Depression Talk

Chances are, if you are placed on an antidepressant or a medication to stabilize your moods, you will gain weight. This is because many antidepressants do two things — raise your appetite and make you dopey. Zyprexa in particular is noted for this. If you know that you can gain weight from anitdepressants, then you know that you need to try and stay active.

Remember, like it says on the sidebar, I’m not a doctor, so please talk to your doctor or therapist about the possibility of weight gain with any antidepressant. Don’t just suddenly stop taking any antidepressant, mood stabilizer or anti-seizure medication becauise the withdrawal effects can be painful and just a bit frightening.

Temporary Dopiness

When I started on Prozac, I was more or less knocked out for two weeks, and then my body got used to it and I was up to my usual energy levels. I can also get dopey if my dosage was raised — or reduced. The grogginess would go away in a few days, though. The grogginess can interfere with your driving ability.

Thankfully, I’m too blind to drive and I telecommute, so I didn’t have to worry about driving while groggy. I really recommend getting a ride or taking public transportation if you are changing or going onto a new medication because you may fell spacey. If you can, start the medication at a time when you have two or more days off in a row and don;t have to go anywhere.

Also, for God’s sake, don’t go anywhere near a contract in this condition.

Drink Plenty Of Water

One tip for helping battle the bulge and to help give you some more energy when on new medications is to make sure you are drinking at least five glasses of water a day. Okay — four glasses of water. You need to take a glass of water for your pills, anyway, so that’s one glass right there. Water can help give you a full feeling in the tummy. It also helps your circulation system and also cleans out your bladder.

If you don’t like the taste of water or other low-fat foods that are good for you, keep in mind that the taste buds can be trained to like a new food. You just have to give it two weeks.