Do you take an anti-depressant? Has it affected your weight loss?

Hi there-

I have been reading on the sleeve board and RNY board for a couple of years now. I feel that a big source of my weight gain over the last few years is because I have been on anti-depressants. This is what happens with me: I will be on zoloft for a year or so, gain about 15 pounds, get off because I'm frustrated with the weight gain-lose maybe 5 pounds over a year. Then I realize I need to be back on, so the same cycle continues (gain 15, get off the anti-depressant, lose 5 pounds, etc.) I have been on zoloft on 3 different occasions, then celexa and now pristiq. I haven't seen weight gain with pristiq (which is an snri) but it doesn't work as well for me as the ssri's. Zoloft has--by far--been the most effective for me in treating my anxiety and increasing my level of enjoyment with life. When on celexa, I gained 26 pounds in a year. YIkes!!

I guess my question is-have you been able to stay on your anti-depressant post VSG and do you think it has affected (slowed down) your weight loss?

Is anyone on Zoloft and doing well with their weight loss? Zoloft has been the most effective anti-depressant for me and I would really prefer it over Pristiq. But again-I've not seen any weight gain with Pristiq over the last year, so that's a big plus.  If I switch, I will do a couple of months before surgery. I would love to switch back to Zoloft before surgery but wonder if that's a wise move due to the weight that I've gained in the past. But then I think-maybe I won't gain weight on it (post surgery) due to my restriction and reduction of ghrelin.

Thank you all so much for your help!!

I'm on Zoloft -have been for years and years. I'm on 100mg a day. I don't know if it's affected my weight gain/loss/post-VSG because I've been on it so long. I can say it would be harder to live my life without it, so even if it has impacted how fast I've lost I don't care. I'm down almost 80 pounds in 6 months and I'm terrified of not being on Zoloft, so it is what it is, and it's not bad at all.

Hi there-thank you for your help! Did you notice any gain when you started Zoloft (before surgery)?

Thank you again!

Pam

I never weighed myself back then so I really have no idea. LOL

Here's my take on it - in order for the body to be taken care of, your head has to be in the right space. My brain chemistry state of "normal" is to not talk to anyone, eat, sleep, and contemplate suicide. My brain on pharmaceuticals can actually enjoy the life I have, face challenges, be social (sometimes), and most importantly - take care of the body that comes with it.

So if Zoloft is what works for your anxiety and helps you to be capable of working your VSG successfully then take it! You will absolutely positively lose more weight than you ever have before regardless of what medication you're on. Treat your mind so you can help your body.

Great perspective! I find that life overwhelms me when I'm not on Zoloft. I am a full-time working mother of two little ones and my to-do list is always neverending. I get overwhelmed  by the constant "busy"ness of my life. I feel like I never really have the time to relax and least of all-take care of myself.  I am literally on the move from the minute I wake up until bedtime. Once I get home, it's soccer practice,dinner, bathtime, homework, neverending chores, etc., etc. I feel like a hamster on a constant treadmill and I can't get off. Ideally, working part-time would be the best option for me because then I would feel like I had some "balance" in my life. But working part-time is not a reality in my profession, nor is it an option financially for my family. So I have found that being on Zoloft helps me by not getting anxious and overwhelmed about it all.  I seem to be able to take things in stride better and just go with the flow. I also find that I'm more productive and efficient since I'm not wasting my emotional energy on worry. So it does make sense that I could handle the new change (the surgery and my new way of eating) better with an improved state of mind!

Thank you so much for your thoughts!!

I am not currently on Zoloft but have been in the past. I have never known whether my antidepressant has caused weight gain because I was always eating so out of control. I was on my current antidepressant before my band surgery and lost all my weight. Last fall I had to up the dose because of a fibromyalgia flare and I did gain some but was able to get back down. Since my sleeve surgery I have lost more and am keeping it off in spite of having times I need to up the dose. One thing I can tell you is that often they add Welbutrin to another SSRI to boost it. For some reason it seems to keep the weight gain down. My daughter gained on Lexapro but lost it when they added Welbutrin. You let your Dr. be your guide. In my opinion you should go back on the Zoloft and stay on it until it doesn't work any more. My mental health is far more important than weight. The mental health is what gives me the ability to enjoy my new life and keep from going off the deep end with food.

I started Zoloft about 2 months ago. I haven't noticed a slow down in my loss, it seems to be the same pattern and similar loss. I'm not gaining and lose in spurts, which is "normal" now.

I'm on Zoloft and haven't noticed anything.  Seem to be losing great!  I also didn't notice a gain when I was put on it.  My doc actually put me on that because it has a lower chance of gaining weight...since I was already obese already she didn't want to add to the problem.

B Bear's Mama, discuss it with your doctors, but I recommend you not let being on antidepressants dissuade you from VSG. With VSG, you will most likely be losing way more than the 15 pounds you put on when you take Zoloft.

Also, I recommend you take the Zoloft since it helps you so much, and be stable on it before you have the VSG. The VSG experience alone triggers depression in some people, so you'll need to be in a good place emotionally. 

FWIW, I am on a high dose of Lexapro and Cymbalta, and have been losing weight despite being on them. Would I be losing weight faster if I were not taking them? I don't know, but taking the antidepressants is a must for me, so it just has to be a part of my weight-loss journey. Perhaps that applies to you as well?

Best of luck to you!

I'm still pre-op, so not sure how my answer can help.  But I have experience with anti-depressants.  I have taken Prozac on and off for the past 20 years.  Due to job changes and insurance coverage, I ended up with Zoloft and one other (Wellbutrin?), but have been disappointed with those results.  Prozac, on the other hand has been great.  And, with Prozac, I tend to lose weight. 

But I think it's not so much the medication, but how it makes you feel.  I tend to eat less when I'm happy.  With Prozac, I didn't feel the need to medicate myself with food.  Perhaps it's best to take the medication that makes you feel the best, and your eating will reflect your mood and choices when it comes to food.  That's how I see it, anyway.  My goal is to someday get off antidepressants completely.  I hope that with the surgery, I will eventually feel great about myself and will have the strength to go forward without the help of that little pill.  Having said that, that little pill got me though many difficult moments.  I will always be grateful. 

Oh, and how much weight did I lose?  Usually when I first start Prozac, I lose about 15 lbs.  Once the medication settles in (2-4 weeks), the weight loss stops.  But, on a good note, it's much more difficult to regain it when I'm medicated.