No Need for Antidepressants After Banding?

[chimboree26 24]

Have any of you been taken off your antidepressants since being banded?

[keiko 1]

No. the doc said to keep taking all the meds I was taking before surgery except for the anti-inflamitory meds.

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

I started exercising every day and found I no longer needed anti depressants.

Exercise is the best medicine. I feel great when I am done!

[socalgal3 4]

I took myself off my anti-depressants when I had my surgery last June. I have been doing well for the most part, but I realized that it wasn't just about my weight. I still struggle with depression and have considered going back on my meds at times. For now, I am managing, but I wouldn't say that banding cures depression! haha

[annieM 2]

No such luck for me. I hate taking pills. I went off the Nsaids for my arthritis, but am missing them and haven't been able to go off of any other meds yet. I wish I could, the bucks for all those meds. could buy a lot of new small clothes.

[blj5362 0]

I took myself off of everything just here in the last month. So far so good. Another giant step for me NO MORE PROZAC.

[sleepyjean 0]

Unfortunately, I think depression often causes obesity, not the other way around, so while treating your depression can help you lose weight, I don't think losing weight cures your depression (although it sure can help a whole lot!)

I think it has to do with the cause of your depression and your own brain chemistry. Regardless of weight issues, some people go on meds for a short time, then get off them and are fine. Others have to stay on meds for the rest of their lives. It's not something I'm looking forward to, but it's something I can live with.

I would LOVE to get off the meds, but I don't know if it's in the cards. I'm taking a lot less meds than before, but whether that will go down to zero remains to be seen. Honestly, at this point, I'm afraid to go off them. I've taken myself off meds twice before and both times, I wound up crashing a few months later and then it takes forever to find the right combo of meds to get me back on track. That "trial and error" period sucks almost as bad as flat out depression.

[GonnaBfree 0]

My doctor said keep the Zoloft. Can't hurt when you feel the lows of bandland.

[green 6]

My problems with depression were a pre-existing condition. The problem runs in our family. I will always be on anti-depressants unless they figure out some other form of technology to treat this problem.

[chimboree26 24]

I'm hoping that w/the increased activity/exercise, I may be able to at least lower my dosage of Lexapro. I was on Effexor XR for years before it lost its effectiveness.

I know when I do exercise, I feel sooooo much better and am hoping that I can get off this med...but if not, then oh well. It's all good and realize that I may have to take it for the rest of my life.

I know for me, I was diagnosed w/depression prior to my wt gain. For me, the wt was put on during the depression. I gained 50 lbs my freshman year of college! And the wt gain has continued from there.

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

I was on antidepressants most of my life, ever since my 20's and I am 54. As soon as I started exercising regularly, I didn't need them anymore. They took mine off the market, and I tried just about every other one but they all had horrible side effects.

Then I started exercising daily, and found I felt better than I did all the years while I was on medication. I haven't taken them for about 3 years now. If I don't exercise for a few days, I start to feel depressed again.

[green 6]

Effexor. Ugh! I was on a high dose of that for over a year. I kept pleading with the shrink to find something else. :help: My normally good BP shot up and I had to go on meds for that. And for the first time in my long life I was chronically and severely constipated. This actually worked in my favour when I was travelling in Turkey. I didn't suffer from the problem that travellers usually suffer from even though I was eating a spicy and vegetable and fibre rich diet. Apart from this trip the Constipation was a nightmare. Everytime I managed to go to the toilet I thought I needed to be taken to the hospital for surgery. I gained weight on this drug and then they tried me out on anti-psychotic for awhile and I ballooned in size.

Now I am banded, off Effexor and on different anti-depressants, off the anti-psychotic, off the BP meds, and I weigh 155 lbs. Yippee! :clap2: I have a different shrink, too.