Losing Weight After Paxil

I've been off of Paxil for three months now and did lose 5 of the 12 pounds I gained while on it but I am STUCK. I can't possibly cut down on the amount I am eating -- I am practically starving and have been using the treadmill every day. I did start taking Omega 3 oil and vitamin E because I read it helps with post-ssri weight loss but please someone give me some advice! I know it doesn't sound like much -- 5 lbs. but on me it is a lot because I have always been very thin and none of my clothes fit and I just don't feel right. I am happy to hear that some people are having luck losing the weight and that it is not necessarily permanent. Thanks for any help in advance.

[safarigal]

Paulina,

I found that losing the Paxil weight got easier after I'd been off Paxil for 6 months. I think it just takes time for our bodies to purge all of the Paxil changes out of our liver and brain etc etc.

Be patient, it will happen.

[Ariella]

5lbs is not the end of the world for you. Give it s'more time, keep doing what you were doing to lose the other weight. Paxil plays with weight. I'd give yourself more time. How old are you? I know it gets more difficult as you age.

Throw the scale away and focus more on your internal dialogue that says "you don't feel right". What kind of clothes are these that they can wreak so much havoc?

I would eat to sateity. Not eating tiggers a survival instinct in the body where it automatically starts storing calories as fat. Not eating can also trigger an anxious/depressive response.

I've been off paxil 7 days and have lost ten pounds. I'm very thin and this is not good.

I have been off Paxil for over 2 years and have not yet lost any of the 45 pounds I gained while I was on it. I am older and since I don't work I feel like I have to be eating something every time I sit down. Most of the weight I gained is around my middle and my tummy and I hate it. According to my height and weight chart I'm not overweight but I would love to get down to my normal weight which was between 120 and 125 pounds before I started taking Paxil. I'm 5ft 8 and 1/2 inches tall and even though people tell me I don't look fat I know that I am and I feel very uncomfortable carrying all of this extra weight.

Anyone have any ideas as to how I can lose it?

If my doctor would let me I would have a tummy tuck but since I'm not considered to be really obese yet I doubt that he would. I'm so desperate to lose this weight that I would gladly have my jaws wired shut but I'm sure my doctor wouldn't let me have that done either. Being overweight also makes my depression a whole lot worse too.

[safarigal]

The only way I lost the weight was through, you guessed it, diet and exercise.

I do Weight Watchers and taekwondo 3 times a week.

The added benefit of losing the weight and rigorous exercise is the increase in my self-esteem as well as the tremendous high I get after excercising. The endorphins are wonderful!

My next hurdle, quitting smoking!

Hi There,
Since I posted my original post I have actually lost the weight which had been so stubborn refusing to come off. I read Dr. Phil's Weight Loss Challenge book and for some reason his advice worked. One thing that really works well for me are Luna Bars at only 180 calories a piece. I eat one between meals and it keeps me happy until the next meal with no problem whereas before I would feel hungry all the time and tend to overeat. Luna bars are full of vitamins, fiber and protein and taste great but best of all they don't lead to bingeing. Anyway, good luck and EXERCISE every day!!!! That is KEY.

[Ariella]

My favorite thing is a fruit with a handful of mixed nuts. Yum!

http://www.paxilprogress.org/phpBB2/...?p=19626#19626

So I don't have to re-introduce myself, see above.

This is the major reason I'm quitting Paxil. I've never been a vain person, but damn... its not fun ballooning up.

I've been going days on end without eating and still can't lose an ounce. I initially had a pretty decent drop off, but now I'm stuck. And I'm fairly young, 24, so its nothing to do with age.

[dieselbud]

Originally Posted by slowmotion

I Most of the weight I gained is around my middle and my tummy and I hate it.

Anyone have any ideas as to how I can lose it?

this kind of weight gain is apparently indicative of stress on the liver. I myself gained a bunch of weight on paxil, all around my middle. And we all know how hard paxil is on the liver.

It wouldn't hurt to go to your health food store and buy a liver detox. You can buy liver detox 'kits' or just use milk thistle. It has been used for years.

I found some really good information just by googling it, but here it is in a nutshell:

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianus)

This plant is native to the Mediterranean and grows wild throughout Europe, North America and Australia. Milk Thistle has been used in Europe as a remedy for liver problems for thousands of years. Its use was recorded in the first century (AD 23-79), noting that the plant was excellent for protecting the liver. Early Christian tradition dedicated milk thistle to Mary, calling it Marian thistle. In the 19th century the Eclectics used the herb for varicose veins, menstrual difficulty, and congestion in the liver, spleen and kidneys. Milk thistle has also been taken to increase breast-milk production, stimulate the secretion of bile, and as a treatment for depression.
Milk thistle nutritionally supports the liver's ability to maintain normal liver function. It has shown positive effects in treating nearly every known form of liver disease, including cirrhosis, hepatitis, necroses, and liver damage due to drug and alcohol abuse. Milk thistle works due to its ability to inhibit the factors responsible for liver damage, coupled with the fact it stimulates production of new liver cells to replace old damaged ones.

Milk thistle has been proven to protect the liver from damage. The detrimental effects of environmental toxins, alcohol, drugs and chemotherapy may be countered with this valuable herb. The active chemical component in the herb is silybin, which functions as an antioxidant and is one of the most potent liver protective agents known. Clinical trials have proven silybin to be effective in treating chronic liver diseases and in protecting the liver from toxic chemicals. An injection of silybin is a proven antidote for poisoning with the Deathcap mushroom (Amanita phalloides).


Good luck, and here's to a healthy liver!!

Its around my middle, too. Jesus, my poor liver.

Can anybody tell me why weight gain isn't on the list of side-effects? When I first went on Paxil and read the list, it said weight loss! and my doc repeated it. Has anyone actually reported weight loss?

Milk thistle, huh? I'll check that out.

[hope]

Hey slowmotion,

I've lost about 10 lbs while going through withdrawal. I have not actually tried to lose the weight. But the weight I've gained over the last few years is different from the weight I gained when I worked at a fried fish restaurant.

It may be because I'm older.. I went to my 20 year class reunion and all the women had gained weight. I do know when you starve yourself your body lowers its metabolic rate in order to conserve fat - it thinks it's going through a famine and so tries to hang onto the weight - it's a defense mechanism.

I did the Herbalife diet last year for 3 months (was on Paxil) and only lost about 5 lbs. This year I've lost 10 and not dieted. So I really now believe that the Paxil makes it harder to lose weight. Over the last 7 years I gained about 25 lbs. slowly. I had attributed it to age but now I'm not so sure. My neighbor has gained a ton of weight on Paxil and can't lose it. She's diabetic now. She went to her doctor and asked to be put on a different drug and the doctor said she just needed to be more disciplined and diet and exercise. She has withdrawal symptoms when she doesn't take the drug (thanks to me she now knows that it's withdrawal and that she's not actually crazy) so I think she's a little afraid to push it. I don't blame her. She told me the other day that I looked 110% better. I asked her if I really looked that bad and she got this wierd look on her face, and she said, "I hate to say this, but yeah, you looked really really bad."

Exercise is the best, I think. I've been using a system called the Firm and it works. Also, doing the workouts are actually helping me to feel better during my withdrawls. Check that out at www.firmdirect.com

I've gained about 15 pounds on Paxil in 3 years. I have been tapering down and quit completely 2 days ago. I'm ready for the weight loss. I want my old self back. And curiously, my gain has been.... you guessed it! right around my middle. That's some scary scary stuff right there.

Thanks for the info on the Liver Detox. That's very helpful.

Also, thanks for the info on how long I can expect to wait before I see the weight coming off. You guys are great.

I notice some weight around the middle postings. This is also indiciative of cortisol in the body - a stress hormone that makes the fat gather around and makes one have a craving for sweets.

My husband, sister and I all gained while on Paxil. Ironically, at the beginning we were delighted with the total disinterest it gave us in eating.

For about a month it worked to take away our appetites. Then they came back.

We are all off paxil now and still have 20, 50 and 20 pounds respectively.

One article I read rates Paxil as the worst for weight gain. It literally re-makes your body to get fat (different theories as to why).

I am currently trying every metabolism trick in the book (starving is not one of them). High fiber, frequent meals, weight training, lots of water,
interval aerobics. I notice any type of excess indulgence goes straight to
my fat stores.

[silence4now]

I've gained more weight since going off the Paxil 2 months ago. I'm exercising some and not eating that much but still can't lose any weight. 5 HTP helps control my appetite and cravings, but I don't want to take it every day if I don't have to.

[safarigal]

Silence,

I highly recommend Weight Watchers. Give it a shot!! It worked for me!!

[NM]

Yes, the whole added weight issue is really difficult. I have had the excess weight stick around now for over 1 1/2 yrs, but I am finally losing it with really quite little effort. I recommend reading Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill by Udo Erasmus. It's a long book with lots of info, but you can sort of skip around. Here's the main point:

Do not eat saturated fat. (Exclude red meat--eat fish and poultry.)
Stay away from sugar and processed foods.
Include the good oils, like extra virgin olive oil, in your diet.
Eat whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Read food labels. By avoiding saturated fat, you will see a weight drop in little time. It's amazing. I am including much more fiber in my diet--eating more fruits and vegetables.

I'm telling you that this really works, and you will be the healthier for it. The pounds will come off.

FYI: I have been on Paxil for approx 4.5 years...I gained about 30 LBS during that time..I began exercising in January 2004, I had no weight loss whatsoever UNTIL I quit Paxil in April..still exercising and am now just beginning to reduce my weight.
I have never been a heavy eater, I do not care for chocolate or "sweets", sodas, or junk food in general and that did not change while on Paxil..I pretty much stuck to my regular meals etc and I still gained.
So if anyone is in ths same predicament, you are not alone.

I too have gained some weight while on Paxil . I am about 250 lbs and 6 ft 1 and a half inches tall.

An herbalist told me that Paxil can interfere with the uptake of some nutrients and, as a result our bodies crave more food. Unfortunately the drug doesn't interfere with the absorbtion of fat and all the other "bad" stuff in the food we eat.

I am currently weaning myself and am at 5mg per day. Did try stopping while still at 10mg and had some tingling and numbness in my extremities. A Dr said that this was likely due to withdrawal.

I agree with some of the earlier comments about weight loss (balaced diet and exercise, etc.) Please don't starve yourself. This will only make things worse.

One area that I feel I need to comment on is the carb issue. Remember that not all carbs are bad, and that carbs can help elevate your mood. Avoid things like white bread, white rice and other carbs that have a high glycemic index. Stick with whole grains or - even better - sprouted grains, and fruits.

I also agree with the earlier comment regarding a liver cleanse. I haven't tried this yet, but I am just completing a full body cleanse that has really helped me feel much better. I think I will go for the liver cleanse once I have finished with paxil.

I also must sing the praises of counselling. You will be amazed at what you will learn about yourself and shake your head and laugh. Oh the things that we do to ourselves. Of course, just like when choosing a good Dr. ,you will find that there are counsellors whose methods will work better for you than others. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!

Anyway, stay with it, use your common sense, and listen to your body!

[dar7726]

BPC,

Just wondering.... what cleanse did you do and how was it helpful.


Thanks,
Darlene

[KINDAQBN]

Hi everyone,

I can't help but feel so superficial that I am so preoccupied with the weight I have gained while being on Paxil. Eventhough it did do wonders for controlling my OCD, I did suffer from one MAJOR side effect: weight gain. 50lbs to be exact in 5 years. I am determined to lose the weight as I don't feel "healthy" and feel very bloated. I was wondering if anyone has tried the Bernstein diet while being on Paxil or after getting off it.

[cinderella]

I partially did the liver cleanse diet and took Milk thistle, fish oil and didnt lose any weight.