Anyone else gain weight on Prozac?

I have now gained 13lbs. in 8 weeks  I know it's not the meds causing it, it is me eating the food!  But I can't help it.  I am so pissed off all the time all I do is eat?!  Please tell me I am not the only one.  If so what helped you?  I have a dr. apt next week to talk about it, but would like to hear from others.  I am on it for anxiety not depression but I swear it is causing depression!

I used to be skinny, then I was put on prozac, and gained 30lbs in a month! I was up 60lbs in about 3 months before they took me off of it, the doctor said it usually makes people loose weight.

I also heard it usually makes people lose.  But go figure I am not normal :)  I also heard welbutrin helps you lose

When I was taken off the Prozac I was put on Wellbutrin and it did help me loose weight, but it was causing me to have really bad mood swings, so I was taken off that as well.

First of all, I never heard of using prozac for anxiety.  You should go back to your doc to rethink which meds to try.  Not everything works for everyone.  Alot of times it a guessing game till you get it right.

Secondly, those class of drugs (SSRI's) are all known to cause weight gain, however, I wouldnt let that sway me from trying them to get my anxiety under control.  I have been on paxil for anxiety for many years and I have successfully lost over 100 lbs and have been maintaining for a while now.  Needless to say, my anxiety has pretty much disappeared!

I have also weaned myself off Paxil with no side effects so don't let all the horror stories scare you. 

~H~

I have been on Prozac for almost 2 years.  I did gain some weight but I'm not sure it was the Prozac.  I have just lost 22 pounds since May while continueing to take Prozac.  I went to Weight Watchers meetings.  Also there is a great podcast called Inside Out Weight Loss.  It helps deal with the psychological side of losing weight.  The commentator consults for Weight Watchers.  No, I don't work for them but it really helped.

my mother was on prozac for anxiety and she lost weight. It really varies from person to person when it comes to AD's. I was placed on Effexor and gained about 30lbs in a few months. You should ask your doctor if you can switch to something else that won't cause weight gain. Keep trying till you find one that is weight neutral for you.

Original Post by haley_2008:

First of all, I never heard of using prozac for anxiety.  You should go back to your doc to rethink which meds to try.  Not everything works for everyone.  Alot of times it a guessing game till you get it right.

For some reason I don't understand, some doctors do this. They put me on Paxil, then a few years later on Zoloft. Each time I gained about 40lbs almost over night. Some people don't gain on SSRIs, but sadly many people do.

And yeah, SSRIs suck for panic management. All it did was make me fat which sucks because it turns out I was misdiagnosed. I'm bipolar and an SSRI is the WORST thing to put me on!

Original Post by haley_2008:

First of all, I never heard of using prozac for anxiety.  You should go back to your doc to rethink which meds to try.  Not everything works for everyone.  Alot of times it a guessing game till you get it right.

Secondly, those class of drugs (SSRI's) are all known to cause weight gain, however, I wouldnt let that sway me from trying them to get my anxiety under control.  I have been on paxil for anxiety for many years and I have successfully lost over 100 lbs and have been maintaining for a while now.  Needless to say, my anxiety has pretty much disappeared!

I have also weaned myself off Paxil with no side effects so don't let all the horror stories scare you. 

~H~

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAYING THIS! I HAVE BEEN ON PAXIL FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR NOW FOR ANXIETY AND ITS ALSO HELPING WITH MY MIGRAINE HEADACHES WHICH IS A REALLY GOOD SIDE EFFECT! I WAS REALLY WORRIED ABOUT GETTING OFF OF IT AND ITS GOOD TO KNOW THAT I CAN GET OFF IF I NEED TO AND IT WONT MAKE ME SICK... THANK YOU!

spirochete,

if you don't mind i have further questions for you.  did your normal dr. diagnose you correctly or did you have to go to a specialist. I have an apt with my dr on friday.  all i know is I am pissy, stress more than normal but yet can't feel emotions very well, and very easily irritated.  thanks alot pm if you would

Original Post by girleeee:

Original Post by haley_2008:

First of all, I never heard of using prozac for anxiety.  You should go back to your doc to rethink which meds to try.  Not everything works for everyone.  Alot of times it a guessing game till you get it right.

Secondly, those class of drugs (SSRI's) are all known to cause weight gain, however, I wouldnt let that sway me from trying them to get my anxiety under control.  I have been on paxil for anxiety for many years and I have successfully lost over 100 lbs and have been maintaining for a while now.  Needless to say, my anxiety has pretty much disappeared!

I have also weaned myself off Paxil with no side effects so don't let all the horror stories scare you. 

~H~

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SAYING THIS! I HAVE BEEN ON PAXIL FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR NOW FOR ANXIETY AND ITS ALSO HELPING WITH MY MIGRAINE HEADACHES WHICH IS A REALLY GOOD SIDE EFFECT! I WAS REALLY WORRIED ABOUT GETTING OFF OF IT AND ITS GOOD TO KNOW THAT I CAN GET OFF IF I NEED TO AND IT WONT MAKE ME SICK... THANK YOU!

 

 SSRI's  (paxil) really gave me my life back.    Yes it is very possible to wean off with NO side effects at all.  It took me 5 months to get off but i did it without worry. 

~H~

Original Post by leslee24:

spirochete,

if you don't mind i have further questions for you.  did your normal dr. diagnose you correctly or did you have to go to a specialist. I have an apt with my dr on friday.  all i know is I am pissy, stress more than normal but yet can't feel emotions very well, and very easily irritated.  thanks alot pm if you would

My reg dr sent me to a shrink who confirmed the panic diagnosis. It wasn't until I went to a licensed psychologist who sent me to a better shrink was I given the correct diagnosis and got my life back!