Anti-depressant Zoloft and weight loss?

[Jello_gurl]

I'm taking Zoloft and a friend of mine went to a meeting on weight loss. At the meeting she learned that if you are taking any anti-depressant such as Zoloft, you will NEVER lose weight because it slows everything down, you will only gain weight. It seems reasonable and convincing but is it really true? I'm trying to lose weight and it has been very hard for me to do so. I am gaining weight but maybe I'm just not trying hard enough to lose weight? Although it certainly seems like I'm trying.. well I don't know, what are your thoughts on this and are there any anti-depressants that won't affect your weight? Hmmm my choices are to be depressed or overweight... wow I can't wait to make that decision..

[JayKay]

Some anti-depressants show a high correlation between using the drug and gaining weight. Paxil and Prozac are two.

 

Wellbutrin and Celexa, on the other hand, show a much lower incidence of weight gain and use of the drug. A friend of mine, in fact, went on Celexa and lost 12 pounds.

 

I think it's important to look at a person's history; some people eat poorly when they are depressed, so they stay very thin. They may not be excercising much, but because they eat so little, they don't gain. Then the take anti-depressants and it lifts their mood. They may start to eat....as well as cook more often. They may also go to more social events where food is present. If you have a poor understanding of nutrition, you may simply start to eat way more calories than your body can handle. Couple that with no excercise regimen and that's how weight gain can happen.

 

Did you know that as little as 200 extra calories per day can translate in over 20 pounds weight gained in a year? 200 calories is less than one bagel....and about 1/2 donut. So someone who is eating just a little more each day can certainly gain weight.

 

If you start eating a LOT more, you will gain a lot more a lot faster.

 

I think anti-depressants may also affect your metabolism. So you may have to excercise. That doesn't mean running a marathon, but you may need to start walking 45 minutes per day and getting your heart rate up.

 

Also, building muscle raises metabolism. So some weight training is advised.

[alturrnababe]

Anti deppressants, like I have said before, have horrible side effects.Number one is out of control weight gain...speaking from experience...these drugs slow down your metabolism like crazy and this can be very frustrating, especially if you are trying to lose weight already. I wish you alot of luck!

[Fun2BMe]

When I was on Zoloft, it made my heart beat faster, I was sweating a lot as if I was on caffeine, except emotionally I was like a zombie. I lost weight on it to the point I passed out and had to stop taking it. If you tell yourself you will gain weight and slow down, you might fool yourself into doing just that. I doubt you'll gain weight on it if you don't change your eating habbits. Good luck.

[alturrnababe]

When I was on Zoloft, it made my heart beat faster, I was sweating a lot as if I was on caffeine, except emotionally I was like a zombie. I lost weight on it to the point I passed out and had to stop taking it. If you tell yourself you will gain weight and slow down, you might fool yourself into doing just that. I doubt you'll gain weight on it if you don't change your eating habbits. Good luck.

ok fun....i do not agree.I have been on more than one of these meds and i had never ever been over 110 in my life...have always been into fitness...and yet i gained on every single one.....how do you explain that? some people do lose, but a very small percentage...you were probably among that minority.

[alphamale]

what are your thoughts on this and are there any anti-depressants that won't affect your weight? Hmmm my choices are to be depressed or overweight... wow I can't wait to make that decision..

actually JELLO GURL, clincial depression causes total loss of apetite. the medication has nothing to do with it, the clinical depression does. I have seeen a clinically depressed person lose 40 lbs in 6 or 7 weeks.

[alturrnababe]

oh, and by the way...I NEVER changed my eating habits, or my fitness regime.it just happened.

[luvtoto]

When I first started taking antidepressants i gained weight like crazy. i have never been overweight in my life! The minute i went off, i lost weight quickly. I am now on Lexapro. This has been the only anti-depressant that won't affect my weight. I've never had a problem since. i know about 4 people who gained weight also being on other stuff.

[alturrnababe]

lexapro...have not tried that one, heard of it tho.I'm glad you're having better luck on this one, luvtoto!

[luvtoto]

lexapro...have not tried that one, heard of it tho.I'm glad you're having better luck on this one, luvtoto!

 

My doctor told me it's the #1 antidepressant on the market. Few, if any, side affects.

[Fun2BMe]

alphamale might be right in that being depressed itself causes someone to lose their appetite. I had been depressed for a long time so it wasn't a case where I started taking Zoloft and all of a sudden I stopped eating. It's been in the news recently that antidepressents make the heart beat faster and some people have had heart attacks especially from ritalin. I couldn't have eaten a whole meal if I had a gun to my head. It repressed my entire appetite. Maybe the fast heartbeats were caused as a side effect of not eating. I was sweating and had no more weight to lose, it was terrible.

 

The reason why I got off was not when I fainted and was losing weight, but from another worse side effect from the medication which I have posted about before and that was the bad nightmares. I had such terrible nightmares that I was scared to sleep. It was the craziest dreams. My sister warned me about it before I went on because that's why she stopped taking. Now I don't take any antidepressent when I need to because I dont' like any of the side effects. My sister recently started taking Celexia. My doctor had given me samples many years ago of it, it is milder but it made me feel stoned!

 

I wish they could assess an individual's chemicals individually and come up with a dosage and type of medication that would work best instead of all the trial and error. Everyone's body can react differently. Now that I've gained 10 pounds I want to take Zoloft to lose it, but it made me feel numb, my sex drive was a big fat zero, the sweating, bad dreams. I don't know if it's worth going through all of that.

[alphamale]

alphamale might be right in that being depressed itself causes someone to lose their appetite.

hi F2BM, what do you mean that I might be right??? Severe loss of appetite and major weight loss is a documented symptom of clinical depression. The need or desire to nourish ones self flies out the window. This is fact.

[Fun2BMe]

you're right AM. I guess when it's actually happening to you, you try to point the finger at something not realizing it's the depression itself making you not eat. Now that I consider that, I can't for sure say it was Zoloft that made me lose all the weight and appetite even though it seemed like it, especially considering others are saying it makes them gain weigiht.

[alphamale]

Now that I consider that, I can't for sure say it was Zoloft that made me lose all the weight and appetite even though it seemed like it, especially considering others are saying it makes them gain weigiht.

every anti-depressant has weight loss listed as a major side effect. this is because the people who are taking these drugs are already depressed and loss of appetite is a major symptom of depression (as is suicide or suicidal thoughts). so it looks like the drug is causing the weight loss when it is acutually caused by the underlying illness.

[alturrnababe]

fun, i feel bad for you...I had those nightmares too...and zero sex drive.makes you wonder why we bother to go on them...in some cases i'd rather be depressed!

[Fun2BMe]

I felt very suicidal too (sometimes still do). It feels more sane to blame it on somethng else I guess instead of think you've lost it to that degree. My sex drive is still low and I blame it on zoloft even though I've been off a couple of years. Fine, it's all my own depression causing the problems. I'll be a big girl and take responsibility.

[alturrnababe]

I have some depression problems also...so, are you still on anything-i've been trying exercise/diet therapy...also,I went on a site about these meds and alot of people actually are taking omega3 fish oils! i have just started with those and vitamins and stuff....I guess we'll see if they work! i had a terrible time trying to get off my meds, did you have a hard time with the zoloft? i hate to hear about you feeling suicidal....i have been there too, don't be afraid to post i'll always reply!!!

[Fun2BMe]

My depression got worse when I stopped exercising, I just find it hard to fit into my schedule. I don't release as much endorphines or whatever it's called anymore. I take vitamins and I also started taking the fish oil recently. I do notice a difference as far as not being as moody, but once the depression creeps on me it's like I have no power against fighting it and it takes control over me to the point I am too sad to do anything.

 

When I got off Zoloft I too had a difficult time. I felt literally crazy with all the chemicals changing and having no control over finding the right balance. It is a problem I have been struggling with for a long time, I want it to go away. I appreciate you lending an ear. It is something you keep to yourself at least I do. There is too much stigma to say "I was feeling suicidal" or "I feel depressed." My sister doesn't lend an ear anymore. She thinks by not being on medication, I am choosing to be depressed. She doesn't understand how difficult the side effects are for me. She's married, I live alone. So if I feel my heart racing or get nightmares, I don't have anyone to comfort me and I don't want to call the paramedics every time I panic.

 

I've been on the fish oil and vitamins for a few weeks now. I will give it more time to make a bigger difference. I don't know what else to do.

[alturrnababe]

i know what you mean about trying to fit exercise int your schedule...it's hard.I don't agree with your sister about you 'choosing' to be depressed.sometimes, we can get depressed about the situations we are in, but more often than not alot of us were actually born with it....it is not a 'learned' behaviour! i can remember being depressed even as a child,i was always very anxious too.there is alot of stigma still attached to stating that you have depression...you are so right about that,and i do think it's unfair as there are so many people out there just like us who suffer from this....I know exactly what you are going thru, so i am glad to be of help.keep me posted!

[Pink_Tulip]

I had post partum depression with my daughter, and I felt so bad I didn't get out of the house, run around with the kids, etc. Just stayed inside and ate comfort food, lol. When my daughter was three months old, I got on Zoloft. Within 3-4 months I lost 15 pounds, simply b/c I felt good enough to get out and take the kids on walks, and wasn't sitting at home eating all day. I don't think the zoloft had anything to do with my weight loss, except making me feel like my old self again, and wanting to get out and be active. But it certainly didn't hinder my weight loss.

 

Someone else mentioned exercise, and this has been true with me also. I have had chronic depression for years, and I have found that as long as I get at least 30 minutes of cardio at least 3x a week, I don't need the medication. But if I get sick or fall off the exercise wagon, within about two weeks I start feeling 'blue' again. Its a great motivator to diligently maintain my exercise routine, as I don't like being on any medication, don't even like taking tylenol if I can help it. But it was very hard to start! Took about 4-5 months of literally forcing myself to do it before it became habit and something I generally enjoy.

[Groovy]

My ex had a hard time but he did it, lost 40 pds. I am not on Zoloft but medicine that causes weight gain too. I am pretty active and have never been overweight. My only advice is to exercise and eat well! It can be done!

[Fun2BMe]

I had post partum depression with my daughter, and I felt so bad I didn't get out of the house, run around with the kids, etc. Just stayed inside and ate comfort food, lol. When my daughter was three months old, I got on Zoloft. Within 3-4 months I lost 15 pounds, simply b/c I felt good enough to get out and take the kids on walks, and wasn't sitting at home eating all day. I don't think the zoloft had anything to do with my weight loss, except making me feel like my old self again, and wanting to get out and be active. But it certainly didn't hinder my weight loss.

That's another good point Pink Tulip. The Zoloft made you feel better and in turn you ate less and lost weight. Depressed people can have extreme eating habits as far as either not eating hardly anything or else bing eating. Chances are they may be taking antidepressents and blame the weight loss or gain on the medication. I lose all appetite to eat when I'm depressed and maybe that and not the Zoloft made me lose weight.

 

Groovy as far as your comment "exercise and eat well" that works as well as the "just say no" slogan. If it were only that easy there wouldn't be 66% obesity in this country considering we hear that at least a dozen times a day.