Anti Depressents and Weight gain/Loss suggestions

Hi! I've been on several mental illness pils. Seroquel, Setralin, and Fluoxetine. Fluoxetine is basically Prozac. Right now I take Seroquel 50 mg and Setrakin 75 mg, as well as Atarax 10mgx3 everyday and I've noticed I don't actually gain weight, but I'm not losing it as fast as I was when I took Fluoxetine.

But, as my doctors say, you are in charge of your own body. You can ask for another prescription and for another type of drug and he's obliged to look for something else. I don't know about you but for me exercise doesn't alleviate my problems, so I am in need of my medicine to function. I don't think I'd feel better about myself if I was skinnier, but my body would appreciate it. I think you need to realise that maybe getting fit won't miraculously make your depression less severe.

Take care!

Most antidepressants can cause weight gain, it is secondary to eating more though and lack of exercise due to the sedative side effects. It can not just magically make you gain weight, it does not change your metabolism. Unfortunately most antidepressants can also cause sexual dysfunction, it is a result of how they inadvertently effect other parts of the body when working. Some of the antidepressants that cause lower instances of weight gain may have even worse side effects, it is a matter of weighing the benefits against the risks because ALL drugs have side effects. Would you rather be on an SSRI, the paxil, or an MAOI? With an MAOI you can not eat anything with tyramine in it, that means no cheese at all, no smoked/fermented meats like bolgna and salami, and no beer or wine. I am just trying to say that some side effects for different classes can be very bad, even cardiac problems for TCA's which is another class of antidepressants.

I am glad that you see that becoming thin will not make you happy, so you know the importance of taking the medication. If you are gaining alot of weight on it then try another drug and see how that effects you, because some will have less sedative/weight effects for you, it is like a lock and key situation, keep trying something until it clicks and works for you. I know that it can be frustrating, but hang in there.

Am i right to think that Body Image is a major factor in your depression? Past events? what do u think is the cause, like when ur having alow point what comes to your mind?

I take Lexapro in the evenings. My doc added 150 mg Wellbutrin in the mornings to counteract some of the side effects and this has helped quite a bit (Wellbutrin has a side effect of weight loss).

I take Welbutrin XL (generic bupropion) 350mg once a day, and will have been on it for about 2 years this November. Initially, I did gain about 20 pounds after I started taking it. But, I also had never felt so good and so happy in my life, ever. It's been working for me ever since, keeping me balanced. If you gain weight from taking an antidepressant, it could just be because you're subconsciously eating more or moving less. I know I gained my weight because I was happy and didn't care about anything like my weight for a while, so I just ate whatever I wanted. (Ignorance is bliss I guess? lol) But when I finally did decide to get in shape and lose the weight, it wasn't just about wanting to look better, it was about wanting to live a longer, more fulfilling life for myself and my family. I finally chose to change because I finally felt like I was able to, and the medicine was, in a way, the catalyst for that transformation.

You have to understand that with any medicine (as I'm sure you already do know) there will be some side-effects. Hopefully though, you can find one with few or none for you that works the way you need it to. The initial weight gain is nothing compared to feeling good when you suffer from depression. I'm sure you will agree with me! If you can feel better, a little extra weight is nothing in the long run, especially when you can lose that weight! I personally had no trouble losing weight, though it did seem to take about a month, month and a half for any significant losses to happen. I do hope you get what you need and can find a balance in your life that works. Good luck to you, and try to stay positive.

Well first off, doctor probably knows best, but here's my experience...

Effexor: worked great initially, lost 15lbs but then stopped working after about a year.
Lexipro, Cymbalta: horrible reaction, was moody and angry
Pristiq: worked somewhat, but major weight gain and then completely stopped working after less than a year
Zoloft, Wellbutrin: Felt great and maintained weight. No weight loss/gain. I think I lost maybe 5 lbs at first with Wellburtin, but once my body got used to it, I evened out. No negative sexual side effects

PM me if you have questions/want more info. Good luck. I definitely relate to what you are going through.

At 54 years old, I've recently went back into therapy for Depression and I have been on Paxil 20mg, 1X daily for about 10 years now. The Psychiatrist says I need more or a stronger anti-depressent. He suggested that he raises the daily Paxil amount but he says Weight gain and sleepyness along with Male ED (which has caused me issues as well) is the down side. He also suggested Lexapro. Wieght gain is part of my overall self image and esteem issues so weight gain is really the wrong way but again, is trying to be happy worth it?

I'm looking for other's experineces with both and how do you deal with the side affects, particulary the weight gain. I can get the little blue pill for the other problem but as I sit here overweight, finding the use of that pill is secondary at best!

Trazodone (Desyrel) has fewer sexual and weight gain side effects than most antidepressants.