DD put on weight since starting sertraline

[jumpflyskip]

My DD is 20 and she has been on sertraline for a year now - best thing she ever did she is a different person - she is so much more confident, able to go out the house without me, socialise with friends and not cry or lock herself in the toilets at work any more. She suffered with anxiety for several years before seeking help from the GP when the anxiety was particularly bad she has no appetite and often was actually sick. She has never been a small girl but she was probably around a size 14 before sertraline now she is on sertraline and has an appetite her weight has ballooned and she is probably more like an 18. I don't know how much she weighs but at a guess i would say about 14/15 stone. But she is so happy and she now has a massive appetite. Me and her went away a few weeks back so I saw her naked and in bikinis a few time and her whole body is full of stretch marks and flab. However she is so happy in herself now. Can sertraline make you put on weight? Or is it more the fact that she now has an appetite. She is in such a good place I don't know what to do as she honestly isn't bothered about her size. She doesn't eat particularly healthily or do any fitness although her anxiety is so much better she still spends alot of time in her room in her bed rather than being active.

Same happened to my daughter 😢

Its so hard to know what to do for the best.!!!!

She’s 20: it’s up to her. Not your business unless she brings it up and directly asks for advice or support on weight loss. She knows she’s overweight.

It definitely made me put on weight the two times I've been on it.

I’m not sure what you want? Is it more important that she’s happier and stable? Then yes it is, obviously. If she is worried about her weight then she will deal with it.

fwiw I used to be bulimic. I stopped the vomiting but not the bingeing and out on 3 stone. My mother knew of my issues but lamented the weight gain. I’m 52 now and don’t have much to do with her if I can help it.

I put on a bit of weight from antidepressants but honestly I'd rather that than how I was before 🙂

I am on Sertraline after years of often debilitating anxiety (literally many years) and it has changed my life. However, after years of being very slender I have put quite a bit of weight on. The consensus is that it’s normally 2% but I’ve put on far more. It’s very hard as I feel so so much better.

Better to be happy and big than smaller and dead. Leave her be.

Sertraline is generally well tolerated but some people experience weight gain. It alters seratonin activity which drives cravings for sugar and carbs. Plus the return of appetite it can easily cause gain. Sertraline is generally not the worst SSRI for weight gain so switching could make it worse.

I had the same experience with Citalopram, put on 1.5 stone out of nowhere over the year that I was on it.

I came off it and switched to Sertraline and am 2 months in and watching my weight like a hawk! I AM hungrier and craving sweet stuff more I know that, it’s a real battle not to succumb to it, but I’m going to try and be as vigilant as possible to try and keep myself from gaining weight.

So yes, in answer to your Q OP, antidepressants can definitely cause weight gain! You could offer to start cooking healthy meals for your daughter or explain to her that antidepressants can cause weight gain and it might be something to be mindful of. But like PP say, better to be overweight and happy then thin and unhappy!

She could try switching but I wouldn’t recommend Citalopram as after doing research from coming off it, it seems it’s one of the biggest culprits for weight gain!

Please, please don't say anything to her @jumpflyskip

As others have said, she knows she has put on weight. How could she not? Certainly in her case the pluses far outweigh the minuses.

As someone who is a recovering anorexic (it never goes away) I can tell you that any mention of weight gain or loss at all - even if it is intended as a compliment - is not only unwelcome but can set off spiralling thoughts and actions.

Please don't make her problems worse, however well-intentioned.

If it's of any interest to you DS has had to come off sertraline because of the side effects. He was suffering from diarrhoea 5 or 6 times a day. I am seriously worried about his state of mind if he is no longer on it. He keeps everything in.

I mean this respectfully, but I sincerely hope you don't comment on her size or weight, or body shame her in any way because that will be utterly detrimental to her mental health.

Maybe you should see a therapist and work out what your issue is with someone elses body and why it bothers you? Because I can guarantee your daughter can sense your dislike and that your unconscious bias' hws impacted her also.