Do you lose weight after stopping Prozac?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Do you lose weight after stopping Prozac?
You may lose a few pounds after stopping Prozac if this antidepressant makes you gain a lot of weight during the course of your treatment. If you did not gain any weight on Prozac, you may not lose any.
However, if you’re losing a lot of weight while you’re tapering off Prozac, talk to your healthcare provider. It’s not healthy to lose weight in a concise span of time.
If you’re gaining weight while on Prozac, talk to your doctor. You should never stop your treatment with Prozac halfway without medical supervision. Doing so can subject you to the disturbing symptoms associated with Prozac withdrawal.
Research studies on Prozac-related weight changes
Research studies have linked Prozac to weight-related changes. Some studies indicate that Prozac, being an SSRI, can lead to weight gain. However, some studies indicate that it can help some people lose weight.
One research study indicated that patients taking Fluoxetine (the active drug in Prozac) experienced weight loss initially in a clinical trial. However, the volunteers started gaining weight soon after (1).
Among those who completed 50 weeks of treatment, both the placebo and fluoxetine groups showed a similar weight increase.
The weight gain was not influenced by the initial body mass index but was associated with poor appetite at the beginning of the study and an improvement in appetite after recovery. Importantly, no patients discontinued treatment due to weight gain (1).
The study concluded that Fluoxetine may lead to slight weight loss during acute therapy, but long-term weight gain is similar to that of a placebo and likely related to recovery from depression.
Another research study indicated that Fluoxetine can be a good choice of antidepressant for people struggling with depression comorbid with obesity. This indicates that Fluoxetine may not be related to weight gain as commonly as other SSRIs are (2).
Fluoxetine may also cause weight loss by altering the sense of taste, this can reduce appetite and lower calorie consumption – leading to weight loss over time.
How to ensure safe Prozac withdrawal?
When discontinuing Prozac (Fluoxetine) or any antidepressant, it’s important to do so under the guidance of a healthcare professional to ensure a safe withdrawal process. Here are some important points to consider (3):
Follow your doctor’s instructions
Always follow your doctor’s guidance regarding the dosage reduction and discontinuation schedule. Abruptly stopping Prozac can lead to withdrawal symptoms, so a gradual tapering approach is generally recommended.
Communicate with your doctor
Inform your doctor about any concerns or side effects you experience during the withdrawal process. They can provide guidance, monitor your progress, and make adjustments if needed.
Monitor your symptoms
Be aware of any changes in your mood, behaviour, or physical well-being during the withdrawal period. If you experience severe or worsening symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
Gradual tapering
Your doctor will likely recommend a gradual reduction in the dosage over time. This helps your body adjust to the lower levels of the medication and minimizes withdrawal symptoms. Tapering periods can vary depending on individual factors and the duration of Prozac use.
Patience and self-care
Withdrawal symptoms may occur even with a gradual taper. It’s essential to be patient and take care of yourself during this time. Practice self-care activities such as getting adequate sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, and managing stress.
Final words
To sum up, you may or may not lose weight after Prozac withdrawal. The antidepressant may not accuse significant weight gain. However, people are different and can respond differently to medications. Just make sure you don’t stop taking the medication abruptly.
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References
1.-
Michelson D, Amsterdam JD, Quitkin FM, Reimherr FW, Rosenbaum JF, Zajecka J, Sundell KL, Kim Y, Beasley CM Jr. Changes in weight during a 1-year trial of fluoxetine. Am J Psychiatry. 1999 Aug;156(8):1170-6. doi: 10.1176/ajp.156.8.1170. PMID: 10450256. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10450256/\
2.-
Serralde-Zúñiga AE, Gonzalez Garay AG, Rodríguez-Carmona Y, Melendez G. Fluoxetine for adults who are overweight or obese. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 Oct 15;10(10):CD011688. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011688.pub2. PMID: 31613390; PMCID: PMC6792438. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31613390/
3.-
Zajecka J, Fawcett J, Amsterdam J, Quitkin F, Reimherr F, Rosenbaum J, Michelson D, Beasley C. Safety of abrupt discontinuation of fluoxetine: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1998 Jun;18(3):193-7. doi: 10.1097/00004714-199806000-00003. PMID: 9617977. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9617977/
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