Depression and Weight IssuesHave you been diagnosed with depression, are possibly on depression medication, and find it affects your weight loss efforts? Post here for support!
Hi everybody. Remember me? I went to see a specialist, and was prescribed Paxil for my depression.
I started to do some research, and found that Paxil causes weight gain, despite my physician's promise that it won't.
My weight was contributing factor to my depression. I just wanted to stop obsessing over food and stop hating myself. But if I keep taking Paxil, and it makes me gain, I'm afraid to imagine what I'll do to myself. The pain of binging and crying is bad enough.
So I've decided not to take Paxil anymore. I feel the difference. I'm compulsive again. I've gotten used to feeling "normal" on the pills. Now I'm back to my abusive abnormal self. Today, I couldn't sit still and focus on my studying. I wanted to stuff my face so badly. Luckily, I didn't.
I actually ate like this today:
B:milk and oatmeal
L:chicken alfredo
and here was where the binge started to happen. I took out a piece of bread to seep up the left over alfredo sauce. Then I started cutting up and orange. Then I reached in the fridge for last night's ribs. But I put the ribs back. It took every ounce of willpower, but I put it back.
D: 1/2 a chicken, rice and about 4 cups of vegetables. I'm so full I can't move. again.
I've gone through 2 packs of gum, as well. I'm going insane. I can't keep this up any longer.
Have any of you experienced this? How did you ever overcome it? It seems I'm always asking for help. I wish I could help myself for once.
Hon I think you should give it some time (the paxil). I can tell you that it did not make my mom gain weight, quite the opposite, it made her lose weight. Everyone is different. You have to go by how you feel and not what you read. Like I said to you in my last post. Do not give up. If paxil freaks you out, talk to your doctor and get something else, there's a bunch of other meds you can try. But in all honesty it sounds like Paxil is working for you, making you feel "normal" as you put it.
Please go back to your doctor and talk to her about it. By you taking control is helping yourself.
Hugs !!!! and hang in there. There is no overnight cure, its gonna take time, and one other thing, be kind to yourself.
Absolutely......GBMini, it takes more than a few days for the medication to build up in your system. Sometimes reading aboout side-effects makes you hunt for them....(my brother always tellls me that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing).
call your doctor and tell him/her how you are responding. Let him make the decision to change or stop meds....anti-depressants should NOT be stopped all at once, it's a gradual process to avoid certain side-effects.
Be kind to yourself.....you are not the only one who has ever grazed through the fridge mindlessly while telling yourself not to....... it's happened more times than I can count. We're overeating to mask another problem, whether it be emotional or psychological or an incident we have no control over.....(I ate a huge amount one time when I recieved my water and sewar bill that had doubled)
Hang in there.......and remember it takes 6 weeks to really feel good.......and see the full effect of the medication. I was on paxil once for 6 months and I lost weight.......I had felt so bad for so long.........that once that medication kicked in I felt so good......my house was never cleaner...and I had so much energy I never sat still. I felt better so I spent more times with others, so less time to sit around and eat.
I can only share my experiences.......I hope you can find the solutions and support you need to be content and successful.
SWITCH TO ZOLOFT, it is very much like paxil but less side effect of gaining weight, also you might try overeaters ann. It is a 12 step program, much like AA, give it a try.
hugz...
Wow I can tell you -- I've been there! I've been prescribed Depakote ER for mood swings and bipolar disorder, and that makes you gain weight like a mother. I'd say I gained a good 30 pounds from those suckers. But it drops off after a while. It'll be okay. It's better to be emotionally balanced TRUST ME! It will make weight loss so much easier.
My Dr. put me on paxil and I told her I have ADD, but she didn't listen. Not only do i have ADD, but also low blood pressure. I couldn't concentrate, I nearly passed out in the shower... bad bad stuff.
My Dr. put me on paxil and I told her I have ADD, but she didn't listen. Not only do i have ADD, but also low blood pressure. I couldn't concentrate, I nearly passed out in the shower... bad bad stuff.
Oy, bad call on the doctors part thats for sure. But Paxil does wonders for alot of people. Its like anything, some things work for some folks and others don't.
Can I ask why ADD and Antidepressants are a consern? I ask b/c I have adhd as well.
I do have low blood pressure. Sometimes my heart pulsates at 80 beats per minute. NOrmal range is 68-72 beats per minute. My mom is worried about me. I told her I have the pills in my drawer, but I refuse to eat it. I'm especially worried, after reading these posts, because I think I'm susceptible to weight gain more than anything else. I spent another 2 hours last night crying. It feels horrible, waking up each day knowing I'm going to screw myself up. I just binged. I had a whole brand new package of Premium Plus crackers 5 egg rolls. I don't feel full, though. What to do, what to do?
I really don't want to live like this. And it seems like I've already taken the steps to help myself. But I feel myself getting worse. Sometimes it seems like the only way out of this is if I just -didn't- live like this. But then I can't imagine the pain it'd bring my mom if I just killed myself. I feel myself getting closer to death each day. I'm going to get diabetes and get a stroke because I can't control my damn bingeing. I've gone to a counsellor, a physician, the pharmacist...I just can't do it. To think I used to be able to walk out onto the street and feel happy to be alive. I don't think I've been happy for a long time.
Sorry to bring everyone down. I'm just a wreck. I've already dragged my family down with me, emotionally at least.
Gonna, before I say anything the first thing you need to do is discuss this feeling of you wanting to die with your Mom. You HAVE to let her know so she can help you. Then you need to go back to your doctor, this is serious and shouldn't be taken lightly okay sweetie !!!!
While you were taking the Paxil, you felt like a "normal" person, so my question to you is, why don't you just take them? When you start feeling good about yourself that will also help you deal with your eating in a much better light. I do understand how you feel, believe me. Hon, deal with one thing at a time, your putting to much on your shoulders right now. And the worst thing you could do to yourself and your family is die. There really is no easy way but you have to start some where. Like I said Paxil helped my mom lose weight, everyone is different. You said it yourself that the paxil helped you control the binging and we all know that binging will make you gain weight faster than any ol pill will. Again, there are all differnt medications out there to try.
Life is good sweetie, it really is. You just need to find what works for you, don't give up now !!! Just know your not alone and that millions of people share the same problem. Again, be kind to yourself. Talk to your doctor, one trip isn't going to solve your problems, so go back and get the help you deserve to have. You do deserve to be happy ya know.
My experience with meds.... I have major depression and have taken several anti depressents. I started on Celexa and it worked well at first, then made me sleepy. I switched to Zoloft and that was horrible. I actually fell asleep while driving my car. I then switched to effexor. It worked great. I started losing weight, felt better, etc. I found out I was pregnant and was switched to Prozac. Let me tell you... Prozac rocks. i had no post partum depression. I was doing so well, my ob took me off all meds. Did fine for about 6 months, then needed to get back on. They put me on effexor again and it didnt work as well. I went back to my shrink and started back on the prozac. It was awesome, I lost alot of weight, felt wonderful. After awhile it started to not work so well, so I was switched to lexapro. Not good at all. I am currently unmedicated and considering going back on.
My point is this. Its a rollercoaster. Your body develops tolerance to the meds, so you have to switch them to keep it working. Its a pain in the ***, but there it is. As far as weight gain, I think they all have potential to cause weight gain or weight loss. And the one that made you lose weight at first my start making you gain, and vice versa. DO NOT STOP YOUR MEDS WITHOUT TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR!! Bad things can happen.
I've heard a lot of bad things about Paxil. Talk to your doc and see if you can try a different med. And keep trying different meds till you find one that works.
I commend you for recognizing that you have a problem and for reaching out for help. You have the means to help yourself, you have medication that will help you come to grips with your way of thinking. You said you did some research and found that Paxil may lead to weight gain. I've also done lots of research on anti-depressants and especially on Paxil because my husband was taking it and all the research says Paxil MAY lead to weight gain, it is a potential side effect. That doesn't mean that you will gain weight and you never said that you had started to gain weight. In my opinion when you are better in your thinking you will be able to cope better with your eating and be able to plan and implement for coping with your eating disorders. You said you were feeling better about things, wouldn't you like to be that way again?? Please start taking your meds again. If you do gain weight you will be better able to deal with that when your thinking is better. Give the med a chance to work and don't worry about your weight right now. You said about getting diabetes and having a stroke. Sorry to tell you this but thin people who have led perfectly healthy lives who exercise and eat right get diabetes and strokes. There are some factors you can't control. there is a factor you can control and that is taking your medication so that your thinking is better and then you can cope with some of the other factors such as diet and exercise. I hope you will listen to all the excellent advice given here and either start taking your meds again and/or going back to your dr for more help.
I do have low blood pressure. Sometimes my heart pulsates at 80 beats per minute. NOrmal range is 68-72 beats per minute. My mom is worried about me. I told her I have the pills in my drawer, but I refuse to eat it. I'm especially worried, after reading these posts, because I think I'm susceptible to weight gain more than anything else. I spent another 2 hours last night crying. It feels horrible, waking up each day knowing I'm going to screw myself up. I just binged. I had a whole brand new package of Premium Plus crackers 5 egg rolls. I don't feel full, though. What to do, what to do?
I really don't want to live like this. And it seems like I've already taken the steps to help myself. But I feel myself getting worse. Sometimes it seems like the only way out of this is if I just -didn't- live like this. But then I can't imagine the pain it'd bring my mom if I just killed myself. I feel myself getting closer to death each day. I'm going to get diabetes and get a stroke because I can't control my damn bingeing. I've gone to a counsellor, a physician, the pharmacist...I just can't do it. To think I used to be able to walk out onto the street and feel happy to be alive. I don't think I've been happy for a long time.
Sorry to bring everyone down. I'm just a wreck. I've already dragged my family down with me, emotionally at least.
I also live with the illness called Major Depression-I have been thru different meds and have finally ended up on one that works for me. Everyone is different-I had the same feelings that you have-what changed these thoughts for me was learning to take on one thing at a time and living in the moment. I have now returned to work after being off for one year and I am learning to be good to myself-as womyn we tend to be the caretakers of others-I ask myself how can I be the best caretaker to myself-I know that now I am ready to put some energy into losing weight-tackle one thing at a time and put yourself first-I know that it is hard-but try please-You deserve it!
Been there and still have my struggles
Kateyj
I'm getting off the medication. I'm going crazy.
