Mirtazapine - weight gain!!!!
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Hi,
I've never posted on a forum before but wondered if anyone could give me any advise.
I was diagnosed with depression just before christmas, I had quite a traumatic year with a series of bad events occurring, I was also getting married which I think was the only thing keeping me going, looking back now I realise I was slipping into a depressive state for about 2 months before I finally broke. I fell into quite a catatonic state being unable to function at even a basic level, it was as if my brain had just shut down.
The doc started me on sertraline but this made my anxiety so bad that I couldn't even go into my back garden, unable to leave the house or speak to anyone for a month, he then gave me citralopram, this reduced my anxiety but gave me insomnia, so I spent another month sleeping (or rather not sleeping) on my sofa and only getting a few hours of sleep here and there.
So my doc decided to try mirtazapine, my depression has reduced dramatically but I've have gained a lot of weight, which at first I thought was a welcome side effect compared to anxiety and insomnia but now this is really starting to lower my mood again,
When I was at the beginning of my illness and was unable to function, eating didn't even enter my head and I lost around a stone and a half (my usual weight sticks around 10 - 10 1/2 stone) to 9 stone, I looked really unwell at this weight, but since being on mirtazapine I have gained 2 1/2 stone in the first month (I'm into my second month now) and it's just staying there. I have tried changing my diet and exercising but I'm stuck at nearly 12 stone.
I look overweight, none of my clothes fit me and the worse part is that I look 6 months pregnant and because I am only just venturing out again after months of solitude, a lot of people think that I am pregnant and that's why they haven't seen me, I'm struggling to keep my smile and tell people I'm not as I am infertile and this has been one of the issues that led to my depression in the first place.
I'm not sure if anyone can help, I guess I'm just looking for advise on losing the weight or whether I should change my meds (again!!!!)
5 likes, 147 replies
maz222
Posted
i was like Racheal could eat for england and not put any weight on....however since starting mitazapine i have gained weight gone from a dress size 10 to 14 i do not eat anymore than i used to or excercise any less i was painfully underweight but now i am thinking same as you can i put up with this weight gain? i have been on mitaz for about 2 years and the weight increase has stopped i'm trying to say to myself it's middleage spread now lol good luck with it hope this helps x
bekstar
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maz222
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rachael42781
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bekstar
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chris92448 bekstar
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I started Mirtazapine about 6 weeks ago and have noticed a big difference in my metabolic rate. I do high intensity exercise 3-4 times per week plus am a little weight obsessed so I know my body well. I've gained around 2-3 kilos which doesn't sound a lot but when you work out hard and keep really fit 2-3 kilos is a lot of weight. What's interesting is my appetite has decreased. I am probably consuming 10% less calories than normal and a big workout isn't triggering my appetite like it usually does. No matter how hard I work out I just can't drop these 2 or 3 kilos and I've really felt something is not right physically. I've also struggled a little bit in my exercise, quite possibly due to the extra weight. I've been reading in these forums about the drug and weight gain. Some people say their appetite increases and they gain weight. Others say they eat less and still gain weight. I am certainly in the latter category. I've done several experiments with calorie intake but my body just doesn't respond. It's like it's saying no matter what you do you aren't going to shed these few kilos. Given that gaining weight gets me down anyway I have decided I am going to stop taking the drug immediately. I know you're not supposed to do that with AD's but I've done it in the past and never had issues.
jenny_55468 chris92448
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Vancouver chris92448
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chris92448 jenny_55468
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chris92448 Vancouver
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chris92448 jenny_55468
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Vancouver chris92448
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chris92448 Vancouver
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bekstar chris92448
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purplebeats123 bekstar
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Make sure that you drink enough water too as sodium can cause bloating and water counteracts that as well as replenishing your muscles.
Once you build up the muscle, that muscle will help you burn off the calories.
You need to do cardio and resistance as well as crunches etc. Crunches alone don't work. Believe me, I tried to just spot reduce my stomach and that didn't work.
I got Jillian Michael's 30 day shred dvd , a set of weights and a mat. I also bought No More Trouble Zones by her because my belly was getting big, although I am not on any medication (stress can also cause weight gain because the body produces a hormone called cortisol) and colleagues were asking if I was pregnant too.
My belly has gone in after 2 months of hard work and not drinking any juice or fizzy drinks.
I tend to eat Bulgar Wheat and Quinoa with omega 3 fish fingers or red salmon.
I tend to have porridge in the morning and sometimes add strawberries to it. Sometimes I boil a couple of eggs (organic) and have a couple of grain bread toast with it for breakfast.
The exercise is helping the stress a lot. I get a rush from it. It has actually been likened to anti-depressants according to the latest research. It is a natural non-chemical antidepressant.