anti-depressants and weight-gain

I think there is one (wellbutrin maybe?) but it is really important to find the one that WORKS for you, as they all wont. I know that the weight gain side effect is scary, but letting yourself slip deeper into depression is much scarier.

I was on prozac for over a year (recently tapered off) and it was one of the best things I have done for myself. I did not gain that much weight on it at all (and I was not actively trying to lose at the time).

I AM ON ANTI DEPRESSANTS DONT THINK I HAVE GAINED..... WHICH ARE U TAKING?
X

I have suffered from depression since i was 20,on and off anti's since.tried most all of them.none made me gain except effexor it just made it harder to loose

I was in the same boat as you, trying to wait out the PPD for a long time. Things got really out of control and I finally asked for help when my daughter was 5 months old and I am SO happy that I did. I am on Wellbutrin, have been for almost a year now, and it has really helped me a lot. It has not caused any weight gain or problems losing weight, in fact it helps my compulsive behaviors which include compulsive eating. You deserve to be happy, don't be afraid to ask for help. Medication doesn't mean you are weak or a bad parent/person/woman, it means that you are doing what is best for you and ultimately your family.

wellbutrin is known for curbing cravings, they used to use it to help people quit smoking. I am on it and didn't gain weight from it. At first i even lost a few pounds. Everyone is differant though and while it may work for me, it might not for you. Please talk to your doctor

I am not on an anti-depressent currently....but have been suffering from PPD for a while and really am trying to avoid the drugs. My ups and downs though are getting harder and harder to deal with. I am also afraid of the weight-gain a lot of these drugs can cause.

Is there anyone out there that knows of an anti-depressent that does not have weight gain as a side-effect?

The MOST important thing is your well-being. A lot of the time, if emotional issues are addressed, weight loss becomes easier. I started taking wellbutrin a couple of months ago and I feel much better. I am losing weight and it does not seem at all like the anti-depressant is holding me back. It's in a different class from the ones that commonly cause weight gain. Please, talk to your doctor and see what they say. The benefits will probably far outweigh the con's.

I agee with welbutrim. I was on zoloft and didn't gain, but it killed my sex drive. So I switched to welbutrim...and it didn't work. So, they put me on a mix of them....it's only been about a week, so we'll see.

But I know that welbutrim is not for people with eating disorders becuase it makes you less hungry.

Good luck!

Each person is different. I've been on them since 1994 and it has not affected my weight. I also don't get the scary side effects and I work closely with my doctors in regards to medication and dosage.

Stay away from the heavy duty stuff and you'll be fine (lithium, Prozac, etc. are considered heavy drugs). Time release formulas are best.

Remember, it's a piece of the larger pie of self care. Eating right, sleeping well, and exercise along with the meds all makes a complete picture. If you're just taking the drugs without all the rest you might have weight gain.

I've been on Lexapro, then Celexa for about 2.5 years. I gained a little when I first started, but that was more a result of a change in lifestyle (losing my job) and lots of depressing circumstances (losing both parents).

I have more energy on medication. And more energy means I can exercise more. And more exercise makes me feel better, too.

I was on anti depressants for 12 years, thats how I gained the weight I have lost now, and I have been off of them for almost five years. This is what eating healthy is so important to me. I do not want to go back on meds. I have cut out caffiene, and sweeteners, and watch the added sugars close, take a multivitamin and flax oil capsule. I think it's so important to first try and manage these issues through diet and working out, (Workout out is extremely important for me to maintain not meds) before going to medication, I do support meds when they are needed, but theres a lot more that could be manage through diet and exercise.

I was on Paxil for nearly 2 years (for anxiety though) and I advise NOT to go on that one. I worked out hard and ate well for nearly four months and lost a whopping 12 pounds. I later found out that it was probably the Paxil that was causing me not to lose and had probably caused me to gain a few pounds when I went on. Also, it's one of the hardest medications to get off of and when you do the side effects are horrible. Luckily I am finally off of it and starting my journey over again.

I was on Wellbutrin in the past and it didn't make me gain anything but I had a lot of insomnia from it. I was off them for a few years and am now on Pristiq and so far no adverse side effects at all. No weight gain. If anything I am eating less now than before. I don't have as big an appetite - especially for anything sweet. A little goes a long way now. Hope you can find something that works for you!

I quit smoking 5 months ago after 32 years and gained alot of weight. I felt terrible about life and myself and cried all the time. I think I was starting perimentapause . My dr. gave me Citalopram and I have felt so much better. I quit crying, am happy, started my fitness pal and started walking miles every day. I am now loosing the weight. I wish I had went on this years ago.

There is no shame in taking medication when you need it. You owe it to your new baby to be the best mom you can be, which means taking care of yourself first and foremost.

That being said, I've been on antidepressants for about 10 years now, and celexa has worked the best. However, there was a LOT of trial and error to find the best combination/type/dosage. And, as life events change, so too does the dosage. Get started on it quickly before it gets worse. You can't just "fix" this yourself -- depression is more than just "being strong"; it's a chemical imbalance.

Additionally, you should be more concerned with feeling better than weight gain. Depression can become severe and potentially threaten your life if left uncontrolled. Many medications won't make you gain weight, but the could increase cravings, causing you to put on weight if you choose to eat (similar to birth control).

Good luck! :flowerforyou:

I had PPD/PND with my daughter. It was absolute hell by the time I finally sought medical intervention. I was on anti-depressants for just under a year, and it is soooo good to be myself again. I am able to be healthy mentally for myself and my family (and I'm no longer bursting into tears for no reason). It wasn't until I was mentally well that I was able to finally deal with my physical health. Diet and exercise can help to elevate your mood, but a serious depression needs to be handled with the help of people with the right training (medical or psyschological).

Sometimes PPD/PND is linked with thyroid problems (which is was in my case, so I'm now on medication for that as well). If that is the case, you cannot make yourself better, and with your system out of balance, losing weight or keeping weight off can be even harder.

Please be kind to yourself and get some help.