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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 Kimba on April 6, 2001, at 15:23:45
I've been on SSRI's since '92 and have tried getting off of them several times but experienced relapses after a few months on each occasion. My first 2 years or so I was on Prozac. I lost the initial 10 pounds or so but started upward perhaps 6 mo to a year after that and was soon 20 - 25 pounds above my low weight. Very alarmed, I went to both my psychiatrist and internist and both insisted that on Prozac I should be losing not gaining. The psychiatrist on my insistence that it had to be the the meds switched me over to Paxil - obviously the wrong thing to do since Paxil appears worse than Prozac it terms of causing weight gain.
Another 3 years later, with continuing weight gain and now added menstrual abnormalites and weight related back pain, I went back to all the MD's, and all insisted there was no evidence of weight gain on Paxil - it had to be my eating/exercise habits and getting older. Endocrinology did turn up polycystic ovary syndrome and put me on the pill to even out my periods. At one point I even ate the same low fat balanced diet every day for 6 weeks in an attempt to prove to a weight loss clinician that it wasn't my eating habits, but still the implication was that I had to be concealing food intake since any ordinary person would be losing weight on the program I was on.
The last year has been the worst weight gain even though my dosage was lowered to 10 mg. My mood is fine though.
Now after nearly nine years I am ~80 pounds up and nothing I do takes it off. About a week ago I did an internet search on weight gain and Paxil and turned up this board, many others, and an abundance of information from reputable sources that this is a real symptom. I feel vindicated but still very let down. I have to deal with this weight gain because with the social isolation, self-disgust, and low energy that have come with the weight gain are unbearable.
I started tapering off my dosage the same day and have the spins and nausea, but I'm ready to go to an appointment with a new psychiatrist next week and demand Wellbutrin. Has anyone out there managed to successfully remove these excess pounds or is it a lost cause?
Posted by Christina on April 6, 2001, at 17:07:30
In reply to Paxil and Weight Gain, posted by Kimba on April 6, 2001, at 15:23:45
I am 36 and have gained nearly 40 pounds on ADs (including Paxil, zoloft, celexa, wellbutrin). The only ad where I didn't gain was Zoloft, but i had other side effects.I am now on just 5 mgs of Celexa every three days (for the dizziness and brain slosh). I'm trying to wean myself completely of ADs.
I have started walking and trying to make healthier choices in food, but I have not seen much weight loss yet (4-5 lbs). I keep hoping that once I have all the meds out of my system, I will start to see some results.
Even with an extra 40 pounds, I completely understand the isolation. I hate to go out because i feel like I look awful and none of my clothes fit.
If any one has any tips on shedding weight after meds, I would love to hear it!
> I've been on SSRI's since '92 and have tried getting off of them several times but experienced relapses after a few months on each occasion. My first 2 years or so I was on Prozac. I lost the initial 10 pounds or so but started upward perhaps 6 mo to a year after that and was soon 20 - 25 pounds above my low weight. Very alarmed, I went to both my psychiatrist and internist and both insisted that on Prozac I should be losing not gaining. The psychiatrist on my insistence that it had to be the the meds switched me over to Paxil - obviously the wrong thing to do since Paxil appears worse than Prozac it terms of causing weight gain.
>
> Another 3 years later, with continuing weight gain and now added menstrual abnormalites and weight related back pain, I went back to all the MD's, and all insisted there was no evidence of weight gain on Paxil - it had to be my eating/exercise habits and getting older. Endocrinology did turn up polycystic ovary syndrome and put me on the pill to even out my periods. At one point I even ate the same low fat balanced diet every day for 6 weeks in an attempt to prove to a weight loss clinician that it wasn't my eating habits, but still the implication was that I had to be concealing food intake since any ordinary person would be losing weight on the program I was on.
>
> The last year has been the worst weight gain even though my dosage was lowered to 10 mg. My mood is fine though.
>
> Now after nearly nine years I am ~80 pounds up and nothing I do takes it off. About a week ago I did an internet search on weight gain and Paxil and turned up this board, many others, and an abundance of information from reputable sources that this is a real symptom. I feel vindicated but still very let down. I have to deal with this weight gain because with the social isolation, self-disgust, and low energy that have come with the weight gain are unbearable.
>
> I started tapering off my dosage the same day and have the spins and nausea, but I'm ready to go to an appointment with a new psychiatrist next week and demand Wellbutrin. Has anyone out there managed to successfully remove these excess pounds or is it a lost cause?
Posted by lissy on April 6, 2001, at 22:32:33
In reply to Paxil and Weight Gain, posted by Kimba on April 6, 2001, at 15:23:45
> I've been on SSRI's since '92 and have tried getting off of them several times but experienced relapses after a few months on each occasion. My first 2 years or so I was on Prozac. I lost the initial 10 pounds or so but started upward perhaps 6 mo to a year after that and was soon 20 - 25 pounds above my low weight. Very alarmed, I went to both my psychiatrist and internist and both insisted that on Prozac I should be losing not gaining. The psychiatrist on my insistence that it had to be the the meds switched me over to Paxil - obviously the wrong thing to do since Paxil appears worse than Prozac it terms of causing weight gain.
>
> Another 3 years later, with continuing weight gain and now added menstrual abnormalites and weight related back pain, I went back to all the MD's, and all insisted there was no evidence of weight gain on Paxil - it had to be my eating/exercise habits and getting older. Endocrinology did turn up polycystic ovary syndrome and put me on the pill to even out my periods. At one point I even ate the same low fat balanced diet every day for 6 weeks in an attempt to prove to a weight loss clinician that it wasn't my eating habits, but still the implication was that I had to be concealing food intake since any ordinary person would be losing weight on the program I was on.
>
> The last year has been the worst weight gain even though my dosage was lowered to 10 mg. My mood is fine though.
>
> Now after nearly nine years I am ~80 pounds up and nothing I do takes it off. About a week ago I did an internet search on weight gain and Paxil and turned up this board, many others, and an abundance of information from reputable sources that this is a real symptom. I feel vindicated but still very let down. I have to deal with this weight gain because with the social isolation, self-disgust, and low energy that have come with the weight gain are unbearable.
>
> I started tapering off my dosage the same day and have the spins and nausea, but I'm ready to go to an appointment with a new psychiatrist next week and demand Wellbutrin. Has anyone out there managed to successfully remove these excess pounds or is it a lost cause?
Kimba, I too am now almost 80 pounds overweight!!
I was on Paxil and over a course of a few months my appetite had increased and I was craving carbs and feeling physically sick if I did'nt eat constantly and gained a ton of weight then I got sick of it and really struggled and exercised and dieted and would maybe lose a couple of pounds but gain them back while still dieting!! My G.p. and Counselor acted like I was using Paxil as a cop out for gaining all that weight they kept saying weight loss is the norm. Even the 2 Pharmacists I talked to acted like I was nuts!!! My doctor tried to humor me and switched me to Effexor and at first I lost 12 pounds and I was really excited but after the nausea and dizziness went away after a couple of weeks I gained that back plus 20 to add the 60 I gained on Paxil!! I have given up on A.d.s and am starting St. Johns wort and hoping that will help. It has been 3 months since my last Effexor and I am finally starting to budge my weight loss I have lost about 13 lbs so far but I have far to go. Even though I was on 40 mgs of Paxil My sis-in law was on 10 and gained 45 lbs!!
and she had trouble putting weight on before paxil
she had to drink special shakes to gain weight and still could'nt. but now thanks to Paxil she is about 35lbs. overweight and has'nt lost it yet but she has'nt really tried dieting so it looks like her metabolism isn't going to go back the way it was and by the way, this has happened to her in just a year's time but her doctor tells her it is just that she is getting older. What a crock!! Good luck trying to find doctors or pharmacists that will admit to the weight gain but the infuriating part is that they make us think we are crazy and they are so condescending towards us. I will let you know when a month passes to see if the SJW works and if I have had any more weight loss.
Posted by Joy on April 7, 2001, at 9:34:27
In reply to Re: Paxil and Weight Gain, posted by lissy on April 6, 2001, at 22:32:33
Paxil is notorious for weight gain for many people. I have a friend on Prozac over 10 years and she has not had weight gain. She is not a big eater. I am also on Prozac for almost 3 months [40 mg] and I have lost 5 pounds; I feel a bit of a curbed appetite although I do like my candy. I was always hungry on Paxil and felt bloated all the time. I got off Paxil after a few months. There is no easy pat answer for everybody, but through trial and error I hope you find the best med[s] for you, where you can slowly lose weight and feel good.
Joy
> > I've been on SSRI's since '92 and have tried getting off of them several times but experienced relapses after a few months on each occasion. My first 2 years or so I was on Prozac. I lost the initial 10 pounds or so but started upward perhaps 6 mo to a year after that and was soon 20 - 25 pounds above my low weight. Very alarmed, I went to both my psychiatrist and internist and both insisted that on Prozac I should be losing not gaining. The psychiatrist on my insistence that it had to be the the meds switched me over to Paxil - obviously the wrong thing to do since Paxil appears worse than Prozac it terms of causing weight gain.
> >
> > Another 3 years later, with continuing weight gain and now added menstrual abnormalites and weight related back pain, I went back to all the MD's, and all insisted there was no evidence of weight gain on Paxil - it had to be my eating/exercise habits and getting older. Endocrinology did turn up polycystic ovary syndrome and put me on the pill to even out my periods. At one point I even ate the same low fat balanced diet every day for 6 weeks in an attempt to prove to a weight loss clinician that it wasn't my eating habits, but still the implication was that I had to be concealing food intake since any ordinary person would be losing weight on the program I was on.
> >
> > The last year has been the worst weight gain even though my dosage was lowered to 10 mg. My mood is fine though.
> >
> > Now after nearly nine years I am ~80 pounds up and nothing I do takes it off. About a week ago I did an internet search on weight gain and Paxil and turned up this board, many others, and an abundance of information from reputable sources that this is a real symptom. I feel vindicated but still very let down. I have to deal with this weight gain because with the social isolation, self-disgust, and low energy that have come with the weight gain are unbearable.
> >
> > I started tapering off my dosage the same day and have the spins and nausea, but I'm ready to go to an appointment with a new psychiatrist next week and demand Wellbutrin. Has anyone out there managed to successfully remove these excess pounds or is it a lost cause?
> Kimba, I too am now almost 80 pounds overweight!!
> I was on Paxil and over a course of a few months my appetite had increased and I was craving carbs and feeling physically sick if I did'nt eat constantly and gained a ton of weight then I got sick of it and really struggled and exercised and dieted and would maybe lose a couple of pounds but gain them back while still dieting!! My G.p. and Counselor acted like I was using Paxil as a cop out for gaining all that weight they kept saying weight loss is the norm. Even the 2 Pharmacists I talked to acted like I was nuts!!! My doctor tried to humor me and switched me to Effexor and at first I lost 12 pounds and I was really excited but after the nausea and dizziness went away after a couple of weeks I gained that back plus 20 to add the 60 I gained on Paxil!! I have given up on A.d.s and am starting St. Johns wort and hoping that will help. It has been 3 months since my last Effexor and I am finally starting to budge my weight loss I have lost about 13 lbs so far but I have far to go. Even though I was on 40 mgs of Paxil My sis-in law was on 10 and gained 45 lbs!!
> and she had trouble putting weight on before paxil
> she had to drink special shakes to gain weight and still could'nt. but now thanks to Paxil she is about 35lbs. overweight and has'nt lost it yet but she has'nt really tried dieting so it looks like her metabolism isn't going to go back the way it was and by the way, this has happened to her in just a year's time but her doctor tells her it is just that she is getting older. What a crock!! Good luck trying to find doctors or pharmacists that will admit to the weight gain but the infuriating part is that they make us think we are crazy and they are so condescending towards us. I will let you know when a month passes to see if the SJW works and if I have had any more weight loss.
Posted by Pattisun on July 3, 2001, at 1:36:54
In reply to Paxil and Weight Gain, posted by Kimba on April 6, 2001, at 15:23:45
Your post was a few months back. Have you managed to get off Paxil?
How long did it take?
How bad was it?
Did you do well on Wellbutrin? My sister said to try to slow release, it works better.
Let me know how you are doing. I've been on Paxil for over 5 years and have an extra 80 pounds to get off!
Thanks
Patti
> I've been on SSRI's since '92 and have tried getting off of them several times but experienced relapses after a few months on each occasion. My first 2 years or so I was on Prozac. I lost the initial 10 pounds or so but started upward perhaps 6 mo to a year after that and was soon 20 - 25 pounds above my low weight. Very alarmed, I went to both my psychiatrist and internist and both insisted that on Prozac I should be losing not gaining. The psychiatrist on my insistence that it had to be the the meds switched me over to Paxil - obviously the wrong thing to do since Paxil appears worse than Prozac it terms of causing weight gain.
>
> Another 3 years later, with continuing weight gain and now added menstrual abnormalites and weight related back pain, I went back to all the MD's, and all insisted there was no evidence of weight gain on Paxil - it had to be my eating/exercise habits and getting older. Endocrinology did turn up polycystic ovary syndrome and put me on the pill to even out my periods. At one point I even ate the same low fat balanced diet every day for 6 weeks in an attempt to prove to a weight loss clinician that it wasn't my eating habits, but still the implication was that I had to be concealing food intake since any ordinary person would be losing weight on the program I was on.
>
> The last year has been the worst weight gain even though my dosage was lowered to 10 mg. My mood is fine though.
>
> Now after nearly nine years I am ~80 pounds up and nothing I do takes it off. About a week ago I did an internet search on weight gain and Paxil and turned up this board, many others, and an abundance of information from reputable sources that this is a real symptom. I feel vindicated but still very let down. I have to deal with this weight gain because with the social isolation, self-disgust, and low energy that have come with the weight gain are unbearable.
>
> I started tapering off my dosage the same day and have the spins and nausea, but I'm ready to go to an appointment with a new psychiatrist next week and demand Wellbutrin. Has anyone out there managed to successfully remove these excess pounds or is it a lost cause?
Posted by Kimba on July 3, 2001, at 19:34:43
In reply to Re: Paxil and Weight Gain, posted by Pattisun on July 3, 2001, at 1:36:54
Yes, I'm off Paxil. I tapered off to 10 mg then 5 mg over several weeks. I had nausea and floaty head syndrome but those symptoms disappeared completely after 6 - 8 weeks.
I am taking Wellbutrin SR - it doesn't necessarily work better from what I understand but it minimizes the risk of seizures (which is very low anyway). It works great for me. I tear up at commercials and movies again (that's a good thing!), and I don't have that horrible apathy about everything. I'm not depressed in the slightest. My energy level feels better but that could just be another manifestation of decreased apathy.
I've lost nearly 15 pounds since I stopped taking Paxil 3 months ago. My opinion is that it's worth a try - good luck.
Posted by YMN on July 6, 2001, at 19:23:01
In reply to Re: Paxil and Weight Gain, posted by Kimba on July 3, 2001, at 19:34:43
I have taken Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa and now Wellbutrin. On each and EVERY one of them I have managed to GAIN weight. I tried the Celexa just before I started on the Wellbutrin. After having taken it for just 4 weeks, I had gained 15 pounds. I went to the doctor in tears and begged for Wellbutrin. Well....that has managed to put another several pounds on me! I am afraid to get on the scale for fear I will burst into tears again! All my clothes are tight. I've gone from my petite size 4's to my "fat" clothes, of at least the 8's. I know this doesn't sound all that bad for some of us...but for me this is outrageous. I feel so ugly, this weight makes me want to climb under the covers and hide. It just doesn't seem worth it to me. I think I would rather be depressed!
> Yes, I'm off Paxil. I tapered off to 10 mg then 5 mg over several weeks. I had nausea and floaty head syndrome but those symptoms disappeared completely after 6 - 8 weeks.
>
> I am taking Wellbutrin SR - it doesn't necessarily work better from what I understand but it minimizes the risk of seizures (which is very low anyway). It works great for me. I tear up at commercials and movies again (that's a good thing!), and I don't have that horrible apathy about everything. I'm not depressed in the slightest. My energy level feels better but that could just be another manifestation of decreased apathy.
>
> I've lost nearly 15 pounds since I stopped taking Paxil 3 months ago. My opinion is that it's worth a try - good luck.
This is the end of the thread.
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