Paxil, my Liver, and strange cravings.....

[t_jania]

I've got a doozie for you all!!!

I was on Paxil for 3 years and am now off of it. I've been Paxil-free for 2 months. At this point, I know my liver is starting to recover from the medication and is going to start being it's normal self again.

I gained 20 pounds while on Paxil and couldn't get them off. I'm expecting my metabolism to kick in right around the 4-6 month period of being off the Paxil, so I've got a couple of months of waiting yet.

Now, what I'm wondering is if it's true that once a body is a certain weight for a while, will the body try to retain that weight? Yesterday I had the oddest craving for butter and sugar sandwiches on white bread. I mean, come on! Who craves that??? I wonder if my body is trying to get me to have something like that in order to try to maintain this weight?

If anyone has had similar experiences or know a tidbit of information from SSRI recovery, please post! I really want to hear what you know.

Thanks!

 

[Jcrew3082]

Hi Tammy,

Butter and sugar sandwiches lol? I've been on Wellbutrin and Lexapro for about 3 years, and my dad has taken Paxil for at least 20 years. Both of us have tried various SSRIs in the past but didn't experience weight gain or weight issues after stopping the medication.

I have heard that the body has sort of a set point weight, like an equilibrium, that it gravitates toward. I'm not sure if that's ever been proven or thoroughly researched, though.

I'm glad that you're giving your body a few months to adjust to the change. Is it possible that this craving was just a fluke thing? Did you ever experience similar cravings while taking Paxil.

Also, if you don't mind sharing, how did you know you were ready to stop taking the medication. I'm sure that my depression and anxiety issues are genetic, and I kind of expect to take medication for the long haul.

I'm sorry I couldn't be more help.

Best of luck!

 

[t_jania]

Butter and sugar sandwiches are not a typical craving for me. I did eat them as a child, but not since I was a teenager. They were pretty good, as I did cave to the crave. hehehee!! But no, I didn't have strange cravings when I was on the drug. I do hope it was a fluke. And I'm super glad you've never heard of a body-weight-gravity-point.

I know not everyone reacts to SSRI's the same way. Some people do have weight gain and others do not. About 20% of users experience withdrawl while 80% do not. Most of the people I've talked to who have gained weight on Paxil and have quit the Paxil have maintained the weight. But these people are on a bulletin board for Paxil specifically and I think maybe 3% of those people work out regularly so it's hard for me to pinpoint what I can be expecting. Of the ones who do work out, the loss of weight begins at about 4-6 months, but I don't know what kind of workout program these people are on. Personally, I'm doing mostly Firm with Cathe sprinkled in 1-3 days a week. I'm working in a transition. So you know I'm working freaking hard!! I'm seeing lots of muscle but my fat layer remains. *sigh* I eat clean, I eat well, but obviously I do cave to my craves on occasion. *LOL*

My depression was situational. My parents' divorce slammed in the backside with 9/11. At first the Paxil helped. Then I evened out. Then I became a zombie. I was zombied for the last 6 months I was on it and that's how I knew I was ready to be off. Now that I am, I'm feeling more toward that normal point again. Thank God!!

Thanks for taking some time to respond. I guess I just have to continue on and not give up and enjoy the results I am getting in the meantime.:7

 

[clareMc]

Enormous kudos to you for getting off Paxil and staying off it. I have read so many nightmare narratives about that drug, it scares me to death.

I am trying to wean myself off Celexa as we speak. Wish me luck.

I would give your body a little time to recover. Keep doing things slowly an surely. Gradually increase your cardio intensity and poundage when weight lifting and your metabolism should respond. Weight training, to maximixe fat burning muscle tissue, is particularly important to you.

I have taken Celexa for 8 months now, and I took it once before for 6 months. At neither time did it lead to weight gain for me. I find what leads to cravings is hormones. I eat like #### during the worst days of PMS, cookies for dinner or entire bars of chocolate for dinner.

You know, of course, that the functioning and fluctuation of estrogen and serotonin are intimately linked in the female body. It is posible that some of your weight retention issues are homonally induced. Have you discussed this with your gyne? How old are you? Perimenopause issues?

I also agree that the body gravitates toward a preferred weight, a weigght which provides optimal functioning. I have been 128 pounds now for the last 6 years, having finally gotten rid of eating disorder issues. It doesn't matter what I do in the way of exercise, a lot, a little, none: my weight stays the same. All that changes is the composition of my body, the fat to muscle ratios. Weird!

If you get the craving for sugar sandwiches again, try instead a healthier option my British mum used to give us for tea sometimes when money was scarce: a sliced apple on bread with a sprinkling of sugar. At least you have the fibre and vits from the apple. And personally I think your craving is way healthier than mine. Cravings happen: I wouldn't sweat them too much, not if you keep a consistent, steady-but-surely approach to increasing the intensity of your fitness program.

I hope you never have to go back to Paxil. Here's to your improved health!!

Clare

 

[groundhog]

I was on Zoloft for a while and boy it messed me up more that before i took it. I was given it for sleeping problems and it wired me up, the first couple of days on it I was like the tazmanian devil spinning around, made my blood pressure skyrocket, I felt like I was on 50 cups of coffee. Then after that it started messing with my hormones (bleeding between cycles, eating wierd stuff). I do agree with the above poster about the hormone craving connection. I really feel it takes a while for your body to adjust. I quit taking it about two months ago and I still feel like Taz..My craving became tortilla shells with cheese in them or really anything I could put cheese on... Hang in there..I wish there was better solutions to managing health problems than popping pills, ya know... Sometimes I think the doc's "cure" is worse than the inital problem. healthy minds and bods to all:7

 

[t_jania]

Clare, thanks for sharing!!

You know, the hormone and seratonin combo, that got me good while I was on the Paxil. Nightsweats like you wouldn't believe! And stinky! Thank God that's over. But the hormone issue... I do believe I was at my ovulation point that day. Perhaps my body conned me into having something strange since it knows I don't cave to chocolate anymore?? Hmmm...

I'm 35 years old and I quit smoking 5 years ago. Up until I was 30 years old, I was 115-120 pounds. I gained to 125 after I quit smoking and zoomed to 144 on the Paxil. I'd like to get back to about 125. I'm 137 right now. So there has been progress, but I have been at 137 since May and I feel like I've hit a brick wall. But I know I still have to be patient and recover fully from the Paxil.

I like the apple idea! I the bread was a bit much, I think. But it was good. hehehee!!