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Weight gain/appetite increase


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I am no longer on mirtazapine, but when I began it (roughly 18 months ago) I noticed a huge increase in my appetite within a couple of days. I felt like I just couldn't stop eating in the evenings - not dissimilar to the stoned 'munchies' I used to get back when I smoked weed. Lost all control over my eating & eventually gained back the 30 kgs I'd lost the year before. I don't do anything by halves ;)

So I stopped the mirtazapine & kept the Effexor. Recently I've added lithium & the contraceptive pill (an attempt to address possible hormone-related mood swings) to the mix. Haven't noticed the remarkable appetite increase as with the mirtaz, but a couple of times I've had a desire to have another serving when I normally wouldn't. Fortunately the new meds have improved my mood to the point where I'm beginning to get a bit of exercise done.

I know all my meds can cause weight gain, but my question is this: is weight gain from these meds directly related to extra food taken in because of increased appetite, or are there other biological reasons, perhaps related to changes in metabolism?

If anyone has any learnings or personal experiences to share I'd appreciate it, cheers, Misty :)

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I am no longer on mirtazapine, but when I began it (roughly 18 months ago) I noticed a huge increase in my appetite within a couple of days. I felt like I just couldn't stop eating in the evenings - not dissimilar to the stoned 'munchies' I used to get back when I smoked weed. Lost all control over my eating & eventually gained back the 30 kgs I'd lost the year before. I don't do anything by halves ;)

So I stopped the mirtazapine & kept the Effexor. Recently I've added lithium & the contraceptive pill (an attempt to address possible hormone-related mood swings) to the mix. Haven't noticed the remarkable appetite increase as with the mirtaz, but a couple of times I've had a desire to have another serving when I normally wouldn't. Fortunately the new meds have improved my mood to the point where I'm beginning to get a bit of exercise done.

I know all my meds can cause weight gain, but my question is this: is weight gain from these meds directly related to extra food taken in because of increased appetite, or are there other biological reasons, perhaps related to changes in metabolism?

If anyone has any learnings or personal experiences to share I'd appreciate it, cheers, Misty :)

in my experience the food intake is related to an

increase in appetite and a little bit of water retention.

i take lithium by the way and abilify. abilify i heard has no side effects. i used to weigh 210 pounds and now i weigh 336 pounds :)

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