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Okay, here's something I didn't need! When I first started taking antidepressants, way back in the Plaesticine era, err, uhm, okay, back in 1990, I weighed a very nice 125 pounds and 5'6" tall.
Ah, those were the days. I was thin, oh, wait, but I was anxious, too, so that wasn't good.
I went on my doctor hunt and started taking antidepressants to help my panic attacks get under control. They generally did get under control, but the longer I was on them, the more weight I gained.
Here is a secret ... but shhh, don't tell anyone! It's ten years later and I've gained 100 pounds. Not even nicely spaced out ... such as 10 pounds for each year I've been on antidepressants, that would have been emotionally easier to handle, but the weight gain came in several large chunks. (no pun intended.)
It seems that Paxil is the worst offender. Not just in my opinion, either. Do a search on the web and you'll find a plethora of weight-gainers who point their fingers at Paxil. I've taken Paxil now for 20 months. When I started taking it, I weighed 180 pounds, and within six months I was up to my all time high of (if you repeat this I'll smack you!) 240! That's 50 pounds gained in six months. That did nothing for my self esteem, let alone my anxiety or depression.
I knew that I was gaining, but I didn't give it much thought because I was on a "too high" (in my opinion) dosage of Paxil, 30mg daily, and I was pretty much oblivious to anything except what I kept in the forefront of my mind. (A divorce, moving across country, a new relationship, death of my father, etc.) I would have stopped taking it but it really was helping my panic attacks stay at bay.
Zoloft, well, that wasn't so bad. I gained about 40 pounds on that during the many years I took it, on and off, for my panic disorder. I didn't take a very high dose of that, only 50mg, but still, in total, that's another 40 pounds of weight on my body and conscious.
My first antidepressant, Imipramine (or Tofranil is it's generic name) did much to make me gain. I was only 20 when I started taking that, and it felt like I just ballooned up immediately. I gained at least 30 pounds on Imipramine.
I know you've probably done the math and it adds up to 120 pounds of weight. You're right...but between antidepressants, I would lose some of the weight, then my panic attacks would be horrible again, and I'd go on a new antidepressant.
I've tried several other antidepressants, and couldn't tolerate the side effects of them, so I didn't gain weight from them, considering I didn't take them for more than three weeks total.
Be Leary of Studies... Go From Personal Experience, I say!
Paxil, from all of my reading on the web and discussions with others, seems to be the worst culprit for weight gain. Hey! I found that to be true for me, too! Imagine that.
I'm obviously being really general right here, but most of what I've read would suggest that almost nobody can lose the weight while they are taking Paxil or Zoloft. Prozac seems a bit more loose in that area, people who tried, could lose weight if they worked at it.
Personal experience is where it's at! I'd rather listen to someone who's taken the antidepressant for a long time than some pharmaceutical company (who I am already P.O.'d with for overcharging me for the medicine in the first place!)
Studies have to be funded...and that funding - more often than not - influences the data.
Which Anti-Depressants Do People Say "DO" Make Them Heavier?
* Paxil
* Zoloft
* Prozac
* Effexor
* Basically all SSRI's
* Most Tricyclics
* All MAOI's
* (not an antidepressant, I know...but still...) Benzodiazapines which are used regularly.Which Anti-Depressants Do People Say "Don't" Make Them Heavier?
* Nortriptyline(Brand names are Pamelor, Allegron, Nortilen, and Aventyl)
But Why the Weight Gain Anyway?
Generally, I don't think anyone knows why. There are alot of factors, and so it's hard to pinpoint any singular culprit. Here are a few ideas though.
An increase in caloric intake. (or eating more...because you're more relaxed, mellow, etc.)
A decrease in basal metabolic rate. (you lose your mojo, afterall!) This tends to be my belief - I feel as if my body is in hibernation mode.Constipation causing more "stuff" to be absorbed into your system.
Thank you for participating in any of the polls. I like to see what others are experiencing and I think polls are a great way to go about that!Remember!!! Research studies are most often backed by pharmaceutical companies who can easily twist numbers around to mean anything they want.
Good Reading:
(good, but technical)by Norman Sussman, Md
and David Ginsberg, MD
