Depression without meds

[Whatusernamecanihave]

Afternoon all, I currently take fluoxetine and quetiapine for depression and anxiety and have recently been prescribed thyroxine for an underactive thyroid.

Now to my question sorry, I am currently extremely obese 16st 3lb and cannot lose weight regardless of what i try :( talking to the doctor she seems to think it's more the antidepressant and anxiety meds that are causing the weight gain as my weight hasnt changed despite being on thyroid medication :/

So I'm here to ask is it possible to cope with depression and anxiety without any medication?

I feel so down because I'm so fat and it is affecting my life now to crazy levels and honestly think I would feel better if I wasnt so fat and a complete mess but the thought of my mood plummeting and my anxiety going through the roof is not a nice thought :(

So anyone gone medication free? please share your story with me
xxx

Have you tried changing your diet at all?

Do one of those medications cause weight gain? If so do you know why? Increased appetite or something else?

How is your current depression/anxiety? Are you in a position to taper down?

I was in similar position my dr said concentrate on the immediate issue of my mental health and weight later. Weight is still an issue but no longer medically dependent so 1 down, 1 to go.

@Whatusernamecanihave I'm not a doctor and obviously i don't know your situation, but I've been on pretty much every AD under the sun and so have most of my friends (hanging out at the therapy centre at uni was a significant bonding experience) and i don't think anyone has experienced any weight gain. Thyroid medication, however, is notorious for that. I think it's much more likely that the thyroxine is the issue here, unfortunately.

Out of those two, quetiapine is probably more likely to have this side effect than the fluoxetine. You could always try either stopping just that one and seeing how the anxiety is with just fluoxetine, or looking for other medication specifically for that. Not all psych meds are equal in their effects on appetite and weight, and you might find something else that works, if you want.

I gained several st while I was on quetiapine, but the good news is that once I came off it, losing the weight wasn't that hard. Obviously had to change what I ate, but it was much easier without the carb cravings I got from the meds.

I don't really have any great tips for being meds-free, as that never seems to work for me. Sigh. But exercise, sleep and therapy all help.

If it is one of your medications causing weight gain it’ll be the quetiapine. It’s know for weight gain and can actually raise your blood sugars in some. A small minority will then go on the develop type 2 diabetes.
That all said, it really is a very helpful medication and for some it can be really life changing (in a good day!).
What dose are you on?
Whatever you do, do it under medical supervision.