Why am I gaining weight after stopping Prozac?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Why are you gaining weight after stopping Prozac?
You might be gaining weight after stopping Prozac because of the following reasons:
- Fluctuations in your blood glucose levels
- Your body’s response to stopping Prozac
- Poor diet
- Lack of exercise
- Unusual cravings as a possible withdrawal symptom
Fluctuations in your blood glucose levels
Several research studies have indicated that the discontinuation of your Prozac or any other antidepressant can cause fluctuations in your blood glucose levels.
Some people struggle with high blood sugar without even knowing about it, and some experience low levels which can make them dizzy or weak. High glucose levels can cause weight gain and this weight gain could be quite significant.
Make sure you monitor your BGLs frequently after stopping Prozac. If you find frequent fluctuations, consult your healthcare provider.
Your body’s response to stopping Prozac
The most common reason for gaining weight after stopping Prozac is the unusual reaction of your body to stopping your antidepressant. Prozac takes weeks to be a part of your body when you start taking it.
You only start to feel better on this antidepressant when your body has completely adjusted to it. When your body continues to function in the presence of Prozac, it kind of gets used to it. The chemicals in your brain also start to depend heavily on Prozac.
When you take the drug away, your brain does not accept it right away, like it did not accept the drug when you first took it. As a result, it reacts in different ways and can cause withdrawal symptoms (1).
Weight gain could be one of the said symptoms, especially if you lost weight while taking Prozac. On the other hand, some people may lose weight after stopping Prozac if the medication made them gain weight while they were taking it.
Such weight-related changes can vary. It’s best to keep your lifestyle as healthy as possible to help your body recover faster.
Poor diet
A poor diet could be another cause of weight gain. As we have just discussed, your body becomes vulnerable when you stop using Prozac, especially after a long time.
If you eat unhealthily or junk foods during this time period, you will gain weight much more rapidly as compared to a normal, healthy person. This is why you should feed your body all the good things that can help you recover faster from Prozac withdrawal.
Lack of exercise
Lack of exercise after Prozac withdrawal can make a huge difference in your body weight. After stopping your antidepressant, the excitatory chemicals in your brain get a little disturbed for some time. Exercise can be an amazing addition to your routine, now more than ever.
It can help you recover from your antidepressant withdrawal and can actively manage the disturbing chemicals in your brain. It will make you feel good and elevate your mood while strengthening your physical and mental health.
Unusual cravings as a possible withdrawal symptom
As we have discussed earlier, Prozac withdrawal can trigger unusual behaviour in some people. Studies have shown that people may start to feel mentally disturbed again after stopping their antidepressants and it can trigger episodes of binge eating or stress eating.
This disturbed eating pattern can make you gain a significant amount of weight, especially if you continue to give in to such emotional cravings.
How to get rid of Prozac-withdrawal weight gain?
If you’re gaining weight after stopping Prozac, there are a few things you should do:
Talk to your healthcare provider
You should talk to your mental healthcare professional right away if you’re gaining a significant amount of weight after stopping Prozac. Your doctor can help determine an appropriate way to stop that from happening any further and to reverse the damage that has already been done.
Opt for healthy foods
Another way of keeping your weight balanced is to opt for healthy foods. Focus on lean protein, good fats, and lots of fruits and vegetables. Stay away from sugar, refined carbs, saturated fatty acids, and trans fats.
Exercise
Make exercise a good part of your routine. If you’re a beginner, start by walking for 20 to 30 minutes at least 3-4 times a week. You can slowly increase the duration and your walking pace when your body builds endurance. You can also try beginner-friendly cardio workouts that you can easily find on the internet.
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References
1.-
Berlin CS. Fluoxetine withdrawal symptoms. J Clin Psychiatry. 1996 Feb;57(2):93-4. PMID: 8591980. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8591980/
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