Switch antidepressants?

Question

I currently take 37.5 mg of Paxil CR once daily, but the fatigue and weight gain are becoming unbearable. I have tried to stop taking Paxil all together, but the withdrawal symptoms make it nearly impossible. I've heard that some people get the same results with Zoloft as Paxil, but have an added benefit of weight loss. Is this true? Who has had an experience with this?

Answer 1

Paxil is known for the weight gain associated with it's use and you may find it helpful to try another anti-depressant in the same class (SSRI's) particularly if you find that the Paxil has been relieving your symptoms. Lexapro tends to be very effective and there are fewer side effects. You may also want to consider Wellbutrin, an SNRI, as weight gain is not associated with it. There are also several SNRI combo drugs that may be beneficial like Effexor or Cymbalta. The only thing I am aware of that can actually promote weight loss and impact mood is topamax which is an anti-convulsant used off label for mood stabilization. Topamax is not generally used to treat depression, but rather bipolar disorder and tends to have a weak anti-depressant effect, but it is sometimes used in conjunction with other anti-depressants to combat the weight gain. However, it is also known as "dopamax" because of the side effect of making people feel a little cloudy and foggy and it is sedating. Your best bet is to talk with your health care provider and try switching to another SSRI that may have fewer side effects while maintaining it's therapeutic efficacy. Polypharmacy should be a last resort if no other options seem to work.

Answer 2

Are you on antidepressants for anxiety or depression? or both?
Have you tried Valium instead of anti depressants? Anyway if you feel you need them try different ones until you find the right one for you, my mums been on Zoloft for 12 years for manic depression, if anything shes gained a little weight but not an excessive amount, but now she cant live without it. With-drawl off anti D's isn't very pleasant and i dont know why doctors prescribe them so readily. I suggest trying Valium it chills you out without the headf***. Antidepressants just put a bubble over your head so you feel either emotionless or sad (my opinion) so try wiending off them slowly, break the pill in half etc. This is all i know my advice switch drug class to benzodiazipines...

Answer 3

I have taken Zoloft for about 13 years with no weight gain from the Zoloft.

Answer 4

first of all, i do no longer trust what the heathcare "experts" your loved ones consulted stated approximately Effexor : I even have been taking it for exceedingly much 2 years, and it fairly is been very efficient for me. And to handle their different undertaking - all antidepressant drugs have some variety of 'discontinuation syndrome', because of the variety wherein they artwork. None of them are secure to easily basically stop taking. besides, Effexor isn't addictive, it rather is interior the comparable type fairly as Lexapro and Zoloft.on the different hand, the Lorazepam (Ativan) is could properly be habit forming (addictive), and that i could recommend staying faraway from that. You stated you have basically been taking them 4 days? properly, it takes a minimum of a month for drugs like Effexor to commence being fairly efficient. they could desire to build as much as a definite point on your device, so which you will no longer see prompt effects. It sounds to me like your dad is making an attempt to "play well being practitioner," and needs something that works right now. Is he a scientific expert? If no longer, i could gently inspire him to bypass away those judgements to the pros, and to have some persistence My (no longer so expert) opinion? i could stop taking the Ativan right now, stay on the Effexor for a minimum of three months so which you will discover how that's going to artwork, and step up on the counselling to help learn some efficient approaches of dealing with the rigidity/melancholy. good success, and basically tell them that the Quantum well being practitioner is familiar with appropriate! : )

Answer 5

Try Prozac. It will give you more energy and you will not gain weight.