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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by katieb on October 7, 2002, at 11:11:03
i know there have been a ton of posts about this but i'm seeing a new doctor next week and want to be able to tell them straight out what i need.
for my GAD, in the past 6 months i have been on 40mg paxil then switched to 30mg celexa because of a hypomanic episode. i have gained about 30 pounds during this time. i can't stand it anymore. i'm only 5'2", 25 years old, and am hitting the point of obesity! i get panic attacks when i go shopping because nothing fits! does anyone have any recommendations for anti-anxiety meds that DO NOT cause weight gain?? i'd rather be on nothing at this point than continue gaining weight and feeling awful about myself.
thanks!
Posted by mscrane on October 7, 2002, at 14:58:03
In reply to must stop gaining weight from SSRI's!, posted by katieb on October 7, 2002, at 11:11:03
I gained a ton of weight on Paxil, and now am taking 10mg. of celexa. It took alot of work, but I have managed to lose the extra pounds. First of all I have eliminated added salt, processed foods, sodas, anything with high fat/sodium content...I drink at least 8 glasses of water a day..I think alot of the weight gain in SSRIs is from water rentention. I also make sure to work out every day...aerobics, yoga, pilates, weight training....I switch daily and it seems to help.
I know this isn't an "easy" solution...it takes alot of work and determination...but it also helps with the depression/anxiety. I think processed foods and the North American diet have alot to do with so many people having these disorders...this all entails changing your way of life, ignoring all the garbage they call food at the grocery store...I was in the States this summer and could not believe the amount of obese (not a few pounds overweight) people I saw...and children too...it was very sad.
Good luck to you...I am here...for support..I understand what you're going through!
Posted by jyl on October 8, 2002, at 13:54:03
In reply to Re: must stop gaining weight from SSRI's!, posted by mscrane on October 7, 2002, at 14:58:03
hi
i am 33 f
was on paxil(20mg)all summer.
honestly thought i was losing weight:(
was barely eating.found out in the er i gained 20 pounds:(
(after md increased me to 40mg)
i am on effexor now
paxil wasnt working for me-
only been a few days now-waiting....
waiting....
waiting....
hope this helped!
jyl
Posted by Mr Beev on October 8, 2002, at 18:05:05
In reply to must stop gaining weight from SSRI's!, posted by katieb on October 7, 2002, at 11:11:03
I should like to second mscrane's excellent suggestions regarding exercise. It is certainly not easy: slow but steady is the key. When I took up jogging, it took roughly two or three months before I started enjoying the mood elevating benefits, but it was about a year before everything "settled in".
From what I have read, sustained vigorous (aerobic) exercise is the only treatment that is virtually universally successful for depression and anxiety: something like 95% of all study subjects have reported some degree of improvement. The exceptions seem to be in severe cases, such as suicidal mania and the like.
I myself have lost very little weight through exercise, and with Effexor I even gained weight, alas. When I informed my pdoc of this, she said Think what you would weigh without the exercise - a good point.
If your anxiety is mild enough, it is even possible that good, regular exercise alone may be enough to combat the problem! My case was too severe for this, but with or without medication I find that exercise certainly helps with agitation and stress. Many find it helps their sleeping pattern substantially as well.
Regards,
Mr Beev
Posted by Gracie2 on October 9, 2002, at 1:50:46
In reply to Re: must stop gaining weight from SSRI's!, posted by Mr Beev on October 8, 2002, at 18:05:05
When I asked my psychiatrist for an anti-depressant that didn't cause weight gain he prescribed Wellbutrin, saying that a lot of people actually lost weight with this drug. I can't vouch for it myself because I found it to be irritating and quit taking it. But that's what the doc prescribed.
-Gracie
Posted by joy on October 9, 2002, at 7:59:24
In reply to must stop gaining weight from SSRI's!, posted by katieb on October 7, 2002, at 11:11:03
I took Prozac for a year with Xanax as needed and gained no weight. You can also have Buspar added to Prozac. We are all different, but I know 3 people on Prozac with no weight gain, but I had to take Xanax as needed for anxiety attacks, and had no side effects from that [small dose as needed]. You may want to talk to your doctor about that. Wellbutrin is agitating to most people and is usually added to a med, but is not effective for most people. Good luck.
Posted by jflange on October 10, 2002, at 20:55:07
In reply to must stop gaining weight from SSRI's!, posted by katieb on October 7, 2002, at 11:11:03
Paxil is a very good SSRI for GAD, but it unfortunately does seem to be one of the worst offenders in terms of weight gain. At the same time, almost all SSRIs tend to cause weight gain, so if you are looking to avoid that, it does not make sense to try another one. You mention you are now taking Celexa - has the weight gain tapered off or increased?
If you have never done so before, you might try buspirone (Buspar), because it does not seem to cause weight gain. However, Buspar sometimes disappoints GAD suffers (like me) when it is taken alone because unlike SSRIs it does not take care of panic attacks, if you experience those at all. Another route would be benzodiazepine monotherapy (ex. Xanax, Klonopin), which does not have any weight gain profile that I know of, but nonetheless has its own drawbacks, such as unpleasant withdrawal and addiction. You can find ample debate and good information on the issue of benzo monotherapy on this discussion board.
Exercise (without medication) does seem to help those of us with GAD reduce tension but don't rely on it exclusively unless you are ready. Best of luck,
jflange
Posted by katieb on October 11, 2002, at 16:27:41
In reply to Re: must stop gaining weight from SSRI's!, posted by jflange on October 10, 2002, at 20:55:07
thanks everyone,
i think i'm going to suggest wellburtin or prozac to my doc. i was on buspar w/ the paxil so i went off that when i ended the paxil. i have also been taking klonopin w/ the celexa to help me sleep. although the weight gain w/ celexa has been slower than with paxil it's still there! i am trying to get into an exercise routine too so hopefully w/ all these changes something will happen.
thanks again!
Posted by mvn_on on November 7, 2002, at 12:26:21
In reply to Re: must stop gaining weight from SSRI's!, posted by jflange on October 10, 2002, at 20:55:07
I was on celexa for a year and effexor for a year to tread GAD. I have gained 30 pounds while eating the same or less and getting ok excercise. I am tired of the weight gain and feel sorta like a zombie so I am trying to wean down to a lower dose and eventually (hopefully...) off. Will see how it goes.
I found a website that offers some info on weight gain from ssri's and a simple method to lose weight using EFA fish oil with omega-3 fatty acids along with natural vitamin E (400iu) supplements in order to affect leptin without interupting the ssri. I am trying it as of last week.
I have seen other articles discussing the metabolic changes caused by ssri's and resultant weight gain. I believe there is a link between the two. If you like I can provide some links to articles I have seen on the web.
Posted by sjb on November 7, 2002, at 12:50:17
In reply to Re: must stop gaining weight from SSRI's!, posted by mvn_on on November 7, 2002, at 12:26:21
I would like to look at the link. Thanks.
Posted by mvn_on on November 7, 2002, at 14:20:22
In reply to Re: must stop gaining weight from SSRI's!, posted by mvn_on on November 7, 2002, at 12:26:21
This is the end of the thread.
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