Anti-Depressants & Weight Gain

I've been wondering the same thing. I just started taking a generic of Xanex for anxiety and I wondered if it could cause weight gain or prevent me from losing the weight I'm working my bum off to lose!!!! Anyone know???

I'm not really an expert at all, but I don't think I have heard of any weight gain issues with anti-anxiety drugs. I know stuff like that makes me really sleepy...and if I'm sleeping, I'm not eatin'! Haha!

My DH went on Lexapro 6 months ago and has gained 25 lbs. He has a super high metabolism and trouble gaining weight in the past. That said, if you have crippling depression, it's worth it regardless. And it just may make you happy and motivated enough to eat well and exercise. When I was on zoloft I had no weight gain. All depends on the drug and the person taking it. If it's mild depression, you could do some research on natural alternatives (St Johns Wort, SAM-E, 5-HTP etc)

If you are on birth control pills and not taking B supplementation- you can get depressed. These pills deplete your natural stores of B vitamins (help with mood, metabolism etc) Exercise as silly as it sounds really does help. So does vitamin D.

Edited to add: Just noticed your issue is anxiety. Zoloft works well for that as well as do the drugs above. Also check your birth control pills- I spent 15 years with major anxiety and it was all caused by my birth control.

I totally agree. It really does depend on the drug and the person. Personally, I gained 7 pounds within two months of taking Lexapro. I suppose that's not too bad but it just kept creeping up. It's hard though, because you want to feel better, but you don't want to gain weight, either.

I also agree with the natural alternatives. I have heard really great things about 5-HTP and one of the common side effects is weight loss. Since you can get it at the health store, you can monitor and increase/decrease your dosage as you see fit instead of having to get various prescriptions, etc. I'd definitely check with your doctor first, though, to see if they think it may work for you. Depression and anxiety cannot be ignored, for sure. I've suffered with it for most of my life, and it's not a fun thing at all.

I dont know your personal situation therefore wont tell you if choosing this type of medication is in your best interested but I did Celexa and put on 20 pounds and ended up not liking the effects of the drug, instead of not being depressed I didnt feel much of anything and felt like I was in a bubble, but now I drink coffee liberally (decaf most of the time), coffee is a mild antidepressant, if I feel moody I drink St Johns Wort tea (doc says its ok for me but its not a good choice for everyone) it gives me bizarre dreams though, but mostly I have started to try natural stress relieving techniques. For me a lot of the depression was caused by birth control which I took an extreme solution and started dating a guy whos had a vasectomy to get off of them, good luck, it you need the meds weight gain shouldnt be a factor, if its optional to take them maybe try more natural alternatives

Well I'm on mirtazapine its a tetracyclic antidepressant so a bit different but its about the 8th pill they tried me on and the only one which lets me even think about functioning normally. Unfortunately its also used as an appetite stimulant - which trust me I need absolutely no help in stimulating that. I just wanted to say that sometimes mental health has to be a bigger priority than your weight, and I know how hard it can be to face that.
Its tough to remember that our weight is (I know in my case) a symptom of all my other problems just as much as it is a consequence of over eating. And now that I am working on my other problems I can find the strength to tackle the over eating too. Yes my medication makes it harder for me to resist temptation, but it isn't easy living with my depression, it isn't easy dealing with my depression and it sure as hell isn't easy to loose weight with any of these things going on, but if you have got help and are tackling your issues then you know you are strong and brave enough to face getting health,y as hard as it is.
xx

I gained 15 pounds on Lexapro in less then two months.. and I know some people LOVE Lexapro but it made me fill DRUNK! I am now on Welbutrin, no weight gain and I LOVE it!

I'm sorry you're not feeling well. I'll tell you what I can from my own experience. I live a nightmare of 3 years seeing various doctors trying to fix me and after all that, this is what I know. I'm not sure what symptoms you're having so I'll tell you what I'd do if you haven't already. I gained about 50 lbs during pregnancy and then another 60 afterwards very quickly.

1. Get bloodwork done and have your thyroid checked. The symptoms of hypothyroid are fatigue and depression. In addition to depression you may have this and it could be making it worse and causing more weight gain. A daily hormone pill can adjust this.

2. If you are irritable and exhausted, get checked also for sleep apnea.

3. Antidepressants are all different. If you don't feel well on one, try others and do your best to be patient until they start working.

4. If none of the antidepressants work or make you feel even worse, ask about bipolar and mood stabilizers. Bipolar disorder is very underdiagnosed.

I can't say if the depression meds made me gain weight or not. I had slow thyroid and was eating close to 2500 calories a day because i felt so terrible and food was my crutch.

If you need the meds, please take them and don't let the weight gain thing turn you off about getting treated. Suffering from depression is no way to live. Good luck (((HUGS)))

I have been taking Zoloft for a while. I have seen weight gains of as much as 2.3 pounds a week while on it, so I took myself off. It's the stuff the doctors don't tell you that usually drives you nuts! This is my fourth attempt at weightloss, and I don't want anything standing in my way!

I did not want to take anything for fear of weight gain as well. My doctor put me on 150 mg of Wellbutrin and 10 mg of Celexa (both the generic) b/c she said the Wellbutrin has been known to cause weight loss so the combination will take the chance of weight gain away. So far I have been on them for a few months and have not gained any weight. Since starting this site I am actually losing weight again.

Believe me I am one to gain weight on these drugs and this combination has not put any extra weight on me. Now I realized that everyone is different, but I am very happy.

I take lexapro. Have been for a while. Didn't cause weight gain for me-- pregnancy did.

I'm in a similar boat.

I was assaulted by a client while working, and now am suffering from a Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety.

I was started on 50mg of Zoloft initially to help with Post-Concussive syndrome, before they actually figured out what was going on. I'm now taking 100mg of Zoloft and have noticed a few changes. First, I have more energy to get up and actually do more physical activities. Before starting the medication (and while I was letting my brain heal) I was incredibly sedentary and gained 15+ pounds. Since the med increase, I've been exercising more and feeling more human. Second, I've been able to drop 8 pounds, but I feel like I should be seeing more results than I have.

My recommendation is this: it doesn't hurt to try. Give yourself a month, and if you've noticed weight gain or it isn't helping, as your doctor for another option. There are TONS! And most important, your mental health is equally important to your physical health. Good luck!