Anti-Depressant weight gain

I was put on Celexa for depression about 3 years ago and gained 10lbs in 3 weeks on it. I was working out, eating healthy, etc. I didn't change my eating habits at all.. and the weight just piled on. It really messed with me and honestly, was having adverse effects, making me more depressed that I was gaining weight. So they put me on Zoloft after 5ish months on Celexa. I took 50mg of Zoloft once a day and managed to gain about 5lbs within the first month of use (on top of the 10lbs I gained on Celexa). I was on Zoloft for about 3-4 months when I found out I was pregnant and my OB felt I needed to be off those meds for the baby. So I quit cold-turkey (do not do unless you consult with a doctor!) -- I couldn't get the weight off until I had completely stopped taking the meds. About 4 weeks after I found out I was pregnant and had stopped taking Zoloft; I started losing the weight. But then unfortunately gained quite a bit during pregnancy.

Sorry I can't be much help. I know it's very normal for people to gain while on antidepressants. Depression runs in my family, my mom has gained weight on her meds too and has had some troubles getting the weight off. And I have two very good friends of mine on Celexa and the other on Citalopram; both with weight gain from it and they found that drinking lots and lots and lots of water has seemed to have helped with keeping the excess weight off.

Maybe try talking with your doctor about what you can do about weight gain associated with your Zoloft. See if there is anything they recommend. Best wishes to you!

Oh yeah I gained weight on zolft, hated it, now i get depressed over being over weight which stops me from losing weight, its a vicious cycle! lol I rather manage my depression by myself than be on zolft and so far so good! because being on that med and gaining weight only made me more miserable, and it didnt make me happy either just numb to everything I HATED IT. been on and off of meds since i was 15 but so far i think getting older has made me realize not to sweat the small stuff. But i know everyone is different. I started this week on a diet, so far so good! so there is hope!

I was on prozac for a year and put on about 30lbs. My doctor wasn't too concerned with the weight gain, but I was. You just have to really watch what you eat because its easy to veg out and eat especially on the meds. I decided to manage depression by therapy and got off the meds completely, now Im doing the Fitness Pal, and back to exercising. I have really noticed a change in my attitude, as well as losing weight. My therapist says its because the exercise increases your endorphins and causes you to be happy about things. Just set your sights on your goal and don't give up!

I gained weight really fast on Abilify. It worked great but I felt physically miserable because I gained weight so fast. It's really hit or miss as to how you will react to a medicine so it's one of those things you have to try and see. I'm on Lamictal now (for bi-polar). I'm up a couple lbs but I've also been sick and surviving on poptarts this week lol

I gained a pretty substantial 40 pounds in about 3 months when I was taking slurroquel (seroquel, but if you've ever taken it you'll know why I refer to it as 'slurroquel'). It was a godsend for my mind, and I'm glad I had it when I needed it. I'm also quite glad to not need it anymore.

All the research I've seen on med-induced weight gain says tracking caloric intake is a significant intervention to reduce med-induced weight gain. For some people adding metformin has also helped.

I gained a lot of weight by starting pristine and birth control at once! Dropped them both and went on a small dose f celexa....still a gain. Dropped that too and started working out to channel my issues. That, diet and good sleep ave helped so much.

I gained about 60 lbs while I was on Abilify. It's a nasty one. I did just find this article in the Huffington Post that gives some tips on how to keep from gaining on ADs. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judith-j-wurtman-phd/weight-loss-10-tips-to-pr_b_629564.html

However, getting the lbs off is hard. I"m still on Zoloft and it's been a lot harder to lose but it is possible. Just keep at it and remember that you didn't gain the weight overnight. It's not going to come off overnight. Good luck. Hope this helps.

I am on effexor and wellbutrin xl and haven't gained anything, when I first went on them I googled them and they actually said could lose weight, but I didn't lose any either, not until I started exercising and eating better

I have been on amitryptiline (only 25mg) for over a year for IBS and have gained 25 lbs. When I first gained 10 lbs I told my doctor and he insisted it wasn't the medication. He put me on topamax to help me lose weight and immediately I started having suicidal thoughts so I got off of it. I have been eating healthier than I ever have in my entire life and I have been working hard to stay as active as possible but my weight doesn't seem to move down ever. If anything it has either stayed stabile or climbed. I can definitely relate to the fatigue and the coma that I am in the morning. I used to wake up very easily, but my husband literally can't wake me up in the mornings. Eating healthier has helped me gain enough energy to start exercising again and I am slowly working on weaning off of the medication. As much as I don't want to be in pain all the time again, I am trying to get healthy so that I can have a baby and I really don't feel like this is going to help.

Ive been on an SNRI long term twice in my life with a substantial gap of time inbetween of NOT being on it...first time I began taking it I gained about 15 lbs in a month. I know some people claim the "meds" themselves cause you to gain weight (as in they didn't change their intake however gained weight...you cant gain air) however for me personally it was due to my increased appetite, really ramping up my cravings & I seemed to have no control/willpower, hence ate a LOT more (okay, nearly everything in sight) & gained weight. Again, most importantly it HELPED AND I found the cravings tapered off within the month, but I was def left with those 15 lbs to shed.

The second time starting the medication again, I had no side effects that were related to weight gain or even cravings.

I gained a ton of weight on Risperdal and Effexor when I was in my teens... but I think PCOS had a part in it as well. I can't remember how long I was on them before I stopped, but the weight and increased appetite stayed after I kicked them despite going to the gym 5 days a week and living on ephedra and hoodia (all the rage back then). A couple years later I got on Metformin for insulin resistance and dropped about 80% of the weight I gained from the ADs without even trying. A few years after that, I was put on citalopram and lamictal but I lost a few more pounds because I was going through a rough time and I guess they weren't really helping, ha. Got tired of feeling like a doped up zombie so I stopped them in 2010. I gradually gained back about 30lbs between 2010 and 2012 from not being able to get Metformin anymore and from being lazy and eating too much crap. Sept 2012 got on Bupropion XL 300mg (Welbutrin) which killed my appetite and gave me a ton of energy so I dropped 15-20 but that all leveled out after a few months, got hungry and lazy again and well, here I am :laugh:

My doctor is suggesting adding a mood stabilizer to the bupropion which I'm kinda hesitant about because I'm doing well so far. I don't need to be battling a raging appetite and weird adrenal/hormonal fluctuations and the such so early in the game...