HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

Suggest Ways To Lose The Weight Gained Due To Cymbalta

default
Posted on Thu, 5 Feb 2015
Question: Gained 15 pounds on Cymbalta. Stopped early October. Still haven't lossed the weight. Exercising daily and watching my calories. How long back to normal.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Please provide some detail

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for writing to us.

Please provide some details.

Your weight before starting cymbalta? What is current weight?

For how much duration have you taken cymbalta? Dose? For which problem was it given?

Was there any other medicine with cymbalta?

Which type of exercise do you do?Duration?

What mesures have been taken for calorie control?

Waiting for your reply to comment on your query.

Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)
I weighed 150 when I started Cymbalta in October 2013 for Fibromyalgia and now weigh 165. My height is 5 ft. 2 inches. Was taking 30mg, then 60 mg and was increased to 90mg. Had to return to 60 mg as I couldn't tolerate it. Was also given Wellbutrin SR 100mg once a day to counteract side effects from Cymbalta. I stopped the medications gradually. Was also taking Crestor 10mg and low dose aspirin at the time. Am no longer taking this medication. I'm doing The Ultimate in-house Walking System. It is power walking with aerobic exercises (1 mile, 2 miles, 3 mile workout). I've been doing the exercises every two days, sometimes daily. I'm following the Fitness Pal Program. Trying to eat between 1,250 - 1,500 calories. I also suffer from insomnia and am up sometimes during the night. I think I've lost an inch or so around my waist and hips, but no weight. Weight has always been an issue with me.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You should reduce weight up to 140 pounds.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for detail information.

According to your height your ideal weight should be in range from 110 to 135 pounds.
It means your weight was actually more before starting cymbalta. Cymbalta can cause weight gain with 60 mg if used for long.

For weight reduction, important thing is calorie deficit. Means, you need to burn more calories than you eat. 500 calorie deficit per day causes 1 pound reduction in weight per week.

You can check your calorie requirement with following link: http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/CalRequire.html

According to that you need to adjust your calorie intake. Or you can burn more calories through increasing exercise.

Considering your age, you should loose weight slowly. 500 calorie deficit is optimum approach. Please take help of your treating doctor or dietitian to adjust diet and exercise.

You can reduce 25 pounds in 6 months with this approach.

You must follow approach daily and regularly.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.

regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Chintan Solanki (4 hours later)
My calorie intake at the moment is between 1,250 and 1,450. I can't go any lower. I do not want to weigh 135. I am big bonned and was quite comfortable at 145-150. If I lower my calorie intake by another 500 calories I will starve.

What I want to know is has Cymbalta slowed down my metabolism and, if so, how long before my system comes back to normal. I never had a problem losing weight before taking this medication. I exercise regularly and I eat well. No reason I should not be losing weight.

doctor
Answered by Dr. Chintan Solanki (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You need to burn more calorie through exercise

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

I have not mentioned that you should cut more 500 calories. I was telling that there should be calorie deficit of 500. Means in your case it is ok that if you are taking 1400 calories per day. But you need to burn at least 1900 calories per day.

Cymbalta can not slow down metabolism. Only 1% people taking cymbalta have weight gain while more than 2% have weight loss as per studies.

Likely some other metabolic condition has affected your capability of losing weight.

If you are not losing weight with current efforts, likely possibility is low BMR(basal metabolic rate - which consumes some calorie though you do not do any activity). It is an individual thing depending upon genes, age, work and body physique. Some people have low BMR while some have high.

Low BMR+your daily routine workout and exercise calorie must be more than your total intake of daily calorie to lose weight. It is not possible to increase BMR.

To lose weight you need to increase your calorie burning by more exercise.

You can consult dietitian and physiotherapist for counselling for diet and exercise if you wish.

Even after increasing exercise, if you can not lose weight, consult psychiatrist for evaluation. As you have mentioned that you are suffering from insomnia occasionally and wake up at night. It can cause stress and some hormonal changes responsible for weight gain. I came across patients with insomnia who eats at night in stress unknowingly and complaining of weight gain.

Hope I have answered your query. If still any query there, I will be happy to answer. If not, you can close the discussion and if feasible give your feedback so I can improve service. In future you can contact me directly on this site if you wish with this link: http://bit.ly/drchintansolanki
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Chintan Solanki

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 2406 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Suggest Ways To Lose The Weight Gained Due To Cymbalta

Brief Answer: Please provide some detail Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for writing to us. Please provide some details. Your weight before starting cymbalta? What is current weight? For how much duration have you taken cymbalta? Dose? For which problem was it given? Was there any other medicine with cymbalta? Which type of exercise do you do?Duration? What mesures have been taken for calorie control? Waiting for your reply to comment on your query. Regards, Dr.Chintan Solanki