Question:
If anyone out there is taking the anti-depressant Paxil, did this affect your loss?
I have been taking Paxil for a number of years now and after trying many different types of anti-depressants, Paxil and the others in this category are the ones that work best for me. I have put on a lot of weight being on Paxil, which I know is true for many. I am getting closer to when I will meet with a surgeon and get my surgery date. I want to know if anyone who is on Paxil and remained on Paxil after surgery had a harder time losing weight and if your were able to lose weight at all? I'm very concerned and worried about this. Any response is appreciated. Thanks. — Lexie J. (posted on November 4, 2001)
November 4, 2001
I've been taking paxil for the past 3 months without any problems. I'm
still losing about 15 lbs a month. I had RNY 5/4/01 and I'm down 110lbs.
— Susan B.
November 4, 2001
Interestingly, Paxil and SSRIs, of which Paxil is one, are supposed to make
yu LOSAE weight, IF you have a high enough amouint of serotonin in the
synapse. For that reason, I had switched from 20 mg to 40 mg...also gained
40 pounds! Isn't THAT the strangest thing???
For some people it helps to lose weight, apparently for some, it causes a
weight gain. There is a paxil group over at yahoo. I will look into this
further. Maybe that's what causes what seems to be slow weight loss. I
have been back on 20 mg since the surgery...52 pounds since Aug 15.
Serotonin in the synapse inhibits depression. Depression is a very scary
thing, and something I don't relish. Celexa did nothing for me.
— corrine G.
November 4, 2001
I'm glad you shared that. I am fixing to have surgery and I have gained 50
pounds over the last year so that I am now at my all time high of 353. I
can't really figure out why I gained because I don't feel like I've changed
my eating habits, however, I have been on Paxil. I wonder if that is it.
— Debbie H.
November 4, 2001
Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOO much for posting this question!!!! I was feeling
like no matter what I did, I continued to gain weight. Looking back now, I
have gained about 60 pounds since I started taking Paxil. It is now 11:08
pm, and I just left a message to my shrink on his answering machine that I
want to come off it asap before my surgery on NOvember 16th. You posting
this question has made me feel better about myself, becuase I now have an
answer to the "why" of gaining weight!
— Janet C.
November 4, 2001
Whatever you do, do not stop your meds. Getting through the surgery is the
hardest thing to do. You need all the help you can get. Antidepressants
are not optional, they are lifesaving and will help with your healing. I
seem to be losing just fine, 2 weeks 24 lbs. However I don't expect to be
a fast loser because of my meds. I can't think of anything worse than being
thin and not able to enjoy it.
— faybay
November 5, 2001
FOLLOW-UP: My shrink just called back. I am now being weaned off of Paxil
so that by the time I have my surgery on November 16th, I will be Paxil
free. Thanx again for posting this question!
— Janet C.
November 5, 2001
Paxil, I've been on it for 2 years. It's been a life saver. I had my
surgery at 309 on January 10, 2001, currently I weight 195, November 5,
2001.
I take 40 mgs of Paxil. One in the morning, one at night. I thank
goodness I kept taking it. Lord knows this surgery is a mental and
emotional nightmare. The physical end of surgery takes care of itself! I
even had them give it to me in the hospital during my recovery from my open
Duodenal Switch. I haven't missed a dose in the 11 months since my
surgery! I don't plan on missing one either. Yes, I've lost slower than
some patients but I've been pleasant, happy, active, silly and very
content. That's a very good trade off. Yes, Paxil doesn't help with
weight loss and can even cause weight gain in other people, it doesn't
cause weight gain in Duodenal Switch people. The good news is, the surgery
physically alters our bodies ability to hold weight.
Keep taking your Paxil. Don't stop! It's a VERY BAD idea. I have a
sister who stopped her Paxil for weight gain reasons and it's a very scary,
dark, ugly, horrible thing to see her in such misery mentally and
emotionally.
— Lisa L.
April 29, 2002
That is really funny because paxil is given to help people lose weight. I
was on it and lost 15lbs in about 2 months but quite taking it because of
the sexual side effects.
— Mark L.
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