Does prozac interfere with weight loss?

[OmeleteFreak]

Just curious, my mom takes 20 mg of prozac once a day and I wanted to get her on the program. Aside from the issues with cravings that I've read Prozac presents on Atkins, which ultimately she can control, will she be slowed down or hindered with her ability to lose weight if she follows the program to the tee?

She's encouraged to start the program after seeing results in me after just about a month of induction.

Thanks for any insight.

[ceemarie]

Some people have reported that antidepressants can slow down weight loss. The best thing is to try it and have her talk to her doctor about her medications as she progresses.

[Ryan.Stoeppel]

SSRI's (or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) have been known to prohibit weight loss in certain people. They all effect different people in different ways. The good thing about most of the side effects of SSRI's is that those side effect are only temporary. They usually occur just after starting the medication and until it begins to kick in. Not everyone experiences the side effect either. As long as ONE person experienced the side effect during trials the pharmaceutical companies are obligated to mention it as a possible side effect.

All in all I'd tell your mom to go for it and see what happens. If it appears that the Prozac is prohibiting her weight loss talk with her psychiatrist to see if they have any suggestions.

[Mickkey]

Dr. A specifically names Prozac in his book as a cause of metabolic resistance on page 264. I took Prozac for a few months, and gained around 20 pounds. I'm sure it varies for each person whether they gain or not. Personally, I found I just didn't care if I gained. That was my attitude while taking them. The things that bugged me before, etc, just didn't while I took them. So, if I over ate, who cared... not me. I was surprised to see the weight I rapidly put on. That was my experience with them. I'm sure it's as varied as there are people.

[OmeleteFreak]

Originally Posted by ceemarie

Some people have reported that antidepressants can slow down weight loss. The best thing is to try it and have her talk to her doctor about her medications as she progresses.

Yea she already has an appointment set, looking forward to what her doctor says.

Originally Posted by Ryan.Stoeppel

SSRI's (or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) have been known to prohibit weight loss in certain people. They all effect different people in different ways. The good thing about most of the side effects of SSRI's is that those side effect are only temporary. They usually occur just after starting the medication and until it begins to kick in. Not everyone experiences the side effect either. As long as ONE person experienced the side effect during trials the pharmaceutical companies are obligated to mention it as a possible side effect.

All in all I'd tell your mom to go for it and see what happens. If it appears that the Prozac is prohibiting her weight loss talk with her psychiatrist to see if they have any suggestions.

Very interesting, so issues of weight loss hindrance may be temporary, if at all. Depending on the person?

Originally Posted by Mickkey

Dr. A specifically names Prozac in his book as a cause of metabolic resistance on page 264. I took Prozac for a few months, and gained around 20 pounds. I'm sure it varies for each person whether they gain or not. Personally, I found I just didn't care if I gained. That was my attitude while taking them. The things that bugged me before, etc, just didn't while I took them. So, if I over ate, who cared... not me. I was surprised to see the weight I rapidly put on. That was my experience with them. I'm sure it's as varied as there are people.

That makes a heck of a lot of sense. Aside from the fact that you just don't care or worry about certain things while taking Prozac that you normally used to, it can more importantly cause your body to resist the metabolic affect?

That's something else!

Does that mean taking Prozac would prevent my mom from reaching ketosis (or make it much more difficult)?

[Ryan.Stoeppel]

I'm not sure if anyone here has the medical knowledge to answer whether Prozac would prevent your mom from reaching ketosis, but my guess is no; However the Prozac could slow any results she might see. It all depends on her body chemistry, as everyone reacts to a stimuli differently. The best thing is to talk to her doctor about it before starting Atkins and if there are issues with it after starting then talk to the doctor again.