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What Causes Weight Gain While On Prozac?
Question: I am gaining weight since I have been taking prozac last XXXXXXX my stomach is getting bigger and bigger every month. I am watching my diet and walk every day. I checked my blood and everything is fine and my thyroid works great. How do I gain weight? Could it be a tumor growing in me? FEeling fatigued and low energy all the time. What's wrong with me?
Brief Answer:
Prozac can cause weight gain
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
If the weight gain started after taking Prozac, it is most likely the cause. May be making you fatigued too. While Prozac isn't the worst of the SSRIs for causing weight gain (Paxil is the worst for this!), it can definitely cause weight gain in some people. If you are taking it for depression, you may benefit from a change to a different antidepressant in a different class of antidepressants.
Bupropion (Wellbutrin) is an antidepressant associated with the least weight gain and is more likely to cause some weight loss. It can also make you feel less fatigued.
So if the problem isn't endocrine (thyroid) and you are doing all you can regarding life style modification (diet and exercise), and you are still gaining weight, then it is time to consider a different medication.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Prozac can cause weight gain
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
If the weight gain started after taking Prozac, it is most likely the cause. May be making you fatigued too. While Prozac isn't the worst of the SSRIs for causing weight gain (Paxil is the worst for this!), it can definitely cause weight gain in some people. If you are taking it for depression, you may benefit from a change to a different antidepressant in a different class of antidepressants.
Bupropion (Wellbutrin) is an antidepressant associated with the least weight gain and is more likely to cause some weight loss. It can also make you feel less fatigued.
So if the problem isn't endocrine (thyroid) and you are doing all you can regarding life style modification (diet and exercise), and you are still gaining weight, then it is time to consider a different medication.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am taking wellbutrin 300 as well as prozac. You don't think that there is a tumor in my stomach? I am so terrified. I even got abdominal ultrasound to make sure.
It was normal of course.
I have no other symptoms.
It was normal of course.
I have no other symptoms.
Brief Answer:
Information:
Detailed Answer:
If you had a normal abdominal ultrasound and if your abdomen in normal on physical exam, and normal CBC, then I would not worry about a tumor being the cause of your expanding abdomen.
Have you talked with your doctor about your concern? Perhaps you could go up on the Wellbutrin. Usual therapeutic dose is 300 mg - 450 mg, so there is some room to increase that while decreasing the Prozac. Are you on any other medications? The atypical augmenters to help antidepressants work better can increase weight gain too.
Information:
Detailed Answer:
If you had a normal abdominal ultrasound and if your abdomen in normal on physical exam, and normal CBC, then I would not worry about a tumor being the cause of your expanding abdomen.
Have you talked with your doctor about your concern? Perhaps you could go up on the Wellbutrin. Usual therapeutic dose is 300 mg - 450 mg, so there is some room to increase that while decreasing the Prozac. Are you on any other medications? The atypical augmenters to help antidepressants work better can increase weight gain too.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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