![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 25 of 39. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Leslie Mock on August 5, 1999, at 15:51:03
I've been on 20mg. Prozac for the past three years. It's been
a miracle for my depression, but, I've gained
30 pounds in the past year and a half. I wasn't sure that it really was the Prozac
until I went on an intense diet and exercise program for three months. I lost
absolutely no weight. Before Prozac I had to be careful not to run more than
3x per week for 1/2 hour or I'd start to loss too much weight! In addition, I'm planning on getting prganat soon
and am going through treatments for autoimmune problems which have caused me to miscarry in the past. One of my immune
problems is antibodies against serotonin and endorphines.
Because of the pregnancy thing, my doctor will not switch me at to any meds. other than Prozac. I've upped my dosage this past week to 40 mg.
and have noticed feeling a lot less tired (I was sleeping 15 hours per day)and just better in general.
My doctor suggested that the increase in dosage will also have an anoretic effect and I will lose weight. has anyone experienced weight loss
on Prozac by upping their dosage? Should I expect this reaction or just liuve with the fact that I'll carry around this extra weight until I can swith meds.
Thanks.
Posted by Andy on August 5, 1999, at 16:58:50
In reply to Increasing Prozac dosage & weight gain, posted by Leslie Mock on August 5, 1999, at 15:51:03
> I've been on 20mg. Prozac for the past three years. It's been
> a miracle for my depression, but, I've gained
> 30 pounds in the past year and a half. I wasn't sure that it really was the Prozac
> until I went on an intense diet and exercise program for three months. I lost
> absolutely no weight. Before Prozac I had to be careful not to run more than
> 3x per week for 1/2 hour or I'd start to loss too much weight! In addition, I'm planning on getting prganat soon
> and am going through treatments for autoimmune problems which have caused me to miscarry in the past. One of my immune
> problems is antibodies against serotonin and endorphines.
> Because of the pregnancy thing, my doctor will not switch me at to any meds. other than Prozac. I've upped my dosage this past week to 40 mg.
> and have noticed feeling a lot less tired (I was sleeping 15 hours per day)and just better in general.
> My doctor suggested that the increase in dosage will also have an anoretic effect and I will lose weight. has anyone experienced weight loss
> on Prozac by upping their dosage? Should I expect this reaction or just liuve with the fact that I'll carry around this extra weight until I can swith meds.
> Thanks.I'm not sure I understand the failure to lose weight on the diet and exercise plan. Does the AD make you gain weight or does it increase your appetite, thereby causing you to gain weight because you eat more? Perhaps sleeping 15 hours a day meant you weren't burning many calories.
Posted by Leslie on August 5, 1999, at 18:06:52
In reply to Re: Increasing Prozac dosage & weight gain, posted by Andy on August 5, 1999, at 16:58:50
> > >
> I'm not sure I understand the failure to lose weight on the diet and exercise plan. Does the AD make you gain weight or does it increase your appetite, thereby causing you to gain weight because you eat more? Perhaps sleeping 15 hours a day meant you weren't burning many calories.I don't understand the failure to lose weight either. That's why I've been so upset and concerned. I'm sure that sleeping 15 hours per day had something to do w/ it. Even w/ eating less and exercising more, I bet my metabolism was just really sluggish.
Posted by Roo on August 6, 1999, at 7:42:43
In reply to Re: Increasing Prozac dosage & weight gain, posted by Leslie on August 5, 1999, at 18:06:52
I know how you feel Leslie--I've taken prozac
(20 mg's) for the last 3 or 4 years (I lose track),
and I've gained 10 pounds since then, despite the
fact that I exercise, vigorously, (my face is
beet red and I'm drenched in sweat and breathing
hard) at least 5 times a week, and have for the
past 15 years....I also eat healthy. I remember
really attempting to lose the weight at one point
cutting back calories and increasing exercise,
and the weight wouldn't budge. I finally just
accepted 10 pounds heavier as my weight, and from
reading other posts around here, I feel glad it's
only 10...it has to be a metabolism thing, b/c my
appetite or intake has not increased (in fact it's
probably decreased because prozac really helped my
compulsive eating tendencies).Please let me know what happens though, at 40 mg's...
I'd be curious, b/c I sleep a lot too (although I
have a hard time sleeping at night, it's pretty
common for me to nap for an hour or two after work).Keep me posted!
Posted by Julie on August 6, 1999, at 7:51:13
In reply to Re: Increasing Prozac dosage & weight gain, posted by Roo on August 6, 1999, at 7:42:43
My experience on Zoloft was that at dosages up to 150 a day I gained 30 lb. (despite plenty of exercise, eating sensibly, etc. etc.) and had great trouble losing any of it, but when my dosage was increased to 150 or 200 a day (so, near or at the max recommended dose), the weight slowly started coming off (with what appeared to be no change in my habits-- maybe my appetite was slightly less).
Posted by Beager on August 7, 1999, at 12:49:57
In reply to Re: Increasing Prozac dosage & weight gain, posted by Julie on August 6, 1999, at 7:51:13
I wish someone (i.e. company) would do research and find out why these meds cause weight gain without eating more food. Then maybe there would be a way for us to lose the weight. I've been off Prozac for ten years and cannot lose any of the 30 pounds that I gained. (I, too, was one of those skinny, skinny people before Prozac.) Now I'm on Celexa which has completely killed my appetite (I have to force myself to eat and am probably consuming less than 900 calories a day) and yet I've gained five pounds. Go figure. (And yes, I excersise regularly.)
> My experience on Zoloft was that at dosages up to 150 a day I gained 30 lb. (despite plenty of exercise, eating sensibly, etc. etc.) and had great trouble losing any of it, but when my dosage was increased to 150 or 200 a day (so, near or at the max recommended dose), the weight slowly started coming off (with what appeared to be no change in my habits-- maybe my appetite was slightly less).
Posted by Steve on August 8, 1999, at 11:26:12
In reply to Re: Increasing Prozac dosage & weight gain, posted by Beager on August 7, 1999, at 12:49:57
I was on 80 mgs (the maximum dosage) for 4 years. I still gained weight, but after gaining 30 lbs it seemed to level off. Now I'm on Celexa and have the same problem. I think there has to be something about increasing seritonin that causes this.
> I wish someone (i.e. company) would do research and find out why these meds cause weight gain without eating more food. Then maybe there would be a way for us to lose the weight. I've been off Prozac for ten years and cannot lose any of the 30 pounds that I gained. (I, too, was one of those skinny, skinny people before Prozac.) Now I'm on Celexa which has completely killed my appetite (I have to force myself to eat and am probably consuming less than 900 calories a day) and yet I've gained five pounds. Go figure. (And yes, I excersise regularly.)
>
> > My experience on Zoloft was that at dosages up to 150 a day I gained 30 lb. (despite plenty of exercise, eating sensibly, etc. etc.) and had great trouble losing any of it, but when my dosage was increased to 150 or 200 a day (so, near or at the max recommended dose), the weight slowly started coming off (with what appeared to be no change in my habits-- maybe my appetite was slightly less).
Posted by Julie on August 9, 1999, at 11:00:25
In reply to Re: Increasing Prozac dosage & weight gain, posted by Steve on August 8, 1999, at 11:26:12
Re why drug companies don't seem to be doing research on SSRI weight gain (or magazines, etc. publishing on it): I wonder how a pharmaceutical company decides to do research on something. Do they take suggestions? For a while SSRIs were the newest game in town and had this miracle drug reputation; now that lots of new post-ssri antidepressants are coming on the market, maybe these companies won't feel so smug? (Then again, I assume the same companies who make SSRIs are making the new stuff: Wyeth, Glaxo, Pfizer, etc-)
Posted by Leslie on August 9, 1999, at 13:03:13
In reply to Re: Increasing Prozac dosage & weight gain, posted by Beager on August 7, 1999, at 12:49:57
>I agree. It seems to be a very prevelant, but kind of "hidden" problem. What really annoys me is that both a friend and my sister are on Prozac as well and they haven't gained weight. I know neither of them really think my weight gain is due to Prozac although I've told them about how many people seem to have the same problem. My sister used to have a weight problem while I never did. I was always more on the too thin side.She keeps trying to get me to go on the Atkins diet, which I tried for a month w/ no success. BTW - My increase to 40mg of Prozac has seemed to make a difference in my energy level - I no longer have to take a nap in the afternoon and I'm back to my "normal" night-person type schedule. My appetite hasn't changed (maybe I'm a bit less hungry)but I never had a problem w/ cravings/overeating anyway.
I wish someone (i.e. company) would do research and find out why these meds cause weight gain without eating more food. Then maybe there would be a way for us to lose the weight. I've been off Prozac for ten years and cannot lose any of the 30 pounds that I gained. (I, too, was one of those skinny, skinny people before Prozac.) Now I'm on Celexa which has completely killed my appetite (I have to force myself to eat and am probably consuming less than 900 calories a day) and yet I've gained five pounds. Go figure. (And yes, I excersise regularly.)
>
> >
Posted by AM on August 11, 1999, at 11:34:30
In reply to Re: Increasing Prozac dosage & weight gain, posted by Leslie on August 9, 1999, at 13:03:13
> >I agree. It seems to be a very prevelant, but kind of "hidden" problem. What really annoys me is that both a friend and my sister are on Prozac as well and they haven't gained weight. I know neither of them really think my weight gain is due to Prozac although I've told them about how many people seem to have the same problem. My sister used to have a weight problem while I never did. I was always more on the too thin side.She keeps trying to get me to go on the Atkins diet, which I tried for a month w/ no success. BTW - My increase to 40mg of Prozac has seemed to make a difference in my energy level - I no longer have to take a nap in the afternoon and I'm back to my "normal" night-person type schedule. My appetite hasn't changed (maybe I'm a bit less hungry)but I never had a problem w/ cravings/overeating anyway.
>
> I wish someone (i.e. company) would do research and find out why these meds cause weight gain without eating more food. Then maybe there would be a way for us to lose the weight. I've been off Prozac for ten years and cannot lose any of the 30 pounds that I gained. (I, too, was one of those skinny, skinny people before Prozac.) Now I'm on Celexa which has completely killed my appetite (I have to force myself to eat and am probably consuming less than 900 calories a day) and yet I've gained five pounds. Go figure. (And yes, I excersise regularly.)
> >
> > >
Leslie,Were you off all medications for the 10 years after prozac or have you been taking other meds regularly through that time?
Annie McNeil
Posted by Elizabeth on August 11, 1999, at 13:40:44
In reply to weight gain/pharmaceutical research, posted by Julie on August 9, 1999, at 11:00:25
> Re why drug companies don't seem to be doing research on SSRI weight gain (or magazines, etc. publishing on it): I wonder how a pharmaceutical company decides to do research on something. Do they take suggestions? For a while SSRIs were the newest game in town and had this miracle drug reputation; now that lots of new post-ssri antidepressants are coming on the market, maybe these companies won't feel so smug? (Then again, I assume the same companies who make SSRIs are making the new stuff: Wyeth, Glaxo, Pfizer, etc-)
Wellbutrin [Glaxo Wellcome] isn't really a post-SSRI - it was first approved in '85 (then "disapproved" for a few years because of the seizure thingie).
But anyway, there was a study published just this month on weight gain with an SSRI (Prozac).
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/156/8/1170
(You're not going to like their conclusions, though.)
Probably part of the reason that they haven't looked into this more is that it's a long-term side effect and long-term studies are hard to do.
Posted by Beager on August 11, 1999, at 15:28:40
In reply to Re: Increasing Prozac dosage & weight gain, posted by AM on August 11, 1999, at 11:34:30
I wasn't taking anything except SJW, and that caused me to lose my appetite. I even tried Weight Watchers and they told me to see a doctor, since my diet wasn't enough to keep me overweight. I'm increasing my dose to 40 mg on Celexa, hopefully that will have some effect.
> I wish someone (i.e. company) would do research and find out why these meds cause weight gain without eating more food. Then maybe there would be a way for us to lose the weight. I've been off Prozac for ten years and cannot lose any of the 30 pounds that I gained. (I, too, was one of those skinny, skinny people before Prozac.) Now I'm on Celexa which has completely killed my appetite (I have to force myself to eat and am probably consuming less than 900 calories a day) and yet I've gained five pounds. Go figure. (And yes, I excersise regularly.)
> >
> > >Leslie,
Were you off all medications for the 10 years after prozac or have you been taking other meds regularly through that time?
Annie McNeil
Posted by Julie on August 11, 1999, at 22:20:40
In reply to weight gain/pharmaceutical research, posted by Julie on August 9, 1999, at 11:00:25
Thanks for the cite, Elizabeth. I just went and skimmed it. It's from the American Journal of Psychiatry (so: very respected) and reports on a study conducted by Eli Lilly. Patients on Prozac didn't gain more weight over a year than those on placebo, it looks like. Yeah, that sure doesn't go with my anecdotal evidence- or a lot of other people's. Could other SSRIs be different than Prozac?
Posted by Annie McNeil on August 12, 1999, at 0:26:28
In reply to Re: weight gain/pharmaceutical research, posted by Elizabeth on August 11, 1999, at 13:40:44
> > Re why drug companies don't seem to be doing research on SSRI weight gain (or magazines, etc. publishing on it): I wonder how a pharmaceutical company decides to do research on something. Do they take suggestions? For a while SSRIs were the newest game in town and had this miracle drug reputation; now that lots of new post-ssri antidepressants are coming on the market, maybe these companies won't feel so smug? (Then again, I assume the same companies who make SSRIs are making the new stuff: Wyeth, Glaxo, Pfizer, etc-)
>
> Wellbutrin [Glaxo Wellcome] isn't really a post-SSRI - it was first approved in '85 (then "disapproved" for a few years because of the seizure thingie).
>
> But anyway, there was a study published just this month on weight gain with an SSRI (Prozac).
>
> http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/156/8/1170
>
> (You're not going to like their conclusions, though.)
>
> Probably part of the reason that they haven't looked into this more is that it's a long-term side effect and long-term studies are hard to do.There's another site on SSRI induced weight gain you guys might find interesting:
http://www.cme-reviews.com/PP198_Sussman.html
I don't know about you guys-- but I'm leary of anything ELI Lilly has to say on this topic.
Posted by Adam on August 12, 1999, at 11:38:04
In reply to Re: weight gain/pharmaceutical research, posted by Elizabeth on August 11, 1999, at 13:40:44
I took Zoloft for about two years, and gained about 25-30lbs. Before Zoloft, I ate like a monster and was as thin as a
rail. One thing depression didn't seem to affect was my love of food. I've found since then that it was hard to get
rid of the weight (though I have lost most of it, with discipline). Since then I tried another drug, Remeron, which
again made me gain some weight, and again, it took some discipline and exercise on my part to keep that under control.
I've since stopped the Remeron (see the Selegiline posts above!), and lost like five pounds without even trying.Anyway, I think the SSRI/weight gain connection is a real one, despite what some studies might say. "Anecdotal"
information certainly can't stand up to intense scientific scrutiny, simply because there are no controls, but it cannot
regarded as completely spurious either. And there's plenty of anecdotal info. out there to support the connection.
Every doctor I have spoken with (and that's been a bunch) has had patients who gained significant weight on SSRIs. One
can always argue that this is not a side effect of the drug but a result of improved appetite following a depressive
episode. I doubt it's that simple. In my experience, I ate the same with or without Zoloft, and gained a huge amount of
weight in a very short amount of time as soon as I started taking it. I've heard similar complaints from other people,
and most of my doctors considered the weight gain a bona-fide side effect of the drug.If you consider how much lower the reported incidence of, say, sexual difficulties are compared to the "anecdotal"
rates (better than 50% from what I've read, and every doctor I've spoken with thinks this is the reality), this gives one
some perspective on controlled studies of side-effects.
>
> Wellbutrin [Glaxo Wellcome] isn't really a post-SSRI - it was first approved in '85 (then "disapproved" for a few years because of the seizure thingie).
>
> But anyway, there was a study published just this month on weight gain with an SSRI (Prozac).
>
> http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/156/8/1170
>
> (You're not going to like their conclusions, though.)
>
> Probably part of the reason that they haven't looked into this more is that it's a long-term side effect and long-term studies are hard to do.
Posted by Annie McNeil on August 12, 1999, at 13:14:20
In reply to Re: weight gain/pharmaceutical research, posted by Adam on August 12, 1999, at 11:38:04
Hi Adam,
How long were you off Zoloft before the weight started coming off? I've heard that the weight loss is sometimes delayed after cessation of the drug and when it does come off it's a slow process over several months. Was this true for you, or did you start to lose weight immediately? Also, did the weight gain start in the beginning of treatment or after long term use?
Thanks,
Annie
Posted by Adam on August 12, 1999, at 17:06:43
In reply to Re: weight gain/pharmaceutical -? For Adam, posted by Annie McNeil on August 12, 1999, at 13:14:20
It took a while before the weight came off, and I pretty much had to exercise and watch what I ate to make this happen.
It makes sense, really. You put on fat cells, and you've got them for life. It's so much easier to put on weight than
to get rid of it for that very reason. They remain, and essentially say "feed me" as long as they're around. The fact
that a drug probably triggered they're proliferation will not change this unfortunate scenerio, I don't think. However,
I am guessing that there are metabolic changes that occur as well, so even without trying, I can lose a little weight as
soon as the drug is gone. But it has taken some work to get close to where I was, and, well, that annoys the crap out
of me now. I was a very fit individual. To actually become a little flabby in such a short span of time was a real shock
to friends and family who hadn't seen me in a while.As far as how long it took to gain the weight, well, it was progressive but I noticed it in like a month. I put on like
20 lbs., if not more, in less than six months, and then kind of plateaued. The weird thing was, I really didn't care
at the time. I have a number of complaints about Zoloft. I never felt like it did much for depression, and it made me
kind of complacent, apathetic perhaps, and, of course, sex was just frustrating. I won't rip on SSRIs too much, because
I know they have helped many, many people, but for me, the cumulative side effects weren't worth what I was getting out
of it. Well, OK, I will rip on SSRIs a bit. I guess what I really don't like is the fact that they are touted as being
so "clean" or side-effect free. They're not really either. I'm pretty skeptical of what the medical community (their
studies being funded largely by the industrial titans that produce these drugs) has to say about SSRIs supposed safety
and efficacy. What I see in the literature seems out of line with what I'm observing in real life.I'm not arguing that
they're ineffective. But miracle drugs they ain't, IMO.> Hi Adam,
>
> How long were you off Zoloft before the weight started coming off? I've heard that the weight loss is sometimes delayed after cessation of the drug and when it does come off it's a slow process over several months. Was this true for you, or did you start to lose weight immediately? Also, did the weight gain start in the beginning of treatment or after long term use?
>
> Thanks,
> Annie
Posted by Elizabeth on August 13, 1999, at 0:28:20
In reply to Re: weight gain/pharmaceutical research, posted by Annie McNeil on August 12, 1999, at 0:26:28
The trouble with the data from clinical trials intended to establish efficacy is I don't think they specifically monitor weight the way that the study published in AJP did. People may not spontaneously report weight gain, especially in short trials.
I don't blame you guys for not trusting Eli Lilly (does *anybody* trust them? I wonder if they realize just how untrusted they are? ), but I know the work of some of the authors of this paper and don't believe them to be puppets of the industry. No doubt sometime I will be accepting a grant from a pharmaceutical company to study one of their products; I don't have any intention of doing so if it's conditional on getting the results they want.
Someone asked whether some SSRIs are worse than others. I think the answer may be yes; it seems to me that Paxil is the worst.
People do tend to gain weight in the long run, particularly if their mood is not stable. People tend to gain weight when they recover from depression. I'm therefore suspicious even of fairly frequent reports by doctors or patients describing antidepressant-"induced" weight gain. (Kind of like reports that some therapy worked when clinical trials support the notion that the therapy is no better than a placebo.)
Posted by Bruce on August 13, 1999, at 9:07:00
In reply to Re: Increasing Prozac dosage & weight gain, posted by Leslie on August 9, 1999, at 13:03:13
> >I agree. It seems to be a very prevelant, but kind of "hidden" problem. What really annoys me is that both a friend and my sister are on Prozac as well and they haven't gained weight. I know neither of them really think my weight gain is due to Prozac although I've told them about how many people seem to have the same problem. My sister used to have a weight problem while I never did. I was always more on the too thin side.She keeps trying to get me to go on the Atkins diet, which I tried for a month w/ no success. BTW - My increase to 40mg of Prozac has seemed to make a difference in my energy level - I no longer have to take a nap in the afternoon and I'm back to my "normal" night-person type schedule. My appetite hasn't changed (maybe I'm a bit less hungry)but I never had a problem w/ cravings/overeating anyway.
>
> I wish someone (i.e. company) would do research and find out why these meds cause weight gain without eating more food. Then maybe there would be a way for us to lose the weight. I've been off Prozac for ten years and cannot lose any of the 30 pounds that I gained. (I, too, was one of those skinny, skinny people before Prozac.) Now I'm on Celexa which has completely killed my appetite (I have to force myself to eat and am probably consuming less than 900 calories a day) and yet I've gained five pounds. Go figure. (And yes, I excersise regularly.)
> >
> > >
Are you sure you are consuming only 900 calories/day? If you are also exercising, and still not losing weight, AND only eating 900 cal/day, then this is a strong indicator of thyroid failure (which may be causing your depression). Have it checked out.BTW, I am a fitness buff, and having helped several people try to lose weight, I have noticed a strong tendency for the dieters to *VASTLY* underestimate their caloric intake and overstate their exercise. Just an observation in general, it may not apply to you.
All the best, Bruce
Posted by Annie on August 13, 1999, at 17:42:03
In reply to Re: weight gain/pharmaceutical research, posted by Elizabeth on August 13, 1999, at 0:28:20
>I know the work of some of the authors of this paper and don't believe them to be puppets of the industry. No doubt sometime I will be accepting a grant from a pharmaceutical company to study one of their products; I don't have any intention of doing so if it's conditional on getting the results they want.
I also know the work of some of these authors. In fact, one of them is my Pdoc. I believe 'puppets of the industry' is a little too harsh, but I think you are being naive (You should be naive Elizabeth, you are very young. The jaded, cynical view happens much too soon for some of us) if you don't realize that in the academic research world, funding makes that world go 'round. I doubt very strongly, the funding was explicitly conditional on the results, but future funding is a consideration. It is interesting to note that David Michelson(lead author) works for Lilly. Also of note are the previous studies involving Prozac in which some of the authors have been involved. All that I have read were funded by Lilly. They also had results favorable to Lilly.
Reviewing the study was like walking backward thru a maze. The study does not say there is no weight gain on Prozac. It says the weight gain on Prozac was equal to the placebo group weight gain. On Prozac 25.4% of the participants had 7% or more increase in weight. In placebo it was 26.7%. The weight gain in the Prozac group was attributed to improvement in appetite after recovery while it was poor nutrition for the unfortunate placebo group.
Their statement that "the number of fluoxetine-treated patients with a 7% or greater increase in weight never exceeded that of patients in the placebo group" loses some impact when you consider that only 15 placebo participants were able to finish the study.( It will be a great sound bite though) The results of all participants, whether they completed or not, were a little different.
Prozac- 13.2% had 7% or greater weight increase.
Placebo- 7.4% had 7% or greater weight increase.
So a greater percentage of people had better appetites than poor nutrition.
I could go on and on ripping this apart but I think you get the picture. You can make numbers mean whatever you want.
I hope you are able to refuse grants from pharmaceutical companies with agendized study proposals, Elizabeth. It would be refreshing.Annie
Posted by Adam on August 13, 1999, at 18:20:41
In reply to Re: weight gain/pharmaceutical research, posted by Annie on August 13, 1999, at 17:42:03
I never meant to suggest that the research was being conducted by "puppets of the industry". But I am a researcher also (though I do not have my PhD-I doubt that matters, really).
When in academia, some of the work I did was funded by big pharm. Now I work in little pharm/biotech, but really the biases are the same. Where the money comes from does matter.
It's that simple. Explaining why would take forever and those who understand the nature of these uneasy alliances would probably agree that it's not a simple thing to dissect.
I do not doubt the integrity of the authors as scientists. However, I would not be the least suprised if other reports came out that were independantly funded contradicting this one.
Both would have valid points. It's a complicated issue, I'm sure. I am leary of this report because I know that the source of funding can influence data (at least in how it is
interpreted when it is open to interpretation), and because it contradicts what I have seen and experienced myself in the real world. I think other people who have put on a lot of
weight in a short period of time while taking an SSRI are experiencing a legitmate side effect of the drug and should be paid attention to. The fact that this is not a universal
phenomenon, or one that might not fall outside the error bars in a particular study does not lessen my conviction. I know my body and what happened to it. None of my doctors ever
doubted what the nature of the weight gain was. It's real, it happens, and people should know about it.> >I know the work of some of the authors of this paper and don't believe them to be puppets of the industry. No doubt sometime I will be accepting a grant from a pharmaceutical company to study one of their products; I don't have any intention of doing so if it's conditional on getting the results they want.
>
> I also know the work of some of these authors. In fact, one of them is my Pdoc. I believe 'puppets of the industry' is a little too harsh, but I think you are being naive (You should be naive Elizabeth, you are very young. The jaded, cynical view happens much too soon for some of us) if you don't realize that in the academic research world, funding makes that world go 'round. I doubt very strongly, the funding was explicitly conditional on the results, but future funding is a consideration. It is interesting to note that David Michelson(lead author) works for Lilly. Also of note are the previous studies involving Prozac in which some of the authors have been involved. All that I have read were funded by Lilly. They also had results favorable to Lilly.
> Reviewing the study was like walking backward thru a maze. The study does not say there is no weight gain on Prozac. It says the weight gain on Prozac was equal to the placebo group weight gain. On Prozac 25.4% of the participants had 7% or more increase in weight. In placebo it was 26.7%. The weight gain in the Prozac group was attributed to improvement in appetite after recovery while it was poor nutrition for the unfortunate placebo group.
> Their statement that "the number of fluoxetine-treated patients with a 7% or greater increase in weight never exceeded that of patients in the placebo group" loses some impact when you consider that only 15 placebo participants were able to finish the study.( It will be a great sound bite though) The results of all participants, whether they completed or not, were a little different.
> Prozac- 13.2% had 7% or greater weight increase.
> Placebo- 7.4% had 7% or greater weight increase.
> So a greater percentage of people had better appetites than poor nutrition.
> I could go on and on ripping this apart but I think you get the picture. You can make numbers mean whatever you want.
> I hope you are able to refuse grants from pharmaceutical companies with agendized study proposals, Elizabeth. It would be refreshing.
>
> Annie
Posted by Lisa T on January 25, 2001, at 8:33:56
In reply to Re: weight gain/pharmaceutical research, posted by Adam on August 13, 1999, at 18:20:41
Hi there, I found this web site when I was searching for answers late one night, and I am relieved to hear others having very similar experiences.
I have been on prozac for two or so years and have noticed a difference in my weight and bodyshape. I have put on about 5 kgs that I cannot seem to lose no matter what I do (yes I train 5 days a week and follow a strict and very healthy diet). I certainly sleep a lot more than ever, and am very annoyed about all of this distinct lack of energy and weight gain. It's as if my body is holding on to fat and won't let it go.
I have decided to stop taking prozac and try to regain my body (I was in great shape before!) and hopefully I will lose the 5 kilos I have gradually put on.
My other half has been on zoloft for the past year and he has also gained weight.
I am not a researcher, nor am I a scientist, but I do believe that there is a correlation between raising serotonin levels and weight gain. You raise serotonin levels, you feel better, your body sleeps more, conserves more, does not expend as much nervous energy, your metabolism slows. Well, that's my speel on it anyhow.
My doctor suggested that I might increase the dosage of prozac to help raise my energy levels and thus lose weight, but I have opted to quit altogether. I do not think that increasing is the answer, it might help initially to raise energy levels and lose a bit of weight, but then I think my body will become accustomed to the drug and plateau again. And who knows, in four years, I may have packed on another 5 kgs!
Hopefully my depression will not re-emerge and I will lose the weight and get back to feeling good about myself again. Wish me luck, and I welcome any comments.
Posted by Joy on January 25, 2001, at 8:57:59
In reply to Re: weight gain/pharmaceutical research, posted by Lisa T on January 25, 2001, at 8:33:56
Hi. I always thought Prozac was much more weight neutral than Paxil or Zoloft for most people. I guess we are all different. I just wanted to say that one of my closes friends is on Prozac 11 years and she is very slim. She does not eat a whole lot andis really thin. She is on 60 mg of Prozac.I just started Prozac 3 weeks ago and feel great. I plan on staying on it, but will watch my weight from the beginning. I've read a lot of posts where people have lost some weight when they tried while on Prozac, but almost nobody could lose on Paxil or Zoloft. I hope everything works out well for you.
Joy> Hi there, I found this web site when I was searching for answers late one night, and I am relieved to hear others having very similar experiences.
>
> I have been on prozac for two or so years and have noticed a difference in my weight and bodyshape. I have put on about 5 kgs that I cannot seem to lose no matter what I do (yes I train 5 days a week and follow a strict and very healthy diet). I certainly sleep a lot more than ever, and am very annoyed about all of this distinct lack of energy and weight gain. It's as if my body is holding on to fat and won't let it go.
>
> I have decided to stop taking prozac and try to regain my body (I was in great shape before!) and hopefully I will lose the 5 kilos I have gradually put on.
>
> My other half has been on zoloft for the past year and he has also gained weight.
>
> I am not a researcher, nor am I a scientist, but I do believe that there is a correlation between raising serotonin levels and weight gain. You raise serotonin levels, you feel better, your body sleeps more, conserves more, does not expend as much nervous energy, your metabolism slows. Well, that's my speel on it anyhow.
>
> My doctor suggested that I might increase the dosage of prozac to help raise my energy levels and thus lose weight, but I have opted to quit altogether. I do not think that increasing is the answer, it might help initially to raise energy levels and lose a bit of weight, but then I think my body will become accustomed to the drug and plateau again. And who knows, in four years, I may have packed on another 5 kgs!
>
> Hopefully my depression will not re-emerge and I will lose the weight and get back to feeling good about myself again. Wish me luck, and I welcome any comments.
Posted by Noa on January 25, 2001, at 10:47:17
In reply to Re: weight gain/pharmaceutical research, posted by Joy on January 25, 2001, at 8:57:59
does anyone know of any studies looking at exercise programs to offset ssri weight gain--whether this is effective or not?
Posted by Ignatz on January 25, 2001, at 11:14:36
In reply to Re: weight gain/pharmaceutical research, posted by Noa on January 25, 2001, at 10:47:17
I haven't found any studies linking SSRIs to weight gain, much less studies on exercise for weight gain and SSRIs. The lack of research on this really cheeses me off; there's tons of anecdotal evidence, and p-docs (mine, for example) seem to be starting to take it seriously as a side effect that affects many. But, nada in the scientific lit. My own anecdotal evidence: I gained 35 lb on Zoloft (this after not gaining a pound on Pamelor plus lithium!). I've worked out 4 to 6 times a week for 5 years, watch what I eat, and have lost 15 pounds over the years. I find this puzzling and disturbing, but I prefer being sane and a little chunky to the alternative...
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