Hi Sandy, I am reading your thread. I take 20mg Prozac, have done so for 4 years and my weight has shot up and I look very bloated in the face. I am in Tas. How did you wean yourself, as I can't seem to get a 10mg capsule in Australia?
Curious, you say you eat healthy. During any of this time do you know if you were consistently in a caloric deficit or surplus?
Thank YOU!!! You have given me some hope of losing this weight! I gained 15 lbs in 6 months of being on flouroxitine 20mg(Prozac) I am currently in the process of weaning off, wish me luck :)
I stopped taking them for 2 weeks and and the doctor noticed i lost 9 pounds, i think its different for everyone.
Did you get back on? I believe the feeling you were feeling was the withdrawal of the medication. I too gained 50 pounds. I got off the medication and lost 50 pounds then got back on and gained 50 pounds.
I was in 20mg a day for 6 months. Came off end Oct last year and it’s now nearing the end of Feb and I’ve not only gained more weight since coming off, but finding it impossible to lose! Never , ever had a weight problem before and if I did gain, would watch my diet for a bit and would lose. So depressing. Hoping for light at the end of the tunnel. More research needs to go into this for sure!
I’ve heard Wellbutrin has the opposite effect and can cause some weight loss. Still used for depression. I have gained 27lbs in 18 months, that was on 10mg Prozac for 3-4 years for anxiety. Im starting to wean today.
How has your wean off Prozac been going?? I’m starting today as I have gained 27lbs in 18 months on 10mg daily Prozac! I exercise 7 days a week, eat a healthy diet. Have you lost any weight since being off Prozac? How is your mental health since being off?
This is so nice to hear! I am the same age and size...I was put on 100mg of Sertraline (Prozac generic) and the weigh gain has felt just as you described. It doesn’t seem like fat but just major bloat. I too have had the “pregnant comment.” I thought I was jut going insane at a sedentary job but I have been weening myself off my medication because I truly don’t believe I need it anymore (or at least not 100mg). My appetite has decreased significantally! I can’t explain it. I wish these disclaimers were out there for people to know because no one thats depressed wants to gain weight and be even more self conscious/ depressed.
I am currently down to a quarter of my dose before stopping completely. I was on 100 mg (Sertraline). I decided to strategically ween myself off of my medication by breaking down a months worth of medicine to lower doses. The biggest thing I’ve noticed so far is my decrease in appetite and cravings. This is saying a lot too since I used to take adderall. I’ve been eating healthy (eggs,fruit,vegetables) and notice my mid section isn’t looking so muffin topish. I really didn’t think this was a thing with Prozac but I’m glad I’m not alone,! My mental health has been well I haven’t been “overly emotional” or “numb.” The hardest part I have found from weening off this and adderall is just being able to feel emotions again (in a good way)
I’m 16, when I got out on prozac I was 140lbs at the height of 5’8. 4 months later I’m 185 pounds and can’t lose it . So they switched my medicine . Hopefully my new medicine will help me with losing the weight I’ve gained .
Hello,
Thought I would add my experience with Prozac. I’m a 24 yo male and have been taking Prozac for over 7 years now. I have gained at least 20 pounds on this drug and also have gotten a “pot belly” over the years. Im very short at 5’2, which doesn’t help. I take 40mg a day. It also makes me very tired and sluggish but I have tried coming off of it before and my anxiety/OCD crept up on me after about a month or so.. it’s very scary thinking I’ll have to be on this the rest of my life and never be happy with my body but I’m also to scared to come off of the drug because I’ve been in a bad place when I’m not taking it. Which I’m sure you all can relate. I don’t exercise at all and work in an office but one of the reasons I stopped exercising was because I felt it wasn’t doing anything to help my weight gain. Anyways I wish all of you the best in this journey and thank you for sharing your stories.
David
Thought I would add my experience with Prozac. I’m a 24 yo male and have been taking Prozac for over 7 years now. I have gained at least 20 pounds on this drug and also have gotten a “pot belly” over the years. Im very short at 5’2, which doesn’t help. I take 40mg a day. It also makes me very tired and sluggish but I have tried coming off of it before and my anxiety/OCD crept up on me after about a month or so.. it’s very scary thinking I’ll have to be on this the rest of my life and never be happy with my body but I’m also to scared to come off of the drug because I’ve been in a bad place when I’m not taking it. Which I’m sure you all can relate. I don’t exercise at all and work in an office but one of the reasons I stopped exercising was because I felt it wasn’t doing anything to help my weight gain. Anyways I wish all of you the best in this journey and thank you for sharing your stories.
David
You are not crazy! I have been on 20mg for 10 months now. All of a sudden I gained 10 pounds (starting weight 118) and no matter how hard I try the weight is going no where.
I have been on prozac for two years since I had a major mental breakdown. It helped me so much on the mental side of things but i have gained 80lbs!!!! I have not changed my diet or how active I am, the only thing that changed was the prozac. I have been off for almost 3 weeks and have lost a few lbs so far. I have cut back my diet extremely ( I already eat healthy!) but now I am practically starving myself. I have fluctuated weight all my life and always was able to lose it fast. Now I have gained a massive amount of weight and I look like I am bloated all the time. I feel trapped in this body that is no longer mine :,( I am so glad to have found this site and read about other people having this problem. Thank you.
Your post gives me hope! I’ve gained 50 pounds in three years on Prozac. Until yesterday, I was under the impression that it was a weight neutral drug. So, I’ve had every test known to man to rule out other potential causes of weight gain. No dice. I exercise and eat well. It’s been tormenting to be interrogated about my eating and exercise habits when have developed the self control of an Olympic Gymnast. How long did it take you to taper off the drug? Thanks!