[rainbow8]

I've never taken anti-depressants. I'm not in therapy now, but my internist said he could give them to me because it's always been something I've considered. However, I just lost 20 pounds and he says that almost all meds will cause a weight gain. I take Metformin for prediabetes and it's helped me lose weight.

So, my questions are:

1. Why do most people say to see a pdoc for meds?
2. Do all anti-depressants make you gain weight? I'd probably need one
with seritonin.

Thanks.

[netsavy006]

pdoc's know more about these types of medications than regular GPs I would gather would be the answer.

In terms of weight gain that's highly individual. I never gained weight on 4 antidepressants that I took (Zoloft, Pexeva, Cymbata, Lexapro).

[sunrise]

Originally Posted by rainbow8

However, I just lost 20 pounds and he says that almost all meds will cause a weight gain. I take Metformin for prediabetes and it's helped me lose weight.

It is not true that almost all meds make you gain weight. This statement itself seems to suggest your doc doesn't know that much about meds.

So, my questions are:
1. Why do most people say to see a pdoc for meds?
2. Do all anti-depressants make you gain weight? I'd probably need one
with seritonin.

Pdocs are more knowledgable about psychoactive meds because that is their speciality. They studied for several years after med school to be experts on that. Your GP studied many different subjects to be a generalist and didn't specialize in psychiatry. (I don't see a pdoc but a PNP and she seems very knowledgable.)

All ADs are not the same, so no, they would not all make a person gain weight. Plus, all people are different and one person can gain weight on a certain med and another will not. A pdoc would know what ADs were typically associated with weight gain and which were not. Already that is one piece of information of interest to you that your GP does not know. Also, how do you know you need an AD that increases your serotonin? Is that what your GP recommended?

What little I know:
SSRIs: Paxil causes weight gain in a lot of people. I've known 3 people on it and they each gained from 25-40 lbs. Lexapro and its generic cousin Celexa are supposed to be weight neutral. My H takes Lexapro and has not gained.
non-SSRI: Wellbutrin increases dopamine and norepinephrine. It is weight neutral and some people even lose weight on it. I take it and I have not gained or lost weight.

That's all I know! There have been several threads in this forum about weight-neutral ADs, so if you poke around, you'll probably find them.

Good luck. Oh, and BTW, congrats on your 20 lb weight loss! I can understand why you would want to protect that accomplishment.

[deliquesce]

i have been on every class of anti-depressants (excepting tricyclics) and have not gained weight on any. on a few i did lose a significant amount of weight, and then had to modify my diet to ensure i didnt become severely underweight.

I've certainly gained weight since I've been on meds, but it is probably the anti-psychotics moreso than the antidepressants. But I'm also lazy and don't exercise. Doesn't help the situation.