weight gain and SSRIs

[flying]

Anyone experienced this? I recently went on an antidepressant, and although I still eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly, I've gained some weight. It's very frustrating, as I've always been fairly thin and now my clothes don't fit. Argh.

 

I'm aware that one side effect of SSRIs is that they can lower your metabolism, which I guess would account for it...but I was wondering if anyone has any tips for boosting metabolism or some other suggestions?

 

Like I said, I already exercise/eat healthy...I guess I'm wondering about vitamin supplements or other metabolism boosters.

[Angel1111]

I'm sure it's a side effect of the anti-depressant you're taking. If you can't do without it, then you're going to have to put up with the weight gain. But I had a friend who was on Prozac for a long time and she continually gained weight. Eventually they started having a really negative effect on her and she almost committed suicide one day. I say that if you can live without these things, then do. If you can't, then maybe there's something else out there that won't have such a negative effect. I'm surprised that your exercise routine doesn't help with counteracting depression.

[Honorable_Venerable]

I'm surprised that your exercise routine doesn't help with counteracting depression.

Exercising has never had any positive effect on mood in me. It's a funny thing, but if you mention that a drug for depression is effective in only 60% (say) of cases, no one bats an eye, but everyone expects that exercise works for all the people all the time.

 

Weight gain is a known side effect of some of the SSRI's. As with any medication where there are side effects, you have to do a kind of cost / benefit analysis (with your doctor) - i.e. whether the side effect so bad it outweighs the positive effect(s) of the treatment, and if you have to continue with treatment, manage (or try to manage) the side effects.