Losing Weight While on Antidepressant/Antipsychotic Drugs

JMChattelle
JMChattelle Posts: 8 Member
edited November 24 in Health and Weight Loss
Is it possible? I am feeling absolutely horrible about myself at 5'5 and 133 lbs. It doesn't sound like a lot of weight but it looks bad on my frame. I am logging (1300 calories) my food and exercising 3-5 times a week, 40 minutes of cardio each time. I've been doing this for one month with no change in my weight. I'm starting to wonder if it is possible to lose weight with the medication I am on.

Has anyone else experienced success in losing weight while on similar medications?

Replies

  • beth0277
    beth0277 Posts: 217 Member
    I've lost weight successfully on several antidepressants. There are a few that are known to make it tough, though. Do you want to share what type you are on so I might be able to give more insight?
  • JMChattelle
    JMChattelle Posts: 8 Member
    Thank you, I am looking for any amount of hope! I am currently on 30mg Cymbalta and 20mg Latuda for treatment resistant depression.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    yes you can though some make it harder by making us hungry and not just brain hungry but tummy rumbling hungry.
    I lost 50lbs many years ago and now have lost 25ish
    at 133, I might think more about maintenance and working on a strength program. You might find that you look better and less soft.
  • beth0277
    beth0277 Posts: 217 Member
    JMChattelle wrote: »
    Thank you, I am looking for any amount of hope! I am currently on 30mg Cymbalta and 20mg Latuda for treatment resistant depression.

    I'm not a pharmacist, but I haven't heard of either of those being especially difficult to lose weight on. I think one thing to keep in mind, a lot of people gain weight on these types of drugs because they feel so awful before and when they start feeling better, their appetite returns and it causes weight gain, if they aren't careful. You can definitely have the best of both worlds (feeling better psychologically and physically) by just being diligent. As long as you count your calories, honestly, and have a deficit, you should be fine. And hopefully the meds can give you some more energy which will help you get some exercising in. Honestly, the only drug I've heard is a real detriment to weight is Lithium, but I don't know all of the biochemical factors for that specifically.

    In short, I think you will be perfectly fine. Just work hard, on both your mental and physical wellbeing. They go hand in hand. This is coming from someone who has struggled with crippling depression and anxiety but I'm so much better with the right med!
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  • JMChattelle
    JMChattelle Posts: 8 Member
    Thank you for all for the advice. My doctor doesn't want to switch meds as they seem to be working well for me. Maybe I need to just workout more or for longer and add in weight training at the gym. Oh and remember to be patient for results.
  • beth0277
    beth0277 Posts: 217 Member
    JMChattelle wrote: »
    Thank you for all for the advice. My doctor doesn't want to switch meds as they seem to be working well for me. Maybe I need to just workout more or for longer and add in weight training at the gym. Oh and remember to be patient for results.

    Yeah, I don't recommend switching if you have found something that works well for you. It can take YEARS to find the right combo.
  • PinkPixiexox
    PinkPixiexox Posts: 4,142 Member
    I may be wrong but I don't think it's the actual medicine itself that causes weight gain - morelike they increase your appetite and it's the appetite increase that leads to possible weight gain (if you take any notice of it!). I've been on anti depressants for around 7 years so I'm kind of used to my medication now - but when I first started out on them, I didn't gain weight because I wasn't over-eating at that point.

    I don't think you necessarily need to push yourself harder in the gym or restrict your calorie intake more to overcome the anti depressant issue - but if you do find you are hungrier than you had been previously, you'll need to find ways to distract yourself from that. Generally if I'm feeling like eating when I perhaps don't *REALLY* need to, I read a couple of chapters of my book or come on MFP and answer some posts! You'll be just fine :)
  • JMChattelle
    JMChattelle Posts: 8 Member
    I do think for a long while I was overeating. I started eating the same portion size as my boyfriend which was a big no no. So hopefully using MFP to log my food will help keep me in check. My meals are much smaller now and I am eating out less.
  • wkwebby
    wkwebby Posts: 807 Member
    JMChattelle wrote: »
    Thank you for all for the advice. My doctor doesn't want to switch meds as they seem to be working well for me. Maybe I need to just workout more or for longer and add in weight training at the gym. Oh and remember to be patient for results.

    Antidepressants and antipsych meds can ALL affect your weight loss. The reason is that it is altering your body chemistry so you have to be aware of this. Sometimes it alters the way that you process carbs and it mimics insulin resistance (even though you don't clinically have insulin resistance, it prevents your body from utilizing it effectively). High carb meals/diets will play havoc on your blood sugar and large dips in this will give your brain hunger signals.

    You should probably change your body composition rather than actually lose weight because your weight seems to be at a good place for your height.

    Some recommendations:
    -Try lowering the percentage of your carbs (MFP sets it quite high for an insulin resistant person at 50%. This should be closer to 30% or less of your overall calories)
    -Do not add more cardio (just add more weight training and perhaps substitute out one of your multiple days of cardio if you find you are short on time)
    -Keep calorie counting (this is the bottom line even with insulin resistance) but keep at maintenance so you have the energy to keep weight training and even for the cardio
    -Drink lots of water so that you make sure that it is actual hunger and not just your body being dehydrated.

    Good luck! :smiley:
  • tracie_minus100
    tracie_minus100 Posts: 465 Member
    I've lost 80lbs while being on an antidepressant.
    If your meds are helping then definitely don't switch. Maybe try tweaking your food and exercise a bit. And make sure you are logging the most accurate entries (some are way off).
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    My brother gained weight while in a hospital and on antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs. He lost the weight now that mom is cooking for him and keeping him busy helping her with the house and property. He also walks several miles per day. And plays the drums. Not sure how many calories that burns, but he is covered in sweat afterwards and he plays hard enough to have cracked three cymbals this year.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Medication can increase appetite, but only eating to much causes weight gain. It's very possible to lose, because, barring a medical condition, it comes down to CICO.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    JMChattelle wrote: »
    Is it possible? I am feeling absolutely horrible about myself at 5'5 and 133 lbs. It doesn't sound like a lot of weight but it looks bad on my frame. I am logging (1300 calories) my food and exercising 3-5 times a week, 40 minutes of cardio each time. I've been doing this for one month with no change in my weight. I'm starting to wonder if it is possible to lose weight with the medication I am on.

    Has anyone else experienced success in losing weight while on similar medications?

    For weight loss less, exercise is less important than the amount of food you are eating.
    Continue to exercise because it is good for you but pay special attention to lowering your calories.
  • krithsai
    krithsai Posts: 668 Member
    wkwebby wrote: »
    JMChattelle wrote: »
    Thank you for all for the advice. My doctor doesn't want to switch meds as they seem to be working well for me. Maybe I need to just workout more or for longer and add in weight training at the gym. Oh and remember to be patient for results.

    Antidepressants and antipsych meds can ALL affect your weight loss. The reason is that it is altering your body chemistry so you have to be aware of this. Sometimes it alters the way that you process carbs and it mimics insulin resistance (even though you don't clinically have insulin resistance, it prevents your body from utilizing it effectively). High carb meals/diets will play havoc on your blood sugar and large dips in this will give your brain hunger signals.

    You should probably change your body composition rather than actually lose weight because your weight seems to be at a good place for your height.

    Some recommendations:
    -Try lowering the percentage of your carbs (MFP sets it quite high for an insulin resistant person at 50%. This should be closer to 30% or less of your overall calories)
    -Do not add more cardio (just add more weight training and perhaps substitute out one of your multiple days of cardio if you find you are short on time)
    -Keep calorie counting (this is the bottom line even with insulin resistance) but keep at maintenance so you have the energy to keep weight training and even for the cardio
    -Drink lots of water so that you make sure that it is actual hunger and not just your body being dehydrated.

    Good luck! :smiley:

    Excellent advice!

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