SSRIs and weight gain

[beesh01]

Has anyone else gained a lot of weight while taking SSRIs? I have so far gained around 20kg, increasing from a size 6-8 to 14-16.

I'm not ready to stop taking them yet but would like to at least get the weight gain under control as I can't really afford to keep buying new clothes every couple of months! Can anyone share their experiences?

Are you on mirtazapin?

No, I'm on sertraline.

This is probably best discussed with your Dr. As far as I understand, Setraline can do things to your appetite increasing it or lowering it but that much weight gain doesn't seem right.

I have talked about it with several GPs - about as much use as a chocolate fireguard unfortunately. Options include coming off the tablets, which I tried to do but ended up relapsing quite badly, or "putting up with it because my mental health is more important".

I had lost a lot of weight before I started on the medication, due to the state of my mental health and not eating, so admittedly some of the weight gain was expected. I am probably about 10kg heavier than what I would consider to be my normal/healthy weight.

i always gain on ssris. On balance it’s worth it. Try intermittent fasting as generally having some basic rules around food that don’t require too much thought are simpler when on ssris. Hope you feel better soon .

I gained a stone and a half In 6 weeks on mirtazapine.

I did cal deficit and fasting and didn't shift a pound.

When I came off then I lost all the weight in 3 weeks and back to a size 8.

Yep, I'm on sertraline and Mirtazapine, ballooned in months BUT my mental Heath is better!

This is interesting. I gained 2 stone within a year after starting Sertraline, even though there were no notable changes in my diet/appetite. Prior to that I'd been a steady weight for a long time. GP was adamant that it wouldn't be down to the Sertraline but I'm sure that's the cause. I've now been on Sertraline for 2 years and have tried very hard to shift the extra weight. I've lost 1 stone but can't seem to shift the second, even though I now eat much less than I did before the SSRI. I've considered coming off it, but the change in my mental health has been so worth the extra pounds.

I haven’t, I thought I would but I’m glad I haven’t! I was really hungry at first but it’s settled down now and I’ve been taking them for nearly 2 years.

I have been taking them for 2 years as well. I was initially trying to gain weight, as I was too thin, so to start with I was thankful for the weight gain and switched back to my usual diet but the weight gain continued. I don't think I eat excessively and my appetite doesn't feel especially different. But my weight continues to rise!

My mental health is absolutely more important than weight gain. I'm not really bothered about it from a "looks" perspective as I would much rather be a little round and not wishing I was dead. But it's costing me a small fortune in clothes and new bras!