Medications and weight gain

[eddie z.]

Have you put on weight on a medication that is not "supposed" to cause weight gain? Me, too. I now believe any SSRI (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox, Celexa, Lexapro, etc.) can cause weight gain. And Cymbalta, too, though it is not an SSRI. Can y'all name others? Weight gain is expected with older antidepressants and antipsychotics, but some of these new ones are being promoted as not causing weight gain and it's just not true.

Please post on this thread your experiences with this issue. I gained weight on Zoloft and Cymbalta and am now on Effexor and trying to lose the weight because I even developed diabetes. I have lost 10 pounds so far mostly on the South Beach Diet. I think that my sugar cravings are less on the Effexor. I had to cut out the sugar even before I started the SBD. It is going very well. Please also post your experience with attempts to lose weight.

Thank you!!
Love and hugs,
Eddie

[bushleaguer]

I've been on all the SSRIs and I agree - the drug companies are full of crap. I started out on Paxil...gained some weight but couldn't stand the side effects so I switched to Zoloft. I didn't gain weight on that but it didn't help my anxiety, so I switched to Lexapro. Lexapro seemed to work to a small degree, but I packed on the pounds like a maniac on that med. Since it costs were "outweighing" the benefits in a big way, I switched to Prozac. Like Zoloft, I didn't gain any weight, but again it didn't help my anxiety.

I'm now trying Effexor, but I don't know how long I will be on it as it has ramped up my anxiety big time. I know you have to be patient with these meds and that it can initially cause anxiety to increase, but I'm climbing the walls with this stuff and I'm on the lowest dose they offer (37.5mgs). We'll see.

Anyway, throughout my exerperiences with the SSRIs I was very careful with my diet and exercised 5 times a week (an addition to my life, actually). Despite this, I gained weight on 2 of the 4 I had taken. I know some will tell you - "Oh, well you gain weight on these meds because they relieve depression and when your depressed you don't eat. Once your not depressed you get your appetite back and thus the weight gain." Yeah, right. These days, the drug companies skirt the issue by claiming that these meds, for the most part, do not cause any "clinically significant" weight gain. This is a bit disingenous, because what is "clinically significant? 30 pounds? 50 pounds?

The only medication of this ilk that I was on and actually lost weight on was Wellbutrin. I had great success with it's anti-depressant action too. But my doctor and I were trying it out on an experimental basis for anxiety. Well, this drug made my anxiety twice as bad and I had wicked insomnia. But I had lots of energy and felt really good. It's a shame I can't stay on it.

Anyway, to sum up - All SSRIs can lead to weight gain, as well as the multiple reuptake inhibitors (Effexor, Cymbalta, Remeron). The only med that, in my internet cruising, I think is very unlikely to trigger weight gain is Wellbutrin. They will actually stand by that claim - check out their website.

Off topic, all the aforementioned meds also wiped out my sex drive. I didn't mind, as I have social anxiety disorder and that makes it difficult to ask someone out...let alone score. But again, Wellbutrin was the only med that didn't have a negative effect on my sex drive. Actually, it increased it. Go figure.

Don't mean to come off sounding like a Wellbutrin salesperson....just passing along my experiences with all of these meds.

[bushleaguer]

Oh, I forgot to answer your question, Eddie.

Once I was off of the SSRIs the weight began to drop. Now that I'm (still) on Effexor that has stopped, but in between discontinuing the SSRIs and starting the Effexor I lost 20 pounds in 5 months without trying. Hopefully it will fully come off. If you weren't depressed before, packing on 40 pounds while taking these meds will surely get you there.

[historyteach]

I have been on Wellbutrin for a number of years now. And I agree, in the beginning, I lost weight. I was full of energy. Now, that it's stabilized, I've gained weight on it. Too much weight. I'm pre diabetic now.
And yes, I'm going to the gym @5 times a week; @ 2 hours each time.
Since I quit smoking, it's even worse.
So, I don't think it's the wonder cure of weight issues many people think it is.

Shalom!

[eddie z.]

Thank you, bushleaguer and Debbie!! Great responses!!

I don't buy that argument about once you're not depressed you have more appetite either, bl. Some people, like me, eat more when they're depressed. I don't know what the specific mechanism of weight gain on SSRIs and dual-acting antidepressants is, but I do know that I craved sugar intensely on Zoloft in particular, but also on Cymbalta.

I take Wellbutrin, too, and I had anxiety and tremors, etc. with it until my doctor added Inderal. bl, maybe that would help you, too, since you have otherwise positive results from the Wellbutrin.

ht, you were gaining weight on the Wellutrin before you quit smoking? That would be odd, since Wellbutrin does not affect the serotonin system. But I guess everyone is different and I believe anything is possible when it comes to side effects.

Love and hugs,
Eddie

[liveweyerd]

The only reason I maintain a normal weight is that I take Lexapro and trazadone. I didn't eat enough before and I don't eat enough now. Now, just eating a plate lunch at the diner work days has brought me to my highest non-pregnancy weight. I am not yet overweight and the depression is so desperate that I choose to stay on my meds. And buy elastic waistbands.
live

[historyteach]

(((Live)))
Hope you feel better soon, friend...

Eddie,
Yep; been gaining for about 3 years now...

Shalom!

[eddie z.]

Hey, live!! Good to see you!! Yes, elastic is my friend, too. LOL.

teach,
Could it be a hormonal thing maybe?

The other thing I've learned is that exercise alone won't make me lose weight as long as my diet is out of whack, which it was. I've been a regular exerciser for years, but I kept gaining, too. So, I've ramped up my exercise alot over the past couple of months and am also changing what I eat drastically. It seems to be working!

Love and hugs,
Eddie

[na4today]

I just have one thing to say.......41 pounds!!

[eddie z.]

Which one, Kathy? Zoloft?

Love and hugs,
Eddie

[indigo]

I have yet to find one that works for my head and slims me down!!!!! I had all my meds changed recently, after being on effexor for seven or so weight gaining years. I am now on Seroplex, lost weight for about two weeks during my change over, Lexomil and Noctran....I feel good and I am diabetic too ..... this year I am determined to burn that fat.

[eddie z.]

Y'all should check out Metabolic Effect exercise classes. That's what I've been doing for cardio the past couple of months. It is INTENSE.

Annie,
I had to look up your meds again. Seroplex=Lexapro; Noctran is, I think, a mix of Tranxene (clorazepate, a benzo), acepromazine (which is used here as a tranquilizer for cats and dogs), and aceprometazine (which is probably very similar to Phenergan, used for nausea here); Lexomil=bromazepam (another benzo, not used here). Be SO careful with those benzos, OK?

Thank you for posting!!
Love and hugs,
Eddie

[Alera]

Phenergan can knock you on your butt, so be careful on those meds with the benzos.

I am on Paxil. At 10 mgs it did nothing to change my weight (I am underweight, been my whole life). However, at 20 mgs I have a healthy, normal appetite. Another 10 pounds and I will start to be in the normal weight range.

[Justme57]

I am not on anti D's , but prednisone, ( cortisone) I have only been on it for about 6 weeks, but I am expecting to wake up like a sponge any day now ! LOL

Mind you, to be pain free is worth it

HUGX
Lee

[eddie z.]

Thank you for your posts, Alera and Lee!!

Love and hugs,
Eddie

[na4today]

eddie I take lexapro

[eddie z.]

Hmmm...I see. I guess any antidepressant that has a significant effect on serotonin can do it. That means all the older ones (the tricyclics), the SSRIs, and the newer dual-acting ones, Effexor and Cymbalta. Wellbutrin really should not because its effects are on dopamine and norepinephrine.

Love and hugs,
Eddie

[Lively]

I've been on Paxil for about 7 weeks now and have continued to lose weight as I have been for the past 5 months. I'm now down 34 lbs. and feeling better on the Paxil. I'm going to start also taking Wellbutrin in about 10-14 days and see if that helps me in my efforts to quit smoking.

[eddie z.]

Thank you for your post, Lively!! Is losing weight a good thing for you? 'Cause it's quite possible you'll lose more on the Wellbutrin, although quitting smoking tends to lead to weight gain, of course. The fact that you've continued losing weight on Paxil is just proof that everyone is different, I guess, but it could also be you just haven't been on it that long, too.

I have now lost about 13 pounds!! Whoo-hoo!!
Love and hugs,
Eddie

[Lively]

Eddie, I also have been doing the South Beach Diet, loosely. Meaning I'm following the basic principals of the diet but I'm not fanatical about it. Yes, losing weight has been a GREAT thing for me. I'm only 1 lb. away from my original goal..woo hoo!...but if I lost another 10 I would still be ok, not too thin. I'm very happy where I am right now and wouldn't want to gain back anymore than maybe 5 or 6 lbs.

I too have heard that people tend to lose weight on the Wellbutrin, BUT gain weight when quitting smoking. So...we shall see how I react to all of these things.

Congrats on your weight loss. That's awesome Losing weight, no matter how much, is a big accomplishment.

[eddie z.]

Thank you, Lively!! Yeah, I've been "loosely" doing SBD myself. Mostly, I've been avoiding any sugar and most carbs. Did you know that almost all hot dogs have sugar in them? I didn't until yesterday. And the ones without sugar are, of course, loaded with fat. Sometimes I just can't win. LOL.

CONGRATULATIONS on YOUR weight loss, too!! I still have a LONG way to go, but I'm about 1/5 of the way there, so that's good, especially if you consider that it's been less than a month.

Your story shows, I think, that it IS possible to lose weight on an SSRI. One just has to be vigilant, I guess. Keep up the good work!!

Love and hugs,
Eddie

[rose petals]

hey all--
i take prozac and depakote for ocd--i had never heard that they make you gain weight--prozac i mean--but it makes sense--ive never weighed this much in my life--even when pregnant!!--i figured it was because i pretty much eat what i like and dont have a very active lifestyle and im getting older--32 yrs old--im sure thats all not helping--but i was thin my whole life living the same way and just started gaining this weight the last yr or so--course im an alkie and was drinking many of those yrs and not eating so i stayed thin too--who knows--i do know i am heavier than anyone on either side of mom or dads family--so maybe--but this combo of meds REALLY helps my ocd so im not willing to give it up for vanity--im not obese or anything so its not a health issue but i am cushy--lol--interesting to read this thread --thanks guys
Laura

[eddie z.]

Thank you for that post, Laura!! I wasn't willing to give up my meds for vanity either, but I gained so much weight that I developed diabetes. You may want to work on getting more exercise and on your diet so that you don't gain any more. Best wishes!!

Love and hugs,
Eddie

P.S. I've lost 15 lbs. now!!

[rose petals]

Thanks eddie z--i know you are right --i do have a tae bo tape--maybe ill start that--diabetes is hereitary too and my dad had it--(he is passed away now--)--take care
Laura

[eddie z.]

You're welcome, Laura!! Stay in touch and let us know how it goes with the Tae Bo, OK?

Love and hugs,
Eddie