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Anxiety Medication & weight Gain

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Posted 6/4/2010 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
I am so stressed out lately, mostly because of my current flare up of UC. I finally made an appointment to see someone. I told my friend that I was going to see someone and she told me that ALL depression/anxiety drugs cause weight gain and that it is what caused her to get "fat". I don't know how she looked before she took these medications, I didn't meet her until after.

Is she telling the truth or is this just her own experience?

Posted 6/4/2010 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
There no doubt are some meds causing some weight gain
for me valium mk,me eat yet ativan dont
those are benzos
ive not gained weight on my anti depressant
im sure others will post their experiences with the meds as well
you take care
lyn
Posted 6/4/2010 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome to HealingWell.


There are some of the medications that appear to cause weight gain while other are suppose to be weight neutral. Then there are some that appear to cause weight loss.



I believe it is truly dependent on which medication you are on and how each person's system responds to the medication.



Wellbutrin may occasionally be associated with either weight loss or gain, but it is generally weight neutral.



This would be a good topic to discuss with your Dr. when deciding which medication is right for you.


Good luck,



Kitt
Posted 6/4/2010 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi! I have gainned quite a bit of weight since going on paxil and endocort. The doctors tell me that endocort is not to put weight on a person, I disagree and think it is a combo of the two.

Honestly, at the end of the day I would rather be heavier( I am now a plus size gal) and feel the way I do now rather than be smaller and be where I was:) I know some people do not feel that way. I have a cousin who has gainned a lot of weight on her insulin for her diabeties and she is dieting heavily (which is NOT safe for her to do).
Posted 6/4/2010 8:15 AM (GMT 0)
Yes. Weight gain is a side effect for many, and it was a concern for me as well. Lexapro is supposed to be weight neutral, mostly because some people gain weight while others may loose weight. But I have read more accounts of people gaining weight than loosing weight. My anxieties got so severe that I decided to give it a try anyway. Luckily, I have not gained weight.

Another concern I had was weaning off the medicine. I have read that many people get brain zaps when they wean off Lexapro, which is the medication I decided to take. Again, my anxieties were so severe that I choose to take the medication and suffer any brain zaps if I need to wean off the medication.

My main side effects are sleeping issues and lack of sex drive. Skipping a dose every once in awhile solves the sleeping issues. I haven't found any solution for the lack of sex drive yet. For some reason, the motion of sex makes me feel nauseous and queasy.

Please research anxiety medications thoroughly before making your decision. As with most medications, there are side effects.
Posted 6/4/2010 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the advice. I guess what my friend said has some truth to it and she wasn't just being her normal negative self. I will have to take this into consideration. Maybe there is the option of treating the panic and anxiety without taking something daily? That would be ideal but I have a feeling I need something that will give me more consistent balance than that solution will offer.
Posted 6/4/2010 7:25 PM (GMT 0)

I gained 22 pounds on Lexapro...have been off it for 7 months and still have not lost it.  If weight gain was the only problem I have had with this drug I'd be a mighty happy camper!!  Everyone is different.  Now, if you will excuse me I'm going to finish off my last tube of Thin Mint cookies.  Hmmm.  Gotta love those girl scouts!!

Donna

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