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Anti-Depressants and weight gain

Have any of your lost or gained weight taking anti-depressants? If so, which ones?

Mon. Aug 27, 2:32pm

Unfortunately, I once was prescribed anti-depressants as a means to stop my 7-year fight with bulimia. It sent me giddy-happy, and food fell right off my agenda. Lack of food left me hallucinating and hospitalised. Four years on, I am recovered (if a little overweight!) but will never go back to anti-dperessants. It was frightening, losing control over my brain like that. It's good to feel, and it's good to eat! :^D

Monday, August 27, 2007, 2:50 PM

If you are going to go on anti-depressants, and are concerned about the effect on your weight, talk to both your doctor and your pharmacist about these concerns. Many (but not all) medications that are generally associated with weight gain do not actually cause weight gain, but rather, cause an increase in appetite. When you satisfy this increased appetite is when you gain weight. But, if you have the knowledge beforehand that the medication, and not nature, is making you hungry, maybe you will be better at ignoring the hunger.

Monday, August 27, 2007, 3:46 PM

I was on anti-depressants for about 18 months, about 10 years ago. Without any effort or changes, I lost a very small amount of weight. I found that I had more energy to be active, and I'm sure that helped.

My counselor also strongly advised to add some exercise/activity to my life. Exercise is the most natural antidepressant, and sometimes it alone can help...

Before I experienced it myself, used to think depression was an excuse for people. I certainly know better now. If you are experiencing depression, I would urge you to speak with a counselor. Anti-depressents work best when combined with good counseling.

Monday, August 27, 2007, 5:24 PM

I have manic depression and gained weight from my meds, but it's a combination of antidepressants and other meds. I went on weight watcher's and have lost 35 lbs, so as long as your careful with dieting, you should be ok. Excersizing also helped to prevent weight gain from meds. I'd been on Effexor, Wellbutrin and then Zoloft. Not all at the same time, at different times. Now I'm on Celexa, which is great.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007, 7:35 AM

I suffered from depression in my teens and 20s. This was in the 80s-90s. Every medicine I took (antidep's -MAOI and SSRI- and mood stablizers), I gained weight. (and never really felt better, but that's a different story...). I do not like making excuses (ie, I would never say "I gained b/c of this medecine") so I really thought it was me - that I just have no "will power". Then, my friends were going on anti-depressants and mood stabilizers and they started to gain weight, too. Looking back, I can see how it was a little of both - the medicine and the lack of lifestyle change. Some of the above posters knew what they were getting into, so exercised a little more or ate a little less. In the throes of my depression, I could barely get out of bed and at that time it was just impossible to think about anything other than survival. Now that I've gotten all morose... I just wanted to share my experience. I'm in my 30s now and am not on any meds; doing OK.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007, 7:46 AM

i was on prozac and lost weight. i lost my need to eat for emotional reasons.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007, 8:45 AM

I have been on Prozac, Wellbutrin and Zoloft and noticed it totally took away my sex drive which my husband hated as well as caused me to clench my teeth all the time causing neck and jaw pain. I kept telling the dr. I had an ear ache and they laughed and said, no this is common, well I wish they had told me before I took 2 rounds of meds for what I thought was an ear infection. Anyway I gained weight during all those times on the meds. I can't say if it was the meds or the depression that caused the weight gain though. Good luck and 7:35 what do you think of the Celexa? Do you have a sex drive or clench your teeth? I really need to be on something for my terrible witchyness during PMS.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007, 8:47 AM

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