Anti-Depressants and Weight loss

WinLee
WinLee Posts: 27
edited November 12 in Motivation and Support
I have been on Zoloft for well over a year now. I have gained close to 20 pounds in that year. Anyone else have the same results? Any ideas on a better anti-depressant for weight loss?
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Replies

  • Silverstar46
    Silverstar46 Posts: 187 Member
    BUMP
  • jcpmoore
    jcpmoore Posts: 796 Member
    Ah, allow me to add my incredibly biased opinion here. I was on zoloft at one point. A long time ago. Why a long time ago you ask? Because I hated it. It made me drowsy, but gave me insomnia. It killed my libido and my interest in exercise. Or in just about anything else, too. It did help my anxiety (how can one be anxious about anything if one doesn't care about anything?), but that was rather beside the point by then). I gained weight. I gained attitude. I lost sleep. I became a real bear to live with, apparently, too. No surprise there.

    All in all, I'm not a fan of it. I have known many people who successfully used it to treat their depression and were thrilled with it. I'm not one of them. I say if you're seeing negative side effects and no benefits, consider an alternative. Honestly, I went to my psych and asked for something with longer term studies that didn't have negative impacts on weight loss. She recommended old faithful (prozac) and I agreed. Worked great with no bad side effects for the first year. After that I had some pain in my breasts, but cutting down from the high dosage helped that.
  • kimi72
    kimi72 Posts: 17
    I was on Paxil and Zoloft and my doctor took me off due to they cause weight gain. I am now on Xanax. The only good one to be on is Wellbutrin because it actually helps in weight loss. My doctor put me on Phen and I am still able to take the Xanax. I would diffently talk to your doctor about the anti depressants and weight gain because they go hand in hand.
  • patty1138
    patty1138 Posts: 196 Member
    lexapro for me and I feel and think alot better but I cant seem to loose a pound!
  • strandedj
    strandedj Posts: 128
    I have been on zoloft for more years than I can count. No other antidepressant has worked for me. I don't attribute it to my weight gain.
  • slkehl
    slkehl Posts: 3,801 Member
    I'm glad to hear people going to their doctor and trying something new. My mom has depression and lost a bunch of weight because of anxiety to the point where she was underweight. She went on antidepressants and they worked wonderfully. She was much happier and seemed back to her normal self. But she gained weight and for that reason quit them without consulting anyone. Now she's a nervous wreck. Pretty sad that her body mattered more to her than her mental health. And of course everyone else has suffered too now that she's back to being worried and miserable all the time. It's also discouraging that anything over 120 lbs is considered "fat" to her when I weigh substantially more than that.

    Sorry for that mini rant, but I just hope, for the sake of yourself and your loved ones, you keep trying out different medications and figure out what works for you :)
  • angelic1123
    angelic1123 Posts: 45
    I'm on Sertraline and I haven't had any weight gain or loss. & the weight I'm loosing now is due to my excerise and eatting right. Just talk to your doctor about seeing what else is out there for you.
  • kimi72
    kimi72 Posts: 17
    I totally agree do not change until you've discussed this with your doctor. I am American Indian and we have very very bad tempers and are prone to clinical depression so I knew if I tried to come off the Paxil, Zoloft or actually anything they put me on before talking to my doctor it would play hell on my family. I like the Xanax because I can take them as needed when I feel I can't handle things. They don't interfere with my weight loss either. Most anti depressants have to be takin daily to get in to your blood stream to work and Xanax isn't like that. ( I sound like a commercial). Good luck finding the right cocktail ( as I call them) sometimes it takes awhile.
  • jennifergaudette
    jennifergaudette Posts: 23
    I am on Wellbutrin. I started two days ago. But ive taken it off and on many times before. It actually helps in my weight LOSS. I cld look at something or think about something yumm like a calzone from Gambinos pizza. And when im on the wellbutrin i will actually go to the fridge and just stand there bcuz everything just kinda becomes nahh. Things that used to make my mouth water dont even get a rise out of me anymore. Dont get me wrong. Im on it for depression. However, I weigh 148 now after dieting the last 5 weeks and losing 8 lbs. >> it also makes me want to have alot of sex ;) Thats all i was worried about was weight and sex drive.
  • judyjuju
    judyjuju Posts: 3
    :sad: I have been on Effexor and the first year I gained 20 pounds and I am still trying to get it off. Thank God it was only 20. If I knew of something to take instead of anti-depressants I would give it a try. I know what you are going through.
  • LauraSmyth28
    LauraSmyth28 Posts: 399 Member
    lexapro for me and I feel and think alot better but I cant seem to loose a pound!

    ^^^ snap! Also lost libido completely and so on horny goat weed supplements to try fix that problem.
  • mrs_schultz2012
    mrs_schultz2012 Posts: 395 Member
    I'm on Sertraline and I haven't had any weight gain or loss. & the weight I'm loosing now is due to my excerise and eatting right. Just talk to your doctor about seeing what else is out there for you.

    I'm on this also for anxiety. It has killed my libido, but hasn't caused me to gain weight
  • DietingMommy08
    DietingMommy08 Posts: 1,345 Member
    I too was on zoloft a few years ago.
    It literally gave me a head for the whole 2 weeks that I was on it as well as caused me to have anxiety attacks.
    It didnt make any sense.

    You should ask your doctor for a weight neutral medication if your not happy with the one your on now.
    & anybody with sleep problems I highly recommend Melatonin, its okay to take with any psych meds. :o)
  • JoniBologna
    JoniBologna Posts: 653 Member
    I used to take Celexa for many years. It completely ruined my libido but didn't have much effect on my weight. I stopped about two years ago. As of today, I am anti-depressant free and mostly happy. I still get some situational depression, but it's not that long term, looming, depression that happens for no particular reasons. I wish you the best of luck. Definitely, don't be afraid to talk to your doc to explore other options!
  • memcd911
    memcd911 Posts: 230 Member
    I am on Wellbutrin. I started two days ago. But ive taken it off and on many times before. It actually helps in my weight LOSS. I cld look at something or think about something yumm like a calzone from Gambinos pizza. And when im on the wellbutrin i will actually go to the fridge and just stand there bcuz everything just kinda becomes nahh. Things that used to make my mouth water dont even get a rise out of me anymore. Dont get me wrong. Im on it for depression. However, I weigh 148 now after dieting the last 5 weeks and losing 8 lbs. >> it also makes me want to have alot of sex ;) Thats all i was worried about was weight and sex drive.


    Amen, I've often considered asking for a mood stabalizer, b/c they help control migraines (Wellbutrin being at the top of the list of ones they prescribe for migraines). But I've always been concerned about weight and sex drive.
  • Emabo
    Emabo Posts: 125 Member
    They gave me Abilify, but when I found out that almost everybody who took it gained a ton of weight I refused it. Wellbutrin has no weight gain side-effects and you will probably even lose a few.
  • mrs_schultz2012
    mrs_schultz2012 Posts: 395 Member
    I am on Wellbutrin. I started two days ago. But ive taken it off and on many times before. It actually helps in my weight LOSS. I cld look at something or think about something yumm like a calzone from Gambinos pizza. And when im on the wellbutrin i will actually go to the fridge and just stand there bcuz everything just kinda becomes nahh. Things that used to make my mouth water dont even get a rise out of me anymore. Dont get me wrong. Im on it for depression. However, I weigh 148 now after dieting the last 5 weeks and losing 8 lbs. >> it also makes me want to have alot of sex ;) Thats all i was worried about was weight and sex drive.


    Amen, I've often considered asking for a mood stabalizer, b/c they help control migraines (Wellbutrin being at the top of the list of ones they prescribe for migraines). But I've always been concerned about weight and sex drive.

    I'm going to talk to me doctor about this - I need to increase my sex drive, I feel horrible when I never want to and my fiance always does! Thank you for posting!
  • pinthin87
    pinthin87 Posts: 296 Member
    OMG...this is so crazy because I just went to my doc yesterday about this very thing. I gained 15 pounds in the one year I have been on Celexa. My doc perscribed Welbutrin to me yesterday to help me with my weight loss. I'm 25 and I have barely lost 4 pounds in 2 months and that is just not normal, supposedly your metabolism is very fast in your 20s. I would definitely talk to your doctor about switching to something different if your medicine is impededing your weight loss goals. Hope this helps!
  • alimarieban
    alimarieban Posts: 141 Member
    I'm on a cocktail of meds for generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and depression. Zoloft is one of the meds and I honestly believe that it mellows me just enough so that I am a nicer, calmer, happier person. I am having a lot of trouble losing weight as well but not too sure it's due to the Zoloft? Everyone reacts differently to different medications and I know that there are many, many options out there. If you feel that it is hindering your weight loss efforts, go see your doctor to discuss the alternatives. Best of luck to you! :-)
  • BeautifulScarsWECHANGED
    BeautifulScarsWECHANGED Posts: 749 Member
    I just starte Welbutrin and love it so far.
  • lilo1971
    lilo1971 Posts: 16 Member
    I was on Prozac and in a year’s time I gained 70lbs! Unfortunately I need to be on anti-depressants so the doctor changed me to Lexapro and I have been doing really well and able to lose weight too!
  • beckylawrence70
    beckylawrence70 Posts: 752 Member
    I'm on Celexa and no weight gain at all, been on it for a year now.
  • christina721
    christina721 Posts: 37
    I was on zoloft and it did nothing for my anxiety and I gained 10 lbs. I was put on prozac but it made me really tired. I am starting paxil tomorrow so we will see how that goes.
  • wxchaser
    wxchaser Posts: 173 Member
    I've been on Lexapro for a year and that hasn't stopped me from losing weight. Actually, there haven't been very many side effects from it either. Maybe some stomach discomfort when I first started to take it, but it's gone away.
  • girliegirl3773
    girliegirl3773 Posts: 22 Member
    I've been on Celexa for a few years. (I gained 30 lbs in 2 years) My doctor told me that the anti-depressant and birth control would make it very hard to lose weight. I've gotten off of BC, but don't want to stop Celexa because it makes me feel so much better. I know that I have to work hard, but I'm willing to do it!
  • LoreleiWalks
    LoreleiWalks Posts: 143 Member
    I was on Lexapro last summer and gained 20 pounds. Yikes! Fortunately, I was able to wean off of it and am now managing my anxiety/depression without prescription meds. I know that being completely free of medication is not an option for everyone. I have a friend who also gained on Lex, but is now taking a combo of that plus Wellbutrin. She is happy with that as far as treating her depression and her ability to lose weight. My experience on Wellbutrin was horrendous, but everyone is different. I would talk to your doctor about your concerns and see if he or she has any suggestions. I feel your pain. Weight loss + antidepressants = frustration!!
  • kimi72
    kimi72 Posts: 17
    I was on Wellbutrin for years and loved it. I never gained weight didn't lose my sex drive and it also helps if your trying to quit smoking. It's a wonderful drug. I would recommend it to anyone.
  • april1126
    april1126 Posts: 65 Member
    I am also on setraline which is generic for zoloft and I have low thyroid so I also take synthroid started working out and have lost a few pounds in 2 months but it is hard to lose weight before I found out about my thyroid I was 30 pounds lighter .I have been working out 6 days a week and staying within my calories .
  • N4monsters
    N4monsters Posts: 44 Member
    Welbutrin helped me loose weight, suppressed my hunger, and helped with my depression
  • stillshining
    stillshining Posts: 4 Member
    Effexor is one hell of a drug. I didn't feel a damn thing on it - I couldn't even cry. I was on a very high dose for depression, anxiety and an eating disorder. Mind you, I feel as though it encouraged my eating disorder since I was in such a zombie state I barely noticed I was putting my body in turmoil. I felt nothing. So glad I'm medication-free now. There have been a few studies on Prozac and how at higher doses it helps with bulimia. I'm not too informative about that though and have no experience.

    Overall, I found my trials with anti-depressants didn't effect my weight. I don't have the best insight though but I thought I'd throw my two cents out there. Birth control and weight gain on the other hand... Ugh!
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