being prescribed. Patients have been guinea pigs for years, shifted from one drug to another. For a long time, side effects were dismissed as being part of whatever it was that caused help-seeking initially. There have been class-action lawsuits for a reason. (Many reasons.)

Also. I dare anyone to find a neuropsychologist who can explain *exactly*, biochemically, endocrinologically, what SSRIs do (their precise effects on other neurotransmitters than the ones targeted, etc).

sherisse69

I have to say, we are all usually on these meds for a reason. Getting off of them for weight loss may create other, even worse, issues.

Lots of assumptions packed into this, all can be challenged. Diagnosis of mental illnesses & disorders is very unlike diagnosis of eg diabetes. The process couldn't be more subjective.

In fact the evidence suggests that SSRIs are only really useful, long-term, for people with very severe depression. The people, in other words, who'd actually benefit from electroshock therapy.
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0050045

Exercise has an excellent evidence base to support its role as an effective mood regulator. Anyone interested can look into it, but
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression-and-exercise/MH00043

SSRIs are meant to treat depression, but instead, they increase risk of suicidal ideation and action. To treat anxiety, but cause irritability. To increase participation in life, but cause apathy. To treat insomnia, but cause insomnia.

There are better ways to cope.

edit: yes, discontinuing too quickly can totally cause problems. Second paxilprogress.org for help (people on there are weaning from a range of SSRIs). See also
http://www.benzo.org.uk/healy.htm

There are articles and journals for every topic under the sun. There will always be a range of opinions. I feel you are quite clear on where your opinion lies. But that leads me to ask if you have ever truly dealt with severe mental issues, and/or ever needed medication to help cope? I really doubt it.

So, from someone who has been through some pretty f'n serious stuff, and am now finally finding myself and am finally in a place where i can cope - your judgement just frustrates me. Did I want to have to use medication? NO. Did I want to go and have to talk about horrible things to a complete stranger? No. BUT I also didn't want to suffer anymore. Would I have made through without these things? No! I tried, for a long time - it just got worse. For some people, in some cases, this is what works.

You don't need to understand - it is NOT YOUR LIFE.

apriltrainer

I actually lost weight on Zoloft. Gained on lexapro but I did eventually lose it. I haven't taken Paxil but even if it might make weight loss more difficult than usual- you can over come it.

I gained 10 lbs right away on lexapro. My appetite increased extraordinarily. Of course I was also super depressed too. Gaining weight while on it..didn't help but I stuck with it. Kept chugging along with my exercises and tried to watch what i ate. Sometimes i was successful. Other times I wasn't at all. Eventually things evened out and I stopped gaining. The med started to work and I felt better...feeling better then led me to particpating more in life. That lead to more energy, that lead to better workouts, better eating choices and weight lost.

You are on paxil for a reason. If it helps you emotionally...take it. Just like I took lexapro. Maybe it will cause weight gain intially but ride it out. Let your body get used to it. Exercise despite it..even if you do see weight gain. Try to make better choices even if the better choices still stick with ya for a while. Eventually your body will reach equilibirum. Yes I believe these drugs do cause weight gain..but we can also get that control back.

sherisse69

I saw a post hear that tried to debate the use of medications. I just want to remind you, you know what has worked for you. Don't let people make you feel bad for taking medication to help you get to a place of contentment and control. People who have never dealt with issues like these, don't realise how dibilitating (spelling??) it can be.

I am not anti-medication, and would never judge anyone for wanting help. All drugs have risks and benefits. (Benzodiazepines like Ativan have a longer track record and are better understood.)

I do think SSRIs are bad drugs. As Cindy said, the studies supporting them have all been short-term, on doses that are often far less than what winds up being prescribed. Patients have been guinea pigs for years, shifted from one drug to another. For a long time, side effects were dismissed as being part of whatever it was that caused help-seeking initially. There have been class-action lawsuits for a reason. (Many reasons.)

Absolutely agreed - it is risky and very scary not knowing what the long term effects could be. But, I know for me - I had to choose to take the risk. I don't mean to come off as rude, that is not my intention. I just wanted to make sure that she (OP) didn't feel ashamed for being on medication. I know I was at first - BECAUSE OF opinions like yours.

anemoneprose

I have to say, we are all usually on these meds for a reason. Getting off of them for weight loss may create other, even worse, issues.

Lots of assumptions packed into this, all can be challenged. Diagnosis of mental illnesses & disorders is very unlike diagnosis of eg diabetes. The process couldn't be more subjective.

In fact the evidence suggests that SSRIs are only really useful, long-term, for people with very severe depression. The people, in other words, who'd actually benefit from electroshock therapy.
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0050045

Exercise has an excellent evidence base to support its role as an effective mood regulator. Anyone interested can look into it, but
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression-and-exercise/MH00043

SSRIs are meant to treat depression, but instead, they increase risk of suicidal ideation and action. To treat anxiety, but cause irritability. To increase participation in life, but cause apathy. To treat insomnia, but cause insomnia.

There are better ways to cope.

edit: yes, discontinuing too quickly can totally cause problems. Second paxilprogress.org for help (people on there are weaning from a range of SSRIs). See also
http://www.benzo.org.uk/healy.htm

There are articles and journals for every topic under the sun. There will always be a range of opinions. I feel you are quite clear on where your opinion lies. But that leads me to ask if you have ever truly dealt with severe mental issues, and/or ever needed medication to help cope? I really doubt it.

So, from someone who has been through some pretty f'n serious stuff, and am now finally finding myself and am finally in a place where i can cope - your judgement just frustrates me. Did I want to have to use medication? NO. Did I want to go and have to talk about horrible things to a complete stranger? No. BUT I also didn't want to suffer anymore. Would I have made through without these things? No! I tried, for a long time - it just got worse. For some people, in some cases, this is what works.

You don't need to understand - it is NOT YOUR LIFE.

I'm glad you're in a better place. Truly.

But, sorry, you're making a lot of assumptions here. Yes, I have had some effing problems, serious ones, which I'm not about to dredge up to prove my experiential authority.

My judgement is not of the individuals seeking treatment. My judgement is of the pharmaceutical companies that rush a drug to market; of the FDA, which ignored null-hypothesis studies, and academic journals that did the same because of publication bias, and the ways the current model and practice of psychology has supported all of it. (Take a look at the debate around the DSM-5, if you want a sense of what's actually going on.)

sherisse69

I have to say, we are all usually on these meds for a reason. Getting off of them for weight loss may create other, even worse, issues.

Lots of assumptions packed into this, all can be challenged. Diagnosis of mental illnesses & disorders is very unlike diagnosis of eg diabetes. The process couldn't be more subjective.

In fact the evidence suggests that SSRIs are only really useful, long-term, for people with very severe depression. The people, in other words, who'd actually benefit from electroshock therapy.
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0050045

Exercise has an excellent evidence base to support its role as an effective mood regulator. Anyone interested can look into it, but
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression-and-exercise/MH00043

SSRIs are meant to treat depression, but instead, they increase risk of suicidal ideation and action. To treat anxiety, but cause irritability. To increase participation in life, but cause apathy. To treat insomnia, but cause insomnia.

There are better ways to cope.

edit: yes, discontinuing too quickly can totally cause problems. Second paxilprogress.org for help (people on there are weaning from a range of SSRIs). See also
http://www.benzo.org.uk/healy.htm

There are articles and journals for every topic under the sun. There will always be a range of opinions. I feel you are quite clear on where your opinion lies. But that leads me to ask if you have ever truly dealt with severe mental issues, and/or ever needed medication to help cope? I really doubt it.

So, from someone who has been through some pretty f'n serious stuff, and am now finally finding myself and am finally in a place where i can cope - your judgement just frustrates me. Did I want to have to use medication? NO. Did I want to go and have to talk about horrible things to a complete stranger? No. BUT I also didn't want to suffer anymore. Would I have made through without these things? No! I tried, for a long time - it just got worse. For some people, in some cases, this is what works.

You don't need to understand - it is NOT YOUR LIFE.

I'm glad you're in a better place. Truly.

But, sorry, you're making a lot of assumptions here. Yes, I have had some effing problems, serious ones, which I'm not about to dredge up to prove my experiential authority.

My judgement is not of the individuals seeking treatment. My judgement is of the pharmaceutical companies that rush a drug to market; of the FDA, which ignored null-hypothesis studies, and academic journals that did the same because of publication bias, and the ways the current model and practice of psychology has supported all of it. (Take a look at the debate around the DSM-5, if you want a sense of what's actually going on.)

Fair enough. I don't mean to turn this into a debate - the OP is looking for suggestions and I feel that we are now just taking up space - so I will respect your opinion, and I will check out the DSM-5 debate. I am sure it will be very enlightening.

iAMsmiling

All meds are a trade off. You get super nasty cancer meds because the alternative is dying.
Also, we never know the long term side affects of any med until we've experienced the "long term."

Exercise has helped me off of my blood pressure meds. Changing my diet helped me off my ulcer meds. I'm working to find a healthy way off of my brain meds as well. But in the end, I have to be functional and I accept the risks and trade offs.

anemoneprose

Fair enough. I don't mean to turn this into a debate - the OP is looking for suggestions and I feel that we are now just taking up space - so I will respect your opinion, and I will check out the DSM-5 debate. I am sure it will be very enlightening.

I apologize for turning my contributions into a diatribe - you`re right, this thread shouldn`t be a debate. It`s a difficult and heated subject, and I guess we all bring our experiences into it (I know I do). I appreciate your fair-mindedness, and regret that my phrasing of things was upsetting

Espressocycle

I just want to say, my SSRI changed my life. I went from being anxious and quick to anger with every minor setback feeling like it was the end of the world to calm, well adjusted and generally able to deal with life. I did therapy before and it helped, but not enough. I learned to deal with my anger and ended up getting depressed instead. Had I gone on this medication 10 years ago, my life would be better in many ways.