Calling Jack Sandweiss

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Question:

Just out of curiosity, do you know by what mechanism antidepressants make us gain weight? Do we eat more? Retain more calories from what we do eat? I’ve just lost 20 pounds since starting Topamax, and I *really* don’t want to gain it back from starting the Dosepin. Thanks for your valuable time… Dana

Response:

Totally agree with that!!! The worst combo that I was ever on was Elavil, and Corgard. I gained 15 pounds in one month (not exagerating)

Response:

I just answered that privately to someone, and I said "nobody knows". Elavil always seemed to be the worst, and pounds put on with it are often HARD to remove even if one cuts back calories a lot, after stopping the Elavil.

ok, thanks. Just wondering if I could avoid it. Dana

Response:

<snip ok, thanks. Just wondering if I could avoid it.

It can be done, if you have enough energy to work on it. At least I managed it – with the help of knowing my caloric intake and activity level before hand. I spotted the weight gain early and started dropping snacks and shrinking my regular meals. I was too lethargic to keep my regular activity level up (the added weight was making me more tired). Cindy Wells (Of course it took a while to realize my fewer headaches was from staying in my apartment and not getting exposed to triggers instead of the meds.) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dana

Response:

FWIW, when I was put on anti-depressants, that’s when I gained a *lot* of weight initially. It stayed with me for years. I’ve tried for years to get rid of it, with limited success, but always put it back on + more Of course, just because weight gain is a side effect, it doesn’t mean you will automatically suffer that side effect. It’s only in Dec 04 that I’ve felt able to be really do something about the weight. Since then I’ve lost almost 60 lbs. What has worked for me is the discipline of going to a WeightWatchers meeting every week, staying to meetings as the positive support from the group leader and other members is fantastic and a real benefit to motivation. I’m *not* on a diet, I am eating healthily. Cheers, helen s

Response:

Of course, just because weight gain is a side effect, it doesn’t mean you will automatically suffer that side effect.

I certainly did when I was on Elavil. It’s only in Dec 04 that I’ve felt able to be really do something about the weight. Since then I’ve lost almost 60 lbs. What has worked for me is the discipline of going to a WeightWatchers meeting every week, staying to meetings as the positive support from the group leader and other members is fantastic and a real benefit to motivation. I’m *not* on a diet, I am eating healthily.

I can’t seem to go to any kind of meeting regularly these days. The headaches are just too bad for me to commit to anything on a regular schedule. But I’m doing my best to keep an eye on creeping weight gain. Dana

Response:

It can be done, if you have enough energy to work on it.

Energy level? What energy level? <sigh That is a big problem sometimes. I have been able to get on the treadmill fairly regularly lately, but weeks go by that I just can’t. At least I managed it – with the help of knowing my caloric intake and activity level before hand. I spotted the weight gain early and started dropping snacks and shrinking my regular meals.

I’m keeping an eye out for that. I was too lethargic to keep my regular activity level up (the added weight was making me more tired).

That too. I did manage to be outside mowing and gardening all day yesterday. But I may pay for that today. Dana

Response:

It can be done, if you have enough energy to work on it. Energy level? What energy level? <sigh That is a big problem sometimes. I have been able to get on the treadmill fairly regularly lately, but weeks go by that I just can’t.

BTDT I felt like I was sleeping 20 hours a day. That’s why diet changes were my choice. (I was lucky to have had a dietician designed meal plan based on my usual activity – mostly walking on a college campus (classes, libraries, cafeteria, and trips off campus for stuff). All I had to do was remove some of the "active" lifestyle calories.) <snip I was too lethargic to keep my regular activity level up (the added weight was making me more tired). That too. I did manage to be outside mowing and gardening all day yesterday. But I may pay for that today.

Good luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dana

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