topic Re: Weight gain with SSRI's in Wellness

Weight gain with SSRI's

happycat — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 16:39:20 GMT

I started taking zoloft about a month ago. I have gained about 8 lbs in the last 2 months. Part of it was prior to zoloft.

Is it even possible to lose weight while on this? I've been trying, not as hard as I should, and have had NO success.

I read something online this morning that said people can gain lots of weight after a year or so of being on it.

That doesn't seem healthy in itself, quite frankly.

tia

Re: Weight gain with SSRI's

winamac1 — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 17:00:38 GMT

@happycat

Hi Happy cat. I "sold" an antidepressant in this SSRI class for many years a decade ago. I had a lot of physicians tell me that patients gained weight on the one I promoted. The mechanism of weight gain is all theory. Some say it's due to the serotonin, and others say patients feel better and eat more. Theory is also out there that some may trigger food cravings--especially carbohydrates and/or possibly alter metabolism as well.

The one I sold was known, especially at higher doses, for weight gain. Zoloft, at a 50 Mg. dose, usually doesn't cause weight gain, but it's also not effective for many at a 50 mg. dose. Many need 100 to 150 mg. to show efficacy.

You may want to switch to celexa or lexapro. Those are both known to not cause weight gain. Speak with your physician about this.

If you don't suffer from a lot of anxiety or sleep disturbances, Wellbutrin is known to be weight neutral or even promote a small amount of weight loss due to its mechanism of action. Talk with your Dr. about that one.

Re: Weight gain with SSRI's

NickNack — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 17:07:51 GMT

Many many years ago I was put on enalapril for migraine headaches. It is an anti-depressant. I had always weighed 125 lbs., and quickly gained 40 lbs. I couldn't figure out why. I was young and hadn't ever taken a drug like this before. I hadn't taken many drugs at all. Gaining this much weight was very depressing.

My BIL was a pharmaceutical rep, so I looked up in his PDR about this drug. It said "can cause rapid and excessive weight gain." This was before the internet. I got off of the drug, and it took me forever to lose the weight.

Abought five years ago I took another drug that caused me to gain 15 lbs. I tried very hard and was able to get that weight off and continue the drug. I'm no longer taking it but did get the weight off while on it.

Now I'm taking Wellbutrin, which doesn't cause weight gain. I still weigh 125 lbs.

Re: Weight gain with SSRI's

happycat — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 17:08:07 GMT

Thank you so much, @winamac1. I think I will speak with her.

Re: Weight gain with SSRI's

KCDiva — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 18:17:01 GMT

I wish there was a way around the horrible weight gain when taking antidepressants. I started with Prozac in 1989 and weighed 115. I was 28 years old. It changed my life so much. For years I had battled debilitating depression and panic attacks. it was wonderful but the weight gain was awful. I went from Prozac to Zoloft and now I am taking Celexa, Nortriptyline and Xanax. I have gained over 70 pound over the years. Actually suddenly and I remain overweight today. I am embarrassed to see people who I used to know. I admit I could eat very clean and exercise and I could lose it. I have done it before and then I fall off the wagon ad it comes right back. I wish I could get the motivation to stick to the plan to lose weight.

Re: Weight gain with SSRI's

hckynut — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 19:04:48 GMT

@happycat

I had been on Zoloft in the past and am currently on 2 similar meds. The formula for me losing and/or maintaining a certain weight did not change while on any of them. While the formula was the same, the amount of effort did increase.

Maybe gender is a factor, that I do not know. I do know as I've gotten older I need to move more to accomplish my same goals. I do not feel I can attribute any of this to any of my medications.

hckynut(john)

Re: Weight gain with SSRI's

happycat — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 21:08:29 GMT

@KCDiva, I am going to really try to do better this next week. I plan on writing down everything I eat, actually going to try to follow weight watchers and just see what happens as well as try to walk more or do an exercise tape.

If I don't have any results I am talking to her about trying one of the other ones that @winamac1 suggested.

I didn't realize how much I ruminate, or obsess over certain things, till I started this. It has helped in that regard tremendously.

Re: Weight gain with SSRI's

sfnative — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 00:40:52 GMT

@happycat

I wish you the best of luck when you call or have called your physician. Keep at it, as docs can be like a brick wall some times. Gaining that extra weight is not healthy: that's the point I would bring home.

Due to a neuro issue compounded by an anesthesia agent during surgery, my problem worsened, so my new neuro (due to a move), placed me on Depakote. My post-menapausal weight at the time of surgery was 151 (ick!), but flew up 38+ lbs on that darn drug. In every medical record, I am now considered "Obese." It made me cry to see that in print. Am now on the Mayo Clinic Diet, but the going is slow, as a serious back issue keeps me down a lot. (We have a close family friend whose 17 year old daughter was placed on Depakote for chronic migraine and gained 41 lbs - and she's on the swim team!)

Again, all the best to you in your efforts to seek another drug, get the weight off and feel better about yourself and the world around you. God Bless.

Re: Weight gain with SSRI's

happycat — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 02:38:21 GMT

Thank you, @sfnative. Depakote was one of the first drugs they gave me when I was dxd with a brain tumor in what seems like another life. And then other seizure drugs, as well as steroids. I gained about 35 lbs. I was able to lose about 15 of that, but have never been able to get back to my weight prior to getting sick. I do thank God I'm alive of course, lol.

Anyway, I was able to stop taking all seizure meds several years ago, and I thought perhaps I would lose the weight then, but it seems stuck.

You are right, the extra weight isn't healthy and its very frustrating, I gained more weight in the last 2 months than I did during the holidays, that doesn't seem right.

It sounds like you are going in the right direction with the Mayo clinic diet, and that is great. I've always heard that if we lose it slow it won't be so likely to come back.

Sorry to hear about your back issues, I'm praying that those get better. I know it is so hard to get moving when one is in pain.

I hope everything else is going well for you and thanks so much for your kind words.

God Bless you too.

Re: Weight gain with SSRI's

sfnative — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 20:16:47 GMT

@happycat

Hi Happycat01,

Some background.

(Had a meeting this morning at 10. It did not go as planned, as the Chair had the rug pulled out from underneath her via the president of the BOD in that funds are being pulled from her budget. Long and involved and I did object verbally, as no one else around the table would challenge the Board President. As usually occurs, whatever chemicals/hormones are released under stress, I came out of there with a spike in my chronic migraine. Life has been rather good lately with this 34 year old headache, so I've been very grateful.)

Then I read that you had had a brain tumor and all the horrible treatment, etc., that is generated with such a horrible disease. Please know I am so very sorry you were afflicted with this tumor and pray it never returns. My level 7 pain now seems insignificant to what you must have experienced and so am glad you mentioned it. Sometimes we really do benefit from someone such as yourself relating past disease/disorder experiences, because we can be thankful that we are not in your shoes.

I pray God will lift you up and bless you with a new medication or combination of medications, which will serve to bring you into a better space.

Re: Weight gain with SSRI's

happycat — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 09:12:12 GMT

Oh, no. That chronic migraine sounds just horrible. I cannot imagine how you even manage to function, and I am so sorry you have had to live with that for so long.

Your pain isn't insignificant at all.

The brain tumor was a very hard time in my life, but I am doing well and I thank God everyday to be alive. It wasn't cancerous. I have had speech and memory issues, but I am doing good.

Thank you so much for your kind and caring words. The world needs more people like you in it.