Post SSRI Weight Gain

ATP

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Does anyone know why after taking an SSRI (Lexapro) it can cause weight gain?

I took Lexapro for about 8 months and only when I stopped taking the medication I have gained about 20 kgs?
Prior and during taking this SSRI I had relatively low bodyfat. I'm interested if anyone knows the exact mechanism behind this?
 

mujuro

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I think a discussion of the 5HT2C receptor and its roles is in order. Escitalopram has apparently negligible binding for anything other than the serotonin transporter.
 
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ATP

ATP

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I think a discussion of the 5HT2C receptor and its roles is in order. Escitalopram has apparently negligible binding for anything other than the serotonin transporter.
So is there a targeted approach to reverse the effects from coming off the drug?
 

mujuro

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I found this thread on Longecity Serotonin 5-HT(1)A Receptor and Male Sexual Function / Motivation - Brain Health

I found an article a few years ago, which I saved, authored by a hobbyist who held a PhD in neuroscience but also had a keen interest in how anabolic steroids exert their effects on the brain. In this article he talks specifically about the synthetic progestin nandrolone, which was the first prototypical SARM synthesized. In muscle it behaves as an androgen however in the brain it possesses progesterone-like activity. In 5AR target tissues it is reduced to dihydronandrolone which is a less potent androgen than DHT.

"Data demonstrating the results of 2 weeks of treatment with nandrolone decanoate exhibited significant down-regulation of [125I]-iodocyanopindolol binding to the 5HT1B receptors at all doses (1, 5, 15 mg/kg/day) in the hippocampal CA1 and the MGP (Table). This isn’t a bad sign at all. Because up regulation of 5ht1 sites in hippocampus are related to reduced short-term memory retention. Interestingly, nandrolone can and should be used in cases where treatment of SSRIs have negatively rewired serotonin receptors in the hippocampus and prefrontal area. Many users have reported blunted emotions and reduced memory capacity after SSRI treatment. The subjective data puts SSRIs and other antidepressants clearly into bad perspective. Another interesting point is that the same reduction of or rewiring effect on SSRI activity could be achieved with either propranolol or pindolol treatment because they antagonise serotonin 5ht1a and 5ht1b receptors."
The progesterone/androgen nature of this steroid in particular makes it very interesting from a neurological perspective. In the meantime I'm going to look at how progesterone and pregnenolone can perhaps help as well. The beta-blockers are apparently even worse for the libido but I think the trade off is agreeable if it means eventually undoing the negative changes from SSRIs. One poster claims that female sexual function isn't affected as badly by SSRIs as male sexual function is. I guess this corroborates the stuff I have read that says SSRIs work better in female bipolars than males to correct dysfunctional glucocorticoid signaling, with tricyclics working better for males. The thread creator refers numerous times to the phrase "presence of a female" and the sexual response to being in the presence of a female being much stronger after 5HT1 antagonism. I guess the distinction is significant, as we know that viewing pornography and other such stimuli is qualitatively different to being with a sexually receptive female. One poster supposes cyproheptadine as a solution. I definitely get stronger erections and a stronger libido when I take cypro and I'm with my girlfriend. However the other posters dislike the dopamine receptor interactions of cypro and cross it off as an option. They are looking for purely selective 5HT2 + 5HT1 antagonists. Good luck with that I say.

EDIT - I haven't found much to explain the weight issues.

 
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ATP

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Thank you mujuro for posting that thread.

There was definitely side effects of sexual dysfunction whilst I was taking it and most of it has gone but a little amount still remains. As to taking nandrolone decanoate to reverse the effects, I know that a lot of bodybuilders who have taken that steroid said they experience erectile dysfunction also known as Deca ****. It usually subsides a few weeks after stopping it.
 

mujuro

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Don't get me wrong, I wasn't advocating its use but it still is valuable information to have given that there is such little research - hobbyist or official - on how to undo the potentially life ruining withdrawals of SSRIs. I also thought it was interesting given its mixed progestogenic/androgenic activity in light of Peat's emphasis on progesterone and the protective pregnanes. The "deca ****" is real, but the actions of dihydronandrolone account for the erectile dysfunction, being a much weaker 5-alpha reduced metabolite of nandrolone than DHT is of testosterone. Adding in testosterone will combat this, but some people require a lot and others require only a little. It's fortunate that your sexual issues have already almost resolved.

I'd be happy to correspond with you in private to help you lose weight. My bodybuilding past has given me plenty of experience in that area.
 
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ATP

ATP

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Don't get me wrong, I wasn't advocating its use but it still is valuable information to have given that there is such little research - hobbyist or official - on how to undo the potentially life ruining withdrawals of SSRIs. I also thought it was interesting given its mixed progestogenic/androgenic activity in light of Peat's emphasis on progesterone and the protective pregnanes. The "deca d**k" is real, but the actions of dihydronandrolone account for the erectile dysfunction, being a much weaker 5-alpha reduced metabolite of nandrolone than DHT is of testosterone. Adding in testosterone will combat this, but some people require a lot and others require only a little. It's fortunate that your sexual issues have already almost resolved.

I'd be happy to correspond with you in private to help you lose weight. My bodybuilding past has given me plenty of experience in that area.
I would appreciate any help you could give with weight loss.
 

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