Hi, I've been on Mirtazapine for a couple of years, and am currently taking Venlafaxine as well. I was always tiny, but have put on over 15kg since I started them and am now really ashamed of my body. I try and eat well and do regular exercise but it's not helping, I can't fit in any of my clothes and am a student so can't afford to keep buying new ones, my stomach sticks out and looks really gross, and I have bright red stretch marks every where :-(. It's really getting me down but this combination of medication is finally working so I don't dare stop taking them!
I disagree with what loads of you are saying about asking your doctor to change your medication so another kind which helps with weight-loss too - I've tried loads of different types before finding some which work for me, they work differently for different people so there's no point switching to help with the weight-loss as it may not help your anti-depression - you may as well not take any if you do that!
If anyone has any tips of how they've managed the weight gain I'd be grateful!
Thanks, Sarah.
I disagree with what loads of you are saying about asking your doctor to change your medication so another kind which helps with weight-loss too - I've tried loads of different types before finding some which work for me, they work differently for different people so there's no point switching to help with the weight-loss as it may not help your anti-depression - you may as well not take any if you do that!
If anyone has any tips of how they've managed the weight gain I'd be grateful!
Thanks, Sarah.
Loading...
Me again :-). I forgot to mention that I'm permanently hungry, I eat so much more than I used to and am never satisfied after my meals. I try and not eat more, but being permanently hungry is not fun in the slightest!
Sarah.
Sarah.
Loading...
I can identify. I am on Wellbutrin which the doctor says is supposed to help with weight loss. NOT FOR ME!!! :'( I have in the past while taking differnet anti depressants or non at all and been successful with weight loss. This time I have been on wellbutrin for some time... it is apparently working for the depression and anxiety (i question that) but I have lost no weight... it only goes up. Now I have tried to follow "healthy diets" more whole grains, fruit, protein shakes, the whole nine yards. I was left feeling like I was trying to stuff a pig from needing to eat so much so often but the sweet cravings never lessened and I did not lose even one lb.
Loading...
I too was a slim person most of my life, until I began taking the SSRI's. I have no doubt that they cause weight gain. I do have a theory. First of all, I had a time while on Prozac where I took Phentermine also. This was prescribed as a appetite suppressant. While on both of these meds, I was never hungry, I did not experience the hunger side effects like normal, and ate very little. I lost that extra 40 lbs. Unfortunately, like any other diet, you need to change your eating habits once you get ther, regardless of how you get there in order to stay thin. But, I noticed two things. One, when you are on an SSRI, you cannot eat as many calores as you did before you were on them, and 2, you get the symptoms of hunger when you are not really hungry. What I experienced was a head fog hunger insead of a growling belly. But your mind says, I must eat to feel better. So for me it was a combination of those two things that cause the upset. More hunger signal coupled with a slowed metabolism. If this helps, I went off my med and started taking GABA. This seems to be taking off the weight and helps with the anxiety. Look into GABA.
Loading...
I am SO glad to hear that others have suffered weight gain from antidepressants (not happy that you're suffering, but that I'm not the only one!)
I have been on cipralex for 1.5 years and have gained about 45lbs. My diet has not changed much, if anything it has gotten healthier.
I have been off of it for 3 weeks - I am feeling great! I went off of it because I was feeling good, not because I found out about its horrible side-effects.
How long before I start noticing the pounds "fall off"? I want to be back to 150, not 190! :$ :-(
I have been on cipralex for 1.5 years and have gained about 45lbs. My diet has not changed much, if anything it has gotten healthier.
I have been off of it for 3 weeks - I am feeling great! I went off of it because I was feeling good, not because I found out about its horrible side-effects.
How long before I start noticing the pounds "fall off"? I want to be back to 150, not 190! :$ :-(
Loading...
i have been on cipralex 3 yrs and have gained over 3 stone ive done extreme diets and yet nothing worked even sliming tabs from doc!!! needless to say im so upset about weight gain i think stopping them is the answer.. i know its not good but i now know im not alone now!!! its not like i dont exercise either so i do think tabs are to blame as i was a normal 12 before cipalex...hopefully they will realize weight gain is a side effect and help people with that as well..hope it all works out for everyone :
Loading...
I was on lexapro for about 3 years, It certainly helped with my generalised anxiety during that time but I also had HUGE weight gain. I gained about 20kgs.
Being so big and not losing ANY weight due to exercise and healthy eating made my life absolute c**p.
Sure, being on lexaproi wasnt ridden with anxiety before going out and having fun on the weekend- but i didnt want to because i was so big and selfconcious.... Ruining anychance of fun.
Superficial attitude yes, but thats the way i am.
Ive lost most of it now as i am now off it.
I really do think that alot of the weight gain was due to the whole dynamic of being alot more chilled as since ive been off it (about 9 months) ive been pretty high strung and tend to eat less as my anxiety manifests physically in that i dont eat as much.
I havent changed anthing else.
Its come off with 'stress' that isnt present when youre on lexapro and i will battle on without a weightgaining anti-anxity pill until i can find one that WILL NOT cause weight gain.
Being so big and not losing ANY weight due to exercise and healthy eating made my life absolute c**p.
Sure, being on lexaproi wasnt ridden with anxiety before going out and having fun on the weekend- but i didnt want to because i was so big and selfconcious.... Ruining anychance of fun.
Superficial attitude yes, but thats the way i am.
Ive lost most of it now as i am now off it.
I really do think that alot of the weight gain was due to the whole dynamic of being alot more chilled as since ive been off it (about 9 months) ive been pretty high strung and tend to eat less as my anxiety manifests physically in that i dont eat as much.
I havent changed anthing else.
Its come off with 'stress' that isnt present when youre on lexapro and i will battle on without a weightgaining anti-anxity pill until i can find one that WILL NOT cause weight gain.
Loading...
I know what you mean. My clothes don't fit, so I don't go anywhere I can't wear sweat pants and a t-shirt. I've been off this gargabe for two months, and I still feel like a cow. I put in 35 miles per week of cardio, plus four workouts with weights. I eat no more than 1200 calories per day, yet this flab is not budging! Normally, were I to follow this exercise and diet, I could dump an easy three pounds per week for at least three weeks running. Now I'm down to losing a matter of OUNCES per week.
Is two months too soon to expect my shattered metabolism to get back to work? This is more mentally destructive than any amount of anxiety. I'm a freaking athlete! I eat little to no sugar, no bad fats, very small amounts (and not every day) of carbs such as rice and bread. My diet is extremely healthy. I used to have to eat more just to maintain my weight!
Is two months too soon to expect my shattered metabolism to get back to work? This is more mentally destructive than any amount of anxiety. I'm a freaking athlete! I eat little to no sugar, no bad fats, very small amounts (and not every day) of carbs such as rice and bread. My diet is extremely healthy. I used to have to eat more just to maintain my weight!
Loading...
I can't tell you all how glad I am that I found this site, it gives me hope!
This is week #2 with NO PROZAC- I was on for PMS & Pre Menopausal Mood Swings for 3 years, I've gained atleast 20lbs.
I stepped down gradually from 40mg to 20mg then every other day it took a month to do it right. I have also been taking 3,000mgs of fish oil, I'm trying to increase my water intake- So far so good- I am hoping to get my metabolism back in order- I'm book marking this page! One day at a time I'm working this!
This is week #2 with NO PROZAC- I was on for PMS & Pre Menopausal Mood Swings for 3 years, I've gained atleast 20lbs.
I stepped down gradually from 40mg to 20mg then every other day it took a month to do it right. I have also been taking 3,000mgs of fish oil, I'm trying to increase my water intake- So far so good- I am hoping to get my metabolism back in order- I'm book marking this page! One day at a time I'm working this!
Loading...
It's bittersweet to read all these posts - sweet because at least I now know I'm not alone, and bitter because I know that none of us should have to be enduring this. I was never warned that Prozac could cause weight gain and now, 20kg later, i've only just become aware of the fact that this could be the reason why I can't lose weight despite exercise and barely eating a scrap of food. And when I've got a very recent history of EDNOS (both anorexic and bulimic tendencies) it just seems like MADNESS to put me on this drug. I feel betrayed and let down.
I've been off Prozac for coming up to one month, and still the weight isn't shifting, and I feel better than I did when I was on the drug!. Talk about a kick in the teeth. Nobody wants to help either - not doctors, not pharmacists. Nobody. Very few will even admit that the weight gain is even associated by the drug. None of my clothes fit, I'm ashamed to see my friends and I feel downright disgusted in my own skin. Someone please tell me how this is good for me!?! Cos as far as I can see...it isnt...
I've been off Prozac for coming up to one month, and still the weight isn't shifting, and I feel better than I did when I was on the drug!. Talk about a kick in the teeth. Nobody wants to help either - not doctors, not pharmacists. Nobody. Very few will even admit that the weight gain is even associated by the drug. None of my clothes fit, I'm ashamed to see my friends and I feel downright disgusted in my own skin. Someone please tell me how this is good for me!?! Cos as far as I can see...it isnt...
Loading...
If you can, try Atkins. You will lose weight. I am no longer on meds, but even when I was, and or just coming off them, Atkins works. Atkins and exercise is phenomenal.
Loading...
i completely agree that cipralex does cause weight gain. I was diagnossed with sever depression when i was eight years old...i am now 18 and have been switching back and forth between pills about every 2 years. I have struggled with eating dissorders for the past three year but had gotten healthy again last summer. The antidepressant i was on stopped working (as they all do eventually for me) so my dr prescribed me with Cipralex. I was concerned that it would cause weight gain causing me to go back to old habits of eating dissorders, but he assured me that it would not affect my weight at all.
Ive been on cipralex for about a year now and have seen the weight gain. I am very health concious and eat little to no foods with any trace of fat in it but i still had weight gain from the meds.
I became bulimic agian shortly after i started seeing the fat gain and though i have been bulemic for nearly the past year. Surprisingly enough my weight has not budged. I workout everyday and have a very light healthy diet due to my dissorder.
I am deciding to stop taking cipralex and go thru the withdrawl and try to function without the meds. i dont know why its taken me this long to come to this conclusion. but obviously despite any efforts you cannot lose weight on this antidepressant.
I think that being sick with depression will be healthier for me and continuing to have eating dissorders.
Im wondering how long it will take to see the fat loss after i stop using the cipralex tho...If anyone has tried id appreciate hearing how long it took you to get back to your pre-cipralex body?
Ive been on cipralex for about a year now and have seen the weight gain. I am very health concious and eat little to no foods with any trace of fat in it but i still had weight gain from the meds.
I became bulimic agian shortly after i started seeing the fat gain and though i have been bulemic for nearly the past year. Surprisingly enough my weight has not budged. I workout everyday and have a very light healthy diet due to my dissorder.
I am deciding to stop taking cipralex and go thru the withdrawl and try to function without the meds. i dont know why its taken me this long to come to this conclusion. but obviously despite any efforts you cannot lose weight on this antidepressant.
I think that being sick with depression will be healthier for me and continuing to have eating dissorders.
Im wondering how long it will take to see the fat loss after i stop using the cipralex tho...If anyone has tried id appreciate hearing how long it took you to get back to your pre-cipralex body?
Loading...
i am new to the internet but i have the same problem i eat 12 to 1300 calories a day i write it all down i am on paxil coreg advair albuteralto mention a few i cant exercise because i am on oxegen 24/7 i need help :-( 11
Loading...
I was on paxil for 2 1/2 years and gained 40 pounds ....At first the med made me really hungry all the time & made me crave JUNK. After I realized how horribly i had been eating (I am typically a health NUT) I started making healthier choices with no avail. I am off of the drug now (after horrible horrible withdrawals) but I am slowly losing the weight by eating healthy foods about 4 times a day and drinking lots of water....watch out for refined foods esp refined sugars and starches, DO NOT cut out fat as good fats are essential to life functions and will actually help you lose weight, UP UP UP your fiber intake, get adequate protein, & watch empty calories.
Also, try to get some kind of physical activity even if you have to start out light with like 10 to 15 mins !!!!
Hope this helps =]]
Also, try to get some kind of physical activity even if you have to start out light with like 10 to 15 mins !!!!
Hope this helps =]]
Loading...
I'm in the same situation as you. I have a (long) history with EDNOS, and my Psychiatrist put me on Cipralex four months ago for depression. I definitely needed to be on a drug b/c the depression was severe, but I too wasn't warned about weight side effects. I've gained almost 20lbs. and can't stand it! I'm quitting the drug today. I know it's more so my eating habits that are to blame, but the drug is what's causing my shift in attitude that makes me eating unhealthily. I no longer have that drive to exercise like I had before; I feel a sense of "false" happiness- even if I binge I tend to be able to say "Oh it's no big deal. It's only weight," which is a total lie since it's completely unhealthy to be binging. Cipralex also increases my appetite, makes me crave carbs, and makes it almost impossible to feel full!!! Even after I've eaten a LOT, I cannot feel the full sensation. It's like my body may be full, but my brain is still starving for more carbs. It's all explained here: http://www.borderlinepersonalitytoday.com/main/32.htm I did initially lose weight on Cipralex, but now think I'm experiencing "serotonin downregulation."
Loading...