What is your experience with weight gain as a side effect in your children...

February 20, 2009

Our older son is 11...diagnosed last year up intil then had always been

normal weight, as of now he is about 15 lbs heavier. He is currently

taking 30 mg prozac. Dr. says weght gain is not a side affect of

meds. It seems too much of a coincidence to me. What has been your

experience?? TIA

February 20, 2009

My daughter who is 13, gained 25 pounds on her meds. It was abilify

that caused that. It works so well for her that we deal with it. She is

also on Strattera which has helped slow the weight gain down. Another

problem is that she is not growing tall. Our doctor feels that it is

because she feels so much stress and anxiety that she can't grow. We

are trying to get her in balance so that she can relax and grow. THat

would help with the weight.

I think each person is different and weight gain could be a reality

with your child. It was for us even though they said the chances of

that side effect were low. Our son just started abilify too and he had

a wieght gain. He is not as sever as our daughter so we changed his

meds. We just have to weigh the benefit vs. the weight gain. For our

daughter it was worth it, for our son it wasn't.

Good luck!

LAurel

>

> Our older son is 11...diagnosed last year up intil then had always

been

> normal weight, as of now he is about 15 lbs heavier. He is currently

> taking 30 mg prozac. Dr. says weght gain is not a side affect of

> meds. It seems too much of a coincidence to me. What has been your

> experience?? TIA

>

February 20, 2009

My husband and son both gained weight on SSRIs. When my husband

switched to Welbutrin after going through trails with many different

SSRIs he wasn't tolerating well, he stopped gaining and lost what he

had gained.

I've actually wondered if it was the meds, or the fact that the meds

made them both less inhibited in all areas of their lives, so they ate

more. Not sure. Just know they both gained, and my husband is slim,

so never gains weight. . . . Until then.

BJ

February 20, 2009

Hi,

My DD started prozac at age 4 (and is still on it today at age 9). I

believe that for her, it HUGELY increases her appetite which has

caused weight gain. She stopped the prozac for awhile last summer

and her appetite returned to normal. She went back on the prozac in

August and once stabilized, the huge appetite returned. Since she

has ADHD symptoms as well - we have added focalin. The focalin helps

the ADHD and has the added benefit of decreasing her appetite. Now,

her appetite is back to normal. I have read that Prozac can cause

weight gain. I have been on it before and was concerned about that

side effect. However, I think it's different for every person.

Prozac actually made me a bit queasy at first and then I can eat

almost anything I want when I take it (within reason!!) and not gain

weight. An added benefit for me. :-) I really think it just varies

with each person and how the drug affects them. On questions of

prozac side effects - I am prone to migraines. I've read that many

SSRIs actually help migraines. However, I've found that when I start

an SSRI (have been on celexa and prozac before) - my migraines

initially decrease. But when the dosage ramps up in my system - my

migraines return and they are much worse than before the meds. Does

anyone else get headaches from SSRIs? Just wondering. Again,

though, I think it's how different drugs react with different

bodies.

Anne

February 20, 2009