Elavil & Weight Gain

[megancolleen]

I have heard that Elavil tends to make people gain weight. Can someone tell if this is because the drug actually causes you to retain fat or something, or if it simply induces cravings which make you want to eat more? I have been on Elavil for about three weeks now. I would like to lose some weight, and am hoping that this medication will not make that impossible.

[kadi]

I did not gain any weight on 10 mg of Elavil for 7 months. I did gain 30 pounds on Elavil at 20mg per night. I have, however, lost 12 pounds while still on Elavil 20mg.

It does increase your appetite,but by staying aware of how much you are eating & filling up on veggies, weight gain is not inevitable for everyone. I have heard that the main problem with this med & weight gain is appetite increase & a small decrease in metabolism...

I suggest keeping a food diary, so that if your food quantities creep up higher you can catch yourself, also once a week weigh-in.

Good luck!

[Cricketmk3]

I believe it's a change in metabolism. I gained weight on Paxil and stopped taking it. I tried Wellbutrin because I had heard there was no weight gain issues. I didn't gain weight but I couldn't tell that it helped me either. I don't take anything right now but Elmiron. I'd love to find an antidepressant that helped with my moods and did not cause me to gain weight!

[megancolleen]

Yeah, I just looked it up and read that it can change your metabolism. This is not good. :mad:

[Dees1977]

I am on Elavil 50 mg at night.. I have gained 15 lbs in 3 months.

[charmedx3]

I 've lost weight so far but that could just be my wonderful "stress diet".I am taking 25mg at night been on it about 3 weeks.

[mayray518]

I started out on 50 mg 7 years ago and it made me tired and caused a little sweet craving but I didnt give into it. I didnt gain any weight. I am now down to 5 mg (it turned out to be my "miracle" for IC) and I have no side effects at all. I know that the tricyclic antidepressants tend to cause side effects such as fatigue and weight gain, whereas the SSRIs like prozac do not. I took prozac for depression but, unfortunately, it did not help my IC.

[Walela]

I started elavil at 50mg and then after a month cut it back to 25mg, I have gradually gotten off of it and I am taking Lexapro with seems to fight both conditions. Elavil did increase my appetite and I had strong sugar cravings.
I gained about 35 pounds on it,but I was also menopausal. Eat lots of veggies and plenty of fiber.
Everyone's body is different and you may not have the same experience that I had. I recently discovered glyco-nutrients and I'm taking them to see how that works on my immune system. I hope it works long term. Let me know if I can be of service to you.
Hugs,
Ronda :)

[Morgana]

No gain... no loss... but that could be because I have so many food allergies I have a very limited diet...

[JaniceB]

I've been a no gain/no loss person on it as well. . on it for about 12 weeks.

I believe the reason this class of anti-depressants can cause weight gain is due to they slow your metabolism.

-J

[ace88]

It absolutely made me gain at least 10-15 lbs. Upon going off the drug, lost weight immediately.

[mags]

Elavil causes a craving for sweets and tends to make you want to eat more. I don't think it is the drug itself, but the cravings that it gives you.

[creatingkarma]

I had incredible sweet cravings & gained a lot of weight while taking Elavil. All I wanted to eat was desserts. It's my own fault for giving into my cravings, though. I'm not known for my willpower, that's for sure. I was taking 100mg, so the high dosage may have contributed also.