Mirtazapine and weight loss

[Helper123]

Hi everyone, I'm trying to lose weight but I'm on an anti depressants that's known to cause weight gain. Feel like I'm fighting a losing battle. Anyone on here on this and been able to shed some weight? Thanks

[N-o-r-d-i Maintainer 64kg]

Hello and very welcome to this friendly forum. We are not medical people, it's a peer to peer support forum, so for any medical advice please make sure to speak to the doctor who prescribed the medication for you. Nevertheless, thank you for asking and I hope someone with personal experience can see your post and share their own story.

I believe that it should still be possible to lose weight, albeit perhaps more tricky. If you carefully explore what is available and choose what suits you, it will be a good way forward. I do hope this forum can help you in this process. We have many events going on, please look at our Pinned Posts healthunlocked.com/weight-l... and join in as much as you feel comfortable.

Hope to see you around!

[Helper123 in reply to N-o-r-d-i]

Thank you for the warm welcome.

[Helper123]

Thank you for your positive message. Lots of good advice.

[Lynne64 Restart Jan 2024]

Hiya. I had an 18 month period of taking that drug and it really helped. The doc advised me that the drug itself wouldn't cause weight gain, but that it would increase my appetite. I didn't gain any weight at all during that time. I just had to be extra 'aware'. I'm not a massive fan of counting calories very carefully, but I did whilst taking the drug. It helped me place the periods of hunger with the drug and I was able to ignore it. All the very best

[Helper123 in reply to Lynne64]

Thank you for sharing your experience. It's good to know that you didnt gain any weight by being mindful of what you were eating. I hope to do the same.

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs]

Hello Helper123 I have been on Mirtazapine for many years first 45mg and now down to 30mg at night... I lost almost 2 st going from 10st to 8st 1lb in December but it has taken me several years to do it. At the moment, today I weighed in at 119lbs so I am maintaining at a 1 and 1/2 st loss and aim to keep it that way. I went Alcohol Free as I realised that they weren't helping either my depression or my weight and I probably shouldn't have been mixing the two anyway. Now I practise Time Restricted Eating and try to close the kitchen at 6pm no snacking after that. I have also tried two meals a day (TMAD) which I found worked as I could eat late morning and early evening which suited my lifestyle. I have also tried the 5:2 after reading Michael Mosley's book but would only do that now if I wanted to kick start weightloss as I am happy with my 119lbs these days. I treated myself to a fitbit back in the early days which kept me on target and focused with calories and exercise so it was money well spent for me. But find what works best for you and then stick with it. I joined the Weightloss Forum and I weigh in on a Tuesday so that keeps me accountable and I get loads of ideas and support from other users on it too.

Good Luck and have a good week!

[Helper123 in reply to Clematisa1]

Thank you so much for your positive message. It gives me hope that I too can lose weight on mirtazapine.

[Clematisa1 Maintainer 1st 7lbs in reply to Helper123]

You're welcome - this is a link to the weekly weightloss forum

healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

There is also a Daily Diary which is good if you want ideas of what meals to make - I hardly ever post these days but it gave me ideas when I was starting out and made me plan ahead - always a good idea otherwise I was late night shopping ready meals and eating highly processed stuff. healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

If you can ditch the white stuff ( white sugar, white salt , white flour) and highly processed foods you'll soon be seeing results. 🌈 ✅ Best wishes Helper123

[Helper123 in reply to Clematisa1]

Thank you, Clematisa1, that is so kind of you to share.

[Eryl Visitor]

If you check out Dr Chris Palmer or Dr Georgia Ede on youtube uou'll see why they belive that high carb diets are to blame for weight gain and depression so when you've corrected your diet ou'll probably be able to also drop the antidepressants.

[Helper123]

I hope so, Eryl. Thank you for taking the time to message.

[MIgnonne Restart Sept 2023]

Hi I was prescribed mirtazapine, but when I gained so much I went to see a different G.P. who said he was not surprised, and I should not have been given it in the first place. He changed my meds and I lost the weight.

[Helper123 in reply to MIgnonne]

That's really good to hear you lost the weight. Sounds like you changed meds at the right time. I wished I had done the same. Unfortunately, I've been taking mirtazapine for 3 years. I think I might have some difficulty coming off them. Thank you for messaging it gives me hope that when I come off the mirtazapine I can lose the weight I gained too.