Posted by Racer on January 18, 2008, at 13:54:36
In reply to Pdoc put me on Celexa does it make you gain weigh, posted by julieandcolton on January 18, 2008, at 9:54:25
Everyone is different, but most of the SSRIs will cause some weight gain over time. The good news is that -- with the exception of Paxil, which is more likely than the others to cause weight gain early on -- most of the weight gain doesn't happen for six to nine months. In fact, many people actually lose weight in the first few months on SSRIs.
While this part of my answer really belongs on the new Neurotransmitters board, the underlying mechanism seems to be the effect on the serotonin in the gut. About 95% of the serotonin in your body is actually in your digestive tract, where it mediates motility and the signals to your brain that you're no longer hungry. That means that you may eat more, because your brain isn't getting the message that you're full, and that the food you do eat will have a slower transit through your intestines.
The reason for the time lag on weight gain is that your serotonin receptors eventually become less sensitive to the serotonin flooding the synaptic gaps. It's as if they say, "Oh, it's *you* again -- I'm just not listening any more."
There are ways to mitigate any weight gain that happens with SSRIs, which you can talk to your doctor about. There are still a few doctors out there who say, "Oh, no -- SSRIs cause weight *loss,* not weight gain." My advice is to walk in prepared to counter that, with a food journal you've kept for a couple of weeks, showing *everything* you've eaten in that time. Include everything you've drunk, too -- "Coffee, 6 ounces, with one packet sugar" or whatever. Also include amounts, so that the doctor can't say, "Oh, see, you say you had a salad, but you must have used half a cup of dressing, for a total of 540 calories right there -- no wonder you've gained weight!" (Hey, I've been through this...)
I'm not familiar with your posts, so I don't know if you have an eating disorder, too? If so, you might do well to get some treatment for that, since it will interfere with your treatment for depression.
Good luck.
poster:Racer
thread:807385
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080114/msgs/807427.html