When I'm off meds, I'm fine for a while until a depressive cycle hits, then I am completely miserable and suicidal, but when I get on meds I have this voracious appetite and I gain obscene amounts of weight (I have to exercise my butt off just to make sure I keep the weight gain down to 2-3 lbs instead of 7-8 lbs a month) which just makes me more depressed because dramatic weight gain draws so much negative attention...and all a doctor can ever offer me is, "Let's try another med..."

I don't know which one is worse. feel like a lost cause.

Sorry (((((Persephone))))). The SSRIs do that to me, too. Increased appetite and cravings for all kinds of junk. Adding Wellbutrin has helped to counteract that. It's often prescribed to ease the side effects of SSRIs.

It is extremely hard... and finding the right med is often one of the hardest things to accomplish when fighting this disease. What med are you on right now?

I gained obscene amounts of weight while I was on prozac, and cymbalta. Now I'm on lexapro, I feel great, and am not gaining weight. Although I am also a binger, so that doesn't help as far as weight goes. But as of right now I am one month binge free, so far so good.

I know it seems like a long dreadful process, but you will find the med thats right for you, and everything else will just fall into place.

Best wishes

Looking Up

I've come to the conclusion that i don't respond well to medication and am currently taking nothing. Since the age of 15 i've tried many meds and can't say that any of them worked wonders for me, or even made a significant difference. More often, they've caused more distress with side effects, weight gain being one of them. The last med i was on was fluoxetine and those weeks were i think the most suicidal of my life. It was the pdoc who suggested to me not taking anything, and that opened me up to the idea more than ever before and now i am glad of that decision. I'm just sharing my experience with you as it sounds like your meds are frustrating you, but i understand different people require different things. Whatever, i hope you feel better soon. :)

I'm really sick of being a guinea pig, too. What are you and your doctor doing now? Have you found an alternative treatment other than the usual meds-and-therapy route?

Not really, i currently see a psychiatry nurse every 3-4 weeks to talk with and i'm going to attend a stress and anxiety management group soon that i hope to gain something from. Maybe that is something you could look into if they offer such groups where you are. :)

Hi,

I know for me the weight gain from these meds can cause its
own depression but compared to one of my 'episodes' it is
nothing so I just try to watch what I eat and exercise. I have
been on meds for a long time and have added 20 pounds but
at least I am not depressed. I just wish there was another
alternative that didnt cause weight gain. I have tried coming
off meds and my depression always returns so I just have
to go with which bothers me the most, the depression or
the weight and so far the depression is worse. My pdoc did
suggest adding white bean extract to my diet as a carb-blocker
and appetite suppressant so Ill see how that goes.

Best wishes,
starr