Keto on SSRI Anti Depressant

newbies
(Chelsea) #1

Good morning all,

I am currently trying to do Keto on an SSRI Anti Depressant. The name of it Remeron. I have gained about 15 pounds and was about 10 overweight prior to that. I am currently happy on the meds but I might stop if i don’t find help for the weight gain as it is making me depressed. I have always been slim.
My current weight is 142 and I am trying to get to 120.

So, my question is - will the Keto diet work for me on an SSRI? I feel like i don’t even want to try if it’s not going to work. I have seen this lifestyle change work on so many of my friends and I know that I would have the will power to do it if I knew that it would work.

(Ellen) #2

Hi Chelsea, I’m on an SSRI and haven’t had any issues since starting mid August. I’ve read some posts on here suggesting keto can help with depression, not noticed that (yet) but all fine otherwise.

(Athena) #3

Remeron isn’t an SSRI, it’s a tetracyclic antidepressant, and yeah, it can really cause weight gain. Have you talked to your doctor about how unhappy you are about the weight gain and perhaps trying a different anti-depressant that doesn’t have that common side-effect?

In any case, I think Keto is worth a go because regardless of weight-loss it can make you feel so much better!

(VLC.MD) #4

Remeron causes weight gain for sure.
Alternatives are much easier on weight.

You can keto on any antidepressant.

Keto is great for many people’s moods. Exercise is great for mood as well.

Remeron really boosts carb cravings.

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/588676

Mirtazapine is associated with weight gain both in the short- and long-term.[4] Patients taking mirtazapine often report a voracious appetite, with intense cravings for carbohydrates.[1] One meta-analysis examining 4 studies demonstrated that the majority of weight gain took place during the first 4 weeks of treatment.[4] A study by Thase and colleagues[5] found that the incidence of self-reported weight gain after 12 weeks of mirtazapine was 21%. This incidence increased to 30% in patients who remained on mirtazapine during the 40-week continuation phase of treatment. However, there was no statistically significant difference between mirtazapine vs placebo with respect to the incidence of new-onset weight gain during the continuation phase.

#5

I am on an antidepressant too (venlafaxin). I am only 10 days into Keto, and hoping that mood will be one of the longer term changes from it.

Even though Ive just started, I would reccomend it from this point of view. The science behind cutting out carbs and insulin spikes really does fare well for sustained cognitive and physical energy, and more even mood and anxiety levels. And for me its already stopped the shame I got from reaching for tons of junk food to feel better and then regretting it. Now I can tuck into bacon and eggs and feel proud about it :laughing:

One final point though: forewarned is forarmed! People can sometimes get the ‘keto flu’ which Im sure you may have heard about from your friends. Some get it, some dont, and when they do their symptoms can be different and vary in length. I dont want to put you off (really! I think you should give it a go :slight_smile: but just want to share that I had a couple of spikes in anxiety over the first few days, and felt a bit more crummy than usual. If I hadn’t found this forum, and asked others on it for advice, I would never have learned how common this can be and would have just thought something miserable like ‘oh typical me, tried something stupid that only made things worse, or i probably did it all wrong, im an idiot etc.’ I just wanted to share that because I think it’s important you are aware you could feel a bit worse (only potentially) so that you know that’s normal and dont give up or internalise the negative emotions :heart:

I think you could get a lot out of the keto WOE. And my vote is that you give it a whirl!

Xo

(Carey) #6

I am on an SSRI and have lost nearly 40 lbs on keto since April 2017.
There are some things that I am working to fine tune for my depression such as discovering my MTHFR mutation through 23andMe. This has resulted in me taking methylated folate instead of “regular” b vitamins. I am also working on getting my thyroid optimized. I am in “normal range” but not in ideal functional range. I am hoping that will help my depression as well. While neither of these items are keto, I have learned about these refinements for me since joining the keto community. With that said, I have been able to cut my SSRI dose in half since going keto and my mood is much more stable with the fat feeding my gut and brain! Even without the refinements I mentioned, I am very satisfied with both the weight loss and the mood stabilization on keto.

(Chelsea) #7

Sorry, I get confused when I read all of the info online haha.

I am going to my Dr. in January and I am going to talk to them about a weight neutral medication.

(ianrobo) #8

been on Citalopram for the whole time of Keto and actually been able to reduce my dose but interesting it does say in the NHS be careful if an electrolyte imbalance.

#9

I’ve been on mirtazapine for 14 years, to help with sleep (CFS/FM issues). Currently tapering off to see if that stops my constant carb/sugar cravings and high appetite (despite being in ketosis almost all the time). It’s driving me nuts — I have to use a lot of will power to avoid eating everything all day, every day. It’s getting old real fast! I’ve been keto/fasting for two years, 15 kg down, but on a weight-loss plateau for a year. Hoping to be able to break it by dropping the mirtazapine (with my doctor’s supervision). And manage my poorer sleep :confused:

(Patti Mendoza) #10

what is the NHS?? I am on escitalopram… and just starting keto… I am interested in this subject.

(ianrobo) #11

NHS is our medical system in the UK but despite being Keto still on them …

(Kiranjeet Bhabra) #12

Hi Patti, how are u doin w SSRI and keto…i am not taking any ssri since oct 2018…recently started w keto but quit due to anxiety flared up…hope u can share ur side of experience tq:smiley:

(ianrobo) #13

just a little update … I stopped taking my pills 4 weeks ago and not even told my GP yet … and how did I do this, not keto sadly but now taking CBD (legal in UK) and would strongly advise looking at it, where it is legal of course … those of you in CA and CO no issues there ha ha

(Danny Nguyen) #14

Hi There - I’ve been on Celexa/Cetopham for about 6 months and keto for about a week. I’m in a better mood and have much more energy. If I have a sugar craving then I go for a Coke Zero. :slight_smile: