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Prozac and hunger - 8/8/2007 8:40:37 PM

sleazybutterfly

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I finally gave in and went to get help for this stupid bulimia thing. I figure after all of these years, something had to give. It was hard, but so far I have been very happy I did.

I have a question for those that have taken it, if you don't mind answering.

Did you notice you didn't have an appetite? I think this might be the reason they give it for the bulimia. Nothing and I mean nothing, sounds good. I find myself even forgetting about meals, or eating just because I feel like it's something I ought to do. They told me it would take 3 to 4 weeks to even start working (I have been on it a little over a week). I am just curious if this is in my head, or actually happening. It's not something I think I have put there myself because I really never thought about it being a side effect.

Thanks in advance!

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RE: Prozac and hunger - 8/8/2007 8:47:47 PM

LuckyAlbatross

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I've heard it's a common side effect of all mood stabilizers. It's basically changing the chemistry of how your body interprets "happy" and "unhappy" signals. Food is certainly one of the main types.

I'd say set an alarm so you know when to eat and force yourself to at least eat salads and fruits.

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RE: Prozac and hunger - 8/8/2007 8:57:12 PM

DesertRat

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Not all of them. When I started taking the antidepressant Cymbalta, an SNRI, I wanted to eat everything in sight...and did. All the other side effects subsided pretty quickly but that one has only now started to ebb. I gained a little weight which I'm now shedding. I've heard that Remeron can also give people major munchies.

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RE: Prozac and hunger - 8/9/2007 5:20:43 PM

Phin

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I am on Risperdol and Remaron (I am willing to bet I spelled at least one of those wrong) and I am constantly hungry. I started taking them about 3 months ago. I had lost about 25 pounds and I have now gained 20 of them back. I have begun to keep fruits and such around so I have leveled off. now to turn it around and loose that 20 again...

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RE: Prozac and hunger - 8/9/2007 9:16:02 PM

Celeste43

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When I started Zoloft it caused some nausea but the doctor lowered the levels and slowly built them back up which allowed me to tolerate it much easier.

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RE: Prozac and hunger - 8/10/2007 3:45:42 AM

zindyslave

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When the doctor put me on cylexa I didn't want to eat at all and didn't except when I had to, to take my medicine and then not much and I just stayed in bed all day because I felt so sick. The doctor took me of the cylexa and just left me on mood stablizers, when I was on prozac I didn't have problems with eating but it could be your body chemistry if it gets too bad talk to the doc.

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RE: Prozac and hunger - 8/12/2007 5:20:15 PM

Aswad

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LuckyAlbatross

I've heard it's a common side effect of all mood stabilizers.

Prozac is not a mood stabilizer, nor does it have mood stabilizing properties.

It has some affect-flattening properties, like all SSRIs, but that is a different thing.

quote:

It's basically changing the chemistry of how your body interprets "happy" and "unhappy" signals. Food is certainly one of the main types.

Not initially. The effect on hunger is a different one. But after a while, it reduces the salience of stimuli, such that the motivation-learning circuits are downregulated, along with reward-circuits. A while after that, switchings meds is not unlikely to become a necessity. Wellbutrin (bupropion) would be a fairly typical thing to switch to, due to the mild appetite-suppressant effects.

quote:

I'd say set an alarm so you know when to eat and force yourself to at least eat salads and fruits.

Bananas are the thing.

When taking psychopharmaca, have at least a couple of bananas a day, and some folic acid. Vitaming B6 is good, too.

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RE: Prozac and hunger - 8/12/2007 5:24:29 PM

Aswad

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DesertRat

Not all of them. When I started taking the antidepressant Cymbalta, an SNRI, I wanted to eat everything in sight...and did.

It pushes your norepinephrine buttons, which changes your insulin response, which can change your energy intake and perception of hunger. Diabetics can often reduce their insulin doses, sometimes by as much as 30%. Some positively need to do so, in fact. Obviously, a doctor should be the one to monitor such a thing.

quote:

I've heard that Remeron can also give people major munchies.

That makes sense, but would most likely be dose dependent, just like the fatigue / tiredness.

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RE: Prozac and hunger - 8/12/2007 5:31:08 PM

Aswad

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Phin

I am on Risperdol and Remaron (I am willing to bet I spelled at least one of those wrong) and I am constantly hungry.

Not uncommon. Risperdal (risperidone) is an antipsychotic, so it does odd things with your body, even apart from the hormonal changes it causes. Remeron (mirtazepine) on the other hand will probably lessen your hunger, if your doctor increases the dosage so the norepinephrine effect becomes more prominent.

quote:

I had lost about 25 pounds and I have now gained 20 of them back. I have begun to keep fruits and such around so I have leveled off. now to turn it around and loose that 20 again...

Good luck. Antipsychotics tend to add 15-50 pounds, and it can be a struggle to get rid of it again, especially while one is still taking the meds. One of the people I have been working with for a while now gained 60 pounds, but lowered it to 20 pounds by spending a couple of hours on an exercise bike every day and reducing his caloric intake. Some are lucky, however.

Might want to ask the doc to keep an eye on your prolactin, testosterone, insulin and glucose, if he isn't already.

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RE: Prozac and hunger - 8/12/2007 5:46:57 PM

grlneedstolearn

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Good evening,
Yep i was on it for almost 3 yrs. Weight gain is was big for me. Though i was also on 4 other meds and i don't think they mixed well :(. But yes Prozac in some people will make them gain weight, and it all depends on the person. Like me and my other meds, i went from 145 to 215lbs. Go figure. And i'd eat whenever and whereever, i didn't care as long as there was food in front of me. Hope this helps a little

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RE: Prozac and hunger - 8/15/2007 12:16:39 PM

salacioussquiz

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Cool, so nice toknow that others take anti deps . . . i was on prozac for years and it did the opposite for me i was hungry all the time. . . . . . since changing my meds to a comboination of 2 i have lost so much weight. . .

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RE: Prozac and hunger - 8/16/2007 1:09:06 AM

ddthrill

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Hello my sister took prozac for 3 years. She used to be overweight and now she isn't hungry at all.
I hope I can be healthy and not need pills like her. But they helped.

She is fine now thanks.

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RE: Prozac and hunger - 8/16/2007 10:14:38 AM

SleeplessGypsy

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Fast reply--

Hi Butterfly,

I started on Celexa, (baby prozac) about 5 years ago for Panic Attacks... I gained 40 pounds the first year and ALL I wanted to do was sleep, eat and get high. When Lexapro was introduced, (sister pill to Celexa but without all the pesky side effects, so they say) I switched over to that, lost all weight, and on with life I went..

Everyone reacts differently to meds.. My suggestion to you is just give your body time to adjust and in a few months you'll see how you feel...

Now on a more serious note... If you really wanna put on weight, smoke a big fatty a few times a day... that'll do it for ya...

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RE: Prozac and hunger - 8/16/2007 12:06:11 PM

Celeste43

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Phin

I am on Risperdol and Remaron (I am willing to bet I spelled at least one of those wrong) and I am constantly hungry. I started taking them about 3 months ago. I had lost about 25 pounds and I have now gained 20 of them back. I have begun to keep fruits and such around so I have leveled off. now to turn it around and loose that 20 again...

Yes, well known side effect of Risperdal. Talk to the doctor about switching to something else, my eldest switched from Ridperdal to Seroquel for just this reason.

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