Weight Gain! :( - Mental Health Message Board

jealibeanz · 09-13-2003, 06:34 AM

OK, about a year ago I started taking Paxil and gained weight. So, I then switch to Buspar and then Wellbutrin. They all made me gain weight. After 6 months and 20 lbs. I stopped taking them. It has now been 6 months since I have been without the meds. I am dieting and working out a lot. This has always worked for me in the past. I have not been able to lose weight. I don't know what to do. Will I ever be thin again? Are there any special supplements I can take? Could these meds have messed with my thyroid or hormones levels?

weird_seed · 09-13-2003, 05:11 PM

You are lucky it was only 20 lbs. I gained 60 lbs. in 3 months from seroquel. No one warned me, or told me as I gained. I stopped the pills and it took awhile to lose the weight, it didn't get all the way down because I took a different pill and the same thing happened again, although this time I am having trouble losing weight even though I quit the pill, also I got ocd right after quitting that pill... I keep wondering if there could be connections... I have had to go on yet another med that did stimulate my appetite, but I am very aware now, and I gained about 5 lbs, but I lost it soon too. I am trying to lose weight again, but it is hard, because I developed weight related problems, such as a herniated disc and gallstones, just at 20. I was very thin before this, I started the pill process at 17.

jealibeanz · 09-13-2003, 08:22 PM

Does anyone know if it is possible to have lasting effects from meds? I read somewhere that the first one you take can have major effects. Well the first one I took was Paxil. That causes weight gain and it hasn't stopped. Is there something I could do to "reset" or "cleanse" my system?

j3nuinebrui17 · 09-13-2003, 11:02 PM

From what I know, weight gain from medications is generally hard to lose, but not impossible. The reason is unclear, however consistent exercise and good nutrition is the best way to "reset" your metabolism. 6 months, in my opinion, is still not very long, but it can vary upon the person.
There are psychotropic meds that are conducive to weight loss. I'm suprised you gained weight on Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin is considered a weight neutral medication, and if anything, slightly on the weight loss side.
My generally idea is that the meds probably changed your eating habits. Did you eat differently before or during the medication treatment?
If you are really upset about your weight gain, I'd go to a psychiatrist and talk to him/her about it. Perhaps s/he can prescribe you a weight loss psychotropic med. in conjunction with antidepressants. Let me know if you have any questions.Good luck!

WhiskersOnKittens · 11-27-2003, 01:47 AM

Hey Guys,
I had a similar problem with weight gain--I gained about 20lbs while on Zoloft, without being told that this would ever happen, and I quit them over a year ago (probably about 14 months). Since I quit the meds, I've gained about another 5-10lbs, and I've been working SSSOOOO hard to lose all of this extra weight, but it just won't come off!! I'd always been a fairly small person (I began meds at the age of 17, and I'm now 20--back then I weighed 115 or so). During the first 4-6 months on the Zoloft, I actually lost quite a bit of weight and it stayed off for about 8 months but then I gained an incredible amount in such a short period of time. I'm now weighing 135-140lbs at only 5'3, so this is very heavy to me. I really need to lose this weight.... That advice about weightloss psychotropic meds is good, however I am not seeing any psychiatrists now (after the whole weight gain thing, I refused to ever go to one again)... I wonder if they would actually work? Anyways, thanks for the advice!