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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by gena88 on February 17, 2003, at 2:55:03
Been slowly (and luckily, smoothly) weaning off Paxil CR for the past 2-3 weeks. Was on it for OCD & anxiety. Decided to go off it because of major weight gain over the past 6 months. The weight gain is now a greater concern to me than the anxiety for which it was initially prescribed. Granted, it helped my anxiety tremendously, but after having a baby less than a year ago, the last thing I wanted to do was GAIN weight! Was on Prozac a number of years ago for PMS, which helped perk me up but did nothing for my anxiety. It (Prozac) also caused me a great deal of constipation & diarrhea, and when I informed my OB/GYN, she said she had not heard of it causing this. (Needless to say I have a different OB/GYN now). The weight gain I experienced with Prozac was not NEARLY as bad as with Paxil. My shrink had me up to 75 mg of Paxil CR before I decided it was more than I could handle, as I had difficulty functioning and managing my time, and my husband thought I was a zombie! That stuff made me soooo tired. Had a fantasy of escaping to a hotel just to sleep for a week or two! My shrink was fine with me wanting to quit. If I should need a new drug down the road, he suggested possibly Lexapro. But if there's weight gain involved, forget it! Anyone know of a weight gain connection with Lexapro? And what about herbal stuff like St. Johns or Kava - any weight gain associated with those? I would never recommend Paxil to anyone because of this terrible side effect that the manufacturer conveniently fails to mention. I'm scared I'm going to continue to have trouble losing the weight once I'm completely weaned - I really hope the "damage" isn't a permanent sort of thing.
Posted by missinglynxx on February 17, 2003, at 13:23:47
In reply to Weight gain with Lexapro?, posted by gena88 on February 17, 2003, at 2:55:03
> Been slowly (and luckily, smoothly) weaning off Paxil CR for the past 2-3 weeks. Was on it for OCD & anxiety. Decided to go off it because of major weight gain over the past 6 months. The weight gain is now a greater concern to me than the anxiety for which it was initially prescribed. Granted, it helped my anxiety tremendously, but after having a baby less than a year ago, the last thing I wanted to do was GAIN weight! Was on Prozac a number of years ago for PMS, which helped perk me up but did nothing for my anxiety. It (Prozac) also caused me a great deal of constipation & diarrhea, and when I informed my OB/GYN, she said she had not heard of it causing this. (Needless to say I have a different OB/GYN now). The weight gain I experienced with Prozac was not NEARLY as bad as with Paxil. My shrink had me up to 75 mg of Paxil CR before I decided it was more than I could handle, as I had difficulty functioning and managing my time, and my husband thought I was a zombie! That stuff made me soooo tired. Had a fantasy of escaping to a hotel just to sleep for a week or two! My shrink was fine with me wanting to quit. If I should need a new drug down the road, he suggested possibly Lexapro. But if there's weight gain involved, forget it! Anyone know of a weight gain connection with Lexapro? And what about herbal stuff like St. Johns or Kava - any weight gain associated with those? I would never recommend Paxil to anyone because of this terrible side effect that the manufacturer conveniently fails to mention. I'm scared I'm going to continue to have trouble losing the weight once I'm completely weaned - I really hope the "damage" isn't a permanent sort of thing.
Yea, you are in a real bind. you work your tail off to lose weight and maximise your appearance and some :lousy: medication ruins it for you.
Can I suggest something?
Go with a Tricyclic medication, you wont gain weight.
You will have a VERY dry mouth, constipation etc
You will MOST likely not lose any sexual drive
Nortriptyline or Elavil are good ones
I take the NortriptylineYou might find some atypical Psychotics to be good anti-depressants
OR you may NOT Want to go down that road, its your call.
Nortrip has a NICE upbeat feel,,,,,and damn good potency
Avoid Zyprexa and wellbutrin
Posted by jodie on February 17, 2003, at 22:20:57
In reply to Weight gain with Lexapro?, posted by gena88 on February 17, 2003, at 2:55:03
Ok, I'm scared of the Paxil CR now!!!
Question, did you have an appetite increase from the med, or did you maintain the same appetite, but still gain weight? I know when I gained weight from Depakote, I ate a lot. I was hungry ALL the time. But a friend of mine gained weight on Depakote, but she wasn't eating more.
Jodie
Posted by gena88 on February 18, 2003, at 1:26:41
In reply to Weightloss medications for Gena/anyone else, posted by missinglynxx on February 17, 2003, at 13:23:47
To lynx - thanks for your response. I'd always considered tricyclics a thing of the past, but they definitely may be worth a second look. I'll trade the pot belly for a dry mouth any day!
Posted by gena88 on February 18, 2003, at 2:03:11
In reply to Re: Weight gain with Lexapro? » gena88, posted by jodie on February 17, 2003, at 22:20:57
hi jodie, I pretty much have maintained the same appetite - a "healthy" one, for the most part, allowing for a few exceptions. When I discovered my clothes were getting tight, I made a serious effort to cut back, but the extra weight didn't budge. I spoke briefly with a pharmacist on the telephone, who claimed all the SSRI's cause weight gain and that dieting and exercise wouldn't make a difference as long as I was taking the medication. It was very strange to hear that. And depressing! There are different theories as to how the medication causes weight gain. Then of course it all depends on the individual, too. Wish it wasn't so complicated! Good luck!
Posted by NOTINSANEJUSTPPMD on February 19, 2003, at 0:48:21
In reply to Re: Weight gain with Lexapro?, posted by gena88 on February 18, 2003, at 2:03:11
I gain 55 lbs last year on Zyprexa! And i was taking Wellbutrin 150 twice daily. I could not lose weight for nothing! I was switched to Lexapro in November and I still am taking my Wellbutrin as always and I have actually started to lose weight I have lost 15 lbs since November and it just keeps melting off. With a nice low carb diet and between cleaning and chasing two kids around a two story house I am very excited with my loss and that I am feeling back to my old self again! And I haven't known her for over 6 years! :) Good Luck
Posted by male34 on February 19, 2003, at 8:45:54
In reply to Weight gain with Lexapro?, posted by gena88 on February 17, 2003, at 2:55:03
> Been slowly (and luckily, smoothly) weaning off Paxil CR for the past 2-3 weeks. Was on it for OCD & anxiety. Decided to go off it because of major weight gain over the past 6 months. The weight gain is now a greater concern to me than the anxiety for which it was initially prescribed. Granted, it helped my anxiety tremendously, but after having a baby less than a year ago, the last thing I wanted to do was GAIN weight! Was on Prozac a number of years ago for PMS, which helped perk me up but did nothing for my anxiety. It (Prozac) also caused me a great deal of constipation & diarrhea, and when I informed my OB/GYN, she said she had not heard of it causing this. (Needless to say I have a different OB/GYN now). The weight gain I experienced with Prozac was not NEARLY as bad as with Paxil. My shrink had me up to 75 mg of Paxil CR before I decided it was more than I could handle, as I had difficulty functioning and managing my time, and my husband thought I was a zombie! That stuff made me soooo tired. Had a fantasy of escaping to a hotel just to sleep for a week or two! My shrink was fine with me wanting to quit. If I should need a new drug down the road, he suggested possibly Lexapro. But if there's weight gain involved, forget it! Anyone know of a weight gain connection with Lexapro? And what about herbal stuff like St. Johns or Kava - any weight gain associated with those? I would never recommend Paxil to anyone because of this terrible side effect that the manufacturer conveniently fails to mention. I'm scared I'm going to continue to have trouble losing the weight once I'm completely weaned - I really hope the "damage" isn't a permanent sort of thing.
*************ive done lots of research and q/ people on lex for long time no weight gain . i gained on paxil also, im on lex 3 weeks no weight gain i know 3 weeks is not long but ,good luck
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