Social Anxiety Support

JayJay · 10-26-2009, 06:32 PM

Has anyone here experienced weight gain on an SSRI and actually tracks their calories? I was just wondering if the mechanism of the weight gain has something to do with possibly slowing down the metabolism or something else. I'm not on any SSRIs right now, but I've been currently dieting for 2 years and strictly watch my calorie intake. I gain weight really easy and don't want to get on an SSRI if it's going to get me fat, but if it's related to appetite, then that's something I have control over.

bezoomny · 10-26-2009, 06:48 PM

SSRIs gave me the appetite I needed. Being off them now, I feel like I'm disappearing. No appetite, can't eat. I've lost around 40 pounds. It's frightening.

My case is really odd, not many people get their depression with melancholia. But it did give me appetite. I don't track my calories, it's kind of pointless when you're trying to stop weight loss.

meyaj · 10-26-2009, 07:07 PM

It's not TOO common in the first place, but yes, it's related to an increase in appetite for the most part, and it's usually not that significant. It's speculated that the overall weight gain we see statistically from SSRIs has to do with the treatment of depression that was causing a LACK of appetite. People who have compulsive eating problems from depression often lose weight.

Remeron (not an SSRI per se) gives you a monster appetite that I envy anybody who has enough self-control to tame it. Some of the antipsychotics have a huge effect on appetite too, but they also create metabolic problems (even linked to diabetes), so in my opinion it's wise to steer clear of those. The atypical antipsychotics are very popular for physicians in difficult cases of depression and anxiety. Many would rather put you on them than a benzo... ugh.

jim_morrison · 10-26-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meyaj

Remeron (not an SSRI per se) gives you a monster appetite that I envy anybody who has enough self-control to tame it.

Yeah I'm working on that lol, In the last 5 months remerons made me gain 5 kgs which I am now in the process of trying to lose (I'm still on the remeron coz it does help me with some things.) I'll let you know how I go.

Lovesick Loner · 10-26-2009, 09:29 PM

For me, SSRIs have always given me a huge appetite. One particular thing about me is I would get bad headaches, and I often try and eat more food when I have a headache. For whatever reason, food usually helps my headache.

Anyway, I just tried Bupropion (NDRI), and it's WAAAY better than any SSRI I've ever taken. Gives me energy and doesn't make me feel hungry.

heyJude · 10-26-2009, 10:04 PM

I've been taking Paxil for 3 months, and it has actually decreased my appetite (lost 2 lbs.).

jim_morrison · 10-26-2009, 11:42 PM

I'm always suprised when people say that SSRI's make them hungy and sleepy, they generally have the opposite effect on me, they make me speedy and decrease my appetite.

arth67 · 10-27-2009, 01:23 AM

no antidepressants cause weight gain but fear of weight gain is a popular excuse for refusing to take them

remeron sometimes causes compulsive eating

RockiNToM · 10-27-2009, 10:46 AM

The ones that made me gain the most weight SSRI wise were Paxil and Celexa, and they were probably the most tiring and sedating too. Remeron was the worst for excessive hunger and sedation outside the SSRI family. Effexor decreased my appetite to frighteningly small amounts.

Cerberus · 10-27-2009, 11:00 AM

Paxil caused me to gain about 40 pounds six or seven years ago (before taking it, I could eat whatever I want without gaining weight). It increased my appetite to an extreme extent. When I switched to Zoloft, I still had weight problems. Wellbutrin, on the other hand, has been a godsend. It's helped me lose weight. I'm staying clear of SSRIs from now on. I've found that the side effects far outweigh the benefits.

euphoria · 10-27-2009, 02:22 PM

How do you guys rate Wellbutrin for anxiety? I've heard of it being used for SA, but my vague memory of it was a great increase in anxiety, along with benefit on motivation and depression.

MavenMI6Agent009 · 10-27-2009, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by euphoria

How do you guys rate Wellbutrin for anxiety?.

Wellbutrin didnt really do anything for me. I thought it was quite expensive too for generic.

millenniumman75 · 10-27-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayJay

Has anyone here experienced weight gain on an SSRI and actually tracks their calories? I was just wondering if the mechanism of the weight gain has something to do with possibly slowing down the metabolism or something else. I'm not on any SSRIs right now, but I've been currently dieting for 2 years and strictly watch my calorie intake. I gain weight really easy and don't want to get on an SSRI if it's going to get me fat, but if it's related to appetite, then that's something I have control over.

It does both for me.....bigger appetite and slowed metabolism.

jim_morrison · 10-27-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by euphoria

How do you guys rate Wellbutrin for anxiety? I've heard of it being used for SA, but my vague memory of it was a great increase in anxiety, along with benefit on motivation and depression.

This isn't about wellbutrin exactly, but probably the one positive thing that I noticed when using Moclobemide, was that it gave me the energy of a few cups of coffee, with virtually none of the anxiety, that most/some stimulating type meds would usually give.

korey · 10-27-2009, 09:37 PM

Some meds may just increase your appetite through stimulating certain receptors, which means if you can control your eating, then you shouldn't gain any weight.

However, I think some meds can affect chemicals in the body that are related to metabolism, which in effect would literally slow down your chemical metabolism (something about corticotropin-releasing factor...Google it, lol). Anticonvulsants and antipsychotics are notorious for this effect, but lithium and some antidepressants have also been linked to this effect as well - Paxil and Effexor were two of the main ones I came across while reading about this.

badmoonrison · 10-27-2009, 10:51 PM

I had finally had it a few weeks ago, I went in to my doctor and decided to switch from Effexor to Wellbutrin. I've gone from 175 lbs to 220 in a period of two years.. it pissed me off so much. I still stay active with basketball and coaching... I'm now in the second week of weaning off of Effexor.

10-26-2009, 06:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
JayJay Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 194	Is SSRI weight gain related to appetite or something deeper? Has anyone here experienced weight gain on an SSRI and actually tracks their calories? I was just wondering if the mechanism of the weight gain has something to do with possibly slowing down the metabolism or something else. I'm not on any SSRIs right now, but I've been currently dieting for 2 years and strictly watch my calorie intake. I gain weight really easy and don't want to get on an SSRI if it's going to get me fat, but if it's related to appetite, then that's something I have control over.

10-26-2009, 06:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
bezoomny Status: the new disease Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Mississippi Gender: Female Age: 21 Posts: 2,814	SSRIs gave me the appetite I needed. Being off them now, I feel like I'm disappearing. No appetite, can't eat. I've lost around 40 pounds. It's frightening. My case is really odd, not many people get their depression with melancholia. But it did give me appetite. I don't track my calories, it's kind of pointless when you're trying to stop weight loss. __________________ bravo - echo - zulu - oscar - oscar - mike - november - yankee

10-26-2009, 07:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
meyaj Status: SAS Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Markham, Ontario Gender: Male Age: 23 Posts: 571	It's not TOO common in the first place, but yes, it's related to an increase in appetite for the most part, and it's usually not that significant. It's speculated that the overall weight gain we see statistically from SSRIs has to do with the treatment of depression that was causing a LACK of appetite. People who have compulsive eating problems from depression often lose weight. Remeron (not an SSRI per se) gives you a monster appetite that I envy anybody who has enough self-control to tame it. Some of the antipsychotics have a huge effect on appetite too, but they also create metabolic problems (even linked to diabetes), so in my opinion it's wise to steer clear of those. The atypical antipsychotics are very popular for physicians in difficult cases of depression and anxiety. Many would rather put you on them than a benzo... ugh. __________________ Medications I've tried: escitalopram, bupropion, venlafaxine, sertraline, nortriptyline, hydroxyzine, lorazepam, diazepam, temazepam, clonazepam, zopiclone, mirtazapine, trazodone, quetiapine, olanzapine, paliperidone Currently taking: 2mg nortriptyline hs(tapering), 7.5mg-15mg zopiclone hs, 2mg clonazepam prn

10-26-2009, 09:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lovesick Loner Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pennsylvania Gender: Male Age: 27 Posts: 164	For me, SSRIs have always given me a huge appetite. One particular thing about me is I would get bad headaches, and I often try and eat more food when I have a headache. For whatever reason, food usually helps my headache. Anyway, I just tried Bupropion (NDRI), and it's WAAAY better than any SSRI I've ever taken. Gives me energy and doesn't make me feel hungry. __________________ "Every day is Like Sunday, Every day is silent and gray" - Morrissey

10-26-2009, 10:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
heyJude Status: Doodling in the corner. Join Date: Jul 2009 Gender: Female Age: 24 Posts: 190	I've been taking Paxil for 3 months, and it has actually decreased my appetite (lost 2 lbs.). __________________ ~Maybe someday we'll live our lives out loud. We'll be better off somehow...someday.~

10-26-2009, 11:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
jim_morrison Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Australia Gender: Male Age: 23 Posts: 1,029	I'm always suprised when people say that SSRI's make them hungy and sleepy, they generally have the opposite effect on me, they make me speedy and decrease my appetite. __________________ Warning: I am not a trained medical professional. Any information provided by me is based on my own personal experiences and research and is not intended to be used as professional medical advice. Please contact a medical professional before taking any action that may be discussed on this board.

10-27-2009, 01:23 AM	#8 (permalink)
arth67 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: austral;ia Gender: Male Posts: 217	no antidepressants cause weight gain but fear of weight gain is a popular excuse for refusing to take them remeron sometimes causes compulsive eating __________________ life is not a dress rehursal

10-27-2009, 10:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
RockiNToM Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UK Gender: Male Age: 22 Posts: 440	The ones that made me gain the most weight SSRI wise were Paxil and Celexa, and they were probably the most tiring and sedating too. Remeron was the worst for excessive hunger and sedation outside the SSRI family. Effexor decreased my appetite to frighteningly small amounts. __________________ Disorders: Dysthymic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder. Medications: Propranalol, Valium, Prozac, Celexa, Paxil, Zoloft, Roboxetine, Effexor, Mirtazapine. Current status: Medication free.

10-27-2009, 11:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
Cerberus Status: SAS Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 5,721	Paxil caused me to gain about 40 pounds six or seven years ago (before taking it, I could eat whatever I want without gaining weight). It increased my appetite to an extreme extent. When I switched to Zoloft, I still had weight problems. Wellbutrin, on the other hand, has been a godsend. It's helped me lose weight. I'm staying clear of SSRIs from now on. I've found that the side effects far outweigh the benefits. __________________ "Through the valleys grey Through the shapeless land I walk alone I'm left alone Through the deepest void, a blackened paradise I walk alone, I'm left alone"

10-27-2009, 02:22 PM	#11 (permalink)
euphoria Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Gender: Male Posts: 1,650	How do you guys rate Wellbutrin for anxiety? I've heard of it being used for SA, but my vague memory of it was a great increase in anxiety, along with benefit on motivation and depression. __________________ Disclaimer: I am not a trained medical professional, so consult one before taking any action that may be discussed here.

10-27-2009, 09:37 PM	#15 (permalink)
korey Status: SAS Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Gender: Male Age: 22 Posts: 1,844	Some meds may just increase your appetite through stimulating certain receptors, which means if you can control your eating, then you shouldn't gain any weight. However, I think some meds can affect chemicals in the body that are related to metabolism, which in effect would literally slow down your chemical metabolism (something about corticotropin-releasing factor...Google it, lol). Anticonvulsants and antipsychotics are notorious for this effect, but lithium and some antidepressants have also been linked to this effect as well - Paxil and Effexor were two of the main ones I came across while reading about this. __________________ Rx: Wellbutrin SR 300mg, Eskalith CR 900mg, Luvox 100mg, Somnote 500-1000mg prn Things I have tried: Lexapro, Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac, Paxil, Effexor XR, Remeron, Wellbutrin SR, Eskalith CR, Topamax, Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Ambien, Desyrel, Ritalin, Adderall, Dexedrine, Inderal, Lopressor, Thorazine, Lamictal, Abilify, Depakote, Geodon, Seroquel, doxepin, chloral hydrate

10-27-2009, 10:51 PM	#16 (permalink)
badmoonrison Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 57	I had finally had it a few weeks ago, I went in to my doctor and decided to switch from Effexor to Wellbutrin. I've gone from 175 lbs to 220 in a period of two years.. it pissed me off so much. I still stay active with basketball and coaching... I'm now in the second week of weaning off of Effexor.