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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MB on September 8, 2002, at 19:40:16
Does anybody remember (of those who have had the experience, of course) how long it too for Prozac to switch on them from promoting energy and weight loss to promoting fatigue and weight gain? It's been so long since I've taken it for a long time that I can't remember how long it took before the stuff sucker punched me. I'm extremely depressed and have some Prozac. I am considering taking it to get over this slump, but I want to get off of it before it changes its tune.
MB
Posted by joy on September 8, 2002, at 20:37:44
In reply to How long until Prozac Weight gain kicks in?, posted by MB on September 8, 2002, at 19:40:16
I was on Prozac over a year [40 mgs mostly] and never gained any weight. My friend is on it 11 years with no weight gain. Some people do gain after a few months, but I believe Prozac is the least weight gaining of the SSRIs [Paxil, Zoloft, even Celexa much worse for most people]. If you watch your carb intake you can possibly escape weight gain on Prozac, or at least keep it to a minimum. I definitely would not say that for Paxil!
Joy
Posted by KIAQueen on September 9, 2002, at 8:24:13
In reply to How long until Prozac Weight gain kicks in?, posted by MB on September 8, 2002, at 19:40:16
Hi MB,
I'm sorry, I can't answer your question in regards to the Prozac and weight gain, but I can tell you that there are other medications to treat depression that help you lose the weight as well. I've been taking Effexor XR since last November and have since then lost over 30lbs, and stayed the same for months now. The drug shouldn't be taken to lose weight, I've been taking it for panic attacks but all I'm saying is that it has helped me lose the weight, and kept it off. My doctor monitors me every month, to make sure I'm not losing anymore. I know that alot of people on this medication have experienced the same thing.
Maybe you can talk to your doctor about Effexor, learn more about the drug and it's effects. I wish you the best of luck, keep me posted.
KIAQueen
Posted by Bill L on September 9, 2002, at 8:29:42
In reply to How long until Prozac Weight gain kicks in?, posted by MB on September 8, 2002, at 19:40:16
When an AD like Prozac begins losing it's effect, you should increase the dose. Did you try increasing the dose when you started feeling tired? If for some reason increasing the dose doesn't work, then switch to a different drug.
The absolute worst thing you can do is to be left untreated for depression!
Posted by MB on September 9, 2002, at 10:03:02
In reply to Re: How long until Prozac Weight gain kicks in?, posted by joy on September 8, 2002, at 20:37:44
> I was on Prozac over a year [40 mgs mostly] and never gained any weight. My friend is on it 11 years with no weight gain. Some people do gain after a few months, but I believe Prozac is the least weight gaining of the SSRIs [Paxil, Zoloft, even Celexa much worse for most people]. If you watch your carb intake you can possibly escape weight gain on Prozac, or at least keep it to a minimum. I definitely would not say that for Paxil!
> JoyWell, The most recent (three years ago) experience with SSRIs *was* with Paxil, and I was fine for *months*. I felt my depression lift a few hours after taking it, and that effect lasted for about two months. After I had been on it for a couple of months, I noticed that the enregy and mood enhancement were gone, and a horrible leaden fatigue was setting in. Along with the fatigue, an inexorable, insatiable craving for carbs hit me. I gained twenty pounds in a few weeks. To put it simply, I became obese overnight. It's taken me a few years of starving myself and exercising manically to lose the pounds. I never want to go through that again.
It's been ten years since I tried Prozac, and I don't remember getting fat on it (but I was a young and spry twenty year old...my metabolism isn't as fast as it was then). *However*, it's encouraging that niether you nor your friend gained weight on Prozac. I think I might give it a try. I'm a little wary because I don't have a doctor right now. There are only two psychiatrists in town. One is a meglomaniac, and the other is dissolving his practice to work in the hospital. I don't think self-medicating is a good idea, especially when it means that when I exhaust my supply of Prozac, I can't get any more. Hmmm...making these kind of life altering decisons when suffering mood swings is a pain in the bum!!
MB
Posted by MB on September 9, 2002, at 10:13:34
In reply to Re: How long until Prozac Weight gain kicks in? » MB, posted by KIAQueen on September 9, 2002, at 8:24:13
> Hi MB,
>
> I'm sorry, I can't answer your question in regards to the Prozac and weight gain, but I can tell you that there are other medications to treat depression that help you lose the weight as well. I've been taking Effexor XR since last November and have since then lost over 30lbs, and stayed the same for months now. The drug shouldn't be taken to lose weight, I've been taking it for panic attacks but all I'm saying is that it has helped me lose the weight, and kept it off. My doctor monitors me every month, to make sure I'm not losing anymore. I know that alot of people on this medication have experienced the same thing.
>
> Maybe you can talk to your doctor about Effexor, learn more about the drug and it's effects. I wish you the best of luck, keep me posted.
>
> KIAQueen
Hey KIAQueen, thanks for the reply. I wish I had a doctor right now, because then I might ask for Wellbutrin. Effexor made my blood pressure too high (I could barely hear through the sound of my blood pulsing through my ears...every heartbeat was deafening). Unfortunately, I don't have a doctor, but I have ninety 20 mg capsules of Prozac left over from a doctor I saw a year ago in another state. I quit the Prozac because when combined with the Trileptal I was taking, it gave me Restless Leg Syndrom and rage attqacks. I've quit the Trileptal. I don't think Prozac alone will cause those problems for me (it didn't before). However, I have become more sensitive to side effects the longer I've been on the legendary merry-go-round.MB
Posted by MB on September 9, 2002, at 10:30:48
In reply to Re: How long until Prozac Weight gain kicks in?, posted by Bill L on September 9, 2002, at 8:29:42
> When an AD like Prozac begins losing it's effect, you should increase the dose. Did you try increasing the dose when you started feeling tired? If for some reason increasing the dose doesn't work, then switch to a different drug.
>
> The absolute worst thing you can do is to be left untreated for depression!Yeah, I hear you...and agree. I think it is just my ego and vanity speaking when I consider going untreated in fear of gaining weight. However, I would be lying if I said that gaining weight wasn't a concern...I have to aknowledge my vanity I guess...honesty is an important part of recovery. The problem is that when I am too fatigued to engage with my life, and when I am too fat to have a positve body image, I get depressed regardless of what medication I am on.
My experience is that when an SSRI poops out, increasing the dose or switching to another SSRI does nothing to help. Then I have to face the withdrawal (brain shivers, weeping spells, etc).
MB
MB
Posted by joy on September 10, 2002, at 14:19:50
In reply to Re: How long until Prozac Weight gain kicks in? » joy, posted by MB on September 9, 2002, at 10:03:02
Hi. A general practioner can give you a prescription; you can wait to see a psych if you have problems with dosing. I started 10 mgs about 6 days and then went to 20 mgs; fine for a while but later went to 40 mgs. Took Xanax if necessary [not very often, mostly for insomnia] but no weight gain for me. I know what you mean about Paxil! Oh, those cravings.........
Joy
This is the end of the thread.
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