Sertraline and weight changes - real experiences please

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Currently on week 1 of sertraline for depression and anxiety.

I’ve gone down a TikTok rabbit hole where people are posting pre and post sertraline body pictures showing significant weight gain

i was overweight and have lost 3 stone over the past 2 years and am terrified to gain it back

keen to understand people’s experiences, is it an appetite change, or a direct effect of the med?

feel like throwing in the towel with it before I’ve even begun because my body is practically the only thing I’m semi satisfied with in my life at the moment (relationships and career both being dreadful)

Unfortunately antidepressants were a significant catalyst in me gaining 7 stone. Not the only factor but a very relevant one.

They did help me a lot though mentally (though the weight gain was very damaging mentally too so..?!)

I’d heard this as well and like you had fears around it having previously been bigger. I didn’t put on any significant weight. I think it depends somewhat on your depressive behaviours. I was never the type of depressed to not eat and I probably drank too much wine as well. I found after my depression lifted I had more desire to do home cooking as well which I think helps to bit out on as much weight.

I was on Sertraline for several months before switching to another AD as Sertraline wasn’t effective for me (we’re all different).

Neither AD has affected my weight nor my appetite. I wouldn’t be surprised if AD’s could potentially affect your weight slightly (by a few pounds perhaps), but not serious weight gain.

Made me gain 3 stone. They all make me eat.

Gained no weight

Sertraline was actually a catalyst to me eating healthier as I was happier

I gained 18lbs

I went the opposite way and lost weight.
I was getting out and doing things more and feeling happier do not eating crap.
You're aware of it so do your best to counteract if how you can

Gained on Citalopram. Just started Sertraline and lost over a stone in 4 weeks. It’s completely smashed my appetite.

I haven't gained any weight but my neighbour did put on quite a lot of weight. I had some genetic testing done beforehand so I knew which AD to use and it did say that I shouldn't put on weight with sertraline.

Complicated as I am on sertraline but also chemotherapy but I haven’t gained any weight. Having my mood regulated has actually helped me make healthier choices.

It makes sense to me that a person might make healthier choices if their mood improves. You’re already looking after yourself, OP, so I’d imagine this will continue as your MH improves. 💐

I lost weight before I went on it as I was so stressed I couldn't eat. However now the weight has come back on but I've not gained any extra. Been on it since feb.

5 years in (since my baby was born) and currently +4 kg on the postpartum weight. Tried every diet under the sun, nothing moves. But it’s a life saver.

My husband gained weight on sertraline- but he needed to because he had pretty much stopped eating (and exercising etc). He didn't become overweight and he had a normal appetite. Ultimately he didn't get on with sertraline and he has found other ADs have affected his appetite both ways (constantly hungry or no appetite at all). I think it really varies.

I developed an eating disorder on sertraline so it definitely didn't make me put on weight at all. It clearly didn't do that much for my mental health though...

@mynameiscalypso So sorry to hear of your experience. 💐 Sertraline didn’t work for me either, but Escitalopram has, thank goodness.

Thanks @HamBone, that's very kind. I'm very settled on trazodone these days so it worked out in the end.

I gained more weight on citalopram I think. I have gained a bit of weight with Sertraline but to be honest I think that’s partly an age thing. Also Sertraline helps significantly with my anxiety. When I was very anxious I think i was more restless, walked more & burned off more calories! It certainly didn’t stop me losing weight when I developed cancer as I lost nearly 2 stone but have gradually put it on again (which is a good thing). Don’t be disheartened OP, give it a try- I find it brilliant.

I gained 2 stone but didn’t care because my anxiety had disappeared!
came off them to gain my libido back and have spent months depressed because of how fat I am.

Thanks for sharing experiences. It seems like a real mixed bag. I’m going to have to work super hard on self control I think as I can’t go back to how I was before, weight wise.

I was worried about this too as I've had a previous eating disorder.

Thankfully it has had no effect what so ever!

I have gained about 3 stone . They say it causes a couple of lbs but I have never been as heavy as this until I went on them ,m. Still glad I did as I needed to .

Interested to see this thread as I came on to post about DD20 who has gained 6 stone in 2 years on SSRIs - in her case fluvoxamine. She's still very unwell but is insisting on coming off the drugs to see if she can lose weight. You have to come off fluvoxamine very slowly, will take 12 weeks, what if at the end of that she still can't lose weight and we've stopped the drug that might just have been helping her to get through the day? (she's housebound, can't work or study). Psychiatrist always very keen on the drugs, but no help with weight gain (that must be her fault, was the attitude).