antidepressants and weight loss
I gained a lot of weight from depression, started Lexapro about six weeks ago. My weight has stabilized, but I'm struggling to find motivation to start counting my calories again. My doctor said it's fine for me to try to lose a bit of weight at this point, as long as I go about it in a healthy way.
The lack of motivation was with me throughout my latest bout with depression, and seems to be stuck with me even with treatment. However, my meds are working great otherwise, so I'd like to stay with them.
Anyone else having this particular issue? What do you do to overcome it?
I used them a couple of years ago and gained 25 kg in 4 months (after I had just lost 23 kg before)... I exploded and only now found the courage to get it off again. No more A-D's for me. I'll do anything to keep them away from me. I now work out and feel much more ffect from that. But that is not for everybody of course.
Jolanda
I'm on Effexor, Citalopram and Risperidone. I went from 140 lbs to 205 lbs before I finally decided to do something about it. I'm now holding steady at 175, but I'd really like to break through the plateau and get down to a healthier weight. (I'm 5'9" with a small bone structure.) I don't plan on going off the meds anytime in the foreseeable future - the difference is just too great.
I know I need to exercise more than I'm doing, but I find that the meds make me need 9-10 hours sleep a night and it's difficult to find the motivation to use my precious time with my husband for working out :/
I just want carbs and sweets ALL the time now. Sigh.
I was put on prozac about 3 weeks before I started my new lifestyle. I must say that a combination of eating healthier, exercising some and my medicine, I have never been happier in my life. I have been on my new lifestyle for 3 weeks as well... and I'm loving every minute of it! Once I saw results, (after the first week!) my motivation shot through the roof but that first week was really hard. This site and perseverence helped me push through and now it's really paying off.
Good luck and I hope this helps!
I need to lose more than 100lbs, but can't afford to not be on my Paxil.
My willpower is and has been at rock bottom. I need support and am hoping that I can find it here.
Fluffy
I started taking Lexapro a little over a month ago for anxiety and I feel great. The anxiety has subsided. A lot of my obsessive behavior has stopped. The bad news is calorie counting was one of my obsessive behaviors! I am getting back into counting everything again. Starting today as a matter of fact. I have not gained any weight so I don't feel too bad about stopping for a while. I plan on getting back into my boxing classes this Thursday and I am so excited about that. I have noticed a decrease in my motivation, but I think that once I get up an start moving again I will start feeling even better about everything. My quality of life is much better as a result of the meds so baring some unforeseen issue, I do not plan on stopping them anytime soon.
In studies weight gain with antidepressants is negligible. However, anecdotally, SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which includes Paxil, Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro) do cause weight gain for a lot of people. There is some question about whether it is due to recovery from depression (since appetite loss is one of the symptoms of depression(but then so is overeating)) or from the meds themselves. It seems like if you overeat due to depression you will lose on antidepressants and if you undereat due to depression you will gain.
Fluoxetine (Prozac) tends to be more stimulating and has been investigated as a weight loss drug. Wellbutrin (not an SSRI - it works on different neurotransmitters) is also stimulating and has been shown to cause some weight loss. It doesn't work for anxiety though. My own personal experience has been that Wellbutrin caused me to not be hungry and not obsess about food and then binge, at least for the first few weeks I took it. Unfortunately that didn't last! My mother took Effexor and said it helped her mood, but also killed her obsessional WeightWatchers point-counting abilities so she gained weight.
Also please note that diet and regular exercise has been shown to be as effective as antidepressant treatment alone! I say if it is working for you, keep with it, and more exercise can only help.
Im been on Zoloft 150 mg for 3 years and now I am also on 100 mg of seroquel.
I never noticed any weight gain.
My, this is VERY GOOD TOPIC - glad you started it!
I never thought I'd ever experience depression (and had little sympathy for my daughter when she went through it for two years). So ashamed am I for having acted this way, because I spent 6 months of 2006 LYING IN BED for TWENTY HOURS; crying for no reason, and absolutely did the MINIMUM amount of work I needed to do, to keep my husband from totally going 'bonkers' himself.
My husband had no sympathy; screamed at me - called me all kinds of names, etc., and it seemed as if I was ready to toss him in the river along with me! I had the suicide 'thing' - the 'loss of my kids/empty-nest' thing (although they've been gone for years). I cried because my father had died so tragically; I managed to conjur up just about every 'tragedy' in my life as I would stare at the ceiling and wonder about the meaning of my life.
Finally I told my doctor - I'd been too ashamed to tell him those 6 months. I could put on this cheerful face; clean up, and get a 'clean bill of health' - then back to bed I'd go when I left the office and got home.
Okay, I can't believe I spit this out..........
Anyway, when I DID 'confess' to my doctor, he put me on Effexor - I promptly got so sick within 3 days, I had to call him back. I vomitted; went into sweats - it was not a pretty sight. I went back - then he tried Paxil; again, bad reaction. Back I go 7 days later - now he's scratching his head. We tried 3 more; everything was doing nothing BUT MAKING ME MORE DEPRESSED.
My doctor started telling me why he wouldn't give me certain anti-depressants since he felt my 'personality' simply would go from bad to worse; I'd feel lethargic; have little energy, and become a 'zombie'. I told him I was already a 'zombie'. He said: "No, you've been coming back here each and every time you react badly to the medication; the FACT YOU'RE COMING BACK means you are looking to get well!"
Okay - that hit like a big brick! If I could do this - I could get up; get around, and STOP on my own!
My doctor offered to give me a low dose of Xanax for sleep; said he wouldn't let me have it more than once a day - and I'd better not exceed the dosage. Basically, he 'kiced me in the rear' - and gave me only a 'tidbit' of medication so I could get a GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.
Then he gave me information about how a person who doesn't sleep, will gain weight. After reading as to the 'whys and wherefores' that this happens, I felt I was finally 'armed' with what I needed to 'just sleep'. I left the office; decided to do a little shopping - then I stopped to play some Keno (something I loved, but hadn't done in those 6 months). After I left the casino, I went to the park; I walked along the river, and I listened to the birds chirp! I began to cry - about NOT living and doing 'this' for SIX MONTHS.
I can't say what put me into that depression - I can only say what GOT ME OUT.
Because I was capable of getting up; cleaning up - looking nice, to MEET MY DOCTOR - to fight for finding the 'right medication', I found didn't NEED the medication - I just needed TO SLEEP SOUNDLY. Once I was getting my good sleep, the world looked like it had before that depression set in.
My husband was amazed at this 'instant' recovery; it has remained this way because I now realize that I have a PURPOSE OF MY OWN (and it's not dependent upon my kids; grandkids, husband - or anyone).
I also realized: When I love, I love so darned hard - anything, and everyone. Possibly some of you who've posted, do the same. Are you given to perfection? I am. Do you feel like you have to PLEASE everyone you know? I did. Do you bite your tongue as you avoid saying what you really think or believe? I did. Have you allowed others to 'judge you', and taken their opinion as gospel? I did that.
Remember that saying: You have a right to be here....it's part of the poem DESIDERADA (my spelling might be a bit off, but I read it 40 years ago). Possibly I can find that poem on Google; then I'll pop back and put it here. I remember it helped me back when I was going through a rough divorce.
The sad thing about the 'side effects' of anti-depressants is they can cause this terrific weight gain (I have about 7 lady-friends who're on them; all have gained 25 to 50 pounds). When one gains the weight, they can FALL INTO DEEPER DEPRESSION OF COURSE.
Maybe you can examine your own thinking - maybe some of those questions I asked myself, you can ask yourself - possibly you can 'pull up and out'. I'd give it a try; then call your doctor, and ask to get in to 'talk'. Tell the doctor what you want to do from a MENTAL standpoint - that you want to possibly go to counseling if you think you can't do it on your own. Don't stop your medications abruptly; don't change what you're doing without talking to your doctor.
I had my doctor's input; he put it bluntly to me, and he opend the door without another prescription - other than for sleep. Now he and I can reflect on those 'days past', and I've been off my sleep medication for 6 months now. I'm committed to never letting depression rule me again. Diane - Nevada
Welcome, sixtyfivealive (Not sixtyfivealive? Click here) | Log Out | Help Food | Activities | Recipes | Forums | options... Search Tell us what you think Entry successfully added!Diane Sixty-five; very active & outspoken!Sixtyfivealive's' JournalMy Journal | My Friends' Journals | Privacy FiltersAll Entries Antidepressants/Been there, done that - here's what helped me back!
Jan 23 2008 09:39 Edit | Delete
Desiderada
"Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
And remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
Be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
And listen to others, even the dull and ignorant;
They too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
They are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
You may become vain or bitter,
For always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
It is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
For the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
Many persons strive for high ideals,
And everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
For in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
It is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the council of the years,
Gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a healthy discipline,
Be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
You have a right to be here,
And whether or not it is clear to you,
No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
Whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
In the noisy confusion of life,
Keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
It is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy."
Author Unknown although some maintain that this piece was written by Max Erhmann
BirthQuake: The Journey to Wholeness
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I agree this is a really good forum... I've been on sertraline (generic zoloft) for the past 4 years. Initially my biody went nuts in terms of fluctuations in weight loss and mood. I had always been underweight and I did gain about 10 lbs. (From 112 - 122 and I'm 5'5") but again since I had always been skinny it didn't worry me. After a while my body did settle back down to normal and my mood improved greatly! You should for sure remain on your anti-depressants regardless of what they are doing to your body. I promise in about a year things will settle down.
I have unfortunately/ fortunately now been enjoying life a little too much and have been eating/ drinking too much wine with my boyfriend and am at 130 and am looking to get back to the 120 range. But at this point in my life the drugs don't seem to effect my weight gain / loss. One note about drinking for anyone on SSRIs (my doctor told me this) be careful at first and make sure your body doesn't react adversely to the alcohol and obviously drink in moderation if your body is ok (but that should be followed by anyone). But remember everyone is different and what has worked for me may not work for you.
Goign back to weight loss, give the drugs some time, they really were great for me! Once you seem to be at a constant weight try losing a few lbs and take it from there.
I'm gonna try though. I just got an iphone so I can log my calories when I'm out and about, too, so maybe that will help.
I've been on all of the medications mentioned so far. I started out at 135lbs and ballooned up to 190+lbs in a matter of a year. (I'm 5'7") The weight gain was rapid. While I don't blame the gain entirely on the medications (I was depressed! and I'm an emotional eater!), certain medications were worse than others as far as weight gain. Seroquel seemed to be the absolute worse for me. And, everyone I know gained significant amount of weight on that medication. I have to say, however, that it seemed to be the most effective medication for my other symptoms (insomnia, irritability, and it took care of some of the side effects I had with simple SSRIs). That being said, clearly, this isn't the case for everyone.
The best thing you can do, practically speaking, is to try to increase your activity level, regardless of the medication you are on. Activity will help keep your weight in check and increases the "good feeling" hormones in your body. Motivation and will power to do these things isn't something you can really afford to just wait to come around to you. You need to just logically decide that this is something you need to do for yourself, just like you need to decide or commit to other self-care behavior (like bathing, flossing, going to dr appts) even when you're feeling unmotivated to do so. It is imperative to your health, and while the effects of NOT doing them aren't apparent immediately, the absence of doing those things regularly has significant negative impacts on your life.
Go easy on yourself. You don't need to be running marathon. Go for a walk, just down the driveway and if you feel okay going that far, consider going down the block, then maybe a little farther. Etc. Start small. Stretching, yoga, walking, swimming around, hiking, and doing "fun" stuff like kayaking, geocaching, dancing, etc. are things you could more easily incorporation into your life than, say, the gym... but, don't be afraid of trying out the gym. You might be surprised. EVEN IF YOU DO THE EXERCISE BEGRUDGINGLY and not in a good mood, the calories are still burned, your heartrate still increases, etc. your body will benefit. The motivation, enjoyment, pleasure will come if it isn't there immediately. Just keep trying something different.
Also, I found it helpful to cut out food entertaining. If a friend wants to go out for dinner to catch up with you and talk, go somewhere else instead. Go over to their house, meet them at the park, the beach. My case worker wanted to meet at Starbucks all the time, and I just suggested we meet at 25th and Right St. It was just a random spot, but because we didn't have any place to really sit down, we walked. Or, meet at someone's house, the library, the neighborhood college, etc. Mostly people meet at these places out of habit, not because they're really just dying to go there, so it won't hurt their feelings to suggest somewhere else.
I have been on and off antidepressants since the age of 19 (am now 44) and my dr and I have come to the conclusion that it is just something I will need to control a chemical imbalance. I have been off them for pregnancies, other short stretches but always find my physical symptoms returning which are panic attacks along with the depression. My mother had panic attacks and my dad had depression so I'm just one big genetic mess -lol.
I am probably one of the few people that take the older tricyclic antidepressants (Doxepin) which are suppose to be more notorious for weight gain. The newer SSRI's never agreed with me - those GAVE me anxiety attacks. My dr. told me, at least for the tricyclics, the reason they cause weight gain is they block certain histamine receptors in the brain which causes an increase in hunger. (Not sure if this is true for SSRI's.)
All that being said, it IS possible to take weight off with antidepressants and keep it off as I am living proof. I am 5'3" and have lost weight on them and have been at a stable 120# for years (give or take a pound) while on antidepressants. I exercise regularly and try to watch what I eat - more so now that I've joined here because I want to FINALLY rid myself of those last 5 to 8 pounds that I've been trying to get rid of for YEARS - lol. Can you say plateau? There are times, however, I do want to blame that on the meds!
Also, what helps me is I take a slightly lower dosage probably because I do exercise and that helps depression in and of itself. My dr. said, at least with my meds, that dosage has a direct bearing on weight gain. If someone can still get benefits from a lower dose of meds, it might be worth a try.
Good luck everyone. You can do it.
Edit: Spelled "histamine" wrong
I started using anti depressants about two years ago. With my depression I had lost so much weight and was down to about 125-130 (size 6) at 5'7".
Once I went on Effexor I began to pack on the pounds. I was felt like a bulimic who stuff themselves at all time including waking up in the middle of the night without the getting sick part. I was beginning to be happy and many things were good in my life. But as I kept gaining weight and more people noticed as well as having to buy a new pair of work pants about every week. I was very discouraged. I got up to about 180. Highest weight I have ever been, even with a pregnancy.
I talked to my mental health doc and my women's health doc - they blamed each other so I was at my wits end. I told them I needed to switch from Effexor to something else because I was getting more and more depressed with the weight gain. About a year ago They changed me to the generic form of Wellbutrin and I started working out in April 07. With being a full time mom, full time work, and full time school after a few months I stopped working out. But my weight did finally stabilize at 170.
I am still uncomfortable. So I joined Gold's Gym about a week ago. I now a have personal trainer and dietitian that I meet with once a week. Mainly for the accountability. I still have all of the many things going on...but my health and weight are also a priority. I just think that I am more determined to lose it or at least fit into my size 8 or 10's again. I cant afford to keep buying new clothes!!!
My doctors have also told me that exercise really helps with depression as well. So good luck to you all. I hope you find your niche. Losing weight is not easy any way, it seems to just be harder for us with the pills and more emotions.
The truth is, studies show, these anti-d meds don't work and drs keep recommending them. Depression and anxiety are serious illnesses so I'm not pretending to be an authority...just talking as a layman and a somewhat-skeptical-of the-medical-community person whose experienced a lot and read a lot of literature.
If you are real aggressive about overcoming these mental health problems, many folks find, through trial and error, that w/exercise, like Jolanda mentioned, and sleep and eating healthy and having a kind supportive community, or a great therapist when you need to talk...these are the things that really do work and are proven to work.
I had chronic depression/anxiety all my adult life. Fortunately never took meds...refused them. FInally found a wonderful MSW who has great respect for my determination and did a lot of reading. This winter is my first depression free! It's a whole new world...
Give yourself time but, the truth is, they say that with exercise you should begin to feel a lightening of the mood w/in a short period of time...a couple of weeks(?) possibly...just committ to staying w/it!
Glad that you all came out of the woodwork. Depressives tend to be the more sensitive/creative in the community...did you folks now that? : )
I suffer with anxiety and take laxapro its seems to work ok with me.........been on it for a few months now..................the only thing i find wrong with it...............it has taken my sex drve away..........
but good luck to you
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