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Weight gain & Zoloft

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Posted 9/23/2009 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on Zoloft & have GAINED weight, like 35 lbs. in 2 years, however, when asking my doctor about it, I get the same answer, this medication won't give you weight gain. Well, it has to be. From what I read here, now I know it must be. Since being on Zoloft my appetite has decreased, I eat less and still gained weight. I am a paraplegic (car crash) and can't do running, fast walking and the exercise I can do isn't enough to help lose. I may have a bad eating schedule time wise, but, I not a junk food addict. Zoloft does slow me down when it comes to anxiety but at the price of more weight to handle, I am going to think this one out. shakehead
Posted 9/23/2009 11:45 AM (GMT 0)
To-The-Top

Hello and welcome to HealingWell.  From what I know, Zoloft is one of the meds that does cause weight gain in most people. Perhaps you need to be more assertive with your physician and consider a change to a different AD med that is not so prone to weight gain issues.

Take care and I am glad you found us.

Kitt

Posted 9/23/2009 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

Not many people gain weight off of zoloft, but everybody is different and you could be one of the people that do gain weight.

But have you thought about your age or lack of activity due to being in a chair? I found out at one point that it wasn't the medication but my age, and my motabilism slowed down. Once we hit our thirties, we gain weight much easier. Though I don't know your age, that could be a part of it. We are just getting older and gain easier.

Weigh out the different aspects and decide which is more important to you, feeling good or losing weight. I know at one time gaining weight made me depressed. So I guess the ball is in your court. Talk to your doctor and see what they say. Wellbutrin isn't suppose to cause weight gain and neither is effexor, though I have gained while on it. But I am 50 and I am just at that age where weight gain is easy.

Best wishes to you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 9/23/2009 8:35 PM (GMT 0)

Here is an old thread re Zoloft that I have found for you.  Just click on the link.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=19&m=248208

Good Luck,

Kitt

Posted 9/23/2009 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there, absolutely weight gain from Zoloft is a real issue! I have put on a tonne of weight due to Zoloft. My pyschiatrist told me that Zoloft has a tendency to do that and wow was she right! I have stacked on so many kilograms, its horrible. no matter how much I exercise or be careful with what I eat, the weight stays on.

Im sorry you have had this experience but you are certainly not alone, many people here have gained weight from Zoloft- check the thread that Kitt left you in her post.

All the best

Maz XX

Posted 9/23/2009 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Zoloft for 6 years and have had weight gain (10kgs).  My GP confirmed that this quite often could happen when taking antidepressents.

I have just joined Weight Watchers mainly because I need the help and support to lose weight.  I will say that my diet hasn't been the healthiest over this period.  We are told weight loss is a combination of diet and exercise.  (have been with them 3 weeks and lost 1.6 kilos)

As it is difficult for you to exercise perhaps you need to address your diet.  They do say that if you don't eat enough of the correct foods, your body goes into "famine mode" and stores fat.  If you eat small healthy meals more regularly, this helps increase your metabolism and hopefully address your weight issues.

If you are able, I would suggest consulting health professionals experienced in issues relating to paraplegia i.e. Occupational Therapists, Physio therapists or maybe even exercise physiologists.  I am sure they would be able to offer some exercises that are within your abilities. yeah

Posted 9/23/2009 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Slinkyhypo,

I just wanted to pop in and welcome you to the HealingWell Depression forum. I am so very glad that you posted. Not only did you offer some good advice, you also showed that you are trying really hard and that sets a good example. I wish you great success with weight watchers. It is nice to have other people to share and support you. It makes it a lot more fun and easy. I am very happy for you.

If you would like to, feel free to start your own introductory thread. We would love to get to know you better. That is if you feel comfortable with that. Either way, we are here to support you. This is a great forum with a lot of wonderful members.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 9/24/2009 7:58 AM (GMT 0)

slinkyhypo said...
I have been on Zoloft for 6 years and have had weight gain (10kgs).  My GP confirmed that this quite often could happen when taking antidepressents.

I have just joined Weight Watchers mainly because I need the help and support to lose weight. 

Hi Slinky hypo-Welcome to HW!

I am also a member of weight watchers, I go to the gym and I have twice weekly sessions with a personal trainer. All this and I work full time in a place where I am quite physically busy- but the Zoloft weight is super hard to budge. I also needed someone to be accountable to and thought WW would be helpful and they have been, but both my consultant at WW and my pyschiatrist have told me I will have to work harder than the average Joe to lose the weight, as Zoloft weight is stubborn and doesnt like to move.

Again, welcome and I wish you all the best in your journey- I totally hear where you are coming from.

Maz XX

Posted 9/24/2009 9:59 AM (GMT 0)
hi as stated many times, zoloft was my first anti-dep i was ever put on, some 20 odd years ago. was extremely unwell mentally on it, i think you get the picture thus i was taken of it shortly after. some do well on certain meds whilst others don't. glad for that, because we are individuals and not drones. with compassion.

jamie

dx, mdd, severe borderline personality disorder.

Posted 9/24/2009 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Maz,

I am wondering if this is true for all anti depressants. I am having a hard time losing weight. I am on effexor and no matter what I do, I can't lose a pound for anything. Very frustrating.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 9/24/2009 8:51 PM (GMT 0)

Karen, I am not sure. Ive been on many different antidepressants over the years, and Zoloft is the only one that has had this result. Thats just my personal experience.

Maz XX

Posted 9/25/2009 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
I think we are all different and have different side effects to different meds. I didn't gain weight on zoloft, but I did on prozac. I could look at food and gain weight. lol... The effexor didn't bother me until I started taking a really high dose. But I have been taking it for about 15 years. I am 50 now and I think that my motabilism has really slowed down. Jamie said that the pristiq helped his motabilism, so I am hoping that it will help mine too. Maybe it is all in the head, that would be okay too. lol...

Have a great day/night

Hugs, Karen
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