Weight gain or loss during withdrawal?

mom24asds · 11-21-2005, 12:33 AM

Hello everyone. I guess I fit right in to the night-owl syndrome. (It's 11:30 PM my time). I was wondering about weight gain/loss issues. I have put on 10 pounds in the last about 3 weeks. It seems to me that anxiety/stress is driving me (almost uncontrollably) to find my favorite comfort stuff - peanut butter cups, ice cream, and french fries. I know that I don't want to eat that stuff, but it's like my body takes over - my will power just dies away. I thought that being on Paxil caused you to gain weight, and when you go off it is easier to lose. Any experience on this one??

aqueoushumor · 11-21-2005, 01:14 AM

I stopped 6 days ago and I've been so hungry for junk food! Also I've been craving meat, and I've been vegetarian for ~12 years and don't normally get meat cravings! I think I might actually eat some fish to get the cravings to go away! Only I don't have anxiety--just lots and lots of hunger for icky food.

Scott · 11-21-2005, 01:21 AM

i actually lost my taste for sugar since being off the drug.. soda tastes terrible to me now. Of course if you eat a lot more and aren't doing enough to burn it off you'll put it on and keep it on.

mach3939 · 11-21-2005, 01:50 AM

I am at the 2.5mg dose stage and have really been craving things. I am going to have to get some BBQ ribs and see if it goes away, or just changes to something else. Have been eating more comfort foods too! Just figure I will eat what I crave (within reason) cause my body thinks it needs it?

Good Luck
Debbie

elisa · 11-21-2005, 03:20 AM

During withdrawl I've been craving all sorts of stuff. From coleslaw to BBQ ribs to Hot Dogs. (hearty stuff) I did find that it comes up and goes away in "spurts". While on the meds I had a very sweet tooth and couldn't get enough of it.

Raw almonds are supposed to be good for sugar cravings and healthy to boot!

I've been tapering real slow and have been using Stevia, a natural sweetener instead of sugar. Anyhow, I've been losing weight and am almost back to my regular weight.

Delynbetter · 11-21-2005, 07:30 AM

'Tis the time of year for the body to be naturally craving comfort foods...unless you're in Australia. It's spring/summer there, right?

I lost quite a bit of weight when I went down to 2.5mg. Did really well until about, uh, Halloween. Now I'm craving the warm foods - and am in fear that I'm going to devour an entire turkey, with the stuffing included, this week.

I'm taking it as a sign that my body is returning to normal.

bderozi · 11-21-2005, 09:04 AM

Im not Withdrawing or anything....but i do take ZOLOFT.....

When the Anxiety / Panic first started for me, I lost 15 - 20 lbs .....in about 3 weeks.....Not good.....I have since just stayed the same weight......

-B

elisa · 11-21-2005, 02:21 PM

Now I'm craving the warm foods - and am in fear that I'm going to devour an entire turkey, with the stuffing included, this week.

Turkey isn't fattening, it's the stuffing and the trimmings.... and you know that Delyn...

Katesmom · 11-21-2005, 02:24 PM

When I stopped Paxil, I gained 10lbs in about three weeks. I was having cravings just the same as when I first started Paxil. Then the cravings stopped and so did the weight gain. I have been completely off Paxil for 4 months now, and I have lost about 5-7 lbs, but that still is less than I gained after stopping it. Nevertheless, I have been told constantly that I appear to have lost quite a bit of weight. Hmmm. . . I am trying very hard to remember that at some point my body will be able to lose that weight and it will start coming off. In the mean time, I try to make smart choices about food and exercise.

11-21-2005, 12:33 AM	#1
mom24asds Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 15	Weight gain or loss during withdrawal? Hello everyone. I guess I fit right in to the night-owl syndrome. (It's 11:30 PM my time). I was wondering about weight gain/loss issues. I have put on 10 pounds in the last about 3 weeks. It seems to me that anxiety/stress is driving me (almost uncontrollably) to find my favorite comfort stuff - peanut butter cups, ice cream, and french fries. I know that I don't want to eat that stuff, but it's like my body takes over - my will power just dies away. I thought that being on Paxil caused you to gain weight, and when you go off it is easier to lose. Any experience on this one?? __________________ Mom 2 4 ASDS Began Paxil to treat mild depression and post traumatic stress disorder in January 2005 after two pulmonary emboli (and a lengthy, complicated hospital stay). First attempt at withdrawal - Sept 2005. Currently working on it again

11-21-2005, 01:14 AM	#2
aqueoushumor Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 26	Re: Weight gain or loss during withdrawal? I stopped 6 days ago and I've been so hungry for junk food! Also I've been craving meat, and I've been vegetarian for ~12 years and don't normally get meat cravings! I think I might actually eat some fish to get the cravings to go away! Only I don't have anxiety--just lots and lots of hunger for icky food.

11-21-2005, 01:21 AM	#3
Scott Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: somewhere in between Posts: 11,616	Re: Weight gain or loss during withdrawal? i actually lost my taste for sugar since being off the drug.. soda tastes terrible to me now. Of course if you eat a lot more and aren't doing enough to burn it off you'll put it on and keep it on. __________________ Scott aka Scott What has happened to it all? Crazy, some are saying Where is the life that I recognize? Gone away But I won't cry for yesterday There's an ordinary world Somehow I have to find And as I try to make my way To the ordinary world I will learn to survive surviving an ssri reaction alternative anxiety treatments

11-21-2005, 01:50 AM	#4
mach3939 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Romulus, Michigan Posts: 1,089	Re: Weight gain or loss during withdrawal? I am at the 2.5mg dose stage and have really been craving things. I am going to have to get some BBQ ribs and see if it goes away, or just changes to something else. Have been eating more comfort foods too! Just figure I will eat what I crave (within reason) cause my body thinks it needs it? Good Luck Debbie

11-21-2005, 03:20 AM	#5
elisa Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 11,509	Re: Weight gain or loss during withdrawal? During withdrawl I've been craving all sorts of stuff. From coleslaw to BBQ ribs to Hot Dogs. (hearty stuff) I did find that it comes up and goes away in "spurts". While on the meds I had a very sweet tooth and couldn't get enough of it. Raw almonds are supposed to be good for sugar cravings and healthy to boot! I've been tapering real slow and have been using Stevia, a natural sweetener instead of sugar. Anyhow, I've been losing weight and am almost back to my regular weight. __________________ On A/D's since 1995, switching due to side-effects on 30 different brands of TCA's, SSRI's, SNRI's, Antipsychotics, Benzo's & Imovane. 6 ECT's. Tapering from 225 mg Effexor XR May 17, 2004. (Equiv. to 60 mg Paxil) Last taper Effexor XR Jan 17, 2006 down to ZERO. Currently protracted withdrawal. Sept 2006: 25 mg Doxepin. March 13/09: 10 mg Desipramine

11-21-2005, 07:30 AM	#6
Delynbetter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 10,518	Re: Weight gain or loss during withdrawal? 'Tis the time of year for the body to be naturally craving comfort foods...unless you're in Australia. It's spring/summer there, right? I lost quite a bit of weight when I went down to 2.5mg. Did really well until about, uh, Halloween. Now I'm craving the warm foods - and am in fear that I'm going to devour an entire turkey, with the stuffing included, this week. I'm taking it as a sign that my body is returning to normal.

11-21-2005, 09:04 AM	#7
bderozi Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 74	Re: Weight gain or loss during withdrawal? Im not Withdrawing or anything....but i do take ZOLOFT..... When the Anxiety / Panic first started for me, I lost 15 - 20 lbs .....in about 3 weeks.....Not good.....I have since just stayed the same weight...... -B

11-21-2005, 02:21 PM	#8
elisa Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 11,509	Re: Weight gain or loss during withdrawal? Now I'm craving the warm foods - and am in fear that I'm going to devour an entire turkey, with the stuffing included, this week. Turkey isn't fattening, it's the stuffing and the trimmings.... and you know that Delyn... __________________ On A/D's since 1995, switching due to side-effects on 30 different brands of TCA's, SSRI's, SNRI's, Antipsychotics, Benzo's & Imovane. 6 ECT's. Tapering from 225 mg Effexor XR May 17, 2004. (Equiv. to 60 mg Paxil) Last taper Effexor XR Jan 17, 2006 down to ZERO. Currently protracted withdrawal. Sept 2006: 25 mg Doxepin. March 13/09: 10 mg Desipramine

11-21-2005, 02:24 PM	#9
Katesmom Moderator Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 13,706	Re: Weight gain or loss during withdrawal? When I stopped Paxil, I gained 10lbs in about three weeks. I was having cravings just the same as when I first started Paxil. Then the cravings stopped and so did the weight gain. I have been completely off Paxil for 4 months now, and I have lost about 5-7 lbs, but that still is less than I gained after stopping it. Nevertheless, I have been told constantly that I appear to have lost quite a bit of weight. Hmmm. . . I am trying very hard to remember that at some point my body will be able to lose that weight and it will start coming off. In the mean time, I try to make smart choices about food and exercise. __________________ Katesmom aka Kim started Paxil Oct. 2003 for PIH Paxil free since 19 Jul 2005 ". . .the cruelest lies are often told without a word. . .the kindest truths are often spoken, never heard." -- Ben Folds

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