Do all anti depressant & anti-anxiety meds cause weight gain?

[Anonymous]

I have gained about 30 pounds since I started taking Zoloft. I NEED to take something but I wondered if all similar medications had similar side effects. I hate to mess with it (because it's working) but the extra weight is horrible. Even with exercise and proper diet I can't shed the pounds. So frustrating.

Any advice would be appreciated- Thanks.

[Anonymous]

side effects vary. Work with your doc to find another drug.

[Anonymous]

Lexapro is supposed to be not as bad on the weight front. Wellbutrin is good as well, though not meant for people with anxiety-led depression. More for pure depression.

[Anonymous]

Wellbutrin is good for weight gain but it is activating so if you have anxiety it is a no go

[Anonymous]

My teen daughter takes Zoloft and she's thin as a rail. Maybe lower the dose.

[Anonymous]

Effexor doesn't generally lead to weight gain. Also, sometimes adding low dose wellbutrin to an SSRI blunts the negative side effects without causing anxiety. Results vary.

[Anonymous]

Wellbutrin (bupoprion or something like that) is also sometimes used as a weight loss drug, but it's an upper, so definitely not for anxiety.

[Anonymous]

I'm on Wellbutrin and do have anxiety. It hasn't been a problem... it doesn't solve the anxiety but hasn't made it worse for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have gained about 30 pounds since I started taking Zoloft. I NEED to take something but I wondered if all similar medications had similar side effects. I hate to mess with it (because it's working) but the extra weight is horrible. Even with exercise and proper diet I can't shed the pounds. So frustrating.

Any advice would be appreciated- Thanks.

OMG I could have written this exact post. Zoloft works for my depression/slight anxiety but it makes me want to eat sweets like you wouldnt believe, so I've gained 30 pounds. I got Zoloft from my primary care doctor and I've tried Wellbutrin - made me so anxious. I'm going to see a therapist next week to discuss what would be the best option for me. Good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

I hear ya!
I also take Zoloft for anxiety issues + have gained weight as well...about 35 lbs. total.

I hated how I looked and went off the meds for a yr and while I lost the lbs. and people told me I looked wonderful, inside I felt just awful.

I had to weigh the pros and cons and realized it is just one of life's trade~offs.
There is no "magic pill" that will fix a problem w/out a side effect. It just doesn't exist.

I would recommend the medication Medformin.
It is prescribed for diabetics to stabilize blood sugar, etc. however my Dr. prescribed it for me to help w/the weight gain.

Ask your Dr. and see what he/she thinks.

Good luck!!~

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have gained about 30 pounds since I started taking Zoloft. I NEED to take something but I wondered if all similar medications had similar side effects. I hate to mess with it (because it's working) but the extra weight is horrible. Even with exercise and proper diet I can't shed the pounds. So frustrating.

Any advice would be appreciated- Thanks.

OMG I could have written this exact post. Zoloft works for my depression/slight anxiety but it makes me want to eat sweets like you wouldnt believe, so I've gained 30 pounds. I got Zoloft from my primary care doctor and I've tried Wellbutrin - made me so anxious. I'm going to see a therapist next week to discuss what would be the best option for me. Good luck OP.

This is the issue - and I say this as a heavy person on meds as well. The drugs themselves don't make you gain. They make you want to eat, which makes you gain. Also, a lot of people go on the drugs because they are depressed or anxious, and often not eating as a result - when they feel better, they eat more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have gained about 30 pounds since I started taking Zoloft. I NEED to take something but I wondered if all similar medications had similar side effects. I hate to mess with it (because it's working) but the extra weight is horrible. Even with exercise and proper diet I can't shed the pounds. So frustrating.

Any advice would be appreciated- Thanks.

OMG I could have written this exact post. Zoloft works for my depression/slight anxiety but it makes me want to eat sweets like you wouldnt believe, so I've gained 30 pounds. I got Zoloft from my primary care doctor and I've tried Wellbutrin - made me so anxious. I'm going to see a therapist next week to discuss what would be the best option for me. Good luck OP.

This is the issue - and I say this as a heavy person on meds as well. The drugs themselves don't make you gain. They make you want to eat, which makes you gain. Also, a lot of people go on the drugs because they are depressed or anxious, and often not eating as a result - when they feel better, they eat more.

This is a common misconception.
People assume that just because someone is no longer depressed, they are going to eat more and more.

This is just an uneducated myth.
The medication CAUSES weight gain.....not the lack of depression.

If that was the case, all happy folks would be fat, right??!

[Anonymous]

Call me crazy...but I swear not only Zoloft stimulates my appetite. I feel good on it but all I want to do is lay around and do nothing.

[Anonymous]

Vybrid is a new anti-dep that is supposed to be like paxil or lexapro plus buspar (anti-anxiety) together without the weight gain or sexual side effects. Atleast that is how it is marketed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call me crazy...but I swear not only Zoloft stimulates my appetite. I feel good on it but all I want to do is lay around and do nothing.

I concur.

The good thing though is I am NEVER bored...even if I am doing nothing.

Life is much easier to manage when my emotions are in check. I am always content w/the status quo.

However, before Zoloft I had the energy of 12 3 yr olds. I got so much done back then.

Now I just wish I could sit around the house all day, read, watch reality T.V. and go on dcurbanmom.com.