antidepressants and weight gain anyone? :(

I was just sitting here thinking about it, I take paxil and pamelor and i have been on meds for mental illness a long time. And now that i think about it, ever since i have been on these darn meds i have gained weight. Its a catch 22 because if i go off of them, i end up in the hospital, but if i stay on them i gain weight. I have tried other ones and different combos but the one im on now has kept me stable for 7 years. The doctor told me to take me off would be an idea but if anyone has gone through a med change, it SUCKS. He said to try and deal with it and keep tabs on what i am eating, i know alot is willpower and what i eat and how.. but its frustrating. Anyone who says they dont make you gain weight has no idea because they do. I have in the last 17 years of being on them have gained about 140 lbs. I lose then gain its like a rollacoaster ride.

I had a pulmonary embolism on 1/13/04 afterwhich I was put on zoloft for PTSS. I gained over 30 pounds in 3 months and a whopping total of 60 by the end of 7 months... I dropped the drugs. I know that for some of us, dropping our meds is not an option but I just wanted to let you know... I understand your frustration with these types of drugs and weight gain! Best of luck, Sallykate

Emily, I was on an antidepressant for a period of time. After our family moved from one city to another the new doc changed my medication to Zoloft. In a matter of months I gained nearly 40 pounds.(That was actually my highest weight ever, too.) I became short of breath and I didn't think the Zoloft was helping my depression at all. I stopped and lost maybe 1/2 of the weight I had put on. A new doctor put me on Prozac which helped me. I eventually was able to stop taking the drug. I say this only because I truly believe that you can gain weight w/o knowlingly changing your eating habits when you are on some antidepressants. There's got to be a right combination for you that doesn't cause the weight gain -- which may be adding to your depression. I've heard a lot of positive things about Wellbutrin. Has your doctor every talked about this medication? Blessings, luvitsunny

yes i have been on wellbutrin, its not for me. i had Seizures while on it. so they took me off... I wish i could go off antidepressants but life is not the same without them. I go through major depression to the point where i dont even get out of bed or even shower. Believe me i still get depressed but its managable on the meds im taking now. Plus i have a chemical imbalance that causes me to have anxiety and panic attacks one right after the other. i have a mental illness with which will be with me for the rest of my life. and unfortunally i must take meds.

i was put on prozac about a month ago, and i am actually LOSING more now then ever before. its worth asking for