Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 47216

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Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???

Posted by Elizabeth14 on October 23, 2000, at 22:37:48

I have taken Prozak for about 3 years and Wellbutrin for 2 and a half. Just in the past year I've had major, uncontrollable weight gain. I don't know which one could be causing it. Has anyone taken either of these meds long term? Does anyone KNOW the long term effects of these drugs?

Thank You.

Elizabeth14

 

Re: Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???

Posted by JackD on October 23, 2000, at 23:29:56

In reply to Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???, posted by Elizabeth14 on October 23, 2000, at 22:37:48

Maybe you should have your thyroid checked... Wellbutrin is known for weight loss, and I think Prozac for weight gain. Either way though, the change in weight shouldn't be drastic, unless the med makes you incredibly wired or lethargic. Try excercing more if you find you're getting bigger.

 

Re: Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???

Posted by Elizabeth14 on October 25, 2000, at 0:56:58

In reply to Re: Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???, posted by JackD on October 23, 2000, at 23:29:56

Jack-

I'm aware that Wellbutrin is known to cause weight loss and Prozak initial weight loss with later weight gain. However, there have been no long term studies for Wellbutrin - 6 weeks for effectiveness evaluation. I think Prozak may have longer studies but I don't think to the 3 year mark where I'm at. Hence, the question I asked... does anyone know about LONG TERM effects. Tell me something I don't already know.

As to weight gain. My thyroid is fine (checked it recently) and I've had no lifestyle changes. As to more excercise... you must not have depression or at least not the same type I do. Depression inhibits excercise. But it's no different than it ever was with me. This weight gain is unnatural, not just a little bit due to age.

Thanks anyway...

Is there anyone who can help?

 

Re: Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???

Posted by Julie on October 25, 2000, at 17:58:34

In reply to Re: Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???, posted by Elizabeth14 on October 25, 2000, at 0:56:58

There are a lot of reports on this board about weight gain with SSRIs (check the archives) with the weight showing up after a while. Paxil seems the worst for this, then Zoloft, but it happens to some people on Prozac, too. There don't appear to be any studies in the med. journals on this, unfortunately.
For example, I went from 135 (which I'd weighed my entire adult life, though I'd lost 15 lb when I got depressed) to 175 in a year, on Zoloft. (I'm a woman, 5'8). I exercised moderately that year, and I think I ate more, but not THAT much more! For the past 6 years I've been working out lots and watching my diet, and I've lost about 18 lb.
Ugh! I am sure that this med alters some people's metabolisms somehow (and increases appetite, especially carbo cravings). But other than the weight, it's been a true lifesaver for me.

I've never known anyone to gain weight on Wellbutrin, but there's probably someone out there who has...
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Re: Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???

Posted by ksvt on October 25, 2000, at 22:29:38

In reply to Re: Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???, posted by Julie on October 25, 2000, at 17:58:34

> There are a lot of reports on this board about weight gain with SSRIs (check the archives) with the weight showing up after a while. Paxil seems the worst for this, then Zoloft, but it happens to some people on Prozac, too. There don't appear to be any studies in the med. journals on this, unfortunately.
> For example, I went from 135 (which I'd weighed my entire adult life, though I'd lost 15 lb when I got depressed) to 175 in a year, on Zoloft. (I'm a woman, 5'8). I exercised moderately that year, and I think I ate more, but not THAT much more! For the past 6 years I've been working out lots and watching my diet, and I've lost about 18 lb.
> Ugh! I am sure that this med alters some people's metabolisms somehow (and increases appetite, especially carbo cravings). But other than the weight, it's been a true lifesaver for me.
>
> I've never known anyone to gain weight on Wellbutrin, but there's probably someone out there who has...
> >
> >
Elizabeth - I've been on WB for about 4 years or so. Over the course of that time I've lost close to 20 pounds although the weight loss never seemed dramatic and wasn't something I tracked. I also don't think it really happened until I got up to a certain dosage level. Recently I've been gaining some weight - maybe 5 pounds or so. I've wondered whether it is related to the fact that last spring I cut back my WB from 400 mgs to 300mgs per day to accommodate the addition of Zoloft. I hated the zoloft and didn't last on it for very long but once I stopped taking it, I never bothered to increase my WB back to where I had been because I seemed to be doing ok. Things are going a little sour of late and I'm considering looking for another augmentation drug - hopefully one which will not result in weight gain. At least with myself, I have found no evidence that weight gain is a side effect of longer term WB usage. Hope this helps. ksvt

 

Re: Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???

Posted by JackD on October 26, 2000, at 13:50:28

In reply to Re: Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???, posted by Elizabeth14 on October 25, 2000, at 0:56:58

Ouch, that was harsh... listen, the weight gain on Prozac and other SSRI's, and the weight loss on Wellbutrin IS over a long-term period!!! That's what I meant. And if you already knew that, than don't ask questions you already know the answer to. As for long-term effects in general... NO-ONE KNOWS! And from your original post you seemed to already know that too.

As for excersise, well, you don't have to make excuses. I've been extremely depressed too, to the point where I didn't even want to get out of bed, but I still managed to pull myself together to go excersise. I never said it would be easy, but if it's that big of a concern to you than you CAN do it.

There has been no proof that these meds cause some sort of severe metabolic change in people's bodies. Any weight loss or gain is simply due too extra energy or lack of energy these medicines may give (Or appetite changes). That means it is totally up to you whether or not you will gain weight. Asking, "Will this med make me gain weight?" is just stupid, cause in the end it is always up to you. Some meds just make it more difficult to maintain ideal weight.

Heh, that's what I get for trying to help. Just because you don't like my answer doesn't warrant a RUDE response. You're obviously looking for a quick, easy answer, which unfortunately there almost never is.

 

Re: Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???

Posted by Charles on October 28, 2000, at 19:01:49

In reply to Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???, posted by Elizabeth14 on October 23, 2000, at 22:37:48

> I LOST 30 POUNDS WHILE I WAS ON PROZAC; I WAS NEVER TIRED Does anyone KNOW the long term effects of these drugs?
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Re: Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???

Posted by Emmanuela on October 29, 2000, at 1:53:35

In reply to Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???, posted by Elizabeth14 on October 23, 2000, at 22:37:48

Hi Elizabeth - My experience with Wellbutrin is
a weight loss - primarily because at the highest
dose (450 mg.) my appetite disappears, and I for-
get to eat...other friends have had a weight gain
from Prozak

Good luck

Emmanuela

 

Re: Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???

Posted by Elizabeth14 on October 29, 2000, at 16:14:10

In reply to Re: Long term weight gain from Prozak or Wellbutrin???, posted by JackD on October 26, 2000, at 13:50:28

I'm sorry that I was harsh Jack D. I appreciate your effort to help.

I guess I get defensive about the excercise thing. I've always had trouble with energy. I've never had any extra weight except now and five years ago when I took Pamelor. Before Pamelor - skinny, not much excercise. With Pamelor, I had lots of enery and started to excercise. I went to aerobic class 2 to 3 times a week the entire year I was on Pamelor but gained weight so fast it gave me stretch marks. Not an ounce came off with the excercise and my diet hadn't changed, just normal diet. Then, hoping that the depression was gone for good, I went off Pamelor. The energy went away and I stopped excercising. Damned if the weight didn't just fall right off!

It's good that your energy doesn't get so low that you can't excercise. But that is a real side effect of depression for some people. Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps attitude is a mental idea not a physical solution to the enery problem. That just disturbed me because that is usually what people say that see depression as completely mental and don't understand the physical side to it. If you take any anti-depressants, you know that boot strap approach doesn't always work. When your body if not producing all the things you need, normal daily activites can drain your energy leaving little to nothing for excercise.

I disagree that anti-depressants don't change your metabolism or something in your body that affects weight. This is just an opinion based on my experience but I have heard others say the same thing. I know there are no long term studies but I also know that these meds have been taken long term so I figured I could get some feed back from individuals.

I just figured that it was very possible that one of my meds was doing the same thing as the Pamelor did to my weight. It looks like it would be the Prozak, not the Wellbutrin from the responses.


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