All of this is beginning to sound so familiar. I used to have an eating disorder - Anorexia - for about seven years. I am 23 now and I have been in recovery for about two years. I've also been taking Prozac (20-30mg) for about seven years for anxiety and depression. My eating disorder as it would seem, delayed the effects of the weight gain, but just in these last 2 years I have put on an incredibly stubborn 30 pounds. I am 5'2 and at 145 pounds and it is all in my middle area. I started eating normally and exercising for an hour a day 5 days a week and in the last 6 months I have not lost a single pound. It will just not come off. I told my PCP I wanted to taper off of Prozac and she was very persistent about not doing so, but the side effects are far worse than the anxiety. I have no libido which is putting a considerable amount of stress on my relationship, I can't fit into any of my clothes, and I crave carbs and sweets, which normally doesn't happen. I am taking 10mg from now until October, and then 5mg until the end of November. I HOPE HOPE HOPE that I can lose this weight. My anxiety and depression has been worse because of the damn weight gain. The suckiest part is that I've been trying to lose weight the healthy way, rather than starving myself and it just won't work. AAAAAH.
You cant do an austere eating plan . That in itself will cause depression. Especially cutting out carbs. Excersize is the key. Dancing walking and also toning. Not just cardio.
I completely feel you. Thanks for sharing. My family will not believe me. They keep thinking im secretly binging. My bf is the only one who does. It has totally affected my sex life to the point where most of the time I shudder to think of doing it. Also I cant even feel my bf and sometimes my family. I dont even know If I want him. While im on it. And it made me instantly want to not go to college and all of a sudden I was worthless and couldnt do it
Yep, same here. Went on Prozac 8 years ago at age 52 and I was at ideal weight and have never spent a day overweight. I initially lost 14 pounds and then 3 months later started gaining. I now weigh 35 pounds more than I should. But the Prozac took away all depression and anxiety so I am afraid to go off it, especially as some here say, they never lose the weight after being off. I am very thankful for the relief of my depression, but not so happy with my big butt!
Hi there. I feel your pain! I have gained 5 kgs (approx 11 pounds) whilst taking lovan! I'm excersising like crazy and my diet is pretty clean! help! Should I go off these!???
Hi
I too have Bullimia and previously anorexia.
Was given Prozac to help bulimia in 2016 but I've gained 21 lbs and I'm suicidal. I feel so fat and vile. I used to be 9 st and now I'm almost 11st and I'm 5 ft 3 so quite small.
I'm so angry that our Doctors have done this to us when they know we have an ED. I'd rather be Bullimic and thin than not and fat.
X
I too have Bullimia and previously anorexia.
Was given Prozac to help bulimia in 2016 but I've gained 21 lbs and I'm suicidal. I feel so fat and vile. I used to be 9 st and now I'm almost 11st and I'm 5 ft 3 so quite small.
I'm so angry that our Doctors have done this to us when they know we have an ED. I'd rather be Bullimic and thin than not and fat.
X
Not sure I am much help to your weight gain concern, but I can assure you are NOT crazy. I was blessed with an amazing metabolism all my life. I was your basic bean pole. I never had to exercise or watch what I ate. But I was a healthy person and exercised for fun. I ate raw, unprocessed foods and cut out deserts, high salt and fatty foods from fast food places. At age 35 I began an uncomfortable shift in my hormones and experienced clinical depression for the first time in my life. I was on several SSRIs for three years, but on Prozac the longest at 15 months. The weight gain snuck up on me, beginning with insomnia and unusually long sleep patters. I developed an aggressive appetite. I would wake at 2am and be unable to stop myself from eating a meal. I also became tired and sluggish. One day I stepped on the scale and realized to my horror I had gained 40 pounds. As vain as it sounds I asked my doctor to get off Prozac due to the unusual weight gain and unflattering places the fat deposited on my body (I developed a pot belly) . I became so depressed about my weight gain that I didn't want to take showers just to avoid seeing my own naked body. I had to get rid of most of my wardrobe and buy bigger clothing sizes. I am still titrating down the Prozac and am at 10mg every couple days. I am very sensitive to withdrawal. I have cut back my caloric intake, but it has done nothing to budge a pound up or down. I finally understood why many women get liposuction or feel depressed after giving birth. When I saw your post I wanted to at least reassure you are not alone; experiencing a very common challenge with SSRIs. You hang in there. It may take time for your body to reset its own metabolism. I am not that upset about gaining 10 of those pounds because I was a bit skinny. I'm hoping to shed at least half the weight I put on. I do recommend you check out metabolism boosters such as natural spices and foods. Best of luck to you.
my doctor gave me fluoxetine in april 2014 Ionly had 50 tablets then stopped taking them .that was 18 months ago so why am i still keeping the weight on just after 50 tablets?? and i asked my doctor if you can put weight on 1 st . why didnt she tell me ????
There is no way you will not gain weight. The purpose I these drugs are to slow everything down in your brain, including your metabolism cause the dug can't pick and choose. The docs can't tell you because then no one would take it.
It's not how much you're eating either. It kills me when the docs try to Blame the patient and tell them they're eating too much because the drug stimulates appetite. Bull winkidinks!!! I monitored every piece of food I ate, Which wasn't hard because I kept calories under 800 per day just to test if it was me AND I excercised 2 hours cardio!!! Nothing lost!!!! No way no how! I don't care what the docs try to feed us!! ITS THE MED!! Even a dummy could see
THANK YOU this gives me hope
I just went off of my Prozac and immediately started noticing changes in my body. It's been a little over a month and I've lost close to 15 pounds
Hi all,
Thank you, thank you! I'm 42, from Sydney, Australia. So happy I found this thread. I can relate to everything that's been said. I've been on several antidepressants since 5 years now and the latest is fluoxetine (prozac). I specifically changed from cymbalta then Zoloft due to weight gain, almost 40lbs and was also told Prozac is the least likely to cause weight gain but that's not true. My face has also ballooned and i was so happy to read on here that it's happened to others and that I'm not alone. I've now weaned off completely as of today and can't wait to see if it will make a difference. I'm not naive, I know I have to work hard on losing the weight but at least there might be a slight higher chance it will work this time. Not sure if anyone is reading this thread anymore but I hope so! Anyway, I will keep you posted on how I go.
Sandy
Thank you, thank you! I'm 42, from Sydney, Australia. So happy I found this thread. I can relate to everything that's been said. I've been on several antidepressants since 5 years now and the latest is fluoxetine (prozac). I specifically changed from cymbalta then Zoloft due to weight gain, almost 40lbs and was also told Prozac is the least likely to cause weight gain but that's not true. My face has also ballooned and i was so happy to read on here that it's happened to others and that I'm not alone. I've now weaned off completely as of today and can't wait to see if it will make a difference. I'm not naive, I know I have to work hard on losing the weight but at least there might be a slight higher chance it will work this time. Not sure if anyone is reading this thread anymore but I hope so! Anyway, I will keep you posted on how I go.
Sandy
Hi I just wrote a long post BUT what I wanted to say that I'm reading a book which might help as us women out there. 'A Mind of Your Own' by Kelly Brogan, MD. It's about antidepressants and what it does to us, how to get off them and heal your body and reclaim your life. It's not some hocus pocus.. anyway good luck to all!
Sandy
Sandy
Thank you for the book recommendation, I am planning to read that! Last year at this time I was on Prozac 40mg, and ended up putting on 15 lbs on my very small frame (5 feet tall, 105 lbs). I tried to go completely off the Prozac, but my anxiety was just too much, so I'm currently on 10mg, and have lost 5 of the 15 lbs. I would still like to get off it completely, but the anxiety remains a battle. I am thinking about trying the "Whole 30" eating plan to clean up my diet. Kate