Which antidepressant hasn't affected your appetite?

[InsaneProbably]

I've quit mirtazapine, but am not doing well without medication. I just struggle to even think of alternatives that wouldn't also have the same effect (even if not as strong) on making you want to eat more. I had the same issue with paroxetine in the past, and while fluoxetine didn't have such an obvious effect on my appetite, I did gain weight while on it, and it didn't work on my depression and anxiety in the longer term.

To me it looks like wellbutrin and venlafaxine are the only ones out there where weight gain isn't a common side effect? Sounds like the first one is impossible to get in general, and for some reason my GP doesn't want me on venlafaxine (contraindications with other meds, I believe). I guess I'd just like to know which ones of the rest of the bunch would be least likely to have a big effect? Any experiences?

I know you can counteract the effects on appetite with diet and exercise, but my mental health is currently utterly rubbish, and I have no motivation. Also, I have an out-of-proportion fear of weight gain right now (yes, I have therapy; no it's unlikely to fix this), so I doubt I'll be able to persuade myself to take any where the risk seems high.

Duloxetine has had zero effect on my appetite - if anything, it slightly reduced it.

Setraline killed my appetite entirely, I had to remember to eat whilst taking it.

Also, I have an out-of-proportion fear of weight gain right now (yes, I have therapy; no it's unlikely to fix this), so I doubt I'll be able to persuade myself to take any where the risk seems high.

I have the same issue. Really struggle with any meds which have weight gain as a side effect. Was prescribed an anti psychotic to help me sleep/take the edge off my ptsd symptoms but couldn't take it due to the risk of weight gain. That's why I'm currently not taking anything.

What a shame you had to quit Mirtazapine because of the weight issue.

Can I ask how you found it apart from the weight problem. I've just stopped sertraline as it was not working and have found Mirtazapine to be amazing in every way. The weight thing does worry me as I have no will power to control snacking.

Escitalopram had no impact on my appetite

Mirtazapine turned me into a zombie on top of increasing my appetite. OMG, I was prescribed it for depression coupled with insomnia. It put me to sleep alright, then made it almost impossible to even move. Yeah, it quelled my depression and anxiety because I was sat on the couch like a cushion.

Sertraline and citalopram didn't.

Escitalopram has made no difference at all to my apetite.

I came off mirtazapine because of weight gain and feeling like a zombie in the mornings. Now on citalopram and still have the occasional day where I want to eat all the things but my mood and concentration are so much better that I can actually manage a little exercise

Thanks everyone. This is reassuring. Duloxetine is one I've been meaning to ask my GP about anyway. Glad to hear sertraline and escitalopram might be options, too, as I've never tried either in the past, but have been worried to because of the potential for side effects. I've been on citalopram before, and didn't really have an effect on my mood, unfortunately.

@kylesmybaby - apart from the appetite, I found mirtazapine very good. My insomnia was quite bad when I started it, so I was happy that it made me sleepy. I didn't feel generally zombified with it, like many others do, and it helped my depression a lot for the first year or two that I was on it.

Moclobemide isn't supposed to cause weight gain.

It's available from the NHS, but you may need a psychiatrist recommendation to be prescribed it, depending on area.

Stay away from venlafaxine, the withdrawals are horrific.

Trazodone worked for me with no weight gain.

Any antidepressant that increases serotonin activity (which is how most of them work) will affect appetite, because serotonin regulates both mood and appetite (among other things). Have you tried an MAOI?

I'm on a high dose of Venlafaxine & I don't think it's affected my weight.

In my (vast) experience with anti-depressants, they ALL made me put on weight. Even Venlafaxine and I'd been told I would definitely lose weight on that - I put on 3 stone. Speaking of venlafaxine, if you are considering it, please research it carefully. Coming off it was one of the worst 6 months of my life and it's not the first time I've come off anti-DS.

That's quite depressing @WaitingForSeptember but I guess that's how it is. I haven't tried a MAOI - I don't really like the sound of them offhand, and don't they also affect serotonin? I suppose Wellbutrin would be the only the thing not specifically targetting serotonin.

Sorry everyone who's struggled coming off Venlafaxine. It's not an option for me for other reasons, as far as I understand, but that's good to bear in mind. I do want to be able to come off the bastarding pills, too, if they don't help or make things worse.

I think I'll try to give myself a bit more time without meds, to see how things settle down. I already do most of the non-medication things recommended (exercise, fresh air, healthy food, therapy, stupid mindfulness-type things, self-help books, sleep hygiene, distractions etc etc). If things keep being bad or get worse, I suppose I'll ask GP's opinions on the meds issue. Duloxetine sounds least bad, as I'd prefer something that doesn't make insomnia worse, but I guess I'll see how things go.

I haven't tried a MAOI - I don't really like the sound of them offhand, and don't they also affect serotonin?

No, they work by indirectly increasing noradrenaline, which reduces anxiety and improves mood.

Ahh, okay. Thanks for the clarification. I just have a notion that they come with a lot of limitations on things like what you can eat, and what other meds you can take, so have an image of them as a faff. I'll have a google.