Why do some anti depressants make you gain weight?

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  • michaelalouise3915
    michaelalouise3915 Posts: 124 Member
    Oh, and I didn't gain any weight whilst on citalopram, but I increased my exercise knowing if I didn't it would be likely I would gain (advice from physician). I came off it 2 years ago and gained a lot, but that was due to me eating like a pig and being lazy.
  • mistesh
    mistesh Posts: 243 Member
    Neither my other half nor I have any first-hand experience with antidepressant drugs, but one of my favorite health books is The End of Diabetes by Joel Fuhrman, who on his website writes about natural treatments for depression, none of which promote weight gain.

    http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/natural_depression.aspx

    I have no strong feelings for or against medication. It's just that I am lazy and like it simple, so if my body's immune system can handle it, there's one less pill box to administer. Heck, I don't even get a flu shot, even though my doctor has been begging me for years.
  • krissy_krossy
    krissy_krossy Posts: 307 Member
    Not sure. Most of the SSRI's I took made me lose weight (especially Prozac, it's only redeeming quality for me.) After I had to call it quits with SSRI's altogether (apparently my old psych failed to mention they can cause manic episodes in those with bipolar disorder and that's exactly what happened) I was put on things like Zyprexa and Seroquel.

    I'm pretty sure that I DID eat more while on Seroquel because I always felt like I was starving, however Zyprexa didn't affect my appetite at all, I'm certain I didn't eat more than I should (I had heard of how terrible it was with weight gain and was vigilant) and I still gained almost 30 pounds in about 6 weeks.
  • rosiecbolton
    rosiecbolton Posts: 85 Member
    @kristinanicol

    as a fellow bipolar i have taken both seroquel and zypyrexa. both are dreadful for weight gain but my opinion from my experience is zypyrexa is the worst

    when i was last in hospital they had no beds for acute mania so they put me on the eating disorders wing! I was shocked to see the nurses load up the anorexics on the zypyrexa TO MAKE THEM GAIN WEIGHT! That is just how bad these antipsychotics are

    although the weight gain is bad i have never been as well as on my now combo of lamictal and seroquel and would not try any other med!
  • yourstylistami
    yourstylistami Posts: 11
    Drugs most definitely can make people gain weight. I once took Paxil and gained 20 lbs in 3 weeks. I had noticed that I was gaining and kept cutting back on food yet kept gaining. My doctor immediately took me off of it saying it slowed the metabolism and that is why No matter how much I cut back on food it wouldn't stop. I've also felt that antidepressants made me feel more depressed!
  • queenofpsych
    queenofpsych Posts: 1 Member
    I cannot get over the sweet carb cravings... I try taking salads for lunch but by the time I get home, its insatiable... I'm on Wellbutrin XL... I was working out but since the depression started, I still only want to sleep. I will only go for walks a couple days a week but it's the cravings that are killing me... any advice for the cravings?! I was taking cereal with Silk milk to work every single day for the last couple of months but have now tried to eat salad for lunch but it's killing me...

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