fluoxetine and weightloss
Replies
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PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »MorganMoreaux wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »
Good question, anti-depressants can actually make people either lose weight or gain weight, it completely depends on the individual.
I've just come off venlafaxine, which is a nasty drug. I would strongly suggest coming off them if you can.
Yes it is. My experience with that and fluoxetine put me off antidepressants for good. I find it concerning hat they eventually build a tolerance so people have to periodically increase their dose for them to remain effective. I've also read where due to some of their side effects, they can diminish the amount of serotonin that is produced, but the user isn't directly aware that is happening because they prevent the immediate uptake of serotonin in the brain. It actually seems to be doing the opposite of what people actually need. And getting of them is just excruciating - doesn't matter how long you taper do the taper, you're still decreasing the overall amount and your body notices and complains lol.
You're right, but more worrying than that, anti depressants are non effective long term.
The issue is prevalent, unless you're able to change your thought processes, they simply mask symptoms.
I see you've also been on venlafaxine, which is an snri (targeting serotonin and norepinephrine), your brain probably like mine, can't tolerate medication anymore. I would strongly suggest with the doctors monitoring, that you come off meds altogether, you don't need them I promise you that much.
I've been off venlafaxine now for 2 weeks, and I actually feel better without them, not to mention those horrible side effects.
The best solution for depression long term, is mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy and exercise.
Best of luck!
Not everyone treated with SSRI's/SNRI's is on them for depression. Some people are on them for chronic pain conditions.
Saying that, your advice is doubly terrible.
I'm on a really high dose of duloxetine for chronic migraines. It's only one part of a multi-pronged approach to manage them.
You know what? My doctor and I came up with the best solution for my migraines. It includes medication, exercise and lifestyle/habit/dietary measures.
You know what? The same applies to depression. The BEST solution for it is going to be individual and is going to be made between each patient and her doctor working together as a team.
You're more than welcome to say my advise is terrible, but can you at least explain why?
I'm not talking about migraines, the topic is depression, I am well aware of the off label uses of these meds.
Are you a doctor? Why are dispensing medical/psychiatric advice?
The topic is NOT depression or that meds are terrible, the topic is the meds in relation to weight.
In relation to that topic, I've lost 72 pounds on duloxetine, if that counts for anything.
Congratulations (Y)
Anyway.. No, I'm not a doctor, and for the third time now, I'm going go ahead and say...
'Seek medical advice when making decisions about medication'
And also from my first post:
'anti depressants can affect weight differently depending on the individual'
If medication is preventing you from losing weight, then reducing or even removing it could be a good solution, I'll repeat again. 'under doctors supervision'
Sigh....
No, this is the bit I had trouble with. You neglected repeating it.The best solution for depression long term, is mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy and exercise.
Depending on an individual's specific circumstances, this statement could be anywhere from naive to flat out callous.
Well that's fine then, we don't agree? That's no problem
You still haven't explained which part you're having trouble understanding.
And I agree on the second point, I.e circumstances. As this conversation was originally between me and the OP, the advice given was actually for her. If medication isn't working anymore, it's time to look at alternative options. There is actually nothing naive about it, antidepressants short term reuptake serotonin and sometimes norepinephrine and dopamine, this Is what relieves the symptoms. Long term, these systems become damaged.
That's not to say revisiting meds in the future isn't an option, but short term use is recommended, I am more than happy to provide sources if need be.
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MorganMoreaux wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »MorganMoreaux wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »MorganMoreaux wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »MorganMoreaux wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »
Good question, anti-depressants can actually make people either lose weight or gain weight, it completely depends on the individual.
I've just come off venlafaxine, which is a nasty drug. I would strongly suggest coming off them if you can.
Yes it is. My experience with that and fluoxetine put me off antidepressants for good. I find it concerning hat they eventually build a tolerance so people have to periodically increase their dose for them to remain effective. I've also read where due to some of their side effects, they can diminish the amount of serotonin that is produced, but the user isn't directly aware that is happening because they prevent the immediate uptake of serotonin in the brain. It actually seems to be doing the opposite of what people actually need. And getting of them is just excruciating - doesn't matter how long you taper do the taper, you're still decreasing the overall amount and your body notices and complains lol.
You're right, but more worrying than that, anti depressants are non effective long term.
The issue is prevalent, unless you're able to change your thought processes, they simply mask symptoms.
I see you've also been on venlafaxine, which is an snri (targeting serotonin and norepinephrine), your brain probably like mine, can't tolerate medication anymore. I would strongly suggest with the doctors monitoring, that you come off meds altogether, you don't need them I promise you that much.
I've been off venlafaxine now for 2 weeks, and I actually feel better without them, not to mention those horrible side effects.
The best solution for depression long term, is mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy and exercise.
Best of luck!
I've actually been off meds for a few years, and feel better than ever. Cognitive behavioral therapy works better than medication imo. I've also spent a lot of time researching serotonin production in the body, and use diet to ensure my levels are what they need to be. I do supplement with a vitamin b complex and inositol. Ironically since getting off the meds, I no longer have debilitating anxiety. I am not depressed, and my sleep issues have resolved themselves. I initially got on Zoloft because I was going through a rough patch when I was 24. They also put me on Xanex. I didn't do any research and just took the medication blindly for ten years. Started on the lowest does of Zoloft, end on the highest dose. I had to get on Effexor temporarily to get through the excruciating withdrawal from Xanex. During that time I was a mess, and couldn't work so I studied the various mechanisms of antidepressants and then cross referenced the main neurotransmitters involved and how to increase the production of the key players through diet. So far it has worked better than the pills ever did, and left me very disappointed and mistrusting of a medical system that would do this to a very naive and trusting young woman . Back then I didn't think to question my doctor. Any medical professional that would allow a healthy individual to remain on benzodiazepines for over ten years needs to have their license revoked, imo.
ETA - none of these drugs are designed to be long term solutions. I am not certain many doctors are aware of this. If you chart out the medications effectiveness before hitting a tolerance point with respect to dose, you will see how quickly the effectiveness declines before the patients hits the maximum dose allowable. It is not a sustainable solution.
Completely agree, lots of misinformed doctors and bad science. There is still absolutely no evidence serotonin is the primary trigger of depression, in fact, there's lots more evidence that psychotropic medication does more damage in the long run.
Yes, much more research needs to be done to find the primary trigger of depression. I know from my personal experience with those medications, it made my problems exponentially worse in the long run. I am on the fence about using them for a few months to get someone out of deep depression, but in conjunction with CBT and paired with good nutrition. It seems like there are more people with mental health issues now, though that could be because it's not stigmatized like it was in the past. However, I do wonder the impact diet has on mental health, though I guess that is a new thread altogether lol.
I'm glad we are on the same page here, the real underlining issue is 'thought processes' if you're able to fix this, you're able to beat depression long term. Short term, for those in major depression, cbt just doesn't feel like a feasible option, which is why a combination of the 2 at first is definitely good advice.
Also, diet, exercise and some supplementes (vitamin d, vitamin b, magnesium and zinc) have all been scientifically documented to work.
So true. The issue I see many people, including myself at the time, is once the meds kick in why do anything more. They're "working", or so it seems. I think most people who are in these situations tend to have to go down the rabbit hole themselves (when they stop working"), to realize pills are the cure they had once thought they would be. Also, CBT takes a lot of work and effort. It isn't easy and doesn't come naturally to people. When you're depressed, getting out of bed is a daunting tiresome task and finding motivation for anything more seems impossible lol. Doctors really need to educate themselves with these meds to find the "sweet spot" in terms of duration and really press the need for CBT with their patients (I'm referencing depression/anxiety related issues only, not other conditions in which these meds may be scripted). Doctors need to alert their patients that these meds only work for a finite amount of time so the patients are motivated to be proactive in seeking out sustainable long term solutions for their depression.
CBT isn't an easy option, it isn't easy to master either, but I stand firm in my belief longterm solutions are far more useful to individuals. There is far too much ignorance in the medical profession and handing these potent medications out like sweets to their patience without proper monitoring is what is really naive0 -
PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »MorganMoreaux wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »
Good question, anti-depressants can actually make people either lose weight or gain weight, it completely depends on the individual.
I've just come off venlafaxine, which is a nasty drug. I would strongly suggest coming off them if you can.
Yes it is. My experience with that and fluoxetine put me off antidepressants for good. I find it concerning hat they eventually build a tolerance so people have to periodically increase their dose for them to remain effective. I've also read where due to some of their side effects, they can diminish the amount of serotonin that is produced, but the user isn't directly aware that is happening because they prevent the immediate uptake of serotonin in the brain. It actually seems to be doing the opposite of what people actually need. And getting of them is just excruciating - doesn't matter how long you taper do the taper, you're still decreasing the overall amount and your body notices and complains lol.
You're right, but more worrying than that, anti depressants are non effective long term.
The issue is prevalent, unless you're able to change your thought processes, they simply mask symptoms.
I see you've also been on venlafaxine, which is an snri (targeting serotonin and norepinephrine), your brain probably like mine, can't tolerate medication anymore. I would strongly suggest with the doctors monitoring, that you come off meds altogether, you don't need them I promise you that much.
I've been off venlafaxine now for 2 weeks, and I actually feel better without them, not to mention those horrible side effects.
The best solution for depression long term, is mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy and exercise.
Best of luck!
Not everyone treated with SSRI's/SNRI's is on them for depression. Some people are on them for chronic pain conditions.
Saying that, your advice is doubly terrible.
I'm on a really high dose of duloxetine for chronic migraines. It's only one part of a multi-pronged approach to manage them.
You know what? My doctor and I came up with the best solution for my migraines. It includes medication, exercise and lifestyle/habit/dietary measures.
You know what? The same applies to depression. The BEST solution for it is going to be individual and is going to be made between each patient and her doctor working together as a team.
You're more than welcome to say my advise is terrible, but can you at least explain why?
I'm not talking about migraines, the topic is depression, I am well aware of the off label uses of these meds.
Are you a doctor? Why are dispensing medical/psychiatric advice?
The topic is NOT depression or that meds are terrible, the topic is the meds in relation to weight.
In relation to that topic, I've lost 72 pounds on duloxetine, if that counts for anything.
Congratulations (Y)
Anyway.. No, I'm not a doctor, and for the third time now, I'm going go ahead and say...
'Seek medical advice when making decisions about medication'
And also from my first post:
'anti depressants can affect weight differently depending on the individual'
If medication is preventing you from losing weight, then reducing or even removing it could be a good solution, I'll repeat again. 'under doctors supervision'
Sigh....
No, this is the bit I had trouble with. You neglected repeating it.The best solution for depression long term, is mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy and exercise.
Depending on an individual's specific circumstances, this statement could be anywhere from naive to flat out callous.
Pertaining to depression, patients build a tolerance to these medications, which is why over the course of treatment their doses will eventually go up until the reach the highest dose they can be on. They then have to switch medication, which is difficult and painful to the patient, or they have to supplement with a new medication (which also builds tolerance, and ultimately they will have to switch). Mind you, increasing the dose also increase the number of severity of the medication's side effects. Getting off of these medications is horrendous, and you have to stop one med before you begin something new. CBT, diet, and exercise are known to benefit most people, and should be explored at some point during treatment. These medications have a systemic effect on the human body and are by no means benign to other organ systems. Simply relying on medication instead of practicing due diligence in exploring other treatment options is an extreme disservice to the patient. It's less time consuming and much easier for doctors to write a prescription than to research a specific patient's trends with medication and look into non-pharmaceutical treatments for the patient. You're on the medication for migraines, not depression. I think you may lack the knowledge and experience regarding pharmaceutical treatment for depression to say that he is being naive or callous. You may gain insight if you ever have to switch medications or get off it, as it is not a pleasant situation.0 -
I'm a bit late to this discussion but here's my take. First of all, yes, appetite can increase with the use of antidepressants but this is not an excuse to not losing weight. Losing weight comes from the conscious decision to reduce intake despite feeling hungry. Secondly, I'm reading a lot of opinion based on some research (unquoted) and a lot of experience (subjective). We are all different and respond to a variety of treatments in a unique way. To criticize what works for another because it didn't work for you is unfair. I have been on this "train" for years and can only say what works for me. For what it's worth, I take antidepressants and am well aware that I will need to increase dose and eventually change meds. I have been to CBT for years and worked hard at it but found it to be ineffective in my case. I am currently using a combination of vitamins, exercise and meds (as well as lght therapy) with success. Success, for me, is no longer having suicidal ideation and actually being able to enjoy life. May sound a little sad to you but I feel better than I have in years.0
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MorganMoreaux wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »MorganMoreaux wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »
Good question, anti-depressants can actually make people either lose weight or gain weight, it completely depends on the individual.
I've just come off venlafaxine, which is a nasty drug. I would strongly suggest coming off them if you can.
Yes it is. My experience with that and fluoxetine put me off antidepressants for good. I find it concerning hat they eventually build a tolerance so people have to periodically increase their dose for them to remain effective. I've also read where due to some of their side effects, they can diminish the amount of serotonin that is produced, but the user isn't directly aware that is happening because they prevent the immediate uptake of serotonin in the brain. It actually seems to be doing the opposite of what people actually need. And getting of them is just excruciating - doesn't matter how long you taper do the taper, you're still decreasing the overall amount and your body notices and complains lol.
You're right, but more worrying than that, anti depressants are non effective long term.
The issue is prevalent, unless you're able to change your thought processes, they simply mask symptoms.
I see you've also been on venlafaxine, which is an snri (targeting serotonin and norepinephrine), your brain probably like mine, can't tolerate medication anymore. I would strongly suggest with the doctors monitoring, that you come off meds altogether, you don't need them I promise you that much.
I've been off venlafaxine now for 2 weeks, and I actually feel better without them, not to mention those horrible side effects.
The best solution for depression long term, is mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy and exercise.
Best of luck!
Not everyone treated with SSRI's/SNRI's is on them for depression. Some people are on them for chronic pain conditions.
Saying that, your advice is doubly terrible.
I'm on a really high dose of duloxetine for chronic migraines. It's only one part of a multi-pronged approach to manage them.
You know what? My doctor and I came up with the best solution for my migraines. It includes medication, exercise and lifestyle/habit/dietary measures.
You know what? The same applies to depression. The BEST solution for it is going to be individual and is going to be made between each patient and her doctor working together as a team.
You're more than welcome to say my advise is terrible, but can you at least explain why?
I'm not talking about migraines, the topic is depression, I am well aware of the off label uses of these meds.
Are you a doctor? Why are dispensing medical/psychiatric advice?
The topic is NOT depression or that meds are terrible, the topic is the meds in relation to weight.
In relation to that topic, I've lost 72 pounds on duloxetine, if that counts for anything.
Congratulations (Y)
Anyway.. No, I'm not a doctor, and for the third time now, I'm going go ahead and say...
'Seek medical advice when making decisions about medication'
And also from my first post:
'anti depressants can affect weight differently depending on the individual'
If medication is preventing you from losing weight, then reducing or even removing it could be a good solution, I'll repeat again. 'under doctors supervision'
Sigh....
No, this is the bit I had trouble with. You neglected repeating it.The best solution for depression long term, is mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy and exercise.
Depending on an individual's specific circumstances, this statement could be anywhere from naive to flat out callous.
Pertaining to depression, patients build a tolerance to these medications, which is why over the course of treatment their doses will eventually go up until the reach the highest dose they can be on. They then have to switch medication, which is difficult and painful to the patient, or they have to supplement with a new medication (which also builds tolerance, and ultimately they will have to switch). Mind you, increasing the dose also increase the number of severity of the medication's side effects. Getting off of these medications is horrendous, and you have to stop one med before you begin something new. CBT, diet, and exercise are known to benefit most people, and should be explored at some point during treatment. These medications have a systemic effect on the human body and are by no means benign to other organ systems. Simply relying on medication instead of practicing due diligence in exploring other treatment options is an extreme disservice to the patient. It's less time consuming and much easier for doctors to write a prescription than to research a specific patient's trends with medication and look into non-pharmaceutical treatments for the patient. You're on the medication for migraines, not depression. I think you may lack the knowledge and experience regarding pharmaceutical treatment for depression to say that he is being naive or callous. You may gain insight if you ever have to switch medications or get off it, as it is not a pleasant situation.
Well, you don't know all of my medical history now, do you?
I never had a doctor treat me for depression (from which I no longer suffer) without mentioning other, complementary measures. I was not simply handed medication. I've been on several anti's and experienced the withdrawals. Now you know more. Can I comment now?
I stand by my statement that any one person saying what is best can't know the sum of another person's issues. What's best is something each individual needs to work out together with her physician.0 -
Hi everyone - real pharmacist here (PharmD) and while I haven't read the entire discussion, I saw a few posts that were really alarming.
First of all "Just quit" - DO NOT stop taking them abruptly. If you want to switch or discontinue the meds, talk to one of us about how to taper off of them, and as always with the approval of your doc and therapist.
Secondly "xyz is better than abc drug". False. The neurochemical make up of each person can vary widely, and as such reactions to the meds can vary as well. Only the patient i.e. YOU can be the judge of what's working and what's not, within the goals of your cognitive behavioral therapy (assuming you're getting some).
Lastly, fluoxetine is not normally associated with weight gain/loss, and it should be noted that weight gain associated with antidepressants are due primarily to increases of serotonin at the 5HT1A receptor, thought to be responsible for appetite. So it doesn't "slow your metabolism", it just makes you eat more.
I'd be happy to answer more of your questions or direct you to resources where you could find answers if you direct message me. Just thought I'd chime in on all the misinformation and bad advice in this thread.0 -
PeachyCarol wrote: »MorganMoreaux wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »MorganMoreaux wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »
Good question, anti-depressants can actually make people either lose weight or gain weight, it completely depends on the individual.
I've just come off venlafaxine, which is a nasty drug. I would strongly suggest coming off them if you can.
Yes it is. My experience with that and fluoxetine put me off antidepressants for good. I find it concerning hat they eventually build a tolerance so people have to periodically increase their dose for them to remain effective. I've also read where due to some of their side effects, they can diminish the amount of serotonin that is produced, but the user isn't directly aware that is happening because they prevent the immediate uptake of serotonin in the brain. It actually seems to be doing the opposite of what people actually need. And getting of them is just excruciating - doesn't matter how long you taper do the taper, you're still decreasing the overall amount and your body notices and complains lol.
You're right, but more worrying than that, anti depressants are non effective long term.
The issue is prevalent, unless you're able to change your thought processes, they simply mask symptoms.
I see you've also been on venlafaxine, which is an snri (targeting serotonin and norepinephrine), your brain probably like mine, can't tolerate medication anymore. I would strongly suggest with the doctors monitoring, that you come off meds altogether, you don't need them I promise you that much.
I've been off venlafaxine now for 2 weeks, and I actually feel better without them, not to mention those horrible side effects.
The best solution for depression long term, is mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy and exercise.
Best of luck!
Not everyone treated with SSRI's/SNRI's is on them for depression. Some people are on them for chronic pain conditions.
Saying that, your advice is doubly terrible.
I'm on a really high dose of duloxetine for chronic migraines. It's only one part of a multi-pronged approach to manage them.
You know what? My doctor and I came up with the best solution for my migraines. It includes medication, exercise and lifestyle/habit/dietary measures.
You know what? The same applies to depression. The BEST solution for it is going to be individual and is going to be made between each patient and her doctor working together as a team.
You're more than welcome to say my advise is terrible, but can you at least explain why?
I'm not talking about migraines, the topic is depression, I am well aware of the off label uses of these meds.
Are you a doctor? Why are dispensing medical/psychiatric advice?
The topic is NOT depression or that meds are terrible, the topic is the meds in relation to weight.
In relation to that topic, I've lost 72 pounds on duloxetine, if that counts for anything.
Congratulations (Y)
Anyway.. No, I'm not a doctor, and for the third time now, I'm going go ahead and say...
'Seek medical advice when making decisions about medication'
And also from my first post:
'anti depressants can affect weight differently depending on the individual'
If medication is preventing you from losing weight, then reducing or even removing it could be a good solution, I'll repeat again. 'under doctors supervision'
Sigh....
No, this is the bit I had trouble with. You neglected repeating it.The best solution for depression long term, is mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy and exercise.
Depending on an individual's specific circumstances, this statement could be anywhere from naive to flat out callous.
Pertaining to depression, patients build a tolerance to these medications, which is why over the course of treatment their doses will eventually go up until the reach the highest dose they can be on. They then have to switch medication, which is difficult and painful to the patient, or they have to supplement with a new medication (which also builds tolerance, and ultimately they will have to switch). Mind you, increasing the dose also increase the number of severity of the medication's side effects. Getting off of these medications is horrendous, and you have to stop one med before you begin something new. CBT, diet, and exercise are known to benefit most people, and should be explored at some point during treatment. These medications have a systemic effect on the human body and are by no means benign to other organ systems. Simply relying on medication instead of practicing due diligence in exploring other treatment options is an extreme disservice to the patient. It's less time consuming and much easier for doctors to write a prescription than to research a specific patient's trends with medication and look into non-pharmaceutical treatments for the patient. You're on the medication for migraines, not depression. I think you may lack the knowledge and experience regarding pharmaceutical treatment for depression to say that he is being naive or callous. You may gain insight if you ever have to switch medications or get off it, as it is not a pleasant situation.
Well, you don't know all of my medical history now, do you?
I never had a doctor treat me for depression (from which I no longer suffer) without mentioning other, complementary measures. I was not simply handed medication. I've been on several anti's and experienced the withdrawals. Now you know more. Can I comment now?
I stand by my statement that any one person saying what is best can't know the sum of another person's issues. What's best is something each individual needs to work out together with her physician.
I merely responded to your statement because you seemed dismissive, with what roblloyd89 had posted. Like you had stated, and I agree with, treatment for depression needs to be done on an individual basis as people respond differently. However, his post was valid and not worthy of being dismissed as either naive or callous, and should be considered by people who are reading this thread who may be suffering from depression, as something they should also look into. The OP explicitly stated that they wanted to get off of their meds, his response seems perfectly appropriate in this instance. As for your doctors also mentioning other complementary measures in addition to medications, that's great. Not all doctors do this.
Though, if you've had experience with these types of meds why not expound on that as well as you obviously have had a very different experience than what I have, and it may be useful to the OP and others reading this thread.
As far as commenting, feel free, it's a public forum. Expect people to respond with differing view points. A difference in opinion does not equal a personal attack
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Hi everyone - real pharmacist here (PharmD) and while I haven't read the entire discussion, I saw a few posts that were really alarming.
First of all "Just quit" - DO NOT stop taking them abruptly. If you want to switch or discontinue the meds, talk to one of us about how to taper off of them, and as always with the approval of your doc and therapist.
Secondly "xyz is better than abc drug". False. The neurochemical make up of each person can vary widely, and as such reactions to the meds can vary as well. Only the patient i.e. YOU can be the judge of what's working and what's not, within the goals of your cognitive behavioral therapy (assuming you're getting some).
Lastly, fluoxetine is not normally associated with weight gain/loss, and it should be noted that weight gain associated with antidepressants are due primarily to increases of serotonin at the 5HT1A receptor, thought to be responsible for appetite. So it doesn't "slow your metabolism", it just makes you eat more.
I'd be happy to answer more of your questions or direct you to resources where you could find answers if you direct message me. Just thought I'd chime in on all the misinformation and bad advice in this thread.
Thanks!0 -
I gained weight on it via appetite increase. My doctor said most people lose on it. Go figure.0
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Hi everyone - real pharmacist here (PharmD) and while I haven't read the entire discussion, I saw a few posts that were really alarming.
First of all "Just quit" - DO NOT stop taking them abruptly. If you want to switch or discontinue the meds, talk to one of us about how to taper off of them, and as always with the approval of your doc and therapist.
Secondly "xyz is better than abc drug". False. The neurochemical make up of each person can vary widely, and as such reactions to the meds can vary as well. Only the patient i.e. YOU can be the judge of what's working and what's not, within the goals of your cognitive behavioral therapy (assuming you're getting some).
Lastly, fluoxetine is not normally associated with weight gain/loss, and it should be noted that weight gain associated with antidepressants are due primarily to increases of serotonin at the 5HT1A receptor, thought to be responsible for appetite. So it doesn't "slow your metabolism", it just makes you eat more.
I'd be happy to answer more of your questions or direct you to resources where you could find answers if you direct message me. Just thought I'd chime in on all the misinformation and bad advice in this thread.
thank you!0 -
PeachyCarol wrote: »MorganMoreaux wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »MorganMoreaux wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »
Good question, anti-depressants can actually make people either lose weight or gain weight, it completely depends on the individual.
I've just come off venlafaxine, which is a nasty drug. I would strongly suggest coming off them if you can.
Yes it is. My experience with that and fluoxetine put me off antidepressants for good. I find it concerning hat they eventually build a tolerance so people have to periodically increase their dose for them to remain effective. I've also read where due to some of their side effects, they can diminish the amount of serotonin that is produced, but the user isn't directly aware that is happening because they prevent the immediate uptake of serotonin in the brain. It actually seems to be doing the opposite of what people actually need. And getting of them is just excruciating - doesn't matter how long you taper do the taper, you're still decreasing the overall amount and your body notices and complains lol.
You're right, but more worrying than that, anti depressants are non effective long term.
The issue is prevalent, unless you're able to change your thought processes, they simply mask symptoms.
I see you've also been on venlafaxine, which is an snri (targeting serotonin and norepinephrine), your brain probably like mine, can't tolerate medication anymore. I would strongly suggest with the doctors monitoring, that you come off meds altogether, you don't need them I promise you that much.
I've been off venlafaxine now for 2 weeks, and I actually feel better without them, not to mention those horrible side effects.
The best solution for depression long term, is mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy and exercise.
Best of luck!
Not everyone treated with SSRI's/SNRI's is on them for depression. Some people are on them for chronic pain conditions.
Saying that, your advice is doubly terrible.
I'm on a really high dose of duloxetine for chronic migraines. It's only one part of a multi-pronged approach to manage them.
You know what? My doctor and I came up with the best solution for my migraines. It includes medication, exercise and lifestyle/habit/dietary measures.
You know what? The same applies to depression. The BEST solution for it is going to be individual and is going to be made between each patient and her doctor working together as a team.
You're more than welcome to say my advise is terrible, but can you at least explain why?
I'm not talking about migraines, the topic is depression, I am well aware of the off label uses of these meds.
Are you a doctor? Why are dispensing medical/psychiatric advice?
The topic is NOT depression or that meds are terrible, the topic is the meds in relation to weight.
In relation to that topic, I've lost 72 pounds on duloxetine, if that counts for anything.
Congratulations (Y)
Anyway.. No, I'm not a doctor, and for the third time now, I'm going go ahead and say...
'Seek medical advice when making decisions about medication'
And also from my first post:
'anti depressants can affect weight differently depending on the individual'
If medication is preventing you from losing weight, then reducing or even removing it could be a good solution, I'll repeat again. 'under doctors supervision'
Sigh....
No, this is the bit I had trouble with. You neglected repeating it.The best solution for depression long term, is mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy and exercise.
Depending on an individual's specific circumstances, this statement could be anywhere from naive to flat out callous.
Pertaining to depression, patients build a tolerance to these medications, which is why over the course of treatment their doses will eventually go up until the reach the highest dose they can be on. They then have to switch medication, which is difficult and painful to the patient, or they have to supplement with a new medication (which also builds tolerance, and ultimately they will have to switch). Mind you, increasing the dose also increase the number of severity of the medication's side effects. Getting off of these medications is horrendous, and you have to stop one med before you begin something new. CBT, diet, and exercise are known to benefit most people, and should be explored at some point during treatment. These medications have a systemic effect on the human body and are by no means benign to other organ systems. Simply relying on medication instead of practicing due diligence in exploring other treatment options is an extreme disservice to the patient. It's less time consuming and much easier for doctors to write a prescription than to research a specific patient's trends with medication and look into non-pharmaceutical treatments for the patient. You're on the medication for migraines, not depression. I think you may lack the knowledge and experience regarding pharmaceutical treatment for depression to say that he is being naive or callous. You may gain insight if you ever have to switch medications or get off it, as it is not a pleasant situation.
Well, you don't know all of my medical history now, do you?
I never had a doctor treat me for depression (from which I no longer suffer) without mentioning other, complementary measures. I was not simply handed medication. I've been on several anti's and experienced the withdrawals. Now you know more. Can I comment now?
I stand by my statement that any one person saying what is best can't know the sum of another person's issues. What's best is something each individual needs to work out together with her physician.
I'm glad you have doctors who mention complimentary measures. I've moved a lot, have had lots of different doctors and not one of them who prescribed antidepressants ever mentioned complimentary measures, which I believe should be the first line of defense for mild to moderate depression.0 -
Well this thread has taken a drastic turn. I didn't want to discuss my mental health history, I'm feeling good now and am being monitored whilst tapering off them by my GP. As for weight gain in relation to my medication, I never used it as an excuse to not to lose weight, I am still losing weight, I merely commented I found it more difficult and if that's due to having an increased appetite then so be it, I am okay with this. Overall I am in a healthy weight range and was just wondering if anyone else found it easier to lose weight once stopping their anti depressants. I hope no one reads this thread and abruptly stops taking their anti depressants, I started a new job last year and thought I was doing a lot better which lead me to abruptly stop taking my fluoxetine, I ended extremely sick and in a worse position mentally than when I initially began my medication.
What works for me though may not work for someone else, medication I dare say saved my life so I please ask no body belittle this and tell me that diet and exercise is the key to overcoming depression, it is so much more complex than that and though I agree diet and exercise definitely plays an important role in it, it simply wasn't enough for me.
0 -
kshama2001 wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »MorganMoreaux wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »PeachyCarol wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »MorganMoreaux wrote: »roblloyd89 wrote: »
Good question, anti-depressants can actually make people either lose weight or gain weight, it completely depends on the individual.
I've just come off venlafaxine, which is a nasty drug. I would strongly suggest coming off them if you can.
Yes it is. My experience with that and fluoxetine put me off antidepressants for good. I find it concerning hat they eventually build a tolerance so people have to periodically increase their dose for them to remain effective. I've also read where due to some of their side effects, they can diminish the amount of serotonin that is produced, but the user isn't directly aware that is happening because they prevent the immediate uptake of serotonin in the brain. It actually seems to be doing the opposite of what people actually need. And getting of them is just excruciating - doesn't matter how long you taper do the taper, you're still decreasing the overall amount and your body notices and complains lol.
You're right, but more worrying than that, anti depressants are non effective long term.
The issue is prevalent, unless you're able to change your thought processes, they simply mask symptoms.
I see you've also been on venlafaxine, which is an snri (targeting serotonin and norepinephrine), your brain probably like mine, can't tolerate medication anymore. I would strongly suggest with the doctors monitoring, that you come off meds altogether, you don't need them I promise you that much.
I've been off venlafaxine now for 2 weeks, and I actually feel better without them, not to mention those horrible side effects.
The best solution for depression long term, is mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy and exercise.
Best of luck!
Not everyone treated with SSRI's/SNRI's is on them for depression. Some people are on them for chronic pain conditions.
Saying that, your advice is doubly terrible.
I'm on a really high dose of duloxetine for chronic migraines. It's only one part of a multi-pronged approach to manage them.
You know what? My doctor and I came up with the best solution for my migraines. It includes medication, exercise and lifestyle/habit/dietary measures.
You know what? The same applies to depression. The BEST solution for it is going to be individual and is going to be made between each patient and her doctor working together as a team.
You're more than welcome to say my advise is terrible, but can you at least explain why?
I'm not talking about migraines, the topic is depression, I am well aware of the off label uses of these meds.
Are you a doctor? Why are dispensing medical/psychiatric advice?
The topic is NOT depression or that meds are terrible, the topic is the meds in relation to weight.
In relation to that topic, I've lost 72 pounds on duloxetine, if that counts for anything.
Congratulations (Y)
Anyway.. No, I'm not a doctor, and for the third time now, I'm going go ahead and say...
'Seek medical advice when making decisions about medication'
And also from my first post:
'anti depressants can affect weight differently depending on the individual'
If medication is preventing you from losing weight, then reducing or even removing it could be a good solution, I'll repeat again. 'under doctors supervision'
Sigh....
No, this is the bit I had trouble with. You neglected repeating it.The best solution for depression long term, is mindfulness, cognitive behaviour therapy and exercise.
Depending on an individual's specific circumstances, this statement could be anywhere from naive to flat out callous.
Pertaining to depression, patients build a tolerance to these medications, which is why over the course of treatment their doses will eventually go up until the reach the highest dose they can be on. They then have to switch medication, which is difficult and painful to the patient, or they have to supplement with a new medication (which also builds tolerance, and ultimately they will have to switch). Mind you, increasing the dose also increase the number of severity of the medication's side effects. Getting off of these medications is horrendous, and you have to stop one med before you begin something new. CBT, diet, and exercise are known to benefit most people, and should be explored at some point during treatment. These medications have a systemic effect on the human body and are by no means benign to other organ systems. Simply relying on medication instead of practicing due diligence in exploring other treatment options is an extreme disservice to the patient. It's less time consuming and much easier for doctors to write a prescription than to research a specific patient's trends with medication and look into non-pharmaceutical treatments for the patient. You're on the medication for migraines, not depression. I think you may lack the knowledge and experience regarding pharmaceutical treatment for depression to say that he is being naive or callous. You may gain insight if you ever have to switch medications or get off it, as it is not a pleasant situation.
Well, you don't know all of my medical history now, do you?
I never had a doctor treat me for depression (from which I no longer suffer) without mentioning other, complementary measures. I was not simply handed medication. I've been on several anti's and experienced the withdrawals. Now you know more. Can I comment now?
I stand by my statement that any one person saying what is best can't know the sum of another person's issues. What's best is something each individual needs to work out together with her physician.
I'm glad you have doctors who mention complimentary measures. I've moved a lot, have had lots of different doctors and not one of them who prescribed antidepressants ever mentioned complimentary measures, which I believe should be the first line of defense for mild to moderate depression.
My depression/anxiety wasn't mild. I'm not sure it was even moderate. I was sexually molested when I was a child, and when my daughter approached the age I was when the abuse started, everything came to a head. I was put on medication, given advice to exercise to help with the anxiety, and therapy was recommended. It... wasn't an easy time.0 -
Well this thread has taken a drastic turn. I didn't want to discuss my mental health history, I'm feeling good now and am being monitored whilst tapering off them by my GP. As for weight gain in relation to my medication, I never used it as an excuse to not to lose weight, I am still losing weight, I merely commented I found it more difficult and if that's due to having an increased appetite then so be it, I am okay with this. Overall I am in a healthy weight range and was just wondering if anyone else found it easier to lose weight once stopping their anti depressants. I hope no one reads this thread and abruptly stops taking their anti depressants, I started a new job last year and thought I was doing a lot better which lead me to abruptly stop taking my fluoxetine, I ended extremely sick and in a worse position mentally than when I initially began my medication.
What works for me though may not work for someone else, medication I dare say saved my life so I please ask no body belittle this and tell me that diet and exercise is the key to overcoming depression, it is so much more complex than that and though I agree diet and exercise definitely plays an important role in it, it simply wasn't enough for me.
Trying to keep this on the topic of medications and weight...
There are some drugs which effect metabolism that make weight loss harder than expected, but the one you're on isn't one of them.
Can I ask, in your efforts to lose weight, while you were finding it difficult... were you meticulously tracking? Or were you just trying to cut back?0 -
I haven't read all the other responses, but. . .
Increased appetite and specifically increased carb cravings are well document aspects of taking SSRI's for some people. I gained 40 pounds due to increased carb cravings at night after I took my second anti-depressant. I read a great book on how to curve the cravings by helping your body produce Serotonin naturally. It's called the Serotonin Power Diet. Dr. Judith Wurtman. You can look at research on Serotonin, anti-depressants, cravings with the last name Wurtman and you will find a lot of the work they've done. There's also a forum and she answered some of my questions on curbing the weight gain.
BTW, I take the anti-depressant, get almost daily exercise, go to regular CBT and eat an 80% "clean" diet. I still need my meds or I don't sleep, and can't function optimally. I am also a mental health professional so we can't make blanket statements about "cures."
Best of luck.0 -
I am on it and lost weight when i started it. I feel so much better when I am taking it, it's different for everyone.0
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I have been on Fluoxetine for around 8 years and it hasn't effected my weight at all
If you do notice increased appetite (which I believe is quite common) just make sure you are extra aware. If you track already, you'll have no problem.0
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