Anti-depressants...... or not? | Arthritis Information

 

Just wanted to know if anyone has ever come off their anti-depressant and what were your reasons and results. I have put on so much weight from my Endep and just want the weight gone!! I was prescribed Endep for my fibro, it worked for a couple of months and i truly feel it does nothing for me any more. I recently started Lyrica that has given be such great results that the Endep just never did. I took 25mg for a few months then increased to 50mg for a month and found the benefits didn't return.

And......Does anyone know of an anti-depressant that doesn't cause weight gain?
As far as them causing weight gain, I think all of them list it as a possible side effect. Like any side effect, that may or may not happen. I gain a little bit of weight from being on Lexapro, but it's nothing compared to what some people get. This is one of those "to each their own" kinda cases. I don't see why you can't switch ADs, especially since you're only using it for pain management. Ask your doc, and let them know WHY (the weight issue) they may know more about which ones do and don't cause weight gain. Hi Jennee. Wellbutrin is supposed to have fewer side effects than the other anti-depressants. I've taken it for several years on and off and it hasn't caused me to gain weight. It's pretty mild though as far as working for your depression.Zoloft often causes weight loss short-term, but some say that it can cause weight loss if taken for long periods (a year or more).  I've never experienced weight gain on Zoloft.  I've used it at two different periods in my life and each time it caused me to drop about 10 pounds. I've been hearing a lot about Lyrica, what is it? I am on cymbalta, but don't think it's working at this point. I haven't gained weight on it though. Hope you are feeling better. love, j

I take Lyrica for nerve damage in my legs. It's often prescribed for nerve pain associated with shingles. I'm hearing a lot lately about folks with fibro being prescribed it.

It's made a dramatic difference in my pain levels in my legs. Especially one leg that has some nerve damage from an old knee surgery.

Paxil made me pack on the weight, and that is common with that. The other SSRIs seem to make you gain a little.  The tricyclics are worse in general.  The reason for the weight gain is not known, but you can manage it, if you are aware that it might happen.  I am currently on Zoloft for pain control/depression and have been able to lose weight on it by exercise and careful eating.

Lynne

Wellbutrin made me lose weight!  My RD said that it is known to help with that.

KAthy

Thanks for your replies girls. I will be seeing my local doctor Tuesday next week and will be asking him if I can go off the Endep or if i really need to stay on it, if i can change to Zoloft or Wellbutrin.

I used to be very active and never had to exercise before, so changing my lifestyle to suit my pain levels just didn't include exercise as i never needed it before. Becoming in-active due to pain is so foreign to me. I am endeavoring to exercise now though, i have been doing hydro-therapy on my own, and have been trying to walk around the neighbourhood (struggling with that one).

Lyrica is also prescribed for epilepsy, shingles and nerve pain/neuropathy. I had to ask my rheumy for it, he wasn't going to treat my fibro. Told him i learned of it on the internet and he didn't seem too impressed that i was suggesting treatment. That aside, after my first capsule i noticed a difference, some have to wait a while for benefits. I increased my dose from 75mg once per day to 150mg morning and night. Absolutely marvelous results for fibro pain levels. I constantly need to remind myself though that the fibro is still active with all it's other symptoms and that i still can't over do things due to fatigue and fibro flaring. I would reccommend anyone with fibro pain to try it. It does take a while to get use to lyrica with the dizziness, but thoroughly worth a more expensive outlay.

While many of us gain weight on antidepressants, it is nothing like the weight gain you get from pred.

I have had great benefits from effexor xl. It helped both depression and pain. I can't think of a single side effect from this drug for me. It didn't ruin my libidio like so many others have.
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