I've had panic disorder (along with depression, OCD, PTSD, major anxiety... ) since childhood. I'm on an anti-depressant now. I've been on most all of the anti-depressants out there and my dr. has now told me that I'm resistant to the anti-depressants. I was on Klonopin years ago (at two different times in my life). The first time I did not gain weight and it worked wonderfully! The second time I was on it I gained a LOT of weight. I'm having a horrible time with major depression and almost constant depression and want to try the Klonopin again, but am afraid of the weight gain. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Willow
Has anyone on Klonopin had marked weight gain while taking it?
Question posted by Willow215 on 18 April 2012
Last updated on 8 February 2023
I meant to relay that I'm having a horrible time with almost constant "panic", in addition to severe depression, in my first post. Many times the attacks will eventually subside somewhat, but this time the panic is not leaving or getting better. I need support... I'm wondering if trying Klonopin again might help. I just don't want to gain a lot of weight from it.
21 Answers Page 2
Hello Willow215,
I have been on klonopin for last say long enough to no that I haven't put on a pd from it if anything I have lost weight, I am not saying the klonopin made me lose the weight, but I take 1 mg 3 x daily for panic/agoraphobia, and have never put on weight, I guess everyone is differant, could be the food one is eating, or if u are on other meds, they can be causing it, my sujection would be to look up all the meds u take and see side effects, but don't get to into the side effects cause just because they list it doesn't mean u are nessesarally going to get them that is just something they have to do... but in my case, and I have like I said been on for a while, never put weight on, as a matter of fact I was 203, and just got weighed yesterday and am 175 pds just to give u an idea of how they work on me..as I said everyone is differant... good luck..
I was on alprazolam (xanax) for years and it worked great for my anxiety disorder with no weight gain. I moved to Alaska over a year ago and the doc I've been seeing here won't prescribe it due to the abuse and selling of it on the streets here being so bad. He switched me to Klonopin immediately, 3x daily. I have gained over 30 lbs this year and haven't changed my eating habits. So I concluded it must be the Klonopin, I could be wrong but am asking to be changed to lorazepam because that's what I feel it is as I have known a (very) few who have also had dramatic increase in weight after starting this medication. If you struggle with depression anyway, the LAST thing you need is a bad self image to deal with on top of it. But that's just me... good luck.
this is the 3rd time ive been on klonopins.they work wonders for me. all 3 times ive not gained weight. right now i take it 3 times a day and it it really long lasting but is slow on kicking in. i swear by this drug for anxiety. though i also have panic attacks and needed something to take n the spot so my doc. also proscribed me valum but i dont know that it works ?? if i were you i would try it again and then if you start to gain weight i would stop and try something else.
I tried Klonopin and couldn't stay on it as it sedated me to the point of zombieness 24/7. I have a friend that used it and she didn't gain weight, but she is also on 80mg Adderall a day.
For my depression I seem to need a 'cocktail' of for or five different things, I'd talk to your doc and see what he thinks.
I take Lorazepam (ativan) at a 5-10 mg dose and it's worked for years for anxiety.
One of the best things I've found for anxiety is tea. The first is Valerian tea. Valerian is the root herb for Valium. I'm want to mention some brands here but it is not allowed unless the poster has requested that, so if you'd like me too respond to this.The reason for mentioning brands is that I've only found a couple that are efficacious, and the same two are the only ones that don't taste like you scraped it off your shoe.
There is a third tea you but doesn't sedate, and it's amazing, works most of the time before I have to try the lorazepam. This one is not a Valerian tea. It's privately made by a woman with an etsy shop, so not found in stores.
Back to the depression - have you tried Geodon? It's too heavy for me so I can't stay on it for long but do use it occasionally when the depression hits suicidal indicators. Most people do well on it, and is the only thing that ever made me lose weight instead of gain. You have to be very careful with it, though, because if you take the wrong dose it makes everything worse. My doc had me on a building up dose and it was the worst ever.They start you off with the 2 week increments, but he told me that if I had been hospitalized and under care he would have taken me in in 3-4 days. My wrong dose was too low - we upped it 25% and it was great in a day or two. So if you look into it, be very proactive and try to have some people around you at first.
i would like to hear about the teas that work and dont taste bad.
I would like more info on the tea also please..
i have been on klonopin sometime back, like i said in other comments weight gain can go either way depending on what you're taking, some meds i take causes weight loss but others i take causes weight gain, my doctor just watches me closely. sorry I couldn't help. i am on pristiq now still waiting for it to kick in, at this point any antidepression meds i've taken doesn't work , i think the rsd has gotten so bad and had debilitated me i just can't get out of my depression. i don't know what can make me come out of it. i cry allot and very lonely. maybe i shouln't be writing this but i've learned computors can't talk back. lol
judi
I understand wholeheartedly about it seems like I just can't kick this depression phase I'm in also.I cry all the time! I lost my husband due to a massive heart attatck,but that was ten years ago.I thought I should be over it by now.I just can't seem to cope with anything.I'm taking kilonopin because they refuse to give me my regular med's.But I stay in my apt. ALL the time,I don't leave unless I really,really have to.I have a bad back and knee's but even though I've had an MRI they seem to not believe me.
Klonpin can make you depressed. It is one of the side effects.
Dear Judi,
I had aan aeefu l time with extreme depression and suicidal ideations.
The only thing that has worked for me is
CYMBALTA. But the corollary on my insurance would only pay for the generic. The generic did not work for me.
So I had to get my psychiatrist to write a letter to the drug company who makes C YMBALTA.
They did an override and the insurance company accepted it! I can now say I am nearly depression free.
I've had depression since I was 18... I am now 52.
Best wishes, my friend.
If you'd like to talk , I'm here, or if you're on Facebook we could talk there.
♡♡♡☺
Have you ever tried Holy Basil?
Hello Willow215. I understand your predicament. The statistics are that close to 1% of people using Klonopin either lost or gained weight. I'm afraid that you fall into that 1% number. Best I might suggest is that whatever your dose of Klonopin is, and that if you are taking it in a single dose, the dose be split. Regards, pledge
I think that if you or anyone can't seem to eat then start the meds that it may cause weight gain but if you over eat then it may cause you to lose weight. It's just my opinion though because depression is different for everyone, some gain weight and some lose weight
Related topics
klonopin, depression, weight loss (obesity/overweight), post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, weight
Further information
- Klonopin uses and safety info
- Klonopin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Klonopin (detailed)
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