"Will my Antidepressants Make me Gain Weight?" (Part One)

I am like you in that, feeling better seems to make food more attractive and thus needing more vigilance.Though chocolate is pretty good anytime.

Never noticed an immediate correlation between any antidepressants and weight, other than that.

I did use a small dose, 25mg., of amitriptyline (Elavil) for a very long time, not at an antidepressant dose, but as an aid to sleep, it stopped me from waking up 15 times a night.

The spelling of Tofranil needs to be corrected.  I took Tofranil (Imipramine) for 20 years and yes it is still used.  At one time it was the golden standard.  It does promote weight gain, as do the others mentioned in the article, but with proper exercise the weight gain was manageable.  Remeron (Mirtazapine) similarly promotes weight gain.

this makes me wonder if existing weight should be taken into account when prescribing a drug.  For some, weight gain might be beneficial, and for those for whom weight is an exacerbation of depression,  a drug that is known to cause weight gain would seem a terrible idea.  It certainly would be something the patient should be aware of prior to treatment I think.

When my doctor had me on a low dose of the Cymbalta I gained about 45 pounds in one year and have alot of panic attacks. Have a new Doc and she uped me to 60mg Cymbalta and 1mg Adavan. on the third day of this I was going crazy I could not sit still. I could not sleep and I was so wired up I giot very scared. I called and she said drop it back down to the 20mg. I'm not sure about the adavan because I have dry mouth and it makes me really dizzt (I though it was supposed to relax me, so I could sleep), but again I'm up all night. I go back to see her next week. I don't know what to do. I feel like crap ! and she said, Oh ! by your next visit you will feel so much better. OK I'm not feeling it.............................I'm throwing up, feel weak, dizzy, tired, nervious..............I don't want to leave the house. I feel so bad.........A rally bad taste in my mouth I can't get rid of............What the heck is going on?

I've been takin Sertraline for about a year now and my weight has stayed about the same. I'm still trying to lose the same stone for about ten years now, the only difference is now that I dont worry as much. If I fancy those chocolates, I have them because they taste so good at the time and the guilt is not as bad as it used to be.

Abilify is another promoted heavily RX and it does cause weight gain, also, so do believe the Doctors when they say differently.

Remember, they get to earn more money by using the folks that need help, as research subjects.

M

My humor is soo "off the wall". Honestly, I mean, do NOT believe that anti-depressants

are not huge weight gainers!!!!

Mimi

  I  would  like  to  add  to  this  subject!  My  grandaughter  is  taking  abilify,  and  she  has  gained  at  least  30lbs.  over  at  least  6  months.  I  am  going  to  talk  with  her  doctor  about  this  problem.  thanks,  sandy

I have been on effexor er 75mg for 1 1/2 years now.At the beginning I lost about 20 something pounds in approx 8 months. I really didn't do any thing different, but now I have gained 20 pounds back, and all in the stomach area. To me thats even more depressing gaining all that weight, after you got yourself in a small size clothing.  I'm almost 50, and @ the weight loss time, went out and bought myself a bikini, which looked great, but now, I wouldn't be caught dead in one. Does anyone have advice for me to get the weight down again, to make myself feel better about me. 

I was taking it for fibromyalgia and gained weight steadily, despite eating healthy and doing what exercise I can in the winter.

I have been taken off of it now, and put on trazadone (desryl) for sleep issues. The Elavil did help me sleep better and took the edge off the pain from the fibro. I have been told it may not be as effective as the Elavil but I am not up for gaining anymore weight.

I am peri-menopausal as well, and that in itself causes weight gain.

Thank you for this series.

Thanks for writing the article.  I'd appreciate it if you'd specificially address Effexor XR in Part 2.  I have been on this med for 10+ years and have gained a lot of weight - more than 30 lbs.  There could be many factors but I have always thought the medication is one.

Since I have been on Paxil for over 8 years my weight has been going up, and for a person who always had low blood pressure and blood sugar, both have gone up.  what I need is a paxil replacement without the side effects of weight gain....any thoughts?

I gained 30 pounds on Effexor! It was a nightmare. On the other hand, it was the best antidepressant I've been on. After 7 years on Effexor, I just gave it up. It's not that it wasn't making me feel better - it was - but there were so many terrible side effects in addition to the weight gain, such as out of control sweating, getting up to pee a minimum of 4 times a night, etc.

I was on mirtazapine (Remeron, Zispin) for about 6 weeks and out on a considerable amount of weight.  It also wasn't very effective, and gave me restless legs, so I came off.  It has taken effort to get back to my pre-mirtazapine weight.  My tricyclics do not appear to increase my weight.

A big problem I had years ago was that I was put on danazol for endometriosis.  This resulted in a gain of about 30lb in a short period of time.  Even when I stopped, that never came off!

I am not sure that I gained an extra 20 lbs due to changing my antidepressant  but I have no other explanation for it. I started on Celexa about 5 months ago and my eating and exercise habits never changed and I am 34 so my metabolism has not stopped yet, but I gained quite a bit of weight. I cant fit into many of my jeans! I talked to my doc and he said he didnt think that it was because of the med. But it would be nice to know if maybe anyone else has this problem! Thanks

One thing I've learned is if you need to be on antidepressants, by all means take them.  It is so important to get the help you need!  Since I have been off my meds, I've lost 45 pounds (without exercise!) so I know there is a correlation. But if I needed to be back on meds, I wouldn't worry about the weight gain until later.  Most doctors are aware of which meds cause more weight gain.  If it's an issue, discuss it with them.  They're there to help you!

I was diagnosed with CFS in 1989 and the doctor offered me something I never heard of: Prozac. He told me it would "lift my spirits and it's a weight loss promotor". I declined and took vitamins. That's when my youngest was 1 yrs. old. In 2003, my PCP offered me Prozac again, for stress and anxiety. It wound me up so badly I lost weight and my mind! The drug I've been on the longest is Xanax (and am currently removing it slowly) and I often wondered that being on it a decade changed my metabolism. Weight became increasingly easy to gain and hard to lose. Only recently the last 3 years I was able to lose weight slowly and ironically it's also keeping in time with the tapering down of Xanax and Trazedone (an anti depressant). It's definitely something to think about, considering many psych meds increase ways to gain weight: thyroid abnormalities, all of that.

My hunger sensations and appetite seem to me to be different on Paxil, at times almost irresistable. I never ever thought I'd be overweight like this. And I've basically given up on trying to lose it while on this antidepressant.

Note: I also take Wellbutrin (for SAD) and Ritalin (which replaced Adderall). I'd probably be heavier if it wasn't for the Ritalin (for ADHD).

Thank you for discussing this!  I was a sz 8-10 all of my life, even after kids -- at 52 my doctor convinced me to go on Paxil because of all the anxiety associated with working full-time/raising small children etc. etc.  I was having some terrible knee pain and serious sadness, plus peri-menopause, and she said the Paxil would  help with both.  Otherwise, she said I'd wind up with a major issue, like migraines or back pain, and that the Paxil would have no side effects. In a year I was up 40 pounds to a size 14!  No change in eating habits, though less exercise and lots of memory issues. 

When I talk to my new physician, she says, "You can try any of them, I'll prescribe them all.  No telling which will work."  It's SO discouraging that doctors seem to prescribe these drugs so quickly without any real thought about what they might do!!! 

My OB/GYN, head of a unversity Reproductive Services dept says there's no clear evidence that menopause causes weight gain -- I wouldn't mind some gain if it's part of the aging process, but I will NEVER believe that this excessive gain is due to anything but the Paxil -- amazing -- physicians dont' seem to understand that all this extra weight is not only more depressing, but unhealthy!

Now I've slowly gotten off the Paxil, and after looking at this site re: withdrawal symptoms, I realize the awful withdrawal effects from Paxil are not uncommon, even suicidal thoughts -- I'm miserable, but I won't go back -- now I have to lose all this weight on top of the issues

I can't wait for Part 2 of your series -- thanks so much.

Thank you for discussing this!  I was a sz 8-10 all of my life, even after kids -- at 52 my doctor convinced me to go on Paxil because of all the anxiety associated with working full-time/raising small children etc. etc.  I was having some terrible knee pain and serious sadness, plus peri-menopause, and she said the Paxil would  help with both.  Otherwise, she said I'd wind up with a major issue, like migraines or back pain, and that the Paxil would have no side effects. In a year I was up 40 pounds to a size 14!  No change in eating habits, though less exercise and lots of memory issues. 

When I talk to my new physician, she says, "You can try any of them, I'll prescribe them all.  No telling which will work."  It's SO discouraging that doctors seem to prescribe these drugs so quickly without any real thought about what they might do!!! 

My OB/GYN, head of a unversity Reproductive Services dept says there's no clear evidence that menopause causes weight gain -- I wouldn't mind some gain if it's part of the aging process, but I will NEVER believe that this excessive gain is due to anything but the Paxil -- amazing -- physicians dont' seem to understand that all this extra weight is not only more depressing, but unhealthy!

Now I've slowly gotten off the Paxil, and after looking at this site re: withdrawal symptoms, I realize the awful withdrawal effects from Paxil are not uncommon, even suicidal thoughts -- I'm miserable, but I won't go back -- now I have to lose all this weight on top of the issues

I can't wait for Part 2 of your series -- thanks so much.

Part two of my series can be found here! 

My experience with ALL SSRI's were NON-effective and caused me to gain up to 60lbs.  After 8 years of trying everything on the market, a new doctor put me on Cymbalta and Abilify.  I think when he added Abilify that's when I gained more weight again.  I'm also on Lithium.  Then he put me on Topomax--to help me lose weight--which WEIGHT GAIN is a side effect.  So finally, I had come to the end of my rope.  My concentration was abstract and drowsy, I was gaining weight, and I felt slow and tired, like everything was moving in slow motion.  At least my mom told me I LOOKED like I was moving in slow motion.  So I went to an On-Call Doctor-Mine was out of town.  He took me off the Topomax, lowered the dose of Abilify, and put me on a medication called Adderall.  They sometimes prescribe this med for kids with ADHD.  It is a stimulant, and it's great-- I feel like my old self--before the depression.  And I'm working and school is going great.  I'm attending classes, which was a big drawback before, I just didn't have the energy.  I know I should start exercising more and I would lose those last 10lbs., and be more fit.  I just haven't fit it into my schedule yet.

So that's my experience.  By the way Wellbutrin I tried twice--and both times it gave me vertigo so bad I was nauseous. Can not take Wellbutrin.  But Chantix has stopped me from smoking--worked like a charm.

Just Me

Finally here is,at least a part of, the reason I've gained so much weight in the last 10 years! I've been taking Zoloft that long, and I've probably gained 50 pounds! I'm 48 years old, so I realize that my age is part of it too. I had never had a weight problem up until this time. I've tried Weight Watchers and Curves, without very much sucess that lasts. I'm tempted to quit the Zoloft, although it has helped me greatly. I have clinical depression. My mother is Bipolar, but I am not. Depression runs in my family.

<p>I had always been small -- a size 6.&nbsp; When I started taking Prozac, I lost my appetite completely and my weight plummeted to 93 lbs and a size 3.&nbsp; I had had anorexia and bulimia years before, so this was definitely scary.&nbsp; But then, my psychiatrist put me on Zyprexa for schizophrenia, and I quickly gained up to 186.&nbsp; Right now I have been on the Zyprexa for years and battle more weight gain every minute.&nbsp; It makes me ravenously hungry 24x7.&nbsp; My weight is down to 174, which isn't much of a victory.&nbsp; I am also taking Wellbutrin which supposedly aids in losing weight, but it can't stand against Zyprexa!&nbsp; I also took Tofranil back in the 60's and had no weight gain, and I took both Paxil and Effexor and had no weight gain. I guess it just varies a lot with the individual.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Carolyn</p>

I have suffered from depression for a long time.  I have a family history of depression, where my mother was bi-polar.  I have tried many medicians, paxil, effexor, lexipro( cause me to have anxiety attacks when I never had one).  When I went on paxil to get rid of my anxiety attacks I gained 20-30 pounds.  I went on Wellbutrin but now that it is a generic I dont feel it is working.  I recently lost my job and 3 month ago I lost my mother.  I just want a medicine to make me "feel normal" without the weight gain.  Any sujesstions??????

Hi.  I was on Paxil for anxiety and depression for about 3 years.  At the time I was taking it I was under alot of stress so didn't realize at the time why I was gradually gaining weight.  As I look back if I had realized this I would have done something about it ie: ask for another medication. 

So, I can report to you that I gained about 35 lbs in that 3 year period but was totally unaware of it until I looked in the mirror one day and said "what the heck happened to my waistline?"  I have been unable to get this weight off of me since - and it has been 3 years.  I am 60 years old now.  I am very sad when I think of how much this drug "slowed down" my whole body.  I can even attribute a complete lack of sexual desire on Paxil - my marriage love life ended the year I went on Paxil. 

Although I was happy with the effects of Paxil otherwise I am very sad when I see the major changes it made in my weight and sexual desire.  I really felt very "empty" inside.

Thank you for this opportunity.

I have been taking zoloft for app. 3 years and i have gained 30 - 40 pounds and I am miserable i am weening off of it right now. I have no energy and I feel like my appitiet has gone through the roof. I am going to stay off any kind of antidepressent for a while and see what happens. I think doctors are very quick just to put people on medicine without trying to find any other underlying issues. I also have an appoinment to have my thyroid checked next week and find it hard to believe that it was never checked before due to my symptoms, i am very tired, no energy, wieght gain, excessive facial hair growth all of which sounds to me like a thyroid or PCOS.

although i was involved in a nasty divorce and custody battle, i still came out haveing gained 40 lbs in 2 1/2 years on zoloft. Zoloft works for me with no side effects, (other than possible weight gain) i am now convinced after haveing to up my dose when things got tougher for the anxiety, that the weight is from the zoloft. i have tried diet and exercise, with no luck. I am  approaching my mid-fourties and am wondering it i am pre-menopausel also.

Witht that said, i am convinced zoloft is to blame and have scheduled an appointment with an endocrynologist to check all hormones and thyroid, etc.

I started taking antidepressants just yesterday, and a weird side-effect it had on me was loss of wanting to eat or drink anything with flavor.

I've been on Zoloft for a bit now, and I've actually lost 17 pounds in the last month.  Zoloft seems to wipe my appetite out, and I'm actually starting to get a little nervous about it because I'm losing too muich too fast.  After the first 10 pounds, I thought, hey, this is nice, but now I'm a little worried.

After gaining 30  lbs after years of different ssri's I was prescibed paxil cr and lost weight. like 25 pounds!

Paxil is known for weight gain, but the paxil cr really helped.

I did watch the carbs though... but I didn't have such horrible cravings.

My doctor prescribed to me amitrytipline about one year ago to treat the severe pain associated with interstitial cystitis.  This is a very painful bladder condition that I have to live with the rest of my life.  Within 1 month, I had gained almost 10 pounds!!!!  I have also been taking on and off Prozac and Lexapro over the past 8 years to treat mild to moderate depression and mostly to help treat my eating disorder I have had for 17 years. While at my worst point with anorexia and bulimia, the prozac always seemed to balance my weight and my appetite to "normal" levels. It decreased cravings and binges and actually decreased my appetite all together. I do not feel I ever gained weight while on either of these meds.  Despite the eating disorder, my weight never went too much below a healthy range and I HAVE NEVER BEEN OVERWEIGHT! However, the amitryptiline is doing the exact opposite! I am currently 15 pounds over my "healthy" or "comfortable" weight and it is causing great anxiety!!! I have learned that the amitryptiline can increase sugar cravings and decrease metabolic rate, but without it, I get in significant pain that prevents me from being able to physically function day to day.  This is a lose-lose situation for me. My meds to treat IC and my eating disorder are causing me to gain extra weight, which is then triggering my old, unhealthy attempts at weightloss. Amitryptiline is a horrible drug for someone with an eating disorder, but is the only med to successfully treat the IC pain. Is there any solution??

I have been on anti-depressants for about 10 years now.  I started out on Celexa, but I kept building up a tolerance to it so I constantly had to up my dosage.  Finally, I tried Zoloft, but it made me too tired, so I tried Welbutrin with it to counteract the fatigue.  That combination worked well for me, and for the first 5 years or so I was the same healthy weight (between 110 and 120 lbs) I'd always been.  Then, all of a sudden, the weight started to pack on and wouldn't stop.  I joined a gym, tried diet and exercise, even appetite surpressants and metabolism boosters, but to no avail.  The weight gain has only continued year after year.  I now weigh 160 and I look and feel horrible about myself.  My blood pressure has shot up and I sweat profusely after minimal exhertion.  I can't think of any other reason for the weight gain, so I've concluded that it has to be the medication.  True, I was on it for years with no complications, but I think the prolonged usage has really done terrible things to my metabolism.  I'd like to be able to ween myself off of it to see if it helps, but anytime I miss a dose, my entire body crashes from the withdrawl.  I fear for myself and others on the days I go without taking my meds. 

It's so frustrating and depressing and bothersome, and I don't know where to go or who to turn to for help, since all my doctors seem to think I'm gaining weight because I eat too much and exercise too little (which is not the case at all!).