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Question:
I was on Paxil for three years and put on 35lbs. Is this common? I am now on Wellbutrin, will this cause me to gain weight?
Answer:
Weight gain is a typical side effect of many anti-depressants. While it is one of the unpleasant ones, just keep up with plenty of physical activity to keep it under control. When you go off of the drug it will most likely go away quickly. Most of the time the weight gain is due to excessive water retention. It's funny... I am actually losing weight on Paxil!!!! Of course, I also started to eat healthier, so maybe if I hadn't changed my eating habits I would gain weight too... I took Wellbutrin for about 5 weeks. During that time, I found it almost impossible to eat or sleep. Needless to say, I lost some weight! This is not everyone's experience, of course, but I think Wellbutrin tends to be less likely to cause weight gain than most antidepressants. I disagree with this, based on my own experience and that of others I've talked to who've gained weight on antidepressants. 1) It's not easy to control, even with an exercise program. 2) It doesn't go away as soon as you stop the drug. 3) Most of the weight gain is usually due to overeating (appetite stimulation is a common side effect of antidepressants, especially the older ones). The hunger that some people experience on these drugs is extremely intense and hard to control. (I gained 40lbs in 2 months from overeating while on Nardil. I had never had weight problems before so I didn't notice how much (especially sugary stuff) I was eating until it was too late. I've been off Nardil for six months now and have only lost about six of those 40, despite attempts to maintain a healthy diet and exercise program.)
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