Medications for anxiety and depression and trying to lose weight! Needing helpful advise

tshalee wrote: »

I have been on anxiety/ depression medication since my husband of 24 yrs left me , 4 yrs ago. Since taking this medication I have gained 75lbs in 3.5 yrs. I have tried to diet, tried to walk off the weight but I have never been so hungry! I tried to stop the medication seeing as it has been 4 yrs and I should not need it any longer but I can’t function without it, so I think it’s going to be on my medication list for life…. How do I lose weight and stop gaining anymore while on this medication. Any advice or helpful tips is appreciated desperately!!!

You might want to go back to your doctor. There are a whole bunch of different antidepressants and there might be a better fit for you. I've been on them myself and know the difference it can make when you switch to a more suitable one. I know I took one called mirtazapine once and it had me absolutely starving 24/7, it was awful. Another had me asleep constantly, I was a permanent zombie. After some trial and error I found one that worked for me and had no real negative side effects. So yeah, go back to your doctor and explain the weight/hunger issue. Wishing you luck 🤞

I agree with the other respondents about talking to your doctor. You may also want to start working with a personal trainer and a nutrition coach to help get you where you want to be.

Although the OP has not been back, I agree with the others who say talk to your doctor about a different type of antidepressant - there are plenty that are not associated with increased appetite.

littlesnowyone wrote: »

My advice for antidepressants- DO NOT start taking Effexor XR. It is highly addictive and if you run out, you WILL experience withdrawal symptoms.

I only figured this out when I was in college - I’ve been taking it since I was 11 or 12. Now, even if I miss only one dose, I go into withdrawal.

I take Cymbalta, which is also an SNRI like Effexor. I start having withdrawal symptoms if I am 45 minutes late for a dose.

Prior to that, I'd been taking Wellbutrin off and on for 20 years. I say "off and on" because I used to go off it in the late spring and resume in fall when my SAD kicked in. I had no problems tapering off Wellbutrin. It also did not increase my appetite at all. Unfortunately, it stopped working last year. My doctor and I tried a variety of meds before we settled on Cymbalta.