Any anti-depressants that don't cause weight gain?

[snowballsinhell]

Hi,

Ok to quickly sum up - I think I'm depressed. I could cry getting out of bed in the mornings, I just want to be in bed all day. I go to bed as soon as the children are asleep. I don't know what makes me happy. I've no attention span, I can't watch television, I've drifted away from all of my friends, I cba with my husband, I cba with anything. I've literally no interest in anything at all. Don't want to have sex. Don't want to go anywhere. I just want to be alone. I'm very anxious, always worrying that my children might die. I'm a hoarder of money and annual leave. I can't remember the last time I genuinely laughed

Background: financially stable, lovely husband, two amazing kids, work full time in a job that's fine. I used to be vibrant, I used to care how I looked and enjoyed dressing in nice clothes. My children sleep all night, I'm not physically ill except for low iron. I do treat my husband and children well - I "show up" for them, but feel so empty. I am drained by masking this emptiness

Basically I should be on top of the world. I'm so flat, demotivated and just.. sad 😞

One thing I am though is a size 8. I am terrified of antidepressants as I know they can make people balloon and I know if I started them and gained weight, I'd end up depressed about being big

Atm I'd rather be miserable and slim, than fat and depressed about being fat

😞 can anyone offer any advice?

Well it’s not a given you would be depressed about being a bit heavier but you are miserable now and, believe me, it’s harder to recover and get back to your usual self if you do nothing and keep getting lower and lower.

I have had different AD and haven’t gained weight on any of them.
I have gained weight a couple of times when I was not eating properly and I was drinking too much, but that would be the case without AD, and I got myself together and lost it each time.

I’ve had Citalopram, one I really can’t remember the name of and my current one is Lofepramine. I’m a size 10. I’ve been on AD for years.

Please speak to your Dr. however, it is worth knowing that low iron can cause feelings of depression, as can low vitamin D and low B12 even if you are in the lower end of normal ranges. I hope things improve for you soon

I've taken a range of ADs (the most commonly prescribed ones don't work for me) and none of them have led to weight gain. I'm currently on two meds that are both particularly known as having weight gain as a potential side effect and have been fine. In contrast, I once gained half a stone in six weeks during an untreated depressive episode.

I agree with PP that it'd be worth talking to your GP. In addition to vitamin deficiencies, an underactive thyroid can cause depression symptoms, so it's worth getting checked out. Hope you start to feel better soon.

Fluoxetine can actually cause weight-loss, at least initially, as it really dampens your appetite. At 60mg it's used for binge eating disorder. I've taken it on and off for years and from my own experience and what I've read it shouldn't cause any weight gain.

Do you mind me asking what age you are as there could be a chance you are in peri-menopause. Please discuss this with your doctor or if you can afford it a menopause specialist. I have just found out have underactive thyroid which have had for years but my doctor did nothing about it, it was my menopause doctor who spotted this and start meds weekend. No energy at all, to even wash my hair is such an effort, just feel absolutely drained. Please ask for a full blood check for thyroid etc. Book an appointment now and get bloods done first but do write down how you are feeling and all symptoms and easier then to remember when at doctors. I hope things improve but do so straight away. I am on hrt and it has helped but am floored with thyroid issue. So bloods first and explain how you are feeling. Wishing you the best and keep us updated.

Iknow if I started them and gained weight, I'd end up depressed about being big

Actually, you don’t know that. Maybe you’d be much happier overall you gained a bit of weight.
**
Atm I'd rather be miserable and slim, than fat and depressed about being fat

In my wholly unqualified and amateur psychologist role I’d say this is a Big Fat Excuse not to go and get help from your GP. That you sound depressed already (not just ‘miserable’) and if you took anti-depressants the idea is you aren’t depressed so you aren’t likely to be ‘depressed’ by a small weight gain if your depression goes away. IYSWIM.

(Unless you’re about to mention an eating disorder, in which case even more important you get some help from a professional.)