Unable to lose fat (could be due to anti-depressant?)

[Thanat0s]

Hey everyone

I started a cut down to about 2200 calories a day (I weighed in at 236 about a month ago, started Lexapro about 45 days ago). I am used to eating well over 2600 calories a day. I've also started doing a lot more cardio at my local middle school track to help lose some extra calories. All in all, I've lost 6 lbs in a month of cutting...

My question: can anti-depressants cause weight gain? My doc told me about some side-effects, but not weight gain. What gives?

[GSeriesFAL]

You're complaining about only losing six pounds in a month?

My sister started taking Zoloft and she's blowing up like a balloon. I don't know if it's a coincidence or what, but she's all about the "it's not my fault, it's the pills." Yeah, whatever.

I think weight gain is listed as a side effect, but I don't remember seeing the cause. Maybe you're not so FUBAR in the head, you can sit down and enjoy a meal, and enjoy, and enjoy, and enjoy?

[Thanat0s]

Please understand, I didn't make this topic to complain, per se.

I just wanted to know if other people have tried medication in the past (or even currently) and know that this is a side-effect. I was really wanting to drop like 15 lbs over a 2 month period, and it seems like I won't even be coming close!

But it's good (well, you know what I mean) to hear it's not just me, and your sister is going through it as well. Maybe I'm not crazy, haha.

[HarleyRen]

if you're not losing weight, you're not eating below your maintaince, simple as that. Anti depressants don't make yoou gain weight, extra cals do.

[UpInSmoke]

I was on zoloft now on effexor xr and klonopin. I've actually been making more progress with my cut then when I was off meds. I've been a lot less stressed so I've been busting ass in the gym again, and have got my diet steady finally. I really don't think SSRI, SNRI, Benzos, etc. make you gain weight by themselves. Your change in mood and mental stability can lead to change in eating habits, thus resulting in weight gain, weight loss, or stalling.

So IMO if your diet is in check, and your busting ass in the gym, your good to go.

[KingOfChaos]

You have to adjust your calories since the drugs affect your normal metabolism.

[Delgadido]

if you're not losing weight, you're not eating below your maintaince, simple as that. Anti depressants don't make yoou gain weight, extra cals do.

that isnt always true...

do u know if lexapro can slow down your metabolism or not?

[robwein83]

if you're not losing weight, you're not eating below your maintaince, simple as that. Anti depressants don't make yoou gain weight, extra cals do.

It's not as simple as calorie expenditure when your dealing with manipulating hormones. ie cortisol.

[juliacheh]

Prozac did not prevent me from reaching contest conditioning.
Just posting my personal experience.

[mdmadore]

SSRI's may not always cause weight gain (sometimes they do), but they can make it difficult to cut. You have to work extra hard. Try upping your cardio via intensity, duration and frequency.

[smt1]

TCAs are generally associated with weight gain much more so than SSRIs/SNRIs(or SSRI/NRI combos).

NDRIs (namely bupropion) are generally associated with (mild) weight loss if anything.

[KingOfChaos]

I know how ya feel, though...the blood pressure medication I am on causes weight gain as well. I had to lower my calories by an additional 500 a day to lose weight while on it.

[alex2363]

no drugs can make you or gain weight, only calories can do that. watch ur cals, u will be ok. the meds may take a little getting used to thats all.

[Thanat0s]

I'm getting conflicting stories, so I'm not really sure who to go with...I'll try lowering my caloric intake even more!

[Singe03]

that isnt always true...

do u know if lexapro can slow down your metabolism or not?

I gained weight on Lexapro and now I'm cutting on Lexapro and everything seems right on target. I'm at an avg 750 cal / day deficit losing almost exactly 1.5 lbs a week.

What I noticed is that I have a tendency eat more at meals and also to graze a lot more when I'm on it and not monitoring my calories, more like it jacks with satiety than slows my metabolism or messes with my hormones.

As soon as I started following fat loss for newbs, logging my calories, eating a a deficit, getting my macros, lifting heavy, etc, I started shedding weight, just like someone who is not taking the medication could expect.

So my completely non-medical, but educated by virtue of "being there", opinion is that it does not directly cause me to gain weight but perhaps it messes with me a little in a way that makes me not pay as much attention to factors that would cause me to gain weight.

[HarleyRen]

they won't make you directly gain weight just buy consuming them, maybe their effects on hormones might give you more urge to eat (if you're not tracking closely?)?

[Josh81]

i wouldn't give zoloft to my worst enemy...my lifts went down the toilet, i eventually stopped lifting due to lethargy and strength decreases and ballooned up to 30% bodyfat and 220 lbs...sitting at 10% 175~ now.. took me 8 months to undo what 4 months of zoloft did to my life

i have no idea if it directly causes you to gain weight, but the side effects definitely indirectly make you gain weight.

[Thanat0s]

I gained weight on Lexapro and now I'm cutting on Lexapro and everything seems right on target. I'm at an avg 750 cal / day deficit losing almost exactly 1.5 lbs a week.

What I noticed is that I have a tendency eat more at meals and also to graze a lot more when I'm on it and not monitoring my calories, more like it jacks with satiety than slows my metabolism or messes with my hormones.

As soon as I started following fat loss for newbs, logging my calories, eating a a deficit, getting my macros, lifting heavy, etc, I started shedding weight, just like someone who is not taking the medication could expect.

So my completely non-medical, but educated by virtue of "being there", opinion is that it does not directly cause me to gain weight but perhaps it messes with me a little in a way that makes me not pay as much attention to factors that would cause me to gain weight.

Reps. This is exactly what I wanted to know!