SSRI's- I don't understand this

Okay, I don't get it. I was reading that usually when a person is feeling blue that they will often crave carbs. Comfort food. And usually that it's because of decreased levels of seretonin.

But if you are taking an AD, specifically SSRI's, it helps increase the levels of seretonin. Right?

So why do people gain weight while on AD's??

But also, many people who are depressed will lose weight.

So it's not a simple story. There are many causes of depression and biochemical ways to get there. Not everyone who is depressed needs more serotonin in their system.

Polarsmom, your question helps illuminate how complex all of this is and how little we currently understand.

This is an exert from WebMD, it looks like no-one really knows exactly why it happens:

"Antidepressants and Weight Gain: What Happens and Why
Although there are a number of theories as to why antidepressants lead to weight gain, Sussman believes that both appetite and metabolism may be affected.

"I have had patients who swear that they are not eating any more, but still gaining weight, so that tells us there is some kind of metabolic influence going on; I have also had patients tell me that they are not only more hungry and eating more, but that the medicines are encouraging a carbohydrate craving that is hard to control, so we know appetite also plays a role," he says.

Fincham says antidepressants may also simply help us to rediscover pleasure in our life -- including food.

"It might be a situation where someone feels so much better when taking an antidepressant that lots of things suddenly start feeling more pleasurable to them, and food is just one of them. So in this instance they may actually be overeating and not even realize they are doing so, says Fincham.

Findings from a group of Italian researchers published in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics suggest that the simple act of recovery from depression may play a role in the weight gain."

I don't know about that theory.......when I'm depressed I don't crave anything...it's like I just don't exist...I've lost twenty pounds before recovery in the past. In some ways, meds change your whole way of thinking and behavior....that's probably why people gain weight..............

My problem is that I'll have periods of time where I will eat like there is no tomorrow. And I can't stop thinking about food. What am I gonna make for dinner? What can I snack on now? And usually it's carbs/sweets that I'm looking for. I'll try to go for something that isn't terrible health wise. But still.

My guess for me is that I'm just tired. I know that when I'm just dead on my feet I crave stuff that'll give me a quick boost. Usually something like cheese and crackers or PB&J sandwiches. I try to add in a bit of protein.

I can't really blame it all on AD's. I've always been the kind of person who lives to eat. Not eat to live. I love food. Especially starchy and sweets. But it just seems to be that it's all I want.

It just seems odd to me. Like I said, I read in a magazine about how when your body craves sugar it's like self-medicating. The sugar increases the absorption of tryptophan. And your body uses tryptophan to make serotonin. Which is the feel happy chemical. So....... You'd think that if your already on an AD your serotonin levels are already increased. So technically it should lessen the your bodies desire for carb rich foods. Well, IMO anyway. LOL Guess that's why I'M not the doctor!

I understand, I went from 155lbs to 117 lbs (I'm 5'9"...) in a month or so before getting on right meds. Now I'm back to normal weight but still struggling with my appetite (not on meds at the moment). I think the side-effects are different for everyone, what I posted above is just an explanation why some people may gain weight.

I think that's why it came as a surprise that people gained weight, and there is no known medical/biochemical explanation for it. I'm sure there are many other pathways involved in cravings and depression (like dual-action ADs such as Effexor, etc.), so it varies individually.

I gained 30 pounds on Paxil back some seven years ago --
after a hiatus of mental health drugs , I am on Prozac -- has killed my appetite and allowed me to drop some pounds , however , I am having some other issues

Yeah, I understand that. I just get to a point where i'm completely indifferent to everything. When the question is asked, "What do you want to eat?" I really don't care. It's just calorie intake, i don't care what it tastes like. I don't seem to have any cravings at all, unless I don't eat anything for the entire day, in which case I crave sugar, which I think is normal.