antidepressants and weight gain (long post)

October 22, 2003

I just came back from my visit with my psychiatrist and asked him again about

the various anti-depressants and weight/gain loss.

His experience has been that there is some weight loss with Topamax but no one

seems to know why. Also often with Welbutrin because Welbutrin cuts down on

cravings (especially carbs) so you are less likely to snack.

On the other hand, sometimes some people will gain weight on anti-depressants

simply because they start to feel better and begin to eat more. His theory is

that those of us who have used food to help us cope tend to eat when we are

depressed and eat when we feel good (Before WLS I didn't need a REASON to eat)

so sometimes just the change in mood can be a trigger to eat more, even

subconsciously.

I found that I did gain weight the time I was on Elavil but part of the reason

was that it made me so tired that when I wasn't working all I did was sleep so I

wasn't burning as many calories.

Right now I am on Welbutrin, Topamax and Lexapro and seem to be doing well (if

it works don't fix it, right?) I take more of the Welbutrin than he would

usually prescribe because he thinks the Welbutrin SR is better than the regular

Welbutrin so instead of taking one Welbutrin once a day I just take another one

about 6 hours later.

His wife just had WLS two weeks ago so he is going to be doing a lot of looking

into how meds affect us and I will be anxious to see what more he learns.

He also reminded me that as women we have to be aware that our hormones have a

lot to do with our mood swings ... particularly just as we are coming upon

menopause. Sometimes that can be misdiagnosed as bi-polar. I also recently

learned from my gyn following my hysterectomy that just because you stop getting

a period doesn't mean that you have hit the big M and that you are no longer

producing estrogen. The ovaries still might be producing estrogen on and off

intermittently.

B. from NJ

RNY - 6/25/01

313/196/??

PS thanks again to these two groups. Since coming on these lists I have stopped

the weight gain and have started losing again. Proof that you can still lose

after 2 years out.

The smallest feline is a masterpiece. - Leonardo Da Vinci

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