Stopped prozac - how long before weight comes off/metabolism

Hello to all. I, too, take Prozac, but for symptoms related to Menopause. For most of my life I thought I was crazy. Especially during a full moon, and I'm not not not kidding. What I failed to do, though, was track the changes in my mood. When I finally did, though, I realized that my period's cycle seemed to be linked to the moon's cycles. I know, I'm not a new ager or anything of the sort, but, it did seem that things got terribly bad for me, and whomever I was dating, because my moods swung off the charts into rage about a week before my period started, PMDD, but that this was also coincided to the week before the moon went full. Anyway, for those of you going Yeah Right Weirdo, please think seriously about how your mood swings or anger issues and lashing out fall into the category of your period cycle. It might not be you have anxiety or depression it might just mean you are like most women, your moods are guided by your body's menstrual cycle. Normal, not weird, and something known for years, and it just so happens that women's cycles do indeed coincide with the lunar cycles. Anyway, the reason for me posting this is for those who are frustrated with your weight gain. Prozac, as does most unit-anxiety-depressants, works with your bodies insulin/sugar breakdown abilities. If you're feeling bad, what does a women usually do? GO FOR CHOCOLATE!!! These medications work to make your body think you've just ingested a huge amount of any comfort food loaded with carbs/sugars/starches, chocolate, french fries, mac and cheese, whatever, that makes you happy again. But, unlike being able to work out to burn it off, these meds KEEP it in your system and makes your body physically unable to break those sugars down. And, what happens when you can't break it down? It stores as fat. So, get off the meds, learn that a lot of your moods are contributed to your female/menstrual cycle, realize that only cognitive recognition of these facts and learning behavioral skills and meditation techniques to calm yourselves will work, and cut back on sugars and carbs and work out. If you want to stay on your meds go ahead. I didn't.

Hi. I went on Prozac for about two months at 25mg. I didn't gain more than about 3 or 4 pounds, but it was slightly significant seeing as I was only 5'4 and 115 pounds. But then my doctor switched me to Zoloft, which made me gain about 7 pounds in 2 weeks. I wasn't eating more or excersizing less. I've been off of any medication like that for about 2 months. I'm not supposed to be excersizing much right now due to an issue with my feet, but I've been dieting like crazy. (At one point only eating about 700 calories a day) I know it's unhealthy, but still, so far, I've only managed to lose about 5 pounds, and the weight loss has stopped. My doctor who prescribed the medication has been nothing short of useless helping me with this problem. I know I'm not overweight or anything, but this whole thing is rather unsettling, seeing as I'm still under 20 years old, and I would hope my metabolism will catch back up with me again. I would not suggest Prozac or any other SSRIs to anyone who is weight conscious.

I am also relieved to read this post. My weight has always fluctuated within 10 pounds or so, but I am relatively slim. I am 5'7 and usually around 140 pounds. I have been down to 130 several times. Since I started taking Prozac 6 months ago, I now weigh 165 pounds. I feel terrible. I have a fat roll on my upper stomach that I have never had before, and I feel so bloated. The entire time I was on Prozac, even though I was going through a separation from my husband, I rarely ever cried. I could just go to sleep and forget anything was wrong. I went off the Prozac 2 weeks ago, and I feel so much better. I'm not sleeping quite as well, and I have cried a few times, but I feel alive again, and I pray the weight will come off.

I am too relieved to read this thread... I'm on prozac since about 12 months and gained about 20 pounds :(. Before starting taking prozac my weight almost didn't fluctuate. Next week I will stop using prozac and I hope that I'll lose some of the weight...

I too am a bit like you. I've been on prozac now for a few years and tried to come off them 2 years ago. Did the right thing and weened myself off... and boy did I suffer big time! I felt worse than when I first starting taking them. So, I had to go back on them. My weight has increased horribly through taking them and I would love to come off them and try and lose some weight. Am considering trying again but maybe start St Johns Wort. I don't want to go down that big black hole again though so am a bit scared to try again. Argghhhh

Yes, and I too am possitively convinced that the long term use of Prozac was a signifcant factor in a significant weight gain that has since resisted all attempts to reduce. Something permanent has been altered.
LF

I'm 57 years old and after coming off hrt I suffered from anxiety, sweats and depression. Dr.suggested i try antidepressants so went on prozac for a month and changed to sertraline 50mg for the past 2 months. I have gained 6lbs over a 2 month period. I never had problems with my weight before. I have changed my diet to a healthy eating plan and now go to the gym 3 times a week and I just cannot shift the weight. My stomach looks like I'm 6 months pregnant! Going back to dr. next week.

I have been on prozac for about two and a half years. I had previously lost 130 lbs on my own but had some very bad PMDD symtoms and my doctor felt taking prozac would help me. I began taking it and did not really feel a difference so we uped it to 20 mg. I was told by the doctor that there is no way I would gain weight on this medication and that at one point is was actually studied as a diet/weight loss pill. Complete c**p because I gain almost 60 lbs in these last two years. I have begun eating things I would never crave before and I have been exercising! It is unreal. I highly suggest that if you can find another option to go for that. 

I have been on prozac for many years and like so many others gained weight which in turn makes you depressed!! So, this is my third attempt to taper off this drug and though I read that it is easier to wean yourself off this drug with 'supposedly' less side affects, I'm taking my time in the tapering as the side affects hit me big time last time..worse than when I went on the damn drug.   One thing that keeps me going is the hope that I will lose what weight I put on or even 80% of it.  It's all around my tummy....if it wasn't for my age, 60, people would think I was having twins. I'm also short 5.2inches.  I don't like myself and cringe when I look in the  mirror at what is looking back at me.  Had I known that this is what would happen I would have taken other measures to help me.  Honestly some Doctors know jack sh*t (excuse the french).  I've reasearched the net till I"m blue in the face and know a lot more about tapering off this drug now...so wish me luck.  I will keep you posted if you would like to know how I go.  I started tapering 8 weeks ago.. I did hit a bad spot but came right after a short time.   This week I'm cutting back again and expect to hit another bad period along the way.... then carry on and son and so on.    Good luck to all of you!!

How long after stopping prozac did the weight begin to come off ?

This happened to me too. I am 5'3, and normally 130lbs. I gained 40lbs in less than a year on prozac - I am now 178lbs. I exercise at least 5 days a week, eat well - no soda, sweets, and barely eat out, and am unable to lose ANY weight. I finally got so frustrated that I weaned myself off of and stopped taking the medicine.

First, I tried going to my primary care physician for help, as I have NEVER been overweight and shouldn't be with my lifestyle. He told me that in his, "25 years in medicine, he has never seent that kind of weight gain from Prozac." I explained to him my exercise and eating habits, then asked him to run bloodwork to see if I was maybe having a thyroid problem. His response was that my problem was what I was "putting in my mouth," refused to run bloodwork, and told me I needed to see a nutritionist/dietician. I have not been back to see him, and went to another dr for a second opinion...turns out my thyroid is normal, and it IS the Prozac. I don't know how to get the weight off. I have been off of Prozac for at least a month now. :(

It as if I wrote this myself. I never would have started this stuff had I known what would happen. I work out 6 days a week walk my dog 2 times a day, and never sit down until 8:00 at night. I am a vegetarian, a former dancer, and a very health eater. I can not get this weight off of me. I have always been very small and lean. I don't even recognize myself. I started this in order to help with Miranes. Any suggeations would be greatly appreciated. I have always felt good about myself, not so much anymore.

I gained 30lbs in a year when starting prozac, I eat very clean, workout 5 times a week and couldn't lose even a pound for the life of me. I went to my doctor and she told me it was the prozac and tried to give me dieting tips lol what a joke, I stopped prozac and I would say after about 3-5 weeks all of the prozac left my system. Since it left my system I continued to diet and workout, it has now been 2 weeks after it has been out of my system and I have lost 10 lbs already! The weight is practically falling off. Doctor tried to tell me it wasn't the prozac that made me gain weight AND keep it on...man was she wrong... Stay positive, I know first hand how frustrating it is to work so hard and see no results, medicine affects everyone differently but with me prozac totally destroyed my imagine and self confidence, I now feel better than ever and am getting back to were I want to be!!!! :D

So where are you now, weight-wise?

I am wondering how you are doing since this post.