Prozac and weight loss!

allifiend · 03-15-2008, 01:12 AM

I took Prozac for depression, not weight loss, but it did cause a noticeable weight loss at first. However, it is not a very pleasant way to lose weight. I felt shaky and sick to my stomach, slightly nauseous, which killed my appetite. I probably lost 10lbs in 3 weeks or a month when I first took it. I didn't look good though (isn't it funny how losing weight through illness makes you look WORSE?).

I have been on antidepressants for 5 years. After some time, my weight returned to normal. The ups and downs have been the regular ups and downs; I do not think prozac has affected my weight overall.

Remember though, SSRIs will only work if your have a serotonin deficit. If you are not depressed, or if your depression has another cause, they will have little affect.

Good luck

cheryldumais · 03-18-2008, 05:56 PM

Actually I took Prozac to lose weight and found it very effective. I lost about 35 pounds and while I stayed on the prozac found it a good way to reduce my overeating. Give it a chance and see what it does. In my case I just found I wasn't eating everything in front of me like I had been. The only drawback is when you stop you may gain it back because you go back to old habits, like any weight loss aid you must change your habits permanently.

Amarie2pt0 · 03-18-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheryldumais

The only drawback is when you stop you may gain it back because you go back to old habits, like any weight loss aid you must change your habits permanently.

Ah, thats the rub, isn't it. Its very important while taking advantage of the benefits to establish good habits that you can (hopefully) keep after you go off the meds. Thats the idea, anyway. Haven't had to test my success yet!

Shopaholic1204 · 03-20-2008, 10:36 AM

Oh wow..I'm so glad I found this. I was just about to post something about Prozac. I just started taking Prozac 2 weeks ago for depression, and I've lost about 4 pounds since I've started taking it. I'm starting to get over some of the side effects, but I'm hoping the weight loss will continue.

On a side note: I was sorta wondering why I lost some interest in food, lol. Makes so much more sense now. I only eat when I'm hungry and I can stop myself for not eating after 7. I never had that willpower before.

LizC25 · 02-25-2010, 10:45 AM

Hi ladies, I just joined this website, although it looks like no one has posted in a while. I just started Prozac today and am very concerned about gaining weight (as I've already been told by my Dr. to lose 20-30 pounds). I've read mixed reviews but have decided to give it a try. Any feedback?

Shopaholic1204 · 02-25-2010, 12:16 PM

Well..2 years later and here I am again. I'm off prozac because I totally lost my sex drive. I gained that 4 pounds back too..LOL!!

Daithi11 · 11-07-2011, 04:39 AM

I found this discussion via Google search in reference to Prozac and weight loss and I thought I would share my findings here, even though nobody's posted on the topic in quite a while...

I'm 28 years old, 5ft9 and the most I've ever weighed in my life was 235lbs. For the past 3 years, I had a sedentary job working in communications, entering in data on the computer and answering phones. Most of my weight gain came from working that job and prior to working in communications, I worked on an ambulance as an EMT - so I was fairly active (all things considered)

I have been dealing with depression for pretty much most of my life. It was exascerbated when my dad passed away in 2006 and I went on Zoloft and Wellbutrin. I can honestly say that the Zoloft didn't really work, I got most of my "help" from the wellbutrin and redirecting my thoughts and energy elsewhere.

I transferred departments at my work in July of this year and I am now working as a security officer. I started carrying a pedometer and logging in my miles on runkeeper.com (started doing that in the middle of September). Since September, I've walked 135+ miles JUST at work. I didn't really notice any kind of a weight change.

I had a relapse in my depression and hit a really low spot which caused me to seek help from the doctor. After discussing my situation with the doctor and how Zoloft did absolutely nothing for me, she put me on 20mg Prozac daily for 2 weeks and then 2 20mg (40mg total) a day after that and Wellbutrin.

Let's just say that I haven't seen my weight numbers this low since high school. I've been on the Prozac and Wellbutrin for roughly 2 months now and I've gone from 235lbs to 197lbs. I've been teetering between 199 and 205 off and on for the past several weeks due to lack of physical activity at work and eating habits (celebrating Thanksgiving early). So in all actuality, I've lost nearly 40lbs since I started taking Prozac. I couple it between the medicine and walking so much at work.

I really haven't changed too much as far as eating habits go. I eat generally twice a day and I try to cook healthy because my girlfriend is trying to lose weight. (She has PCOS and since her hormones are all out of whack, she has a REALLY hard time losing weight - which has in turn, been a sore subject for discussion)

As for my overall mental health since I've been on the Prozac (and back on Wellbutrin), I can say that things are much brighter and happier. She says that the difference is night and day in how I act and do things. Before getting back on meds, the world was a rather dark place to me. I'm sure those of you who have suffered from depression can relate.

I have a feeling that I'll have to remain on Prozac for the rest of my life or until my body gets immune to it and I have to find something else that works. (My body has a tendency to do that often).

As far as sex drive goes, I've never really had one to begin with. I know when I was on the Zoloft... it killed pretty much what little bit of a sex drive I did have and it was rather difficult to deal with when the other person didn't exactly understand what was going on - and another reason why we are no longer together.

I'm grateful that I've found Prozac. It's helped out in more ways than one...