antidepressants and weight loss struggle. talk to me.

Has anyone here ever taken Seroquel...I know it puts weight on and it is a strong medication..just like to know other peoples experience with it..my dr wont take me off..they say coming off it is bad

Get off the antidepressants. They will bloat the hell out of you.

I love how people here think they are qualified enough to tell a person to stop taking medication. I didn't know MFP was saturated with board certified psychiatrists.

Been on Celexa, Effexor (very briefly), Wellbutrin and now on Remeron.

To all the people telling folks on this thread to quit whining, keep a stiff upper lip, and quit all their medication: Clinical depression is NOT situational depression. It is a functional neurological disorder. I liken it to being diabetic; as long as I stay on my medication, I can function. If I don't, Bad Things Happen. You wouldn't tell a diabetic to stop taking insulin, you wouldn't tell a heart attack survivor to stop taking beta blockers, so don't tell me that I should stop taking medication that allows me to function in society. So, with all due respect, keep your hands and your misconceptions out of my brain. Thank you.

As for the weight gain, I've put on more pounds due to various not particularly effective rounds of birth control pills than from my ADs, per se, although I *did* put on a lot of weight with the Celexa. (I couldn't do Wellbutrin - I was sleeping 30-60 minutes in a 24 hour period and I was completely wired for sound all the time - like jittery and unfocused.) Effexor make me completely weird and caused thoughts of self-injury - I think I was on it two or three weeks, and it NEVER helped with the depression.

The doctor warned me when I asked for the Remeron when my Celexa basically stopped working that it causes munchies. Actually, what he probably SHOULD have said was that you will chase anything that stops moving long enough with a fork. *lmao* But I've managed to stay weight neutral on the drug with care and forethought, and a lot of chewing gum so I always have something in my mouth. And most importantly, it's a sedative, which means I'm finally sleeping through the night.

Being on a serotonin reputake inhibitor, especially, can make losing weight more difficult. It isn't impossible, but motivation can be a challenge when part of your brain is pretty much shut down. Most of us, before we end up on meds, medicate with food. Starches increase serotonin uptake, especially white starches. So we eat potatoes and bread and pasta, because at an endocrinological level, they make us feel better. The hard part for me is learning to eat in a way that doesn't DO that. Then I have to try and motivate myself to do something - ANYTHING - to get moving.

As the joke goes, no matter how slow I go, I am still lapping the person on the couch.

Depression makes it harder to do the things most people do to "lose weight". The thought of being in a gym at my current weight leaves me on the edge of a panic attack. People who say "well, just go to the gym" or "well, just get off your butt and walk" have never had to deal with the dirty looks, catcalls and general snark that are a side effect of being fat and having the audacity to leave your house. When you're already down and feeling anxious, having some a*&hat moo at me from his car is enough to completely ruin my day and make me too ashamed to go out and try again.

I recognize that my medication will make this journey a little tougher than the average bear. But tougher isn't impossible, and if it was easy, anyone could play and imagine how crowded THAT is gonna get!

Losing weight may mean I'll be able to LOWER my antidepressant, but I won't ever be off of it. And I've accepted that.

-Betty-

its hard, I've been there...ended up going on Celexa and I never gained weight, I think medications effect people differently as my cousin was on celexa and she gained weight...you can do your best at eating right and exercise, it will definitely help


Since I got off celexa I gained 10 pounds, go figure ...thats why i'm on here to lose those 10 pounds again ....vicious cycle :grumble:

Here's my story and I'm hoping someone can provide some encouragement for me because I'm completely frustrated. 2 years ago I suffered from panic attacks, one day driving to work and BOOM my body went into anxiety!! Was never really "skinny" but looking back I was content with myself, just needed a little toning. Anxiety was ruining my life and my doctor put me on Paxil. Never told me that one side effect was weight gain, which if I would have known then, I would have researched other options. After a year on Paxil and almost 25 pounds later, I decided that I wanted to try and get off the meds. I successfully weaned off the medication in July 2011, as most of you know who have weaned off, the 25 pounds I gained melted off within 3 months and my eating habits were probably worse then when I took the meds. In December, my anxiety returned and I realized I needed to go on something to help, the doctor tried Prozac with Buspar, at first, it was fine changed my eating habits just to be safe and lost a few more pounds. Not sure if it was the Buspar or the Prozac, but my anxiety burst into full bloom again. So, I went back on Paxil. Within 3 months of watching what I ate 15 pounds packed back on. Doctor switched me to Viibryd, first 2 months were good, definitely more energy and not really hungry. I lost a pound a week for about 3 weeks, using MFP and taking a Zumba class (which is a blast even though I'm completely uncoordinated!) Still eating like I did for those 3 weeks and actually bumped my exercises up alitte and I've gained back the 3 pounds. Don't understand..... I know that if it weren't for these pills, I would probably reach my goal in a much faster time. I just want to know how to boost my metabolism and get rid of this weight.... Sorry to babble, first time on here and I see that alot of people are going through what I am and would love to hear some success stories and how they are being achieved. Thanks!

I have been on Lexapro for like a year now. Before that I was on Remeron. The Remeron made me feel constantly hungry, but the Lexapro hasn't really changed my hunger. I have gained some weight though, but it could also be my depression, and all the comfort eating I've been doing. I've recently started trying to loose weight. Even though the Lexapro might make it more difficult, it is so worth it. I need medication to have the energy to exercise regularly and prepare healthy meals. When I'm depressed I eat junk food I don't need to put any time into, and I stay in bed all day. So, I'd rather have a slow metabolism with healthy habits then normal metabolism with ****ty habits. But, like others have said, maybe you should try Wellbutrin? I tried that, but unfortunately I had an allergic reaction to it.

Good luck! I do think it's possible to loose weight, even though it might be a bit harder.

EDIT: Haha, it censured a cuss word automaticly, so cute.

Maybe this could be better then, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buspirone, for anxiety. It doesn't exist in many countries, but maybe in yours?