do antidepressants affect weight loss?
Q.My doctor put me on Zoloft two weeks ago for issues I'm dealing with after the birth of my son. I am very happy with the prescription, but was wondering if anyone else has experienced with losing weight and being on antidepressants at the same time. There was no mention in the side effects of weight gain/loss or any effect at all.. but I'd just like to hear from experience :-)
A.Weight gain or weight loss seem to be a side effect of all anti-depressants. My mom was on Zoloft, lost her appetite which helped her to drop a bit of weight - yet I've heard others claim a weight gain. I've been on Paxil for over a year, didn't notice that it changed my appetite or weight at all. I have been on WW since Feb., have lost 37 pounds so far ... while still taking the antidepressant meds. I haven't found it any easier or harder than others trying to lose weight. I still count my points and hold myself accountable for the choices I make. For 10 years, I was on every anti-depressent they could come up with, and I gained weight on all of them, rather than losing it. I have known people however who had the opposite experience with them and lost weight. One of them was far from having a weight problem to begin with, so for him it wasn't as much of a gift as it can be for some. It's kinda silly how most of the product inserts for the drugs say weight loss or weight gain. I've definately seen it happen both ways in people when it wasn't listed, as well. I can usually be guaranteed the gain part, which is one of the reasons I wrote off meds totally years ago. I'm glad you're having a positive experience with them. It is possible that you're feeling more clear and in better spirits and it's helping you lose weight in that way also. Maybe able to engage in more activity, or even making more of the time playing with your child, things like that, if not just the medication by itself. Anyway, as long as it's not making you sick, enjoy it. :) Tricylic antidepressants are notorious for weight gain...these are the older families of antidepressants.
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