Prozac Weight Gain

US Brand Name: Prozac
Generic Name: fluoxetine hydrochloride
Other Brand Names: Adofen (Spain)
Alzac 20 (Guatemala)
Andep (India)
Ansilan (Colombia)

Auroken (Mexico)
Deprexin (Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Bermuda; Curacao; Guyana; Jamaica; Dutch Antilles; Puerto Rico; Singapore; Surinam; Trinidad)
Deproxin (Thailand)
Fluctin (Germany)
Fluctine (Austria; Switzerland)
Fludac (Benin; Burkina Faso; Ethiopia; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; India; Ivory Coast; Kenya; Kuwait; Liberia; Libya Lebanon; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Morocco; Niger; Nigeria; Oman; Qatar; Republic of Yemen; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Sudan; Syria; Tanzania; Tunisia; Uganda; United Arab Emirates; Zambia; Zimbabwe)
Flufran (India)
Flunil (India)
Fluox (Germany)
Fluoxac (Mexico)
Fluoxeren (Italy)
Fluoxil (Dominican Republic)
Fluox-Puren (Germany)
Fluronin (Taiwan)
Flusac (Thailand)
Flutin (Colombia; Korea)
Flutine (Israel; Thailand)
Fluxen (Taiwan)
Fluxetil (Singapore)
Fluxetin (Singapore)
Fluxil (Bahrain; Cyprus; Egypt; Hong Kong; Iran; Iraq; Israel; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Libya; Oman; Qatar; Republic of Yemen; Saudi Arabia; Syria; United Arab Emirates)
Fontex (Denmark; Finland; Norway; Sweden)
Foxetin (Korea)
Lanclic (Korea)
Lorien (South Africa)
Lovan (Australia)
Magrilan (Singapore)
Margrilan (Bahrain; Cyprus; Egypt; Hong Kong; Iran; Iraq; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Libya; Oman; Qatar; Republic of Yemen; Saudi Arabia; Syria; Thailand; United Arab Emirates)
Modipran (Benin; Burkina Faso; Ethiopia; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Ivory Coast; Kenya; Kuwait; Liberia; Libya Lebanon; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Morocco; Niger; Nigeria; Oman; Qatar; Republic of Yemen; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Sudan; Syria; Tanzania; Tunisia; Uganda; United Arab Emirates; Zambia; Zimbabwe)
Neupax (Peru)
Nopres (Indonesia)
Nuzak (South Africa)
Oxactin (United Kingdom)
Oxedep (China; India)
Pragmaten (Ecuador)
Prizma (Israel)
Proctin (Korea)
Prodep (Benin; Burkina Faso; Ethiopia; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; India; Ivory Coast; Kenya; Kuwait; Liberia; Libya Lebanon; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Morocco; Niger; Nigeria; Oman; Qatar; Republic of Yemen; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Sudan; Syria; Tanzania; Tunisia; Uganda; United Arab Emirates; Zambia; Zimbabwe)
Prozac 20 (Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; Philippines; Taiwan; Thailand)
Rowexetina (Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Nicaragua; Panama)
Salipax (Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Bermuda; Curacao; Guyana; Jamaica; Dutch Antilles; Puerto Rico; Surinam; Trinidad)
Sanzur (South Africa)
Sinzac (Taiwan)
ZAC (Indonesia)
Zactin (Australia; Singapore; Taiwan)
Zepax (Colombia)

Among a class of drugs known as Selective Seretonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Prozac (Fluoxetine) is a prescription medication used to treat obsessive compulsive disorders, panic disorders, Bulimia Nervosa and PreMenstrual Dysphoric disorder ( as Sarafem). Due to its long half-life and lower potency, it is the only modern anti depressant which has been approved for use by those who are under 18 for depression. According to statistics, Prozac is one of the top 15 prescription medications in the US market. Prozac along with Zoloft and Paxil are listed among the top ten revenue producing medications. But studies over the years now suggest that long term use of Prozac can lead to weight gain. In the past, most people were ignorant of the fact that long term use of anti depressants is associated with weight gain and they were ironically being also marketed for treating obesity in the past. The popular myth was that drugs which increase the serotonin output also decrease hunger which has now been shown to be false. Though it is still a mystery why SSRI’s lead to weight gain there much to be researched.

A patient who was taking Prozac reported a weight gain of 20 pounds though she had always been thin with a fast metabolism, had no change in her eating habits and was working out five days a week. In frustration, after dieting for a week she managed to loose only half a pound.

Another experience by a patient – she started on Prozac a year ago, she lost 19 pounds in the beginning, from 145 lbs to 124lbs, and felt on top of the world. Then in a few months, the weight started to creep back on her and she was now back to 134 pounds, feeling a lot more depressed and bloated. Another patient who has a history of depression in her family and has been on verge of suicide too, started on Prozac. Before she started, she was a svelte 120 pounds at 5’6 and now she has ballooned to 160 pounds despite going on a veggie/ lean meat every two hour meal regimen with one hour a day, six day a week of cardio and weights and then in frustration just starving herself. She still could not get below 40 and is now desperate for help.

According to experts, Prozac interacts with the body in such a way as to slow down the metabolism and steps can be taken to counteract this by limiting fatty foods and exercising regularly. Then too, if you still find yourself gaining weight, this is one of the unfortunate side effects with which you either have to live with or just go off the drug. But be warned, do not abruptly stop as this may have negative consequences, you have to wean yourself away gradually and also medication should not be changed or stopped without consulting one’s psychiatrist. Another factor which is taken into consideration is the short (3 to 6 months) and long ( more than six months ) term effects of the medication and a weight gain which is 7% of the original body weight is thought to be important factor. Generally, it has been found that short term use of SSRI’s does not lead to any weight gain. Another study has found that women are who take SSRI’s is more prone to weight gain and even people who are already overweight.

Prozac falls in the category of lifestyle drugs which are patronized by Western societies where life is fast paced and pressured, it is so easy to fall into an abyss of low self esteem and depression. People want to take the easy way out and pop pills without a second thought towards the consequences instead of doing something which may be truly therapeutic such as gardening, yoga or getting involved in a charity.