Losing weight on amitriptyline

Rachel_M

Thanks Rachjenn

It's definitely not my diet - I'm a nutritionist! :rotfl:

Rachel_M

Murphybear, maybe I should do that. I'm a bit scared to, as i have recently also discovered I have sky high cholesterol - 7.44 total and 5.4 ldl.

I can't come off it, as some of you have suggested, as i get dreadful withdrawal if i reduce at more than a snail's pace.
So I'm looking at at least another year on it - which is very depressing! Especially as it doesn't work anyway

Does anyone have experience of losing weight once they stop taking it?

This is really interesting - it says it's due to hormone changes.
http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/02/11/amitriptyline-weight-gain-the-reason-50-discontinue-treatment/

I wonder if there's a treatment to help that?

Concerned75

I'm taking those as and when for nerve pain. Doesn't really work for me, but then it's not ritual medication. Can't say it encourages weight loss either.

Rachel_M

Tomtontom - thanks, but that's not very helpful. I've always been TINY (8 to 8.5 stone). So to be 10 stone is huge on my tiny frame.

I've done a bit more digging and found that leptin, which is the hormone amitriptyline affects, has massive implications for weight.

So am now following a very easy diet (more of a lifestyle choice, as I plan to stay on it), which resets your body's leptin resistance,

Good on you for losing 6 stone. I'm a nutritionist, so know how hard this can be. And maybe it wasn't the amitriptyline causing your weight gain - it doesn't always do it.

However, I know my own body and I also know that amitriptyline puts on weight on a lot of people. And now I know why. I also now know why, despite being on a diet that would have helped most people lose weight, I haven't lost a single pound.

i'll report back in a month or so to tell you all any results (or lack of!)

Thanks all x

TiredTrophy

It is not helpful to be so rude. We all react differently to medication which is some things work for one person and not for others.
As can be seen by the various experiences of other posters on this thread.

Rachel_M

Good grief - what a staggeringly rude person!

Thanks for sticking up for me.

Blimey!

[Deleted User]

tomtontom wrote: »

1.5 stone over a few years is more likely to be down to getting older than amitriptyline.

I lost six stone whilst taking it. It wasn't easy but I focused on what did help rather than what didn't. If your current exercise/ food plan is not working then try something else.

Doesn't this show that what works for one person may not necessarily work another?

Rachel_M

Sleazy - yes, indeed it does!

Rachel_M

Right - I'm reporting back, as promised.

To recap, I'd put on a lot of weight after 4 years on amitriptyline,. I went on a diet (no wheat, no sugar, no processed food, healthy eating) for 3 months - and lost not a single pound.

So i did some research and found that certain meds (including amitriptyline) mess up your hormones. Particularly one called leptin, which controls our metabolism and the way the body stores fat.

I have been on the leptin diet (google it) for a month now - and have lost half a stone.

Beyond delighted!

KC_scotland

I have been taking amitriptyline since January for pains connected to chronic fatigue syndrome. I was size ten to twelve and five foot four and weighed 9 st 5. I am now 10 st 3 and diet all the time. I walk when i can, have followed slimming world and weight watchers which i have used in the past. I keep trying... Don't want to go up any more. I only just found out you can put weight on with this drug. I thought it was as i was less active but now i wonder if i am stuck with weight gain till i get off the medicine.