Posted by Flipsactown on February 15, 2004, at 14:56:29
In reply to So Many Meds, So Little Time: double weight gain?, posted by Lindsay Rae on February 14, 2004, at 14:03:12
Hey Lindsay,
I have been on ADs for over 12 years and I agree with you that we are gaining weight because of multiple ADs. I am currently on 100mg prozac, 90mg remeron, 400mg lamictal and 900mg lithium. On top of that I take 160mg of oxy. I have gain at least 50 lbs since I started taking prozac and the others. I watched my diet and walked on a daily basis and no matter what I did to diet, I gained weight. It was either that or depression.
Flipsactown
>I have read many of the posts about Lexapro and weight gain. I want to add my story to these posts, but I am on a medication that has absolutely, without a doubt cause me to gain weight. So what I want to know is, am I gaining some weight from one drug and more from another? I feel like stopping all meds, one at a time, because I would be a thousand times happier at a normal weight. Here's my regimine:
>
> I am currently on 120 mg Methadone, I was on Zoloft but switched to Lexapro (which one is worse for weight???), I take 1mg Xanax at bedtime which makes me crave sweets insatiably, and I had a baby in September of 2002. I gained the weight after a year on Methadone and AFTER having the baby. I went from 145 down to 120 on a Vodka and Vicodin diet in 2001, and up to 150 with the pregnancy. After giving birth, this past year I've gained upwards of 30 more pounds, and I can't even stand to look in the mirror. I started the Zoloft one year ago. Does anyone think that some of the weight is from the antidepressants? Now that I have Medicaid again, I want to switch to one of those very expensive A/D's that my therapist mentioned (can't think of the names), that don't cause weight gain. As it stands right now, I'm 27 with a 17 month old baby whose dad just died in November, looking for new employment, hopefully at the local mental health/substance abuse facility. My self esteem has all but shattered, and the constipation and stopped menstrual cycle leave me bloated and uncomfortable. I have been happier lately, and I think switching from Zoloft to Lexapro may be the reason. But now that I'm actively looking for jobs that I'll be happy with, a task I've avoided for one reason or another since college graduation, that is a huge contributing factor to my newfound energy and positivity.
>
> So the "chicken or the egg" riddle is what I'm working with now. Does the medication make me feel more confident, or am I feeling good as a result of taking steps towards a new life? I think I should reduce my Methadone dose, try to drop the AD's, and lay down after taking the Xanax, so I'll sleep and not eat cereal till 3 am. If I still don't lose weight, I don't know what I'll do. Something's got to give; does everyone agree that it is a combination of meds and activities that keep me gaining weight?
>
> Sorry for rambling! I'd just like some unbiased input!
>
> Sincerely,
> Lindsay
poster:Flipsactown
thread:313270
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040215/msgs/313639.html