Has ANYONE else found that medications they were on was partly to blame for their slow weight loss? I am 18 mos out from banding and have only lost 12-15 pounds - and that was during the pre-op diet - haven't gained or lost since surgery. This is VERY frustrating to me. No, I am not a perfect eater, and no, I don't exercise religiously. I'm also not blaming my slow weight loss entirely on medications. However, I do take Paxil and birth control daily. Are these making it more difficult to lose the weight, than if I weren't on them? I know there is documented proof that weight gain is a side effect of birth control; however, that is not a side effect listed on my information from the pharmacy for the Paxil. Although, I have heard many, many times that anti-depressants can cause weight gain. So, if they cause weight gain, is there a chance that they are hindering my weight loss? I have given up so many things (ice cream, pop, etc.)that I feel I should have lost SOME weight by now. What do you think?? Please let me know - I'd like someone to either validate my concern or tell me I'm crazy. Thanks

Hi!

Paxil is a NOTORIOUS weight gainer! You're lucky you've been able to keep the 12 lbs. off that you lost. I've seen many people gain 5-10 lbs. A MONTH on Paxil. Of course, this doesn't happen to everyone, but Paxil has gained the reputation as one of the antidepressants that can cause the most weight gain. While everyone is different, have you tried Lexapro? In MOST patients it is weight neutral and in some can help w/weight loss at the beginning of use. Good Luck! Give yourself a pat on the back that you have been able to keep that intial weight loss and not gain more. One thing I will say, though, never stop taking your meds without talking to your doctor and you will probably have to be weaned off the Paxil slowly, in increments, if that's what you and your doctor decide.

Ooo maybe I should quit taking my bc pills too and I I can drop this last 10lbs.

Dear Jeter2: Thanks so much for your reply. I have actually talked to my dr and he gave me the instructions for weaning myself off the Paxil. So, I am in the process of doing that SLOWLY - I get VERY ill if I cut down too much at a time or too fast! My biggest obstacle is that I used to work for my family doctor - the one that prescribed the Paxil 3 years ago. He INSISTS that, if anything, it will have a weight LOSS side effect - but NOT weight gain. And because I can't find weight GAIN as a documented side effect - he refuses to admit that that is even a possibility. I haven't tried any other anti-depressants in the past; but may get up the nerve to ask him for something different - if I can't make it without anything. Thanks again!

As for the bc pill - I quit taking it. I see my "girly" doctor the beginning of December so I'll talk to her about other options; however, that one does have documented side effects of weight gain.

If you Google "weight gain paxil" you'll see lots of articles like this one: Paxil and Weight Gain

FYI, I take Lexapro and weaned myself off to see if it would help me with my weight loss 'stall'....and it did not. My dr. told me that Lexapro is the best one for avoiding weight gain.

Ooo maybe I should quit taking my bc pills too and I I can drop this last 10lbs.

It might help, but you'll gain it right back when you get back on the pill. I think the hormones in the pills cause you to gain Water weight.

Hey there! I was on Paxil at one point in my life and it did cause me to gain weight. Now I am on Cymbalta and it seems to do just fine ( I have to open up the capsules and swallow the beads). I dont seem to be gaining any weight off of it, and like you I need them.

Dug up some interesting information this AM. I started taking Paxil in or around Jan. 2006. At that time, I weighed 180 lbs. In Sept. 2006, I weighed over 200 lbs. I didn't realize that I had gained so much within the first year of taking Paxil. Now, I for sure am contributing some of my weight problems on the medication (not ALL of it is the medications fault - I admit I'm a far from perfect eater and far from an avid fitness expert). What an eye opener!