Meds that make you gain weight... argh!!!

Ok, so I got on some anti-anxiety meds about a month ago to control my anxiety (after I had my baby), that comes along with my oh-so-wonderful PPD.   I had this with my other 2 babies and got on Zoloft and was fine, but this time I have a new doctor and he prescribed new meds.  

 I'm also on some Lexapro for depression and that has been 5 weeks since I got on that.   Well I didn't know at the time, but this anti-anxiety drug that he has me on (called Remeron) is also an APPETITE STIMULANT and I looked it up online and it is given a lot of times to people that are depressed and need to gain weight (since depression can cause a lack of appetite in many people).   AHHHHHH!!!!     It was good when I didn't have an appetite and was depressed, but now it's too much.  I am on a lower dosage of the meds now, so I'm not as hungry as I was when I first got on it, but I'm still gaining weight at a quick pace!!

When the depression and anxiety started at 10 days after I had my baby, I lost all my 27 lbs of baby weight in 6 DAYS.... I had NO APPETITE whatsoever for at least 3 weeks after I had my baby and had to drink protein shakes to prevent myself from starving to death and get some nourishment.   Food tasted like cardboard to me and I'd often times find myself gagging when I'd eat something and want to throw up.  It scared me.

Now I'm the opposite... LOL.   Food tastes TOO good to me and I find myself eating like I did pre op.   It is scaring me!   I got down to my pre pg weight and was 145.   I am currently 165 and have gained 20 pounds in like 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I have an appt with my dr on friday to talk about getting on a different drug for anxiety and seeing if this Lexapro is really working- it's supposed to control the depression AND anxiety.   Plus, I had my Mirena IUD put in at my 6 wk PP visit a few weeks ago and have had a period off and on for about 2 weeks now and so some of it might be water weight.... oh the frustration!

I tried going off the Remron last Thursday and by Saturday night, I couldn't sleep (it makes me sleepy) and was anxious again.   So at 3 am, I finally took a Remron and was able to fall asleep in like 10 mins.  So I don't know if my body is dependant on it to go to sleep or if I was just anxious and that was keeping me up.   I was getting really nervous by 1am that I couldn't sleep and then it was making me anxious.   I tried taking some Tylenol PM at 1am and by 2am, I still wasn't sleepy.   So I took a Remron and it kicked in quick and I was asleep not too long after that. 

I just hate that I've gained 20 lbs this quick and don't want to gain any more back!  I know once I get off this appetite stimulant that I will probably go back to my nice 140 range and my clothes (especially my JEANS) will fit much better.  It's scary because my jeans are really tight now and barely fit.  It's not my fault and I wish this stupid doctor would've told me that this would really increase my appetite and make me gain weight!!!  I had weight loss surgery to correct this and was self pay, so I don't want to gain it all back or have weight problems again!!

Anyone else on a drug that made them gain weight and then went off the drug?  Did you lose the weight that you gained?   I just find that I'm really hungry all the time and can't help eating.  I try to choose good things but sometimes don't eat the greatest things.  

Look into wellbutrin...it doesn't cause weight gain, a lot of people even LOSE weight while on it

Have you researched any "natural" approaches to deal with your anxiety, depression, and insomnia?  Did you have the tendancy  toward these states prior to pregnancy?

By the way, Lexapro is the one SSRI that helps you NOT gain weight.

It is true that when we need help, we need help.  I just think that as a society, we are all being over prescribed.

In general, I too wonder what effects all of these pills has on a pregnant and then nursing mother.

Several months back, my good friend who happens to be a psychologist was prescribed Prestique (spel may be wrong).  I was totally afraid for her and practically demanded that she go to her doc and get off the stuff.  She was totally not present and kept having crying spells.  She got off that med (Thank God) and started doing IntenSati - we seems to have gotten her out of the blues she was feeling. 

All the best to you.

I gained a ton of weight on Wellbutrin.  They say you won't but you will.

I take Cymbalta, as I was taking Effexor and after 3 years I started putting on weight.  I did lose it though once I switched and got back on my program.

Good luck!

I've tried taking melatonin for sleep issues and that hasn't worked. I've tried drinking milk just before bed and that hasn't helped.

I haven't tried any natural approaches for the anxiety and depression though because those are things that I feel that need medical intervention and supervision. And I had some minor issues with depression when I was a teenager but that went away. I have some family history of depression, my Mom takes Cymbalta and I think my uncle has it too (her brother).

Other than that, I've only had to deal with this after I've had each of my babies. I think my chemical balance and hormones get all screwed up after I have the baby and that's why it happens to me. Usually by about 2 months out after having a baby, I feel pretty good. I've had to take Zoloft both times after each baby and then eventually got off of it in less than a year's time and was fine. This time I got on a different med and also have more anxiety this time. I know the Lexapro is an SSRI that actually doesn't make you gain weight, I read on there that it can cause a decrease in appetite and also nausea. And I did have that until the Remron went into full effect, it was from the Lexapro and the depression that I didn't want to eat and lost all my baby weight so quickly. But then the Remron kicked in and I had the opposite effect of eating TOO much and gaining weight. I've put back all the baby weight on in 2 weeks!!

I tried going on zoloft before I had the baby to try and nip this in the bud before I had the baby, but it actually created anxiety for me. I read on the side effects and anxiety was the first one, so I went off after just 3 days on it. I had anxiety when I was taking it after I had my 2nd baby and had to go on anxiety meds for about 2 weeks until that side effect wore off. So that's why I tried something different this time. PPD sucks!!

Hopefully my doctor can get me on a different anti anxiety med besides Remron- I don't want to gain any more weight!!! I'm fine with the Lexapro, I'll stay on that but I need something for anxiety for a few months until I don't feel I need it and I've adjusted mentally to everything.