Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Excerpt from Antidepressants and Weight Gain: What Happens and Why

Although there are a number of theories as to why antidepressants lead to weight gain, Dr. Sussman believes that both appetite and metabolism may be affected.

"I have had patients who swear that they are not eating any more, but still gaining weight, so that tells us there is some kind of metabolic influence going on; I have also had patients tell me that they are not only more hungry and eating more, but that the medicines are encouraging a carbohydrate craving that is hard to control, so we know appetite also plays a role," he says.

[SB definitely had the carbohydrate craving. The singer Robbie Williams said he did, too. Did anyone else taking antidepressants experience this? Just curious.]

14 comments:

Chic Mama said...

I have heard that too.....one reason I am avoiding going down that road. Don't need that on top of it all.
XX

Syd said...

My wife has taken them and seems to do okay. But she is on a very mild dose. I get carb craving occasionally but am okay most of the time without eating them.

Gledwood said...

I'm sure Prozac made my LOOSE appetite.

I don't get on with antidepressants. They either do nothing, or kick in far too dramatically and everyone calls me "manic"

%-/...

The Dish said...

I have not noticed. But I have always eaten a lot and enjoyed carbs. I have actually lost a few pounds. But I think everybody's bodies are different. The head shrinker told me that they will affect me differently as an adult with ADD than they will an adult without it. Crazy how that shit works, huh?

Steph(anie) said...

I came out of the whomb craving carbs. Whether it is worse w/the antidepressants is hard to say. But I think it is not any worse.

Mel said...

They made everything taste like nothing, therefore I was never satisfied. And I developed an addiction to salty corn chips that I still have, that counts as craving carbs, I suppose. Currently, I'm antidepressent free, and wrangling with the devil I know right now, afraid to deal with a new, different medicated me for a while. My current uneaten Rx says don't drink alcohol while taking this medication. Fuck that. I'm drinking for a while....I really like my wine.

I could really use a decoder ring for antidepressents. I can't even remember all the ones I've tried, and I've yet to find one that made me feel better. Depressed anyway, and gaining weight, edges smoothed to a dull void, that's me on meds.
Maybe I just need the right one?

Thanks for asking. And good luck with the carbs. They're so darn hard to resist.

Petit fleur said...

I gained a bunch of weight when I began anti-depressants. I'm not sure that I'm eating any more carbs, or any more in general than I did before... I think some people's body just reacts that a way.

xo pf ps If you don't see me for a few days it's because I'm sickly and Harley's bday is this weekend, and his grandparents are coming down for it... Don't want you to feel abandoned! :-p

Ms. Moon said...

I know I have gained weight since I've been on antidepressants but I cannot blame them. I know myself and my body and I know when I am eating the way I should and exercising the way I should and when I am not doing these things.
But that's just me. Throw menopause into the mix and I would have some great excuses for gaining weight but I know the truth- FOR ME. Not for anyone else.

Sarcastic Bastard said...

PF,
I hope you feel better soon!

Sarcastic Bastard said...

Queenneenee,
Better to be chunky than dead is correct, ma'am. Definitely.

Love you!

Sweden said...

i tried taking 5 dif kinds of anti depressants but i become severely manic on them like wanting to stab people) so im on anti psychotic meds i gained 34lbs in like a month and half on them. but i was happy cause i was like basically anorexic so i LOVE the weight gain, in fact i could use like 20lbs more.

Erin said...

I did, but I think it was more that I just actually HAD an appetite again.

michelle said...

I definitely have a better appetite since starting my lovely blue pill. When I'm super stressed/depressed I don't eat and look drawn and scrawny. Now that I feel better, I'm eating a normal amount of food.

Sarcastic Bastard said...

Sweden Babe,
I'll give your poor anorexic ass 20 of my pounds. I sacrifice for friends. Laugh.