Antidepressants?

Hi everyone. To make a long story short, I've been struggling with eating disorders and cutting for a number of years now. I've finally realized I'm not getting better on my own and need help. I just started seeing a therapist and I have appointments with a doctor and nutritionist.

My therapist wants to put me on antidepressants and I'm a little scared to take them. In general, I do not like taking medication and I'm scared that they'll be addictive or make me gain a lot of weight.

Has anyone taken them and can you tell me a little bit about your experiences with antidepressants?

If you're apprehensive, the best person to talk to is your therapist or your doctor.  The severity and features of your condition will be unique to you and therefore your medication will be tailored to meet your needs.  Other people's experiences may not be relevant, in other words.  Antidepressants will be used in conjunction with other therapies as part of your treatment plan.  The medications are better and prescription practices are much more responsible than they were in the past. 

Best of luck

I take antidepressants, paxil specifically, partly for my depression and partly for my anxiety/eating disorder issues. I too was fearful about antidepressants, because I read many accounts of them causing weight gain.  But they have not made me gain a thing. The only weight I have gained was due to my recovery and controlled intake. I've realised that people who gain weight on antidepressants mostly do so due to comfort eating and overeating.

Right now I feel calm and happy, however that only lasts so long as I'm taking paxil. In the past two instances I've gone off paxil I experienced severe depression. Withdrawal symptoms are also hellish. Now I'm resigned and perfectly content to taking paxil for the rest of my life.

After initial reluctance, I started taking a low dose of SSRI antidepressants (10 mg Lexapro) for help with a number of health issues I was having, including IBS and chronic fatigue. While I initially gained weight on them (about 10 lbs), I was not counting calories or exercising at the time. Now that I am watching my portions more carefully and exercising, I am losing the weight easily, even though I am still on my medication. While antidepressants can make some people more prone to gaining weight, proper diet and exercise will mitigate the effects.

Some people are more prone to developing a chemical dependency on antidepressants than others as well. That means that when it comes time to stop taking them, there is a chance that you may need to taper off your dose gradually so you do not experience withdrawal symptoms. I fall into this category as well, but know other people who do not.

In spite of this, I am still taking Lexapro. I do not experience significant side effects, and it has given me my life back.

If you wind up deciding to take antidepressants, remember that you may have to work with your doctor to try a few different prescriptions until you find one that works for you, and they may take a few weeks to kick in. Start at a low dose, and increase if necessary - that way you will not be taking more than necessary. Also, keep in mind that you can stop taking them if they do not work.

I take 40 mg lexapro, 25 mg buspar, 50 mg trazadone, and 1 mg lorazepam and I have'nt gained any wieght in the year I've been taking them.

The newer the drug, the less likely it is to make you gain weight or have any major side effects. I'm in recovery for self harm also, so I know where you're coming from. I am really glad I started taking SSRIs. I feel so much better.

Before I reply to your specific question, I think it is important to seriously consider GI Jane's statement that everyone is different and the experiences of other people may not be relevant to your specific chemistry.

That said, I think it is important to know that appropriately prescribed mediations can lead to very good results for some people.  Though many people take antidepressants, I think there is an unwarranted social stigma associated with doing so, which is why many people are reluctant to talk about their experiences with them.  Personally, I make it a point to talk about my positive experiences with the medications because I refuse to validate the stigma.  Nearly two years ago, I was exhausted all of the time, I was very unhappy and anxious, and I would frequently stay in bed for entire weekends even though I have two children who need my attention (and knowing that just made me feel worse).  I was still functional, but miserable.  I went to see my doctor, who prescribed a low dose of a combination antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication, which has worked very well for me.

I still get tired, of course, but not overwhelmingly so, I worry much less about things I have no control over, and I find it much easier to stay focused and to accomplish tasks without becoming overly stressed.  I have noticed, however, that when I skip for a few days in a row, my symptoms are pretty intense.  I've discussed this with my doctor, and she said it can be very difficult for people to stop taking the medication once they've gotten used to it.  I asked whether there is any problem in taking the medications indefinitely, and she said there is no problem with doing so, but that many people feel some kind of external need to not be dependent on the medications.  The dependence really doesn't bother me because the benefits have been so great.

Finally, not only have I not gained weight as a result of the medication, I have actually lost approximately ten pounds because I am less likely to skip my workout because of work-related stress. (edit: added sentence)

Again, everyone is different, but my life has been improved by antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication.  Listen carefully to your doctor, ask lots of questions, and do not be afraid to seek another opinion if you need to.  Best of luck!