What medications for depression/anxiety will not make you put on weight?
Monday, April 26th, 2010 at
2:13 pm
Help! I have been struggling with horrible anxiety and depression, and I know I will have to get back on meds to help myself. However, I’m afraid of putting on weight after working so hard at getting the pounds off from being on Zoloft a couple of years ago. Any suggestions of which medications can work without the weight gain?
Filed under: Anxiety Attacks
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honestly, they are now prescibing anti-depressants for paitents to LOOSE weight because the seretonin is responible for that full happy feeling after eating. If you are gaining weight from these medications, it’s typically rare. Cymbalta is a newer agent that has been studied in people that have body fatigue stemming from their depression. This may help, it incrases norepinephrine and Seretonin so you may benefit from the increse in combination. Also, Zoloft’s lead side effect is dry mouth which may be why you felt the need to eat alot while on it. Drink plenty of water and good luck!
My therapist told me that zoloft is neutrel in where it doesnt make u gain or lose weight. everybody is different. i think what really happens with ssri’s is that everyone who goes on them is either depressed or has anxiety which causes peoples appities to decrease then they go on a med and they feel better and get their appitite back and eat so the weight they lost during there suffering they gain back and think its the ssri. i dont know, find something that works and keep on a strict eating diet and exercise and stay active. another thing some meds make people lazy so they dont want to be active, then the weight piles up. i know with paxil i always craved sweets and could eat all day!! good luck, weight issues and anxiety suck!!! i know ive suffered both. i went on buspar and couldnt eat a thing and lost 16 pounds but i felt like crap and had the worst anxiety of my life. but i lost weight lol. it a no win situation.
Wellbutrin doesn’t cause weight gain. But for me it’s much better for depression than anxiety. It actually seemed to increase the anxiety somewhat.
I’d definitely check into it regardless. It’s not an SSRI like Zoloft, Paxil or Prozac so it works differently.
Believe me-I’ve been on every pill you could bring up, & I’m finally on the best one that has helped Depr.& anx.-remerone 30mg. nite, have gained alittle, but NOTHING like the other’s(Effexer,celexa,etc.) maybe, ask your Dr. about this med. good luck!
Wellbutrin (buproprion hydrochloride) is very effective and is known best for not causing weight gain or sexual dysfunction. Wellbutrin is dopemigenic and does not affect your serotonin (the neurotransmitter that effects appetite and labido). Zoloft and all serotogenic antidepressants will cause weight gain and sexual dysfunction.
Wellbutrin is a derivative of diethylproprion, which is a stimulant like substance. Some people don’t react well to it and get the shakes and feel speedy from it, however, these side effects usually go away within a week.
If you decide to go with Wellbutrin, I’ve had success taking the extended release tab (Wellbutrin XL) once daily in the morning, so it won’t effect your sleep. I started on 150mg for 2 weeks and then bumped up to 300mg daily.
Ultimately, it’s your Dr’s call on whether or not you should take this drug based on your mental history. It would be a good idea for you to do some more research and discuss it with your Dr and decide together if it’s the right drug for you.
Effexor is another antidepressant that won’t make you gain weight. However, Effexor is hit or miss, it either works really well or it doesn’t and it comes with a high risk for dependancy making it difficult to stop taking. Another thing you can talk to your Dr. about.
Good luck