Hi. I'm new here. I've been doing Atkins off and on since March. I really like it b/c before I would always have problems with my blood sugar suddenly bottoming out and feeling like I was going to pass out...becoming extremely irritable when hungry, and having no energy. All of that has worked out soooo much better since doing the low carb thing that it makes it worth it to me even if I never lose a pound.

Well, I've been taking Paxil since my youngest daughter was about 3 months old. My doctor felt I had slight post partum depression and I feel so much better now that I'm taking them. Since I was post partum, I had a little weight to lose. I've done ok but I still have roughly 10 pounds to go. I've heard so many horror stories about how anti-depressants cause your metabolism to go down, etc...I guess I'm just looking for some encouragement.

I know that it seems really difficult for me to lose those last few pounds and soo so easy to gain.

Partly depends on the specific med and I don't know Paxil.

Either way, if it's what you need to get out of bed, it's just one more fact of life to be worked in--might mean more exercise (not a bad thing for depression) to boost the metabolism back. I can't tolerate more depression for all the (proported) benefits of being thin, so my decision is made and I have to deal with the consequences.

I hear ya. If this 10 lbs is going to hang on as long as I'm on this med then so be it. It's better than being depressed. And I didn't even realize I was depressed until I started taking it and felt SOOOOOO much better. It was like night and day.

I guess I'll just keep plugging away. I have some other things that need improvement like drinking more water, staying away from low carb candies, etc.

Thanks for replying!

Another way to look at it is with depression you probably exercise very little due to lack of energy. With the medicine you have more get up and go.

I am on welbutrin right now. I don't think it causes weight gain. I've heard it and effexor can actually make some lose weight because the added energy. the effexor when I tried it made me sick so I couldn't eat for a day, then was eating too much the next day trying to settle my tummy down.

Msbasco, are you nursing? It's not unusual to have difficulty dropping those last few if you are. I know that once my son cut down, the weight came off much easier.

Also, when I began taking Prozac years ago, it was a HUGE boost to my energy level which inevitably led to a dramatic drop in my weight. I don't know how antidepressants affect one's metabolism, but if you have an increase in energy, I would venture to assume that it boosts it a tad (I have NO scientific info for this and it's just a guess based on my experience). Once I came off the Prozac, I found it a little bit more difficult to lose, but then again, that could just be issues with my body.

Did I talk you around in circles? lol I'm sorry if I did.

Steph

I take quite a cocktail of medications to treat my bipolar disorder (including wellbutrin), I've manged to lose over 85 pds. Took a lot of will power, exercise and determination. It's coming off slower now. I don't think the meds "made" me fat, but they aren't keeping me from losing either. I have to take these meds. I've tried to live with out them but that wasn't living....