Does Antidepressants Make You Put On Weight?

[polar1]

I've gained around 2 stone since i've been taking sertaline and lamictal' is this normal?

[jd_1984]

Perhaps not directly I am unsure of their chemical make up, sure somebody will know. However, with stress and anxiety can come weight loss and with a renewed sense of mental well being, your appetite may have improved. I am just guessing.

[friedgreentomato]

Its not the tablets that make you put on but the change in moods can encourage you to eat and that leads to the weight gain!

[Baby_Sham]

I've actually found they've suppressed my appetite.
How long have you been taking them? Two stone seems a hell of a gain! I would phone your doctors surgery today and ask for your doctor to call you back. It's something you could perhaps discuss with him, and see if there's an alternative.
I say a phone call because it's not really worth making an appointment for, I don't think.

[polar1]

that makes sense thank-you jd-1984. and fried green tomato .

[polar1]

good idea baby-sham! i'll call today..

[Robinia]

I don't know about newer drugs but the old ones definitely made you put on weight, my gp warned me at the time (no problem for me).

[Baby_Sham]

Let us know how you get on with the GP. I'd be interested to know what he says/suggests.
I've been eating much, much less, but it could just be down to the humid weather - though I hope not!

[Eve]

I went on two drugs which had read about the side effects beforehand and knew weight gain was a big one, Mirtazapine to help me sleep better (changed from citalopram) and Pregabalin (pain med).

I have put on so much weight, a good few stone and I hate it. I'm not even eating more, less in fact including snacking on fruit if anything (grapes usually) and having the lowest calorie sandwich I can find for lunch, often leaving the crusts (or whole sandwich) and then a 10 calorie jelly and low fat yoghurt, not a big breakfast or tea either. But the weight has just piled on and won't shift, I'm not very mobile though which doesn't help.

You have to look at whether the benefits outweigh the side effects though it's now always easy. I've been struggling to cope a lot recently but am so loathe to ask increasing any of my meds in case my weight goes up even more.

[polar1]

rung the docs babysham he said for me to come in for full bloods to rule out thyroid etc... I'm 45 so it could be menopause too he said .. i'll let you know x
Eve i know exactly what you mean I'd rather my bipolar be under control than feel like i did before the meds, only because I'm so unhappy about my weight i won't go out.. crazy circle..

[Eve]

That's good for them to check. I had my thyroid checked for that and other reasons but it's fine.

I'm just trying to eat as well as possible and hope that at some point my body decides to let me lose weight properly again. Feeling like a blob is not really what I need with so much other stuff going on and I need to get weight off my joints if anything.