Antidepressant weight gain/ can’t stick to anything

JBWILLOW
JBWILLOW Posts: 108 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So, I was put on an antidepressant for anxiety and it has helped me tremendously. I have also put on 35 pounds since starting this med. I’m not blaming the medicine alone, as it made me not care about what I ate... I also stopped exercising regularly because it made me extremely tired for the first few months. My problem now is, it seems as tho I am just gaining and gaining. I can’t seem to stick to anything. I feel like if I don’t see any results quick enough, I’m onto the next plan. I always end up going back to keto because it worked in the past, but I’ve been on it for a week now and I’m already sick to death of meat. Do you have to do low carb to lose weight? Is it even possible to lose weight on antidepressants? Any advice is welcome please

Replies

  • JBWILLOW
    JBWILLOW Posts: 108 Member
    edited December 2017
    Thank you
  • LAWoman72
    LAWoman72 Posts: 2,846 Member
    This is a tough position to be in because depression is terrible, even life-threatening, so if you find an AD that works, you probably don't want to mess with it.

    But gaining weight can be depressing too, even if not clinically so.

    Can you tell your doc about this issue and see if there is another AD in the same class you can try?

    I love your avatar.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    You can lose weight eating high carb. All that matters for weight loss is calories in and calories out. Enjoy your carbs, experiment with different ways of eating, try to find something that works for you.

    Exercise. It's good for your depression, it's good for your health, and it'll give you more calories to eat. You don't need to exercise to lose weight but it helps a lot, especially in your case.

    Don't give up. Keep trying different approaches, you'll figure it all out in time.
  • JBWILLOW
    JBWILLOW Posts: 108 Member
    Thank you guys
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    NorthCascades wrote: »
    You can lose weight eating high carb. All that matters for weight loss is calories in and calories out. Enjoy your carbs, experiment with different ways of eating, try to find something that works for you.

    Exercise. It's good for your depression, it's good for your health, and it'll give you more calories to eat. You don't need to exercise to lose weight but it helps a lot, especially in your case.

    Don't give up. Keep trying different approaches, you'll figure it all out in time.

    This is a great post.

    OP, give yourself a break and pat yourself on the back for your self-aware opening post.

    The majority of the population are gaining weight. Don't feel bad about yourself for being similar.

    You're doing great by trying to do better. Well done for asking in here, and for getting treatment.

    Exercise. Keep using MFP. Read the "Helpful Posts" Annoucement sticky thread OPs at the top of this forum.

    You can lose weight by eating whatever satisfies you, if you stick to your calorie limit.

    Slow and steady is the way to go. Just take it day by day. Keep questioning yourself, keep learning. Best wishes, and again, well done.
  • its_me_april
    its_me_april Posts: 57 Member
    I found myself in a similar situation a few years back. I was on Lexapro for anxiety and it was amazing! I'd never felt so good in my life! However, about 7 or 8 months after I first began taking it, I developed uncontrollable urges to binge on the most unhealthy food you could imagine (usually high in carbs and fat of course). I have never experienced cravings for food that strongly in my life. It was like I was physically STARVING and had to cram as many carbs in my mouth as possible! I even craved weird things that I never crave and actually typically dislike (panda express type food, for example). After some time of dealing with this, I realized I probably needed to decide between putting up with the weight that was slowly increasing, or find other ways of coping with anxiety. I chose to go off Lexapro. While it truly is an amazing drug, for me, I was starting to feel terrible not only about the weight gain / binging, but also the apathy I felt for going to the gym / exercising. While I still experience anxiety, I have found ways to cope and feel better being at a healthy weight and feeling motivated and excited about going to the gym, etc.

    I believe it probably takes more discipline than maybe you're used to, but it's not impossible. Also, do whatever works for you! If you enjoy low carb, do low carb. Good luck to you!
  • JBWILLOW
    JBWILLOW Posts: 108 Member
    its_me_april wrote: »
    I found myself in a similar situation a few years back. I was on Lexapro for anxiety and it was amazing! I'd never felt so good in my life! However, about 7 or 8 months after I first began taking it, I developed uncontrollable urges to binge on the most unhealthy food you could imagine (usually high in carbs and fat of course). I have never experienced cravings for food that strongly in my life. It was like I was physically STARVING and had to cram as many carbs in my mouth as possible! I even craved weird things that I never crave and actually typically dislike (panda express type food, for example). After some time of dealing with this, I realized I probably needed to decide between putting up with the weight that was slowly increasing, or find other ways of coping with anxiety. I chose to go off Lexapro. While it truly is an amazing drug, for me, I was starting to feel terrible not only about the weight gain / binging, but also the apathy I felt for going to the gym / exercising. While I still experience anxiety, I have found ways to cope and feel better being at a healthy weight and feeling motivated and excited about going to the gym, etc.

    I believe it probably takes more discipline than maybe you're used to, but it's not impossible. Also, do whatever works for you! If you enjoy low carb, do low carb. Good luck to you!


    This is my exact situation. My weight is from the lexapro as well. I am going to be more diligent and try to be more cautious as to what I’m shoveling into my mouth. It has also made me not want to work out as much. And I hate that. My fear is what if it’s not possible to lose the weight on this med
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