Prozac - Anyone experience weight gain AFTER they stopped?

From what I have read about the effects of Prozac on blood sugar are the main culprit I. Weight loss or gain. Some people gain weight while on it, because it raises there base blood sugar levels and the opposite can happen to others, it lowers or stabilizes blood sugar so weight is lost Or maintained. So if you’re part of the latter group, then when you go off, the absence of the drug might cause your BS to spike which will result in weight gain.
Metformin is a good drug to combat this. It will stabilize your BS. It also is being used as an anti aging remedy for many as well. Google this

I have been on Prozac for 26 years and stopped cold turkey 4 weeks ago. I actually feel better than I have in years except for the weight gain. I stopped because I’ve read long periods on Prozac can cause memory issues. My mom has been diagnosed with early onset dementia and she’s been on Prozac for 30 yrs. that made me decide to stop immediately. I’m feeling fine but the weight gain is definitely making me feel uneasy. I’m hoping this is just part of the withdrawal process because I refuse to go back on Prozac and lose my memory. Anyone have any words of wisdom or gained after stopping. I do have some pretty intense sugar cravings.

I stopped my birth control and Prozac at the same time and gained 15 pounds immediately but I couldn’t tell which med going off caused this. I added my birth control and saw no change to my weight and a few weeks later added back the Prozac and I immediately dropped 5 pounds in a day. It was definitely water weight my skin felt super tight and my thighs were chafing. The weight gain was mostly in my thighs and a little in my stomach and I wasn’t eating anything different than normal in fact I usually only eat about 1000 calories a day so there was no reason for me to gain 15 pounds in a week other than going off the Prozac triggered something hormonal that caused me to retain more water. I was off Prozac for a little over 4 months and I just kept gaining and it didn’t stop until I went back on it. I don’t think it’ll stop or go away until you go back on your original dose:(

I was on Prozac and cut it cold turkey this summer cause I was mentally and physically feeling my best. In a matter of 3 months, I gained 40 pounds which was so out of the ordinary for me. It happened so fast and nothing other than the meds changed with my lifestyle. I am going absolutely crazy and no matter how healthy I eat or work out I cant seem to shake this weight. I finally found this thread and felt some relief that others were experiencing the same thing. I called my doctor and he was no help he was confused with what I was explaining, didn't see the correlation and told me to work out. Has anybody seen any improvement? or has anything helped? Its starting to take a tole on me mentally now and I feel I have lost all my progress!

I am so glad I found this post. I was on 10mg pf Prozac for 1.5 years and didn’t have any side effects. I felt really good on it. My doctor took me off about 3 months ago and said since it is such a low dose that I didn’t need to wean off and that I could just stop. Ever since then I have been so bloated, I wake up and go to sleep feeling this way and it is horrible. I have also gained about 5 pounds. I almost feel like my body isn’t metabolizing anything I’m eating. I have a doctors appt on Thursday and I’m going to talk to the doctor about starting the 10mg again. Does anyone know if the weight gain stopped when they started the Prozac again?

I went on 20mg of fluoxetine when I was 18 and came off this time last year (when I was 22) and have done nothing but gain weight! I’ve always been really petit, small bone structure and sometimes been criticised for being too skinny but now I’m 30lbs heavier than I was last year!!
I went back and forth to the doctors, had private tests done, seen nutritionists etc etc and all they could tell me was “You’re just becoming a woman” which I refused to accept because my “new curves” were due to my weight gain. I did everything to try and lose weight, I ate 500 calories a day and used to run 3 miles every day as well as workout and NOTHING shifted the weight.
My sister is also on fluoxetine (40mg) and she has lost a significant amount of weight being on it. I am certain coming of fluoxetine causes weight gain - it’s messed with my mental state so much I’m going back on it tomorrow :(:(
I hope everyone on here manages to solve their issues!

I was taking Prozac for 3 months without any weight gain. I tapered off and then gained 6 pounds in a month after stopping the medication. My diet has not changed and my weight had been stable. I seem to still be gaining.

Does anyone have experience with how long this might last?

Thanks.

Hi all!! I am genuinely releaved to find this post. I have been on 40mg fluoxetine/Prozac for nearly 12 years. I have reduced gradually over the last 4-5 months and in that time I’ve put on roughly 2lb a month. My weight is usually very stable but this 6lb increase means I have gone up a dress size so now none of my clothes fit. I have a tyre of fat around my tummy which I have never had before!!! I usually put weight on my hips and thighs. It’s such a shame because the weight gain is getting me down so much so that I’m nearly going to need antidepressants again to feel better!! I too am exercising more now and no difference and I’m also hungry nearly all of the time. I really appreciate all your comments. Maybe we could start a Facebook chat group to talk about how we are doing and if anyone starts to see the weight dropping? I feel like I could do with some support xx

I stopped Prozac about a month ago and I’ve put on so much weight! I’m hungry every 2-3 hours which never happened before. I’m only eating healthy foods, stopped drinking alcohol and started exercising more but nothing seems to help. It’s all around my middle and I feel so thick and bloated. Has anyone lost the weight successfully yet?

I too was on Prozac / fluoxetine for 2-3 years. First 10 mg/day and then 20 mg. My doctor and I talked about a small study Recently showing a correlation between anti depressants and early onset dementia. I freaked about because I was finding myself having to read paragraphs over and over in books bc I couldn’t keep details straight. This was not stress induced either. I gradually weaned off the Prozac and weigh more now than I ever have (10-15 pounds more). I went off about 1-2 months ago. I’m 49 and have always been fit - long distance open water swimming and competitive cycling etc. Im stumped. I’m trying to accept this new normal, if that’s what it is, bc I’m not comfortable taking the Prozac again. I started after a long bout of caring for my mother when she had cancer. It did help at the time. I hate to say it but I’m so happy I’m not alone in this surprising side effect. But as long as we’re able to function well, our weight is just a number.

Anyone know if you go back on if the weight will come off again? Gained 14 lbs in a month.

I went off about 7 weeks ago and have been rapidly gaining weight too. I gained 18 lbs so far. My eating hasn't changed much and I've been more active recently because of the nice weather. I feel super swollen though. I'd like to know how long this is going to last as well. Thanks!

I stopped taking Flux. after 3 years as I felt it was hampering my quickness of thought. I just stopped and feel fine but have put on 7lb in 6 weeks. I am a U.S. size 4 and now am a U.S. size 8 and not at all looking myself. Reading these comments appears to confirm the cause. I notice that some of these comments were some months and years ago. Can someone indicate how long the weight gain lasted, whether the pace of gain tapered off...
Thanks very much! I'd appreciate any feedback. Doctor hasn't a clue.
B.