I was taking sertraline (generic of zoloft) for anxiety from about mid 2011 to up until about 2 months ago. During that time, I gained about 10lbs from the meds. And yes, I know it was from the meds. First, after I gained the weight I went to my doc, who never warned me about potential weight gain, and he confirmed with these types of meds, they change the way the body metabolizes food. In addition, I evaluated my eating and exercise and knew I had done nothing different to gain weight. I have always been very thin, unless I was pregnant!
So, given the weight gain and the fact that zoloft wasn't realy helping, my doc put me on lorazepam and bupropion (generic wellbutrin). He assured me I would lose the ten pounds I gained and probably then some, as this wellbutrin stuff is supposed to cause weight loss.
Well, I have gained 7 MORE pounds in two months. So I have put on 17lbs over the past year or so. Not ok at all with me. Fine if it doesn't seem like a lot to you, but I am not ok with it, esp since I did absolutely nothing to bring it on, in fact, I eat so healthy and run it is unreal I gained this much.
Sample daily food: eggs from our own chickens or turkey sausage with side of fruit
lunch would be a salad with nuts and seeds and a healthy homemade dressing, maybe some organic chicken
dinner would be a pork chopped grilled in coconut oil and side of asparagus with ollive oil. I may have dessert of a homemade cookie or apple crisp or something similar.
I would have a bowl of gluten free cereal with whole milk as a night snack.
How on earth does that diet, plus running 10 miles per week, equal 17lb weight gain.
Ok, moving on past my frustrations.....
Did you have this experience?
Is there anthing at all I can to do lesses the weight gain or even lose some?
How long does it take to lose the weight after stopping the meds, in the event my doc and I decide to?
These questions will of course be posed to my doc, but I am looking for experiences from other moms who have taken these or very similar drugs and whether they went through this. I suspect I will just continue to gain more as time goes on, as my doc indicated that would likely be the case. I really am beyond ideas - I cannot possible cut calories! Help!!!
I should also add another question - does anyone know whether the loraz or the wellbutrin or both could be the weight gain issue? Most of what I read says buproprian is NOT like wellbutrin in that it doesn't cause weight loss but in fact causes gain - just wondering if any of you moms have ever been on loraz alone and gained weight....
ETA: Yes, thyroid has been checked, and even though my numbers were "within range" my doc did more testing, cannot recall what it was called. All came back fine. The weight gain is only during the time I have taken the meds. Before, I could eat pizza for every meal and not gain an ounce.
My hubby is on buproprion and has neither lost nor gained weight. It sounds like you're eating healthy and exercising...have you had your thyroid checked?
I'm currently taking bupropion and have actually - finally - lost some weight. I also recently started new birth control pills, so those might also be a factor. I certainly haven't gained though, whereas on Zoloft, I didn't gain but couldn't really lose weight either no matter how hard I tried. So I do think Bupropion is good for me in terms of weight.
I've never been on Lorazepam, so perhaps that is what's causing it for you.
Bupropion and Wellbutrin are the same drug. Most people do experience weight loss on this drug but you never know-everybody is different. I lost weight on fluoxetine (Prozac) while others gain.
Welbutrin is a weight-neutral medication, I was told that by my psychiatrist.
I was on zoloft at times and no weight gain. I take lorez now maybe 2x a week when I can't sleep and no weight gain. Sorry!
