SSRIs other meds and weight gain

[Anotherday]

Anyone else out there gain weight by being on psychotropic meds? I need them for the depression but I'm at an all time high. I should have LOST weight by now (fewer wine calories) but I've GAINED big time since I've been taking them religiously. Anyone?

[mama bear]

SSRIs other meds and weight gain

they call paxil "pack it on paxil"...is that you are taking?

[Anotherday]

SSRIs other meds and weight gain

mama bear;824716 wrote: they call paxil "pack it on paxil"...is that you are taking?

No, I am taking Cymbalta and Abilify. Abilify is supposedly weight neutral but then even my Dr. has wondered if it hasn't put on weight. Cymbalta, being an SSRI (I think or it could be an SNRI), I am thinking might be doing the same thing.

I am hoping the Topa counteracts it. I see my Dr. at the end of the month and might ask him to put me back on Wellbutrin (I lost 50 lbs on this plus other meds). I've gone up and down and this yo yo stuff isn't good for someone.

[Sarasmiles]

SSRIs other meds and weight gain

Why did you go off of Wellbutrin? I keep hearing it mentioned as a good alternative to SSRIs with fewer side effects. I'm not on anything right now, but I sometimes wonder if I should be. I've thought about asking for Wellbutrin.

I didn't gain weight on SSRIs (Prozac) but I've known people who have.

[hangingon]

SSRIs other meds and weight gain

AD,
Check out a book called The Paleo Diet, I have been on it for 2 weeks and lost 9 pounds, and I have still had a few wine calories I am sorry to say. But I take other meds that make it hard to lose weight and have had great success.
hanging

[hoping4better]

SSRIs other meds and weight gain

Most SSRIs cause weight gain. I've been on several of them, and it's a common side effect. I have read that Abilify also puts on the pounds. My dr. started me on it but when I googled the side effects, soooo many people have gained ridiculous amounts of weight, I stopped taking it. Wellbutrin is really the only anti-depressant I've been on that doesn't have an impact on your waistline.

[Funny Girl]

SSRIs other meds and weight gain

AD - I told you what i thought about your Dr. giving you the Cymbalta/Abilify combo - they are both pretty new drugs - Abilify being the newest & an "add on" drug that may or may not be necessary . . . .another way for big pharma to sell yet another add on with additional side effects, but that's just my lowly opinion . . . .wellbutrin is an old drug with a generic version - probably why he took you off . . . .does he by any chance have a cute pharma rep named "Midge" in a mini-skirt? Look around the lobby . . . . ;-) Kidding . . . .I'm just being mean now . . . .

It's always possible though & one drug on top of another always increases the liklihood that side effects may be magnified. If you did well on Wellbutrin & now your situation has changed, I'd ask to go back to it & lose the cymbalta & abilify combo unless you've noticed some big positive change on those 2 drugs vs. before.

[Anotherday]

SSRIs other meds and weight gain

Sarasmiles;824881 wrote: Why did you go off of Wellbutrin? I keep hearing it mentioned as a good alternative to SSRIs with fewer side effects. I'm not on anything right now, but I sometimes wonder if I should be. I've thought about asking for Wellbutrin.

I didn't gain weight on SSRIs (Prozac) but I've known people who have.

I don't remember. I have been on so many different meds. I don't like being on them so sometimes I just go off of them. Sigh.

[Anotherday]

SSRIs other meds and weight gain

Funny Girl;825079 wrote: AD - I told you what i thought about your Dr. giving you the Cymbalta/Abilify combo - they are both pretty new drugs - Abilify being the newest & an "add on" drug that may or may not be necessary . . . .another way for big pharma to sell yet another add on with additional side effects, but that's just my lowly opinion . . . .wellbutrin is an old drug with a generic version - probably why he took you off . . . .does he by any chance have a cute pharma rep named "Midge" in a mini-skirt? Look around the lobby . . . . ;-) Kidding . . . .I'm just being mean now . . . .

It's always possible though & one drug on top of another always increases the liklihood that side effects may be magnified. If you did well on Wellbutrin & now your situation has changed, I'd ask to go back to it & lose the cymbalta & abilify combo unless you've noticed some big positive change on those 2 drugs vs. before.

Yes, I think I will. I don't know why I went off it to be honest. I don't know why I'm on Cymbalta and Abilify! What I DO know is they are both very expensive drugs and my COBRA runs out in July! I do need to go off of them in the next few months at any rate. Effexor is always an option, but there is the horrible discontinuation syndrome so I think not. Wellbutrin may be the best option, however, I need something for serotonin and Wellbutrin acts primarily on dopamine. FG, I have had way too much "experience" with psychotropics!

[Anotherday]

SSRIs other meds and weight gain

hangingon;824907 wrote: AD,
Check out a book called The Paleo Diet, I have been on it for 2 weeks and lost 9 pounds, and I have still had a few wine calories I am sorry to say. But I take other meds that make it hard to lose weight and have had great success.
hanging

Thanks, I will!

[Funny Girl]

SSRIs other meds and weight gain

Well, if the COBRA is running out, just make sure the prescription allows for the Buproprion (generic) for Wellbutrin. Doctors tend to prescribe the expensive newer drugs when they know you have good group insurance . . . . plus, they have their cute drug reps feeding the office on a regular basis.

I know this . . .I sell insurance . . . .once my folks have to deal with being out here in the individual & family insurance world that I live in with my self-employed brethren, you tend to question everything since benefits tend to be more limited and deductibles are almost always higher to keep premiums more affordable.

[Anotherday]

SSRIs other meds and weight gain

hoping4better;825032 wrote: Most SSRIs cause weight gain. I've been on several of them, and it's a common side effect. I have read that Abilify also puts on the pounds. My dr. started me on it but when I googled the side effects, soooo many people have gained ridiculous amounts of weight, I stopped taking it. Wellbutrin is really the only anti-depressant I've been on that doesn't have an impact on your waistline.

hoping4better,

Gosh darn it! All I ate yesterday was Chinese and one lean cuisine pizza and I gained a lb.! I hate to go off the Abilify as it's so expensive and I've around three weeks left, but that is three more weeks to gain weight! Plus I think it might be helping the depression. In spite of this, I am going to stop taking the Abilify and only take the Cymbalta starting today. Being this fat isn't good for my mental or physical health either. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[hangingon]

SSRIs other meds and weight gain

Ad,
You need to get off the carbs and processed foods. Did you google the Paleo diet yet? I promise you will drop the pounds
hanging

[Anotherday]

SSRIs other meds and weight gain

hangingon;825321 wrote: Ad,
You need to get off the carbs and processed foods. Did you google the Paleo diet yet? I promise you will drop the pounds
hanging

Yes, I did just now. I like the idea of unlimited fruits and vegetables (as long as I can have soy sauce on my broccoli ) I am not a fruit eater but I guess I could force myself. I can do lean meats just fine. I like vegetables. Sounds a bit on the expensive side is the only drawback I can see. Thanks for the info!