Normal for psyches to prescribed weight loss drugs?Mine wont

[lifeisbeautiful222]

Hello, well I have been so depressed about this 20 pounds. I'm sorry to sound so annoying asking all these questions about weight all the time. When I put on my clothes and they don't fit I just feel like I dont even want to do anything. I am so depressed and hopeless about it. Anyway, I read this website which says that if you have gained weight on paxil sometimes doctors will prescribe cytomel, ritalin, or topamax to help you lose it. I called my doctor and asked if she can give me one of these prescriptions and she says no they only do that if you have become morbidly obese! Do I just have a bad doctor or will all the psychs say the same things to me and give me no medication? Why would they only prescribe something after you have become morbidly obese from paxil??? That is so wrong. Anyway, does anyone know? She told me to cut my carbs but honestly I do not eat that many carbs. I dont know if I can deal with the weight gain, especialy if it is permanent.

[Scott]

for once i agree with the doctor.. weight loss drugs aren't meant for people who only need to lose 20 pounds

have you considered the grapefruit diet? my sister has lost 10 pounds already on that darn thing and I could have sworn she just started it. Mustve been like 2 weeks ago. Lastly, be happy with who you are, your weight does not define you. Keep telling yourself that you are on the way to becoming what you want.

what do you eat in a given day? are you drinking sodas?

[lifeisbeautiful222]

Hello, well I eat less than I ate before I started paxil. I used to eat like a pig all the time whatever I wanted to eat at any hour and could never gain weight. In fact I would think things like I wish that I could just gain maybe 5 pounds so that I wouldnt look so skinny. Right when I started the paxil is when the pounds started coming on and now I just want them off. I never drank sodas or even much juice which I still dont do, I probably drink about 1 glass of juice per week. I know that I should look inwardly but I feel like my body has been violated in a way. If I had known that paxil caused weight gain I would have never chosen to take it. It is so upsetting to me that I cant really seem to focus inwardly right now even though I want to, I just want to lose the weight and have my body work the way it did before the paxil. Thank you for your advice, I will try.

[Dream]

Hate to tell you this but ritalin can either make a person lose weight or gain it. You're talking about another serious psycotropic drug. Honestly, you're better off taking the weight off yourself. 20lbs won't kill you unless you have serious heart problems (in which case you won't want these drugs anyway).

If you absolutely think you need one there are drugs availible OTC, but these drugs can also do a number on your body.

Hugs,
Andi

[emily]

What's your current exercise routine?

[hope]

Tell me if I'm wrong. Most of the people who feel they are very overweight from paxil are not actually very overweight at all. I'm curious, what is your height and weight currently??? I gained 25 lbs on the paxil, and yet again it could also be because I'm older. At work I'm one of the thinner people. I've lost 10 lbs just through being too sick to eat, and I could probably lose another 10 but no one has looked at me yet and said I'm fat. I'm betting that you are perceiving yourself as heavier than you really are.

I've met a few people that were upset about their weight because they were a size 6 instead of a 4. We do tend to hold onto a few pounds as we get older. I have few friends who are slim and trim and fit but they're either housewives who spend half their day at the gym, or they work all day and spend all evening at the gym.

[lifeisbeautiful222]

Hi, well I'm 23 years old I dont think that Im supposed to be gaining weight now but yeah I know that most would not say that I am not FAT. I do feel the 20 pounds though, my clothes dont fit and I dont have the money to buy new ones right now, my thighs are rubbing together, I feel my skin bunching up if I hunch over, I definately feel more hot all the time dont know if thats from the weight gain or getting off the paxil, Lifting my legs and doing things feels heavier to me. I cant stand it plus I need to stay fit for my career. I dont know but I just dont think its a coincidence that I never went above 125 in my life and then as soon as I went on paxil my weight increased by 20 pounds and was continuing to go up until the week I stopped taking it. It makes me miserable. I don't care if I am thin compared to other people, I just want my body to work like i used to. Lol I must sound like a brat, Im very sorry.

[emily]

If you burn more calories than you consume, you'll lose weight.
It's not a matter of "dieting" or of taking drugs. You can start with walking 20 minutes per day--more difficult than swallowing a pill,
yes, but at least it'll make you healthier. No diet drugs will.

[hope]

How long have you been off the Paxil???

[hope]

I understand you wanting the weight off. Taking diet pills will probably cause more problems. You want the weight off now and diet pills is an easy answer. When I was 18 I got a job at Long John Silvers, its a fastfood seafood and everything there is deep fried. I gained a ton of weight at that job. I took me several months of "sensible" dieting (cutting back calories, fat, eating balanced meals) and exercise and I lost it all. Also have had 4 kids and taught aerobics for several years, and was able to lose the weight but it took time, effort and patience to do it right. I'll eventually lose this last 10 lbs. but the right way. You're young and you've been slim most of your life so it shouldn't be too difficult. But be patient.

If you haven't been off the Paxil for too long you could still be feeling some effects, especially the feeling sluggish part.

[safarigal]

We women suffer from negative body image. Read this months Glamour magazine, it has some excellent articles on body image and perception.

Exercise and proper diet such as following Weight Watchers is the answer to losing weight.

I joined taekwondo and eat healthy...a.k.a Weight Watchers style diet.

I've lost ALL of the weight I gained while on SSRIs and have developed a healthy body image of myself. I'm in the best shape physically and mentally that I have ever been in.

Then again I'm 42....been there done that and I'm over it!!

[Charlie]

SSRI's all adversely affect your endocrine system i.e. thyroid function etc. I think they alter cell structure to the extent that they retain fat more. You'll lose the weight as your body returns to normal functioning. For some the weight loss is faster and sooner than for others.

[Ginger]

Charlie,
re: thyroid function
I don't have a thyroid gland (cancer), can ssri's still mess with my body's ability to use the thyroid medication I take

[Charlie]

I'm not sure, but the other parts of the endocrine system can be affected as well. Adrinal Pituitary(sp) etc. If you don't mind telling me what medication you are on I have a place to check reactions between drugs. Might help might not.

[Ginger]

The only medication I take now is .15 levothyroxine

[challenge]

no grapefruit juice or grape juice while on SSRI or withdrawing from it.
www.antidepressantsfacts.com

[Charlie]

Originally Posted by Ginger

The only medication I take now is .15 levothyroxine

The source I have said there shouldn't be a problem with levothyroxine and Paxil. However the information is also a few years old. I'm sure you know but it also said to take thyroid hormones on an empty stomach as food can hinder absorption. I personally suspect that Paxil could also hinder absorption depending on how much trouble you had / have with your stomach. There is just so much that nobody knows about how and what they alter. Are you having noticable problems that you think could be related?

[ihatezaps]

Originally Posted by challenge

no grapefruit juice or grape juice while on SSRI or withdrawing from it.
www.antidepressantsfacts.com

I know about grapefruit juice, but grape juice? Why can't you drink grape juice?

[Ginger]

Charlie, I wondered about the thyroid medication because my sister used to ask me if my thyroid levels were normal, she said she would notice my speech slur or me start to drag. I never thought of it in conjuction with my paxil. Now that I'm off paxil I just wondered if my body may still be screwed up.

[Charlie]

I'd suspect the slurring and being draggy were from the paxil. Are you doing better now? I hope so! Looking at your signature I'd bet your body hasn't fully recovered. If it has you are unbelievably lucky. You could experience a host of things before your body gets back to normal. Hang in there and feel free to ask about anything, I may not know but there are a lot of very smart people here. someone will either know or be able to point you in the right direction.

[hope]

This thread is 2 years old.

[hope]

Originally Posted by rdjanis

Please make you point without calling people names i.e. idiot

Also, this thread is from 2004...

[rdjanis]

[Ginger]

Charlie,
I am incredibly grateful for the wisdom and knowledge I find here. I feel much better and look forward to feeling better still. Thanks.

[Charlie]

Ginger
I'm glad you're feeling better but I would keep an eye on the thyroid medication level. I'm sure you do akready but this stuff can cause some very unusual and unexpected things to happen. I hope I was able to help in some small way, if not, just send me a swift kick in the butt and I'll do better next time.