Did anyone else experience weight gain while on antipsychotics/antidepressants?

[LittleJem]

I've been prescribed olanzapine (on top of fluoxetine). 8/10 people gain significant weight on olanzapine. The psychiatrist says it's a chance at a normal life.

The weight gain is 7 per cent of body weight in the first month then more weight gain later.

I might have to do this - for now am using LSD once a week and phew tomorrow getting weed.

 

[Hotsackage]

im like 300ish thanks to olanzipine

 

[Whole-Ad]

I lost a bit of weight when I first became suicidal I dropped to around 106 pounds. I was then sectioned where they made me drink fortisip's (which are meal replacement drinks) on top of eating 3 meals a day. I got back to my average weight around 122 pounds, and was put on anti depressants and now I'm around 150 pounds which is the heaviest I've ever been. I hate it. I constantly watch the food I eat, try to eat less or just try to avoid eating all together, but I still struggle to lose weight. The only difference in my life are these anti depressants. I'm on Trazadone, Vortioxetine and Cariprazine.

I don't want to take them anymore, mainly because of the weight gain, but also because I feel that they don't do much for me. However, my mother always watches me take them and I cannot sleep without taking the Trazadone anymore.

 

[haiku]

I was on lexapro (escitalopram) for around half a year at most. I gained at least 20 lbs during that time. I think it went higher but I didn't have a scale with consistent access. I couldn't fit into any of my pants or dresses anymore.

I made the decision to stop because my body image was affecting me. I quickly lost at least 10 lbs the first couple of weeks I got off lexapro.

People and doctors will say that SSRIs don't actually cause you to gain weight and that it's the increased appetite. I don't know if that's true. I used to be slightly underweight and one of those people who could eat a ton of food and never gain any fat, but after lexapro, I have to be a lot more careful. I did have a bit more cravings during lexapro, but my eating habits were relatively the same. The biggest issue was probably how tired it made me that I would sleep all the time.

There are also some studies that show how serotonin in our gut affects the metabolism and our digestive system. I think there's a lot that we don't completely understand yet. Even gut biome research has only become more popular in recent times.

I've been exercising more than I ever have and while the weight has mostly left, my body is not the same. It's been at least a year since I got off of it, but I still retain fat in places more stubbornly now that were not once there before I took the drug. People tell me I'm overly concerned and that it's probably just "growing older", but that should be more gradual and not something that just suddenly occurs in less than 6 months.


I truly believe it has had lasting effects on my metabolism.


I wish I could go back on antidepressants but I'm worried about how my body changes! Not just weight, but other issues too. Lexapro is allegedly a drug that has fewer side effects than most so I don't want to mess around more.

 

[twitchymouse]

ive lost six kilos on citalopram. it KILLED my appetite. i barely ate for months.

 

[cristaleyez]

Many APs make you gain weight. It's hard to find one that doesn't. My psychiatrist told me that after I told her I refuse to take pills with the weight or appetite gain as a side effect.
I've enjoyed my low appetite. I hate eating food and especially preparing meals.

I was also on a medication for my rheumatoid arthritis that made me gain 50lbs (~23kg) and it was the worst I had felt in a long time. Fun fact, having more weight does not feel good on your already aching joints. Lol.

I am glad people can feel happy and comfortable in larger bodies. I want the appearance of a cartoon character...anime I guess. I don't want to be healthy by human standards.

 

[jarebear2001]

I was prescribed quetiapine and sertraline in 2020 and after taking it for a while my weight rapidly increased, I was approximately 72kg before but after taking it I gained 10-15kg (I'm 177cm tall if that helps). It was one of the worst times of my life, it took a lot of effort to lose all of the weight and looking back at photos of me in that period make me feel disgusted at myself. Ever since I've had extremely low self esteem and can't view my appearance the same ever again. I don't know if I have body dysmorphia but even after losing some of the weight when I look in the mirror I still view myself as the same fat ugly slob I was back then, it's like nothing changed. I wish I was never prescribed them so I could've avoided this. The worst part was the social isolation, your appearance really is everything to the majority of people, and when their first impression of you is an overweight greasy loser they're less likely to want to interact with you, I guess that's part of the reason I struggle with finding a romantic partner, because I hold myself in such low regard. Any thoughts? What was your experience with quetiapine/sertraline like?

I take quetiapine and cymbalta and I've gained alot of weight on it, I hate how I look now. If the pills help why do they make me feel worse than before