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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lainy on February 6, 2004, at 7:47:12
I've put on 60lbs from being on SSRI's for a couple of years. This is not a comfortable weight for me since I'm female and 5'4". My normal weight is 120lbs. I feel horrible and I know I look the same. I've gone from size 2 or 4 to a size 16!
I have a great diet, I eat very little, I don't snack...and I now walk a few times a week.
Has anyone had any success losing weight put on from an SSRI (and possibly benzos)while still on the medication? If so, please let me know your regimen...PLEASE I'M GOING MAD FROM THIS WEIGHT.
LAINY
Posted by SFgirl on February 6, 2004, at 8:52:08
In reply to WEIGHT LOSS on SSRI's - any luck?, posted by Lainy on February 6, 2004, at 7:47:12
> I've put on 60lbs from being on SSRI's for a couple of years. This is not a comfortable weight for me since I'm female and 5'4". My normal weight is 120lbs. I feel horrible and I know I look the same. I've gone from size 2 or 4 to a size 16!
>
> I have a great diet, I eat very little, I don't snack...and I now walk a few times a week.
>
> Has anyone had any success losing weight put on from an SSRI (and possibly benzos)while still on the medication? If so, please let me know your regimen...PLEASE I'M GOING MAD FROM THIS WEIGHT.
>
> LAINYI have also gained 35 pounds from Effexor and feel terrible, I'm going to my doctor today to see if switching to Lexapro and Wellbutrin may be an alternative...at least it may not stop me from loosing weight. I swear right now I could not eat for a week and still gain weight!
EJ
Posted by jparsell82 on February 6, 2004, at 10:17:44
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS on SSRI's - any luck?, posted by SFgirl on February 6, 2004, at 8:52:08
I gained some weight on when I tried Paxil and Zoloft. I did lose weight on Prozac though. Maybe you should give Prozac a try.
Posted by dazed on February 6, 2004, at 11:39:52
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS on SSRI's - any luck?, posted by jparsell82 on February 6, 2004, at 10:17:44
I've gained weight on them all. It's very frustrating. Currently on Wellbutrin and so far am holding my own, at 60 lbs overweight from all the others.
Good Luck
Posted by ramsea on February 6, 2004, at 11:40:01
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS on SSRI's - any luck?, posted by SFgirl on February 6, 2004, at 8:52:08
This subject comes up forever. Wish that solutions did too, but it turns out solutions are very much individually based. Your past history with weight since childhood,stuff like even if your nother/father fed you cereals when you were an infant can affect matters (the study showed that babies fed cereals to make them sleep generated more fat cells which last for life, always in the waiting to be filled up, and leading to lifelong weight problems far more often than babies whose mothers/fathers did not feed them up with cereals to make them sleep). So many variables.
Well, I am in on this suffering too. My plan for now:1) be radically nice about my looks/size and refuse to join in teasing/ridicule of others or even my own critical mind
2) find an exercise plan that really does work for you. Exercise doesn't lose the weight per se, but FTER A GOOD GYM SESSION you'll be burning calories faster. And folks with muscles burn calories faster 24 hrs a day, so you can end up losing weight even in your sleep;
3) find a diet plan you like, possibly with a support group if you like, and stick with it. One woman on meds took 18 months of constant dieting and exercise before she lost even ONE pound. But then she carried on losing weight to a healthy size. Why did it take so long?
Well, it did. So don't think in terms of quick fixes. I have had results more quickly, though I may be at a plateau. I also know I am not watching my diet as well and really I can't "get away" with that. Although I stopped the SSRIs, and Neurontin, which can cause massive gain in some people, U am still on some gainers. But--happily---though on lithium and seroquel, I have now gone down to a steady state at 185. Better than 225, but of course not okay with me yet.At 5'6 and a half I will settle for 150-160 lbs since the lithium is helping so much. But I yearn for pre-med weight, back in 135-140 lb. land. I exercise 2-3 hrs a day.
If you want to talk more about this, med/weight thing, please do. I never tire of this subject. ramsea
Posted by rainyday on February 6, 2004, at 14:39:48
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS on SSRI's - any luck?, posted by dazed on February 6, 2004, at 11:39:52
I am gaining weight while on effexor xr, buspar and vistaril. I eat less than I used to, exercise more than I used to, and I am bigger than ever. ARGH!! I am particularly concerned about extra weight increasing my blood pressure, as the effexor also does this. My head pounds at night while I (fruitlessly) try to sleep. If anything, I am so preoccupied with my weight that it is adding to my anxiety. Plus, my head (just my head) is perspiring heavily. Cold hands and feet, and sweat drips down my face.
Posted by chiron on February 6, 2004, at 21:14:01
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS on SSRI's - any luck?, posted by rainyday on February 6, 2004, at 14:39:48
I have lost weight on Zoloft without eating any less. I guess we are all individual.
Posted by eugenia on February 7, 2004, at 12:37:08
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS on SSRI's - any luck?, posted by chiron on February 6, 2004, at 21:14:01
A family member gained a lot of weight on Paxil and then got down to below his Pre-Paxil weight by doing Body for Life. Of course the nature of a diet seems to be that it ends and he gained some weight back, but now is only fifteen pounds above his Pre-Paxil weight. Probably if he was like me and obsessed about appearance he could have kept off all the weight. I think it is possible. I never gained much weight on Prozac, but I just feel rounder and softer. When I am on Wellbutrin I am a hard body, but also insane so maybe it's okay to have softer edges. One thing, I think on an SSRI DAILY exercise is necessary. I have also started to take Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Green tea extract. I don't place much faith in such things, but they help me feel more in control psychologically.
Posted by theo on February 8, 2004, at 9:27:06
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS on SSRI's - any luck?, posted by chiron on February 6, 2004, at 21:14:01
How much weight did you lose on Zoloft and at what dosage? I'm thinking about trying Zoloft but DO NOT need to loose weight.
This is the end of the thread.
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