Antidepressant Weight Gain

Sorry to be adding bit by bit....

Other antidepressants, like fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) and bupropion (Wellbutrin, Aplenzin, Forfivo, Zyban), are likely to have no effect on weight or might even cause some weight loss

www.healthline.com/health/antidepressants-that-cause-weight-gain

Lots of anti-depressants cause weight gain. I adm a support group for bipolar disorder and we have at least one post a day on this subject. The highest risk of causing weight gain are amitriptyline, citalopram, mirtazapine, nortriptyline, trimipramine, paroxetine, and phenelzine.
www.verywellmind.com/diet-tips-for-weight-loss-380695

My husband’s been on Prozac and Mirtazapien for 3 months now, he’s really underweight so was hoping for the increased appetite side effect to happen. Unfortunately it hasn’t happened, his mental health hasn’t improved either, he has an appointment soon so let’s see what else he’ll be prescribed.

Google Bright Line Eating it certainly helped me on antidepressants.

Yes Mirtazipine is prescribed when there are high levels of anxiety too but are not any longer the main anti-for this. So I would give others a try rather than suffer severe symptoms.

I didn't suffer those symptoms tho so I think its an individual thing indeed they were the most benign ant-d I was on. I'm on mood stabilisers now which have an anti d effect but for a different condition.

Re another post: yes, very long term use of many MH drugs with sedative effects can effect other bodily systems but its a "cost benefit calculation" isn't it, just as other meds for physical conditions are. And not to assume you will necessarily be on that drug long enough for those effects.

Its all very well a GP saying "but my new GP has warned me long term use of antidepressants can wreck your metabolism and we have to wait and see what comes off" but I doubt anyone whose life has ben saved by MH meds or made a reasonable life even possible would feel too warmly by a GP putting them off in this way before even trying.

Weight gain: there are one or two serious psychiatric meds where its a big issue, but changing diet on sorting the drug can minimise effects on ordinary anti-d's, but its yet another question of individuals being very different.

Mirtazipine made me pile on weight & also gave me horrendous night terrors. Put a stone on with prozac so got changed to venlafaxine which added another stone. Weight is a huge trigger to me so my gp did lots of research & I've on 120mg duloxetine every evening for the past 10 years. I still have bad days but they pass quickly so I'm ok 90% of the time.
If one of the side effects of any med says weight gain you can 100 % guarantee I'll pile it on!

I was interested to read here about Mirtazipine. My GP prescribed this for me some years ago due to sleep problems although he knew I suffered from anxiety too. It worked but made me so drowsy the next morning plus horrendous dreams and night sweats so I discontinued it and have not taken anything since. I still suffer from poor sleep and anxiety but am trying to accept and overcome them in other ways eg relaxation techniques (difficult for me with my overactive mind!) and gentle exercise. It’s difficult at times but I am persevering as I am very wary of trying other medications now.

HowVeryDareYou2, I've got Vasculitis too, I love to talk to you about it and my treatment!!

I have been on fluoxetine for more years than I care to remember and put on 2 stone , trying to come off them slowly , but my new GP has warned me long term use of antidepressants can wreck your metabolism and we hive to wait and see what comes off . So at the moment I have anxiety but no weight loss😂

Marg75 I hate being on steroids (am on the 7th week, got another 6 weeks to go) for Vasculitis. So far, have had lots of side-effects but no benefits whatsoever. I'll never take them again after this.

Steroids are awful for putting on weight & making the face look puffy and moon like. I was on them for six months and couldn't wait to get off them. I absolutely hated them. Never been on antidepressants though.

I was on Prozac for several years and definitely gained a lot of weight. It didn’t help that I also had flare ups of two autoimmune disorders at around the same time, both of which have weight gain as a major factor. I am now on Sertraline and seem to be ok with that.

Weight gain is a big issue with anti-depressants, in fact, in most mental issues meds. Se if this helps : www.verywellmind.com/diet-tips-for-weight-loss-380695

Mirtazipine does something to the way the brain reacts to leptin, which is the hormone which tells you that you're full.

My late husband also put a lot of weight on with Mirtazapine but it did do wonders for his depression and anxiety - have to weigh up cost/benefit ratio.

I gained weight when on Prozac for eight years and never managed to lose it. Now I’m on a beta blocker and am so
slowed down the weight is creeping up
again. Its all very depressing

Agree with Sasha Mac that Amatripiline piles on the weight! Apparently, it makes you crave carbs.

Some drugs are notorious for causing weight gain but it’s tends to be though associated with mood stabilisers like quetiapine, olanzapine and respiridone

I also was switched from prozac to mirtazepine and it works with depression brilliantly but since 2018 I've put on 7st or 42kgs and I go to the gym for hard 2 hour workouts twice a week and just started Mtn cycling on forestry tracks paths again with better weather like every summer and I can't shift it, it's come to an head where if I'm not losing by middle of next month the GP reluctantly might put me on Wegovy or Ozempic jab as I'm not eating anymore or less than prior to mirtazepine, I feel fitter but the scales hardly shifting, but they've helped me feel normal for sure and go about my daily duties, it's just an awful medication for huge weight gain.

Ps I'll just say also I didn't experience any side effects when coming off Mirtazapine - sorry for those who have - but I did it VERY slowly...

Yes Mirtazapine made me gain weight but was miraculous for my anxiety and depression. Managed to lose it successfully when I stopped taking it but some weight has crept back on! Losing again now but I think recent gain due to lockdown and increasing age!

I was on Citalopram, a high dose for about 5 years and put on a lot of weight which reduced after I stopped taking them. I’ve recently gone on to Amatriptiline, one a night, to help with migraine and poor sleep. The weight is starting to creep back on. It’s not helped by bruised ribs which have curtailed my usual exercise routine.

Mirtazapine is a nightmare in that it is a shocker to come off without horrible side effects. I've been on it for about two years and it has helped my mental health inordinately- I feel 'normal' on it - but went from a size 10 to a 14/16 swiftly and am now pre-diabetic. I have tried reducing the dosage to half a tablet daily but now have night sweats and horrible dreams (known side effects) and am anxious about everything! My GP has put me on the Second Nature schedule which is to help with weight loss and have upped my daily exercise but nothing is working yet. I wish I'd never started them but others mentioned above didn't work for me as they sent me into depression rather than lifting it. If it wasn't for the pre diabetes issue, I'd rather be a bit larger and feel normal than not. I'm currently caught in a Catch 22 situation

The doctor put me on prozac for about 3 year's didn't agree with me at all no weight gain though, seen different GP and he stopped meds for Mirtazepine and it's far better but as for weight and I use gym twice a week and walk since 2018 to now I've put on 7st or 42kgs it's definitely the medication 💊 If I don't lose by next month the GP is contemplating putting me on Wegovy or Ozempic lots of pro's but weight gain a big con..