annmarie1987's Journal, 27 Apr 18

pre pregnancy  

After my son was born I was diagnosed with PND. The Anti-Depressants I was prescribed made me want to eat. There is no easy solution. You will probably put weight on but you need to remember that your meds will also have positives such as good sleep and chemical release in the brain to aid your recovery. If you find weight gain is making you feel mentally low then go back to your gp. There are more than one kind of A-Ds. Whatever happens you will get better and you will deal with any weight issues. Best wishes x 

I’ve no experience of pnd. If the meds make you want to eat though, make it healthy. Don’t have crisps, chocolate, cakes, biscuits, etc., in the house and pre-chop a rainbow of crudités into a tub in the fridge - all colours of pepper strips, celery, carrot batons. Google some recipes for dips and buy or prepare some so if you’re desperate for a snack it’s there in front of you in the fridge. Chicken drumsticks baked and kept in the fridge are good and satisfying too. Just bake them when the oven is on and when cool put in a tub in the fridge - they’ll keep for 5-7 days. Fill you meals with leafy greens. Wishing you well x 

bless you. some antidepressants can increase your appetite and some (not many) can decrease it. the one under the umbrella prozac ( fluoxitine or similar sounding word) made me feel sick even at the thought of eating but the second time I went on them I tolerated them well. while trying different types the doctor put me on another ( can't remember) but I gained a lb a day so refused to take them after one week. a lot of people tolerate citalapram well. but most people experience some side affect initially. yoga, mindfulness and most exercise will boost your mood but it's finding the motivation to start... we are all here for you. You will get through this. The most important is realising you need help and asking for it so well done😊👍❤ 

Bless you Ann Marie. I didn't suffer with post natal depression but do suffer with depression and anxiety, for which I've been medicated since 2010. I took escitalopram(a more targeted SSRI, and more expensive, version of citalopram and, now, I take duloxetine(from a different family of SNRIs).I gained an absolute ton of weight, which is why I'm here, but as with most side effects regarding weight, it has to be recorded as it's reported. I doubt very much that the actual antidepressant caused my weight gain, more likely it was the emotional, comfort eating. Especially as I still take them and am managing perfectly well to lose instead of gain :) It's hard to think logically when you're suffering. Do not despair(I know only too well that is easier said than done). Most antidepressants can take a couple of weeks to level your mood so not long before you'll see an improvement. Once that positive feeling kicks in, your strength to resist temptation will return. Sending you a healing hug :) 

Thank you all. The side effects have left me shattered I don't want to move or do anything. I plan to exercise and plan meals. Baby just got chicken pox so I'm in for a few days but luckily have good food in. I need to ban myself from just eat though. Too easy to order food these days 

It sounds simplistic but delete the Just Eat app. Make it a bit more of an effort to order in. All the best 🤗