I'm 23, and I suffer from horrible panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia. Just thinking about laying down for the night gives me a rapid heartbeat and chest pains. My adrenaline rushes come on so strong I can almost taste it in the back of my mouth.
When I'm having a really, really bad night, I take a .50mg alprazolam. The stress is still in the back of my mind and a chest pain will hit me once or twice when I'm thinking about it too much. But generally, it helps me calm down enough to finally sleep, even if it takes a few hours.
In the last year, I've gained a lot of weight and my stress levels have gone through the roof. I suspect I suffer from estrogen dominance, brought on by adrenal depletion, excess cortisol, and causing hypothyroidism (in other words, that my stress levels throw my hormones out of balance).
I'd like to avoid the drastic, expensive, and unpromising progesterone hormone therapy for estrogen dominance at all cost but have yet to find an effective alternative.
Several other women in my family are taking alprazolam, and I haven't seen any adverse effects. In fact, I've only seen positive effects in their mood. They haven't noticeably lost or gained any weight, but then again, they don't exercise or diet consistantly, whereas I follow a rigorous (but healthy) program.
So I was wondering if possibly taking alprazolam could lower my stress levels enough to bring down my cortisol levels, balance my hormones, help me lose weight and live a generally normal life? Or can alprazolam possibly cause weight gain? Does it have any effect on weight at all?
From the reviews I've read, alprazolam is great for anxiety and depression, and many people are happy with it. I'd like to hope it would help me with my problems, but I can't risk gaining any more weight.
If anyone's been able to lose or has gained weight and believes it is due to alprazolam, please let me know.
Can alprazolam cause weight gain or weight loss?
Question posted by Anonymous on 10 March 2011
Last updated on 25 October 2023 by jmur883
10 Answers
I have taken Bupropion for 21 years. I have not experienced any weight loss or weight gain.
I stress eat, when I was on Xanax I lost a lot of weight fast. But gained it all back and more since stopping. So the medication will not affect your weight but might effect your eating habits, thus weight if they are related to stress.
I recently started 0.25mg of alprazolam. I only take it once a day. Before this medication i was eating constantly and gained weight very quickly. Since being on this medication i have had a decrease in appetite. Its severe enough i have to force myself to eat though i get nauseated doing so. during my research i found it can do either. Ive lost 5lbs in the 1.5 weeks being on the medication.
If you don't eat more or less than normal your weight can't be affected. Whether the drug encourages you to do either I dunno.
i have been taking xanax for 6 months now and i've gain weight so becareful ok
I’ve taken Xanax since 1992 and my normal weight all my life is 85 lbs. I’m a short tiny Asian. I’m only now gaining unwanted lbs. due to disability, a less active life. A physically active lifestyle keeps weight under control. Some medications can cause appetite to increase but rarely do medications.
I have been taking alprazolam since 1994 & I haven't gained or lost any weight from using it. It sounds to me like you need to see an endoctrinologist about your imbalances, & get that on the right track. Good luck...
Hi again, I tend to agree with LaurieShay. Stress has a lot to do with weight gain (or loss), as does depression. And I know that I'm harping again (just a bit), but an underactive thyroid can and will cause stress, depression, weight gain, etc. etc. I know that you tend to believe that estrogen dominance is causing hormonal imbalance; hence the underactive thyroid possibility. But I am a firm believer that it may very well be the other way around. Once a specialist sets you on the right road with your thyroid, you might very well find the estrogen dominance disappear, or at the very least lessen up for you. (Of course, I could always be wrong.)
As before, I wish you good luck, desperatelyseekingananswer! (I'll try to be quiet for a while, I promise! [= )
my physician is a professor and also teaches at a the Indianapolis University school of medicine, we were talking about this very subject I asked her what her thoughts were on weight as far as Xanax was concerned she said she didn't think Xanax persay had an effect on weight she thinks it has to do with your ability to deal with stress, she says some people when they become paniced or nervous they will not get hungry and therefore they do not eat whereas there are others that when in the same set of circumstances they eat all they can get their hands on, I deal with Chronic pain I also take xanax, I used to weight 250 pounds more and now my weight is in the 130's now and so when a lot of people see me they tend not to know what to think, I wish you the best of luck, I do believe that as long as xanax is taken as prescribed it does work well, I had a friend who decided to use more and more of it, he ended up having a horrible time,
he lived to tell about it but I recall his remarks I thought it would kill me for sure, I imagine his body went through withdrawal.
Hey desperatelyseekingananswer,
As already mentioned, weight changes are a common side effect of the alprazolam. I honestly believe if you get the anxiety and stress under control you will be able to manage the weight issues. Stress is a major culprit when it comes to weight gain and sleep disturbances.
So the alprazolam may well help you get the stress and anxiety under control and then the weight can be managed better. You will still have to keep strict control on what you eat and exercise, but you say you are already doing that.
I might add that counseling would be another good piece to add to the regimen. Talk therapy will help you deal with the root cause of your nightly anxiety. You could, in fact, get enough help from therapy to not need the alprazolam.
Good luck with your decision,
Laurie
I suffer from anxiety and insomnia and I take Xanax and I've been taking Xanax for the last 12 years same dosage but in the last four or five months I've been dealing with weight gain myself between 25 to 40 pounds and no matter what I do I cannot lose I drink water you know I cut back on my bread pasta and i
exercise. so I'm wondering if I should maybe switch up on medication or continue?
Dear Desperate,
Changes in eating habits and weight are considered common side effects of xanax/alprazolam. My experience with alprazolam is that it is to anxiety/panic as a rescue inhaler is to the asthmatic. I have found klonopin a better overall anti-anxiety medication, using alprazolam as an immediate treatment for the occasional full-blown attack.
Medicines have been a tremendous factor in my weight gain and losses. This product however has not shown me either one. I have had good results with the dissolving type (i.e Niravam) it, in unexpected stress/panic situations. Such as driving, being in unfamiliar areas,even in large enclosed buildings, it's quick release is like nitro for a heart attack, it gets you through the immediate situation. I am on Xanax XR currently, as well,due to increases in stresses in my home. It manages the unexpected things of life. hopefully through professinal help and counsel this can be an alternative for you. Good luck,and God bless you in this journey called life. And Smile. DA
It appears to me that xanax is more of a crutch rather than a help in a great many cases. It can zap your real personality in a second and replace it with something very odd indeed. The changes are subtle at the beginning. Eventually all the persona of yourself disappears. It is not a drug I would ever choose to take for anxiety again. If you do take it? Ber very careful of an addication which can consume your very essence of being without you knowing. I would be very interested to know what others thought on the matter.
I have major depressive disorder with anxiety. I have taken .5 to 1.0 alprazolam for 9 years. I take it at night so i can stay asleep. My attacks occur more at night. Once in awhile during the day. I also take paxil. Alprazoloam takes care of an attack within 5 minutes. I have noticed that my appetite has increased but so has my stress. It's just life keeps tossing cap at me. I retired and thought that would help with stress but it's actually worse.
Related topics
depression, weight loss (obesity/overweight), anxiety, insomnia, pain, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, alprazolam, weight
Further information
- Alprazolam uses and safety info
- Alprazolam prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Alprazolam (detailed)
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