Can you loose on Atkins while takig antidepressants...?

[Pie4me]

I have been on 20mg Lexapro for 18 months and also put on about 15 pounds. Other antidepressants I have been on in the past have really put weight on me. I am looking for those that have had some good results with the Atkin's diet while taking antidepressants. I am 47 years old and the weight doesn't come off as easily these days as it once did

[ttdriver]

:wave again ... I posted to your thread on the main board, but I'll repeat it here too.

I have been in lifetime maintenance on Atkins since 2002. Last December, I started taking Effexor XR for depression and had alot of concerns that it could cause weight gain. Well, in fact, just the opposite happened and I've lost an additional 5 pounds ... down to 11 pounds below my initial goal weight ...

Feeling good too, so its a very good AD for me. Your results may vary ... but its worth discussing with your doctor.

Hope that helps!

Betty

[gillybaby]

Hi there im on Prozac and im doing fine, been on induction for 6 days and already lost and inch of my waist. I think you will be fine, but the best way to find out is ask your doctor for advice or just go ahead and give the 14 day induction a whirl and see how you do.

Take care
Best of luck!!

[earthgodes]

Wellbutrin here, and like the others, it hasn't seem to effect my weight loss or cravings at all.

You shouldn't have any problems. Don't forget to talk to your doctor before deciding to stop your meds, if that time ever came!

[tickletussler]

Does anyone take Zoloft? How do you find it on Atkins?

[teejay]

I just recently started Zoloft. I was told to watch my weight and inches closely and make sure I remembered to eat as it CAN make you chemically anorexic. Fortunately on this diet I have to eat at least 3 times a day and make sure to keep track of my numbers, fat, carb,calories, if you get too low in any of these it could stall your weight loss progress.

Here's to finding out how it all works out


TJ

[momofcaz]

I take 100 mg of Zoloft and 300 mg of Wellbutrin XL, and I'm losing just fine. I know that some ad's make you gain, but these two are what my shrink called "weight neutral", and they might actually take weight off.

[Piasabird]

I've taken several anti depressants off and on through the years and the only one that caused me to gain weight was Paxil.

[NoMorePumpkin]

Re: Can you loose on Atkins while takig antidepressants...?

Hi,

I actually take 300 mg of Effexor XR and am losing. I was seriously worried because I'm also on birth control AND high blood pressure meds, all 3 of which Dr. Atkins said could "prohibit" weight loss. I started almost one month ago and I've lost 11 pounds so far. At first I was disappointed that my weight loss seemed so slow compared to others and wanted to blame my meds, but I have to be thankful that I'm losing at all!! I'm going to keep at it. I know I can't come off my AD, but hopefully I'll come off my high-blood pressure medicine eventually . My 2 cents - go for it!! Don't let your anti-depressants scare you into NOT doing Atkins. This is the best WOL ever! I'm so glad I found it. Four years ago, the last time I "seriously" tried to lose weight, it took me 3 months to lose 16 pounds on WW. I'll shut up now! Good luck!!

[Finelly]

Re: Can you loose on Atkins while takig antidepressants...?

Celexa here, no problem losing!

[punkin50]

Re: Can you loose on Atkins while takig antidepressants...?

I too am on Effexor XR at 150 mg, HBP medication, diuretics and have hypothyroidism which all slow your weight loss down. I've been on the diet for about 6 week and have only lost 16 lbs. but the inches lost are greater in proportion than the weight loss so I'm tickled with that. When I started I knew it would go slow so I gave myself 18 months as a goal to lose the 121 lbs. I've already been able to cut out one of my BP meds and only have to intermittently take the diuretic so that's an improvement as well which I attribute to Atkins and the weight loss.

[thinthing]

Re: Can you loose on Atkins while takig antidepressants...?

I have taken anti depressants for the last 20 years. I take an old form of anti depressant called Tofranil. Yes, it does cause appetite and weight gain-much more so than the newer forms of antidepressants. I am still taking the tofranil while being on the Atkins WOE. I am successfully losing weight - so it can be done!

[Pie4me]

Re: Can you loose on Atkins while takig antidepressants...?

Heey friends..
I have been on Lexapro for 20 months now and in the past month have
lost 14 pounds! 5 more pounds and I am at goal---so it CAN be done!


Pie4me

[sweety1956]

Re: Can you loose on Atkins while takig antidepressants...?

My daughter is on three meds (Wellbutrin, Lexapro & Lithium) and has PCOS. Her weight has gone up tremendously. She finally agreed to start Atkins (Induction) with me. Has anyone noticed during induction that they were more moody? She is 17 and is cranky - especially because she misses BREAD !!! She swears that her stomach hurts because she isn't eating the foods she used to - give me a break. We excersize regularly at the gym & she takes a weighlifting class for teens 1-2 times a week.

Her Ketostix come up Moderate & Large so I am pleased and so is she except that she is going thru withdrawal. Any thoughts? Any suggestions to get her mind on her weight loss & off of food & her moodiness?

Thanks!

[2big4mysize]

Re: Can you loose on Atkins while takig antidepressants...?

you have lots of issues going on with her first she doesn't seem to be internally motivated to do the Atkins and only doing it cause you want her to. External motivations usually fail.

Then their is the axtual withdrawal from the carbs and the change to the fat burning as primary fuel source.

Our Brains know from past experience that certain foods helped us feel better during emotional times and her Dr Brain will be prescribing bread alot. Exercise usually helps to defuse those times creating helping chems out of the stress chems in the body.

Next the liver enzymes used for her meds are also used in Atkins so she might need a dose adjustment.

Then their is the insulin issue dealing with her PCOS since on Atkins she doesn't have insulin triggers less insulin will be circulating and interferring with the conversion of the androgen to estrogen so her estrogen levels will increase production.
And that increased estrogen was produced in fat cells and when the fat is released some of the estrogen comes out too. We have lots of normal folk who suddenly are having extra periods and such because of their increase.

Lastly the serotonin in the brain is made from a protein which I'm sure you are aware of. one of the benefits of the high carb diet was the insulin cleared the sugars and the aminio acids from the blood stream thus making that protein not competing for reaction sites with the other amino acids. This is also why folk mistakenly think high carb foods are used to make serotonin.

And then there is that issue of being a teen.....

now with all those changes going on is it any wonder she appears moody.

Bread craving has more to do with the I can't then with the actual joy we get from eating it. See if you can find her a bread sub. there are pork rind french toast recipes in the database that was mentioned on FoodTV, their are mock breads like Book's flax bread, their are even mock danishes all induction legal. some folk use nuked cheese as crackers. I used veggie slices as the bread to hold my sandwich fillings.
I do understand her bread wanting as i myself changed from induction to OWL just to have bread as part of my Atkins. I got 6 loaves as presents then and still 2/5 yrs later have 5.5 of them in my freezer. it really was just a matter of I couldn't have it and when i could it no longer held any appeal for me,

I hope your daughter can figure out for herself how to want to be the healthier smaller person she can be eating her Atkins and doing the mandatory exerciuse part too.

Happy low carbing.