antidpressants/weight gain/diagnosticians

[Dogmama]

Cymbalta is an SNRI meaning that it hits serotonin and norephinephrine. That's is why it can make you feel spacy and speedy. Effexor is the same thing.
I second the recommendation to see a psychiatrist. They usually know what's new, what can be successfully combined, etc.

[Tuckervill]

I started Zoloft again in February, and my weight loss accelerated. Weight loss is stated as a possible side effect.

Karen

[hirakukibou]

Hi Pooks,
I gained a lot of weight nortriptaline (sp?). A lot meaning 70 pounds in three months! I kept it on for a while trying different anti-depressants and other psychotropic meds. Now I am taking a med for ADHD Strattera which helps my depression and my attention. I lost the weight on that med and with the biking. I too think that therapy has helped in addition to the meds and more exercise. I would definitely see a psychiatrist, although find one with whom you are comfortable. My experience has been mixed with some of them being as warm as an arctic freeze. Good luck with all of this. Depression is the pits, but there is help out there.
--Pata

[Dogmama]

Hi Pooks,
I would definitely see a psychiatrist, although find one with whom you are comfortable. My experience has been mixed with some of them being as warm as an arctic freeze. --Pata

Loved that! The one I saw was convinced that I'd need chemical help all my life. But I keep reading that the brain can actually rewire itself given time.

I'm on cymbalta & weaning off. It makes me speedy and totally takes away libido. It was supposed to help with hot flashes - it hasn't. Hormones are out because of my lupus. It helps with anxiety, but then I feel that I'm not learning how to cope with real or imaginary circumstances. Just take a pill and - whew! - it all goes away! I don't think so...

Anybody else try to get off their antidepressent recently? Where's my bike?

[OakLeaf]

I gained a lot of weight on Nortriptyline, but slowly, so I really didn't know it was a side effect until I stopped the med and dropped 20 lbs all at once. (Also 10 points on both sides of my blood pressure).

I would definitely see a psychologist first, and let them refer you to a psychiatrist if they think it's appropriate. Psychiatrists don't do therapy and most of them don't do in-depth diagnostic testing - basically they're just drug pushers. Psychiatrists have their place, don't get me wrong, but IMVHO they should not be the first mental health professional anyone visits. LiSWs and the like can be very helpful for counseling also, but the trouble is their qualifications vary hugely, and most of them aren't qualified to do testing, either.

With a psychologist you know what you're getting - someone who's spent a great deal of time studying exclusively mental health and/or development, who can and probably will have you do several hours of testing before your first session so that they can cut through to issues you may not be consciously aware of, or that you may be reluctant to raise in early sessions. If they wind up referring you to a psychiatrist, then you know you're seeing someone that at least one colleague has a high opinion of.

[tulip]

+1 on Oakleaf's post. Please don't try to self-medicate or change dosages on your own! If you were on kidney meds (as an example), would you mess with the dosage without professional guidance? I hope not! Some people think that psych drugs don't require professional intervention, but I beg you to reconsider if you feel this way.

I'm a big advocate of therapy with a psychologist or clinical social worker, or even psychiatrist if he/she is understands and appreciates and practices the value of talk therapy and counseling (in addition to meds if they are warranted). Our psychological issues need to be addressed holistically, not solely by pills, although I'm definitely for meds when they are needed but always in coordination with continued counseling.

Please make your appointments tomorrow. Don't wait until after your camping trip to get this started. And please don't self-medicate with this stuff.

[Tuckervill]

This is a year-old thread, by the way.

Karen

[ASammy1]

I've been on Zoloft for a year now and I lost 40 lbs in 3 months (not exactly healthy, but I had it to lose). I had absolutely no apetite and basically drank enhanced smoothies to get my nutrients. Anti-depressants affect everyone differently. Keep looking until you find one that works for you.