Pebblypoo - I have no proof of my statement that SSRI-induced weight gain is irrevesible. It is just that in my experience, those who gain weight after taking an SSRI (esp. Paxil - paroxetine) cannot seem to shed that weight, even if they stop taking the antidepressant. Now, this is a blanket statement. I do know people who have lost the weight that they gained from an SSRI, but these people are in the minority.

I am not sure if the drug has reset a person's "normal" (natural?) body weight, but even when people eat a sensible diet, they seem to stay at this new level. Again, I have no proof of this, it is only an observation.

That being said; I have also noticed that if a person is able to diligently maintain their weight when taking the SSRI, they can avoid gaining weight. I have beeen told that it is very difficult to eat sensibly, due the the intense carbohydrate craving that is common with SSRIs. I believe that everyone that I have talked to who has avoided SSRI-induced weight gain has mentioned that they were ALWAYS hungry. Many of these people have used a food journal, writing down everything that they eat, and following a rigid diet plan. The diet is not a starvation diet, just eating sensibly, usually with the help of a nutritionist. The journal keeping needs to begin when the SSRI is started, long before that incidious weight gain is able to creep up on one.

It seems (to me) that the carbohydrate craving and weight gain do tend to fade (in most people) after 9 months to a year of being on the SSRI. I have noticed that (again, in most people) weight does level off, but it seems that most people have a new "natural weight".

I really don't mean to freak anyone out; and I definitely don't want anyone to give up trying to lose weight. I am just stating what I have seen clinically. My clinical experience is limited; I haven't done any studies on this; I have no proof of what I am saying. I am just stating what I have observed over the years (be it right or wrong).

Everyone should eat a sensible diet; but I do not take my own advice. I do think about eating properly, but I don't follow through. I am probably about 10 pounds over what I should be; I no longer working on my karate, nor do I exercise as much as I should.

When I had to start taking antidpressants, I found that SSRIs made me worse. At first Wellbutrin (bupropion) did allow me to achieve remission, but that success was short-lived. My doctor and I pushed the dose of Wellbutrin to 450mg/day and even up to 600mg for a couple of weeks. I had to add Effexor XR (venlafaxine) and was up to 450mg/day before cutting back to 300mg and reintroducing the Wellbutrin at 300mg/day. Finally success! I never did gain much permanent weight with the Effexor XR, probably because I still depressed until I reintroduced the Wellbutrin, which took my appetite away for the first 3 months. This probably saved me from weight gain, but it wasn't a conscious thing (probably just dumb luck). I hadn't made the SSRI/weight gain connection at this point.

I don't think that Effexor XR causes weight gain to the same extent as the true SSRIs. Paxil, Zoloft, and Luvox (fluvoxamine) seem (to me) to be the SSRIs that are the SSRIs most likely to cause irreversible weight gain. It is very hard to lose the weight even after stopping these antidepressants. Again, this is a generalization on my part.

I hope that this clears up your questions. Just remember, I am just relating my limited experience; this phenomena is just from my limited experience. I don't mean for anyone to take this as a scientific "truth", only "my" observation. - CM