Weight gain/SSRIs

[Anonymous]

I have a question re: weight gain on meds like Zoloft, Paxil, etc.

When people say they gained a ton of weight, is this weight because the meds cause cravings and hunger and thus, they eat more, or is it because of the actual elements of the meds that cause weight gain just "because", not because the person is eating more/less motivated to work out?

[Anonymous]

I think they screw up your metabolism.

[Anonymous]

It slows down your metabolism

[Anonymous]

Some contribution ftom metabolism but majority is increased appetite, often carb craving. Not everyone has this side effect though and it does help a lot to know going in that this is a possibility (to keep an eye on appetite changes/weight/keep your dr informed.)

[Anonymous]

I was told they mess with the chemicals that tell you that you're full, so you feel hungry more often, leading to increased calorie consumption and subsequent weight gain.

[Anonymous]

About 25% of people get weight gain (sometimes a lot), and 75% don't (or find it manageable in that than it doesn't completely fuck up their metabolism). There are actually more serotonin receptors in our GI tract than our brains, and there is a lot that we don't know about how SSRIs affect signaling with these receptors.

[Anonymous]

Doctor tend to underplay side effects of SSRIs, I think because when you are extremely depressed or anxious it doesn't help to be told there is a decent chance you will get fat and have no sex drive. A lot of people experience weight gain, diarrhea, low sex drive/finding it hard to get wet/hard, a need for more sleep or trouble sleeping, and so on. It all seems worth it if otherwise you can't get out of bed in the morning.

[Anonymous]

I've been on them for years at various weights. I think a lot of it - or at least FOR ME - is that the meds improve the issues causing weight loss or weight stagnation. Many depressed or anxious people don't eat much, have racing hearts, etc. No one I know has had issues with weight on them (or at least issues they wouldn't have had if they hadn't been on them).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was told they mess with the chemicals that tell you that you're full, so you feel hungry more often, leading to increased calorie consumption and subsequent weight gain.

this is crap.

[Anonymous]

My DS was put on an SSRI them when he was 8 and definitely gained weight--prior to that he had always been average to a bit under. The new pudginess was undeniable, although, predictably, the psychiatrist said he doubted the SSRI caused the weight gain as it was a "rare" side effect.

[Anonymous]

Weight gain is not a rare side effect.

[Anonymous]

I don't panic over the scale numbers and course correct anymore. 30 lbs gained.

[Anonymous]

I gained 25 when I got off them, but I'm an emotional eater. If I was a person who didn't eat from depression I'd probably gain weight on anti-depressants

[Anonymous]

I gained about 10 pounds during the 4 months I was on lexapro. It sucked. I haven't been able to lose it and it has been a year.

[Anonymous]

The meds actually cause the weight gain.

Some experts will claim that since the person is no longer depressed, they are perhaps eating more since they feel better so that is what is causing the gain.

However, it has been my personal experience that there is something in the meds that causes your metabolism to screw itself up.