Has anyone experienced an extreme weight gain from antidepressants? If so, has anyone lost the weight? How did you do it? How long did it take?
Does anyone have any infomation on why these drugs cause weight gain? Why do people continue to gain even after the meds are ceased? Has the drugs altered how the body metabolizes fat? Is this effect permanent?
Does anyone have any information on the drug manufacturers and medical personnel hiding or down playing this side effect?
The following user gives a hug of support to OCAngel: Heinz4258 (09-10-2011)
Dear OCAngel
You have a very valid question. Unfortuneately some anti depressants as well as anti psychotics contribute to weight gain because they contain an appetite stimulant. There are other anti depressants that you could consult your doctor about that dont have that side effect. Sometimes though it is not the drug. When you are depressed everything slows down including your appetite and when you start a new drug and start to feel better you start to do more increasing your appetite on its own. If you feel its the drug you could look into a program for healthy eating or you could ask your doctor for a dietician consult, just dont let the weight gain get the better of you. Good Luck to you!!! Renee
Last edited by bfl; 12-05-2003 at 09:58 PM.
Reason: please do not list your profession, this is a peer support group, listing your profession may give undue weight to your replies...thanks!
Thank you Renee for your reply. In my case though my appetite was not increased while on the meds. In fact, it decreased so much that I went into starvation mode. I continued to gain weight even without eating. My doctor wanted to put me on an appetite suppressant, but I became outraged when he suggested that even after I told him I was barely eating already.
I have been off the meds for 3 months now and have been involved in a monitored fitness program and have been on a 1,200 cal. a day diet. Over the last 3 months I have not lost ANY of the weight, not even one single pound. I do weight training twice a week, cardio twice a week, and mountain bike ride each weekend. That's exercise 6 days a week along with the diet and there has been no change in the weight.
I post on any board I think I can find answers to this problem and I have found that there are thousands of people who are also suffering from this. some have gained up to 100lb in less than a year on these meds. Each one says they were not told of the deforming weight gain ahead of time.
So sorry to hear about your difficulties with meds and losing weight. It sounds to me (but I'm only an uninformed layman) as if you might have a thyroid problem. If I'm not mistaken some antidepressants cause changes in the thyroid system. I'd suggest doing some looking around the web for answers. Maybe do a search on Wilson's thyroid syndrome and on thyroid function and anti-depressants.
Good luck and God bless
Kim
[This message has been edited by kvanrijn (edited 02-21-2003).]
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Severe pain lower back & left leg/foot beginning 5/2002
Numbness & loss of some movement in left foot 5/2002
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Large left paramedian disc extrusion at L5-S1 which results in mass effect on left S1 nerve root and left side of thecal sac.
I gained over 50 pounds from an antidepressent and antipycotic. I hardly eat anything and can not loose for anything. I had lost 75 pounds to begin with then was put on all the meds and gained it all back. I am so mad.
Weight Gain From Antidepressants? 
It sounds to me (but I'm only an uninformed layman) as if you might have a thyroid problem. If I'm not mistaken some antidepressants cause changes in the thyroid system. I'd suggest doing some looking around the web for answers. Maybe do a search on Wilson's thyroid syndrome and on thyroid function and anti-depressants.
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