-------> Seretonin Inhibitors and weight gain <------

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I have to be one Selective Seretonin Inhibitors to function normally, but they always make me gain a large amount of weight. I normally weigh 140lbs, but on medication I quickly gain to 200lbs before my weight stabilizes. I only 5'6 so this exacerbates the problem. This obviously has health implications, especially on my bunyans (a permanently inflamed big toe joint) and knees.

I am considering taking Xanical over the counter to get back to a normal weight so I can fully regain my fairly active lifestyle. Do you know of anyone who has taken it? So far based on what I have read most people don't have major side effects, as long as you take extra lipid based vitamins

From what I read the benefits of Xenical are small and hardly worth the cost and side effects.

I think so. I've ben taking Zoloft for SAD and I've gained 20lbs. I sure hope it comes off in the spring.

Yup, Im not on SSRI's anymore now.

wait wait wait...

SSRI's and Serotonin Inhibitors are not the same.
If I'm right, SSRI's inhibit the reuptake(destruction) of serotonin from the synapse while Serotonin Inhibitors inhibit the release in the first place.

Those two drugs are the opposites.

Don't get me started about my experience with Paxil! Grrrrrrr...

But, really, I gained a ton of weight...was told on a Paxil forum that it interferes with the body's cortisol levels and goes away about a year after weaning from the drug. I found this to be true.

As far as side effects to the drug mentioned...I would Google: *Drug* side effects. If nothing good comes up, try: *Drug* sucks. Thats' how I found out about others who were having a hard time with Paxil. There are a couple of web sites that give drug info that isn't driven by big pharma...I will try to locate those when I return from work and post them here.

Try searching the drug in wikipedia. It tends to give good info. When I was on Zoloft (about 10 yrs ago) I had an issue with weight gain as well. My son just started on Zoloft but he's underweight so in case it will probably do him some good.

The medications I have gained weight on our Paxil, then Prozac, and to a lesser extent Zoloft (which I'm on now. The gain is particularly bad for me because I have a large Bunyan on my right foot and to a lesser extent some back problems, both of which are made much worse be carrying around an extra 60lbs.

Before I began taking Paxil in 1997 I had been quite obsesed with my weight and exercise. Once I started on the drugs it just piled on I had a huge appetite and just did'nt care about my appearance anymore. I went from 8 stone to over 11 stone in 4 years. I now take Citalopram weight gain not as bad.

Here's some info on Xenical I got through Googling "Xenical side effects":

http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.a ... me=XENICAL

http://www.askdocweb.com/xenical.html

http://www.drugs.com/xenical.html

Most of the problems seem to be diarhhea related, bad diarhhea.

Looks like it is for people who are truly overweight, not like me, who is like a ripe strawberry!

On the topic of SSRIs, some people on the SSRI forum I used to frequent said they LOST weight on Paxil. I have heard that Wellbutrin helps with weight (and quitting smoking)...

I also gained a ton of weight on Paxil, and I've only lost half of the weight from it.

So far I'm the only one who voted NO, so I'll explain:

I got citalopram for my depression. It's SSRI like Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. My weight didn't increase.
Ergo: the answer is no, whether you count depression as AS-related (I'd think it is) or not.

I assume you mean SSRI. I took Celexa/Citalopram hydrobromide, an SSRI, and gained 50lbs in 3 months, putting me at 60lbs over my ideal body weight at that time. I naively believed the psychiatrist when she said my weight would stabilise, and the side effects would "go away soon". This happened to me even though I had never been prone to weight gain in the past.

Anyway, I also took Xenical. I lost very little weight, but I could maintain my weight easier. It was not worth the atrocious side effects I experienced. Diarrhea and anal leakage... I won't get into detail, but I hope you get the idea. Very unpleasant. Very embarrassing. Very disgusting.

I am losing weight because I would like to lose 35 more pounds to obtain my ideal body weight of 160lbs (I am 5'11). Everyday I try to get a fair idea of how many calories I consumed, and I work out to achieve a caloric deficit. I just guesstimate and I usually measure/weight food for my meals too to get an idea of how many calories I eat. And I'm trying to eat all the right things, fruits, veggies, whole grains, little meat. My boyfriend and I cook together to make healthy meals so we do not feel tempted for sweets when we go out. We're thinking of trying a vegan diet for a time, which should be interesting.

An antidepressant which is not an SSRI and caused some weight loss in me was Wellbutrin. That was the last one I tried before I swore off prescription antidepressant medication for good.

On Lexapro I gained a few pounds, but then lost it plus more when I got put on Cymbalta.