Posted by Racer on December 24, 2004, at 10:41:31
In reply to Weight Gain and Meds » MM, posted by KikiCabell on December 24, 2004, at 9:25:48
Most of the SSRIs can cause weight gain, so the Lexapro might be the culprit. Benzos also cause weight gain, so that might also be involved.
Here's a little from my own situation for you, regarding beating yourself up about the weight gain:
On nortriptyline, I gained about 70 pounds. The doctor told me it was my eating habits, of course. That was devastating.
On Paxil, I gained more than 50 pounds before I stopped getting on the scales. Again, it was devastating, and I hated myself.
On a combination of Effexor and Prozac, I gained around 50 pounds again -- didn't get on the scale after gaining about 45. Hated myself, miserable.
I'm currently in treatment not only for depression, but also for anorexia nervosa. You can bet weight gain is important for me, right? I have no idea what sort of body I have, whether I'm a fat person who becomes thinner -- as I always believe -- or a thin person who varies, or a normal sized person. I don't know, because I've never had a period during my adult life when I was not either fat from medications or thin from anorexia. And I blame myself for being fat, of course. It's terrible. My therapist pointed out that, if the meds caused me to gain weight, it was silly to blame myself. I can't get that into my head yet, but it seems like something for you to keep in mind when you're ready to beat yourself up about weight gain. If the meds are what's doing it, that's chemicals in your body changing things -- NOT you getting fat on your own.
I don't know if that helps any, but I hope it does ease the pressure you're feeling.
Meanwhile, good luck with the doctor.
poster:Racer
thread:433204
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041223/msgs/433743.html