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Re: Weight gain on SSRIs

Posted by Anita on March 8, 2000, at 4:01:08

In reply to Re: Weight gain on SSRIs, posted by Shelley (Seattle) on August 26, 1999, at 14:32:01

> I have been on Celexa (now at 80mg/day) for 9 months now, and BuSpar (30mg) for 7. Most of the side effects have passed (sexual delay only happens about one in 10 times, not bad!) I feel much better, but I am not at what you'd call 100%. I am pissed off at having gained weight from these meds, pissed that I have to make the choice of feeling better or having extra weight on my body, which causes me to have self-esteem issues. I gained weight while depressed, which was devastating to me... prior to the 5-year pit I found myself in, I used to run marathons and was training for my 1st triathlon. I even used to teach aerobics classes! I have been making better food choices and trying to get as much exercise as I can, but I am STILL gaining weight. But I feel like a human being for the first time in ages, how can I stop the meds? When I started Celexa, it was a last resort for me. I had tried other SSRIs, etc. and had no real success. I was really ready to end it all, I was in so much pain… and now, I have this weight issue to deal with. It's very disheartening. I am trying to accept myself just the way I am, and I think much of the time I do; the problem is with others. People are very insensitive sometimes. None of us need or deserve that, after we survive the very depths of hell and live to tell about it.
>
> Sorry if I was ranting, but I am acutely aware of this topic today in my personal life.
>
> Feel free to write me if you want to talk about this, any of you. I haven't been posting much lately, but I still appreciate all of your ideas and input :)
>
> Shelley

Hi Shelley

Well what can I say - yet another case of weight gain from SSRI or related type drugs.

They (the so called experts) are now discovering that these type of drugs once thought to not alter weight are in fact causing weight gain just like the older tricylic antidepressants.

Apparently it is a delayed reaction, so in other words you may not notice the weight gain until several months in to the medication. I was prescribed Paxil (one of the worst for weight gain I believe) and was taking this medication for approx 15 months.

When I had been taking it for about 5 months I started to notice the weight gain, and then kept gaining the longer I was on it. Prior to shitty Paxil I was 50 kilos (don't know what that is in pounds, we use Kilos in Australia) anyway I went up to 65 kilos. I had never experienced a weight problem in my life - my mums side of the family are all thin and I followed suit (obviously a high metabolism).

These drugs apparently cause a change in metabolism and an increase in appetite. The usual practice of calorie-fat counting and exercise is ineffective in losing weight whilst on this medication. Whatever you do, do not take Paxil and apart from the weight gain it causes severe drousiness/tiredness and the withdrawal off this drug is horrendous (actually compares to coming off heroin) great hey, why don't they research more into these drugs. I feel as though we are all guinea pigs for the pharmaceutical companies.

Another bit of interesting info. It is not known if all these so called "Wonder Drugs" actually work long term, so if you are taking the drug for 5 or more years it may just stop working one day.

I'd say its Celexa causing the weight gain. I don't know much about Buspar to comment on that one. I do know one thing though, I can certainly relate to how you feel. I was on Paxil for anxiety and ended up depressed because of the weight gain, sort of defeats the purpose hey. I have been off Paxil since 26 August 1999 and it has taken me this long to lose the weight that I gained. I am now taking a medication called Aurorix but it is not working at all, so I'm back to the Doctors on Friday to discuss something else (which does not cause weight gain)

Good luck to you

Reply back and let me know how you are going

Anita


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