Prozac questions?

Question

I was on prozac for around 3 years, and I gained 40 pounds..I quit taking it about two weeks ago, will the weight come off? i walk regularly and am *trying* to watch my eating. Also, I feel no different being off of it, should i be aware of mood changes/

Answer 1

I wish I had more informatiion. If you stopped taking the drug because of your weight gain, that's the wrong reason. My therapist once said, "What do you want to be, a skinny corpse?" If you were on Prozac you were depressed when it was prescribed for you. And it can cause weight gain, unfortunately, but the benefits outweigh that risk. It was a miracle drug and is still widely used and effective against depression. What I'd like to know is whether or not you felt depressed when you stopped taking the Prozac. If so, you need to be on an antidepressant- period. If you had been on Prozac for 3 years, you may have seen a great result as far as treating your depression at first and for a while, but there is a phenomenon with Prozac called "poop out" syndrome - after a while it doesn't work anymore. There are now many new antidepressants that are highly effective in treating depression; some don't have the weight gain side effect. If you were still depressed when you stopped taking the med, you need to see a Dr., STAT, and discuss options for a different antidepressant. Also, it's very unwise and even dangerous to abruptly stop taking the drug. I searched the web, and there are many symptoms of Prozac withdrawl: anxiety, trouble sleeping, dizziness and something called "brain zaps" (a neuological symptom), to name just a few. If you were going to stop taking Prozac, it should have been done in consultation with your Dr., it needs to be tapered down, and, yes, you definitely can, and probably will, see a return (or worsening) of your depression. You need to be weaned off of a drug like Prozac, especially since you had been taking it for such a long time period.
For all of these reasons, you need to talk to your Dr. and you need to be on some antidepressant (if not Prozac, another SSRI or one of the new antidepressants that seem to be working very well for people). As far as the weight gain, if you exercise and watch what you eat, you will see yourself losing weight. Keep that stuff up. And remember that depression is a very serious and potentially dangerous disease. It needs to be treated. And that takes precedence over the weight issue. Please, get back on an antidepressant. Or at least get some Prozac in gradually decreasing doses so that it can be done safely.
Take care. And make sure that if you're depressed, you're treating it.

Answer 2

I have taken Celexa for 2 years lost loads of weight am now under weight and can't put it back on so yes! It's a common side effect the doc tells me (weight loss or gain) probably more to do with my anxiety tho, I reckon! E-mail me if you wanna chat about that particular drug. I take 40Mg's a day. Prozac should be taken in the mornings not at night. The side effects in the first fortnight can give you insomnia as well but they soon pass. Else i would talk to your doc maybe it's not the best SSRI for you! Try Celexa maybe. I take them and said it was like taking speed at first, but after a month that had totally past! I have heard a lot of people sat they have gained weight on prozac.

Answer 3

I was on Prozac for about a year and gained 20 pounds as well. It took me a few months to get it off. But it is pretty hard work. You need to do more than walk, unless it's hard core speed walking 40 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

Answer 4

I have been on prozac for 15 years,i no nothing of weight gain,would it be possible you are blaming the weight gain on prozac,when their is another reason,,and yes ,you may start to feel low again soon,but good luck

Answer 5

Yes be highly aware of your mood changes. Increase your water drinking this will increse your weight loss also walk an extra mile will help as well. You can still eat just do things in moderation. Avoid salt as much as possible and chocolate I have cut almost all sugar out of my diet in the past year and lost 100 lbs plus got off a lot of my meds.

Answer 6

I hope you didn't just suddenly stop the drug. You risk serious withdrawal effects that will start any day now if you did. Up to and including seizures and death. So if you stopped suddenly call your doctor and get more Prozac so you can taper off of it.

Answer 7

You should never quit taking any medication without the direction of a medical doctor. Any SSRI needs to be tapered down before quitting. Please visit with your doctor soon.