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What Causes Vertigo, Imbalance, Extreme Exhaustion And Weight Gain While On Sertraline?
Question: I've been calorie counting for nearly 4 years now and you'll a few months ago, was sticking to 1200 calories a day. By doing this I has successfully gone from 99kg to 75kg in this time.
I've had no physical exercise and largely live a moderately active life at work as well as at home. I was also a moderately heavy smoker (about 12 - 15 cigarettes a day)
This last year (2015) has been rather crazy and hectic for me in the sense that the following have happened.
1. In the beginning of the year I started having what could only be described as palpitations and nervousness (the doctors said it was anxiety).
2. I quit smoking in January (relapsed for a few smokes mid year and then one occasional one a few weeks ago) but have kicked the habit.
3. I've been on setaline and beta blockers for the first 4 - 5 months of the year.
4. I've even developed bouts of vertigo / imbalance which would happen off and on in the beginning, then more frequent by mid year and now, for the past few weeks constant.
5. Im getting some ent checkups etc done for this.
6. Through the above I've successfully traveled to many cities across the year and struck deals with major clients sealing a great deal of business and revenue for my business.
7. I believe at the end of the year, I truly do feel extremely exhausted (after working endless nights and traveling hectic for a few months)
While all the above has been happening, I've gained a lot of weight. Around 10 kilos to be exact and am extremely devastated by it.
My diet is the same, activity level might actually be increased but I just seem to keep gaining weight.
Please advise on how the weight gain might stop!!
XXXXXXX
I've had no physical exercise and largely live a moderately active life at work as well as at home. I was also a moderately heavy smoker (about 12 - 15 cigarettes a day)
This last year (2015) has been rather crazy and hectic for me in the sense that the following have happened.
1. In the beginning of the year I started having what could only be described as palpitations and nervousness (the doctors said it was anxiety).
2. I quit smoking in January (relapsed for a few smokes mid year and then one occasional one a few weeks ago) but have kicked the habit.
3. I've been on setaline and beta blockers for the first 4 - 5 months of the year.
4. I've even developed bouts of vertigo / imbalance which would happen off and on in the beginning, then more frequent by mid year and now, for the past few weeks constant.
5. Im getting some ent checkups etc done for this.
6. Through the above I've successfully traveled to many cities across the year and struck deals with major clients sealing a great deal of business and revenue for my business.
7. I believe at the end of the year, I truly do feel extremely exhausted (after working endless nights and traveling hectic for a few months)
While all the above has been happening, I've gained a lot of weight. Around 10 kilos to be exact and am extremely devastated by it.
My diet is the same, activity level might actually be increased but I just seem to keep gaining weight.
Please advise on how the weight gain might stop!!
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Weight gain is drug related.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.
I can certainly understand your concerns.
I apologize for the delayed response owing to my hectic work schedule.
I have gone through your query in detail.
The cause of rapid weight gain in your case even after a 4 year diet control is probably due to the side effects of Sertraline.This drug is known to cause significant weight gain.
Likewise, the spells of dizziness are also related to sertraline.
To minimize the weight gain , a suitable substitution for Sertraline is Escitalopram.
This drug is well tolerated with minimal side effects. Change of drug will help you drop little weight and gradual drug withdrawal will cause your weight to return to normalcy.
Please check with your physician if he shares my view and if can prescribe it to you.
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Weight gain is drug related.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.
I can certainly understand your concerns.
I apologize for the delayed response owing to my hectic work schedule.
I have gone through your query in detail.
The cause of rapid weight gain in your case even after a 4 year diet control is probably due to the side effects of Sertraline.This drug is known to cause significant weight gain.
Likewise, the spells of dizziness are also related to sertraline.
To minimize the weight gain , a suitable substitution for Sertraline is Escitalopram.
This drug is well tolerated with minimal side effects. Change of drug will help you drop little weight and gradual drug withdrawal will cause your weight to return to normalcy.
Please check with your physician if he shares my view and if can prescribe it to you.
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Hi Doc.
Thank you for yhe reply. I wanted to reiterate that i had been having sertaline only from XXXXXXX to april and then stopped it. I was also on beta blockers for that time.
All of those stopped in april end as they were making me feel off (not so goot menatally and physically).
But the weight gain and constant dizzyness ate at their peak now, 6 monyhs later.
I dont want to go back to these kinds of medicines. Inknow they were given to me by the doctor as nocotene replacement, (due to my anxiety?).
I wish, today that i'd never put these medicines into my system!!
Please do re-advise if you still think the same.
Thank you .
Thank you for yhe reply. I wanted to reiterate that i had been having sertaline only from XXXXXXX to april and then stopped it. I was also on beta blockers for that time.
All of those stopped in april end as they were making me feel off (not so goot menatally and physically).
But the weight gain and constant dizzyness ate at their peak now, 6 monyhs later.
I dont want to go back to these kinds of medicines. Inknow they were given to me by the doctor as nocotene replacement, (due to my anxiety?).
I wish, today that i'd never put these medicines into my system!!
Please do re-advise if you still think the same.
Thank you .
Brief Answer:
Get off these drugs through a tapering protocol
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.
I can certainly understand your concerns.
I apologize for the delayed response owing to my hectic work schedule.
I have gone through your query in detail.
Sertraline is known to cause rapid weight gain.
It is not advisable to stop sertraline all of a sudden.
Hence, I advised for Escitalopram substitution.
I also advice you to get checked for thyroid ailments if any.Get a complete thyroid profile and update me with test results.
My advice to you is to stick to sertraline or escitalopram and taper off gradually. This will allow you develop tolerance.
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
Get off these drugs through a tapering protocol
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Sir.
I can certainly understand your concerns.
I apologize for the delayed response owing to my hectic work schedule.
I have gone through your query in detail.
Sertraline is known to cause rapid weight gain.
It is not advisable to stop sertraline all of a sudden.
Hence, I advised for Escitalopram substitution.
I also advice you to get checked for thyroid ailments if any.Get a complete thyroid profile and update me with test results.
My advice to you is to stick to sertraline or escitalopram and taper off gradually. This will allow you develop tolerance.
Post your further queries if any.
Thank you.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
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