JS17 Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 One of my closest friends recently went on an SSRI (about 2 months ago) and gained some weight. Her anxiety is situational so she will be going off the medication within a month or two. She was talking to me about it yesterday because she knows I get anxious at times too and I want to help her. She has found this weight gain depressing. I know a bunch of people on this site take SSRIs so I thought I'd ask if anyone has any advice or similar experiences. Will the weight melt off when she stops the drug? How can you lose weight while on the SSRI? Any tips for her that I can share? Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewJ Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 What is SSRI? Link to post Share on other sites
CHAZ87 Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 Actually, my experience has been disimilar. I have lost 30# since I have been on Celexa. Granted, I was also on the depression diet. But I have stayed around keeping 30 off. I try and jog but sometimes, medication is at fault here, I am to tired to get up and run. Poor excuse I know. Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Posted August 11, 2005 Senior Moderators Share Posted August 11, 2005 "What is SSRI?" Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, a class of anti-depressants and other brain chemistry altering drugs used to treat disorders of the brain and nervous system. In the case of your friend, a consultation with her physician may result in a switch to another drug which may have less effect on weight but to the same job otherwise. That's for the doctor to decide. Sometimes we have to pay a price in another area for getting better. Medical questions such as the one asked in this thread are best addressed to doctors, pharmacists and other medical professionals who are qualified to answer them. NEVER, EVER rely on the medical advice or information given by anonymous persons on an Internet forum. Link to post Share on other sites
Author JS17 Posted August 11, 2005 Author Share Posted August 11, 2005 I wasn't really looking for medical advice for her...just to see if people had similar experiences and maybe if additional exercise or something along those lines had helped. She told me that she would talk to her doctor about it soon. thanks Link to post Share on other sites
laRubiaBonita Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 i took prozac for years, and the only weight i gained, was that which i was prescribed to gain, not an ounce more. it may belp you to be less anxious and more relaxed, which for someone with anxiety may aid in eating and digestion. i think it just depends on the individual. Link to post Share on other sites
liswil Posted August 21, 2005 Share Posted August 21, 2005 SSRI's tend to make many (but not all) people crave carbohydrates. Your friend can learn how to not give in to these cravings by doing other things, chewing gum, drinking water, etc... Yes, she should be able to lose the weight after the drug is stopped by watching what she eats and exercising. Some people believe that SSRI's not only increase cravings but also affect metabolism. With the exception of Paxil, this has never proven to be true though. Link to post Share on other sites
MWC_LifeBeginsAt40 Posted August 23, 2005 Share Posted August 23, 2005 I was on Effexor XR for a year and I gained ten lbs and got alot flabbier around the waist in the last year. I was going to the gym regularly, working out with weights, building muscles (too big IMO but I need them). Of course, with the added muscle, I gained another freakin five lbs! In all this time I separated, bought a new house, stayed active in my competitive sport, AND my eating habits did NOT get worse. In fact, because I had more time when the kids were at the ex's I would take the time to prepare healthier meals, supersalads, vegetarian meals, and didn't keep chocolate in the house (my weakness). I've been told I have great muscle tone and people have a hard time believing I weigh 140. My normal weight is about 125-130 which puts me in a size 4 or 5. My clothes seemed to fit until a few weeks ago. I recently went on the pill again after being off for 12 years so this could be a reason as well. I am going to be 40 next week, so part of me wonders if this is an age thing. I still work out 3x a week and have noticed my "pinch" feels slightly less than before. My boobs are alot bigger (and sore!) - prob from the pill. My butt is no smaller, the doc says my blood pressure and cholesterol are excellent! I'm mostly p'd because my clothes don't fit and I can't afford to buy a new wardrobe right now! But I definitely think it started with the anti-depressants. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts