Anti-Depressants and weight gain-have any of you had this

Lefty

I don't know if anti-depressants cause weight gain. I know that in my case peanuts, chips, gin and tonic, wine, and in general all the things I like to consume keep me in the rolly polly catagory.

Why is it that if it tastes good and yummy, it's bad for you. My daughter (who is slim) eats mostly vegetables and low fat stuff. This would surely bring on another bout of depression for me.

I have read of people losing weight and some gaining weight in reading the threads. I know that in the spring when I get out walking more and do more in the way of exercise, I tend to lose a bit of weight. The Effexor I take does nothing for my weight either way.

Also, there is something in my clothes cupboard that is causing my summer stuff to SHRINK between October and April.

Every antidepressant I've ever taken has made me gain weight. Prozac, Paxil, Luvox, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Celexa, BuSpar, Risperdal, and Zoloft.Some of them also gave me horrible cravings for carbs. I am now so &%@! fat that I am even more depressed than before I went on the meds. Ergo, I am no longer on the meds and am currently searching for an alternative therapy.

Hey Curley,

I went up to 238 on the Prednisone... Oh joy.

I have three sizes of clothes hanging in my closet for all the different cycles of the Pred.

No, it's not fun to get new clothes, when they look like they could pinch-hit for Barnum and Bailey.

Ah well.. we're alive.. :)

Curley, I'm thinking of trying St. John's Wort next, but I have to make sure it's OK to take it while nursing (I have a 6 month old). I may have to wind up waiting until he's weaned anyway before I try anything new.

 I am on lexapro and steadily gaining weight. over thirty pounds now. i can eat the most healthful things and i still gain. if any of you find an alternative to the pills, please let me know. they are not working for me. and its just getting worse.

I am glad somebody else feels my pain. I have taken two different antidepressants in the past year. Wellbutrin really wasn't too bad...until i started the "excessive sweating". It was so unbearable that my normal state seemed more appealing. I have been on lexpro for the past 2-1/2 months. The anxiety relief was incredible...until about a month ago...my clothes started getting tighter. I have gained 15 pounds now. We eat very healthy, with the occasional indulgence. I run/walk at least 3 miles a day. Two weeks ago we spent a few days riding bikes through the hills...about 22 miles a day. I gained 5 of those pounds by the end of that trip. That was the red flag. Since then i have gained 5 more. So i have been lexapro free now for 2 days. Does anybody know how long it takes to lose the weight and can anybody recommend something to help with the general anxiety and misery that used to plague my everyday?

 Hi  wanted to stop in a say I am on Zolft and I did not have any Problem but when I was on remron It went on like a blink of the eye

I am Now off remron but do to others med do to other med problems  I have gained a Lot of weight and it does not matter how hard I try I wish I can find a way to lose it . so if anyone else reads this any advice will do and jengirl  I also want to wish you luck,

Cammiejo

Raindance and curly,

I was also on pred for a year for CD. I am usually what I consider to be a big guy, but now I am freakin huge. I know the new clothe thing as well. It sucks. I topped out at 280. My normal weight is 200-210. So I am now hoping the weight will go away.
Of course I am on Prozac now too. Hopefully it doesnt have that effect on me.

I caught the tail end of a news story on anti-depressants and how they are thought to slow down metabolism.  I've been on Zoloft for about a year.  I went to the doctor for stomach pains, he thought it was due to stress and suggested Zoloft. I can't say I was really depressed but it did help in dealing with the everyday stress of work and home (2 young boys).

I'm a 42 year old male and have I've always been physically fit thanks to running, weight training, and watching my diet.  I decided to go off Zoloft a week ago and I feel considerable less bloated. 

I could not figure out why my stomach felt, well, heavy, during running. 

I too, had to buy a pants with a waist size that I never dreamed of wearing. 

Ironically, I blew out my calf last week so I had to stop running but due to going off the medicine (my opinion), I feel thinner.

Anyhow, no more Zoloft for me.  I'll have to deal with life's stress some other way.

Ell,

You had a great tip in a previous post . . . just a walk around the block makes a big difference. My mom used to run in place for 100 steps each day. She said that made a huge different for her (and I do remember her doing that). Now I read where jumping like that can help your lympatic system to drain properly. Hmmmm???

You've also reached an age where (for women) the metabolism slows a bit anyway because you are not growing anymore . . . so that could be part of the problem.

Please try not to hate your body Ell. I spent a good part of my life suffering from poor body image because I went above a size 12 and now when I look back at pictures . . I would LOVE to look like that again. I have a large amount of weight to lose and I am resolved to get back to hiking as soon as my legs can handle it. Meanwhile, I have stocked up on healthy foods and am trying to break the habit of eating junk food.

I'm glad to see you posting. We really enjoy your company!!

Blessings!

Ell,

I'm trying to MAKE myself eat better too . . . its a very hard thing for me as I am a foodaholic. Kudos to you for your walking and water areobics!!! Woohoo!! Keep us posted how that is going because you are a good role model for the rest of us.

Ell, initially you can 'pretend' to like yourself. Pretending is a good way to try it out and see how much better you'll feel. . . it will be easier to make the switch to really liking yourself!! I used to have a very hard time accepting a compliment and then my hubby told me that it makes it hard for him or anyone else to say nice things about me, because I would belittle the compliment. That's when I started pretending . . . 'oh thank you' . . . or 'glad you noticed' . . . and it became a way of life for me. Now I actually enjoy compliments (I used to have thoughts like "if you knew the 'real' me you wouldn't be giving me compliments).

Keep us posted on the water aerobics!!

Blessings!

((((((((Ell))))))))

That is a hard thing to accept. I look at little children and see their perfect skin and realize that I took it for granted when my skin was perfect like that. Now, I am like you and I hide what I can. But, I have noticed that a couple of very large women I know will dawn a bathing suit and feel no shame in exposing some extremely lumpy and stretch marked legs and arms. It was actually an inspiration to me as they were ENJOYING their time in the sun. I went home and found a pair of shorts and started wearing them around the house (a big first step for me). Now . . . years later, I MUST cover up all summer because the sun exacerbates a medical condition . . . so I wear long sleeves, long pants, hat, and even an umbrella if I want to be outside.

Please enjoy the skin you are in. I wasted too much of my youth wishing I had my beautiful legs again. Funny thing is . . . you and I would encourage others to do the same.

And if someone tells you "nice lipstick" . . . say "oh, thanks . . . I like it too!"

Blessings!