Citalopram/Celexa DOES make you fat!

rj12380

@daybehaviour I joined this purely to reply to you because I disagree hugely with your points and think what you are suggesting is offensive to people who have been affected by SSRIs and weight gain. I was prescribed them for depression but I also struggle with OCD and the remnants of an eating disorder. For me this means I keep a complete log of my calorie intake and I workout routinely at a minimum of twice a week. I have been doing this for 5 years and during the 4 preceding citalopram my weight has stayed exactly the same (excluding water fluctuations at time of the month). NOTHING in my dietary or exercise routine changed during my medication time. I kept the same log as I always had done. My weight was constant for the first six months, after this I gained on average 2-3lbs a week. I have gained a total of 14 lbs since. As soon as I realised it could be the citalopram I weened myself off it. Since not taking any for a few weeks my weight has remained stable. Again nothing in my excercise or diet has changed. While it's still true that energy in < energy out to lose weight, I believe that citalopram effects the 'energy out' rather than 'energy in'. I agree to a small extent that people can blame SSRIs for lazy habits but there IS a strong body of evidence that they cause weight gain and this is not due to changes in diet/excercise. I have been reading the literature and it is hard to ignore this. It is people like you who are hurtful to people like me who have genuinely gained weight beyond our control because of an SSRI. Yes not everyone will, but I find it hard to believe that my gain was caused by anything else.

7elizamae

Well, I gained weight on celexa -- thank goodness. My hideous bout of major depression had killed my appetite and I wound up a scrawny mess. I gained weight on celexa because I could think clearly and actually swallow food again. But I didn't gain beyond a healthy weight. That happened later when I started snacking and eating bigger portions and got lax with my workouts.

I'm still on a small dose (10mg daily) because once I started celexa, my headaches stopped. 10 mg is the smallest dose that still keeps the headaches away. No unexplained weight issues on my 10 mg.

Perhaps try to find the smallest dose that helps with your depression/anxiety and see if your weight benefits.

sarahmom2

I know this is an older post, but daybehavior has outraged me. I was on MFP for over a year and lost a good amount of weight, was halfway to my goal weight, and was feeling awesome. Due to issues with hormones and my moods I was put on celexa last May 2013 and began gaining weight. I continued to track, to exercise, accounted for every calorie, and the weight wouldn't budge. I ended up gaining back half of what I had lost. My doctor told me it had something to do with the medicine, my doctor said that everyone reacts differently, and the affects of drugs like celexa on the brain can cause issues with metabolic tendencies. I don't need someone like you @daybehavior to tell me I'm an idiot and obviously not doing something right. Just like all drugs, some will gain, some will loose, but you will always be an idiot.

amr122393

I have been taking Lexapro for the past few months because of anxiety/panic attacks. I gained about 15 pounds when I started having anxiety because I would stress eat. Once I was put on Lexapro, started exercising and eating healthily, I lost about 5 pounds. However, my pharmacy tried to switch me to Celexa because it was cheaper with my insurance. After taking it for a few weeks I felt HORRIBLE. No energy, always felt dizzy & nausesous, and plateaued in my weight loss. I just switched back to Lexapro and now I feel much much better and I am back on the weight loss path. To anyone struggling with Celexa I really recommend trying Lexapro!! They are very similar, but different enough that you might find more success! Hugs to my fellow anxiety/depression sufferers.

swertyqwerty

I totally agree. Celexa gave me really bad carb cravings and if I didn't eat carbs I felt nauseous. It really helped my depression though so it was worth it at the time.

daybehavior

I know this is an older post, but daybehavior has outraged me. I was on MFP for over a year and lost a good amount of weight, was halfway to my goal weight, and was feeling awesome. Due to issues with hormones and my moods I was put on celexa last May 2013 and began gaining weight. I continued to track, to exercise, accounted for every calorie, and the weight wouldn't budge. I ended up gaining back half of what I had lost. My doctor told me it had something to do with the medicine, my doctor said that everyone reacts differently, and the affects of drugs like celexa on the brain can cause issues with metabolic tendencies. I don't need someone like you @daybehavior to tell me I'm an idiot and obviously not doing something right. Just like all drugs, some will gain, some will loose, but you will always be an idiot.

I don't remember calling anyone an idiot but if you feel like one for not understanding basic high school physics, then so be it. Perhaps if you focused your rage on something more productive, you'd be a lot less bitter.

I continued to track, to exercise, accounted for every calorie, and the weight wouldn't budge

I get it. You're a special snowflake -- a medical anomaly. You gain weight without being in a calorie surplus. You should schedule an interview with your local media outlets. The world should know about this.

baba_helly

That *kitten*!

munky_do

This is my own personal experience and it seems like everyone is different. I take 20 mg per day.

I had been very slowly gaining weight over 3 years in my late 20s, about 20 lbs, before going on Citalopram. Before that, I hadn't been taking any antidepressant medication.

After going on Citalopram, I put on another 20 lbs but I don't know yet if I can attribute any of it to the Citalopram.

I started having more motivation to do stuff as the depression lifted, but that included baking, and I could eat an entire batch of 24 cupcakes in two days easily, or an entire loaf of banana bread in an afternoon.

I've always had a thing for sweets though... but when I had been depressed, I didn't eat well but I didn't eat all that much either. Now I had a really healthy appetite ...

I recently found out just how much I weigh... I was really in denial.. I am hoping that the Citalopram doesn't make it impossible to take the weight off.

I'm hopeful because even though I did experience the huge drop in libido for about 6 months, where it was almost impossible to climax, my libido has almost returned to my pre-Citalopram levels. I haven't changed my dosage.

I also take Dexedrine for ADHD, so that could help.

It seems like a deal with the devil... either be slim and miserable or fat and happy... I hope this isn't the case. I went on Effexor before and that was terrible.

smittybuilt19

What about Celexa makes someone gain weight, is it loaded with calories?

I have been gaining since starting celexa, I've also been over my calorie limit by approx 400 calories each day. Coincidence?

lewispwest

I've been on Citalopram since I started my diet (timed them together) and I've lost 50lbs in almost four months.

smittybuilt19

www.cchr.org
Get informed about what you are doing to your body and soul by taking psychotropic ****!

Looks like they're selling something.


Deported.

Hungry_Annie

I have been on Citalopram for about 9 months now and my weight has slowly crept up. I am about 20 pounds heavier than I was a year ago, and I am very active. I asked my doctor about it in May, and she said that the meds can definitely cause some weight gain. I am debating weaning off them, or asking for a different kind. It sucks because they help, but if that is what is causing the weight, I refuse to get fatter and fatter.
I do take responsibility for some of my weight, but it just doesn't make sense why I cant lose anything.

smittybuilt19

What about the pill itself causes weight gain? I'm just curious.

I have gained weight as well but I am chalking it up to my lack of weighing/measuring my food, plus over eating.

kitticus15

weight gain is listed as a side effect of ssris now, it is known in the medical field that they affect thyroid function and slowing metabolism down, Lustral has a thyroid warning, stating thyroid testing should be done on long term users. Anything over 6 months is classed as long term use.

For those people who have to say " you're a special snowflake" try walking a step in other people's shoes before handing insults like those out. Calling people that when they have taken meds that are proven to cause weight gain is not only insensitive but also shows how little you really know.

Life is not always black and white, sometimes there are problems caused by meds, telling someone ssris do not cause weight gain is like telling a chemo patient that hair loss is not a side effect...

daybehavior

For those people who have to say " you're a special snowflake" try walking a step in other people's shoes before handing insults like those out. Calling people that when they have taken meds that are proven to cause weight gain is not only insensitive but also shows how little you really know.

You're missing the context of the whole argument. People are saying that they are gaining weight while apparently being on a caloric deficit, which is impossible. They only reason I was being "rude" was because I was sick of everyone jumping on me for reiterating what was already said (in ruder terms) by several other posters yet I was the one being singled out for pointing out this physical impossibility.

For the record, I was on Citalopram for six months and I managed to lose 40 pounds all the while battling some horrible things going on in my life, so don't tell I need to "walk in their shoes". If SSRI's had the magical property of making you gain weight while eating at a deficit, people wouldn't be dying of starvation all over the world.

munky_do

I honestly think based on the huge variety of experiences is that, clearly, everyone will react differently and if you think it's causing you to gain weight, you need to honestly look at your eating and exercise habits, maybe go on one of those eating plans for a bit where you cut out all meat/dairy/complex carbs and see what happens.

I do think that there is a temptation to blame the weight gain purely on the medication... I was guilty as charged...

Holla4mom

I gained 25 lbs the first two years on Zoloft/ Trazadone, but I AM eating more, no doubt. I am also feeling great and exercising more though.

I don't think about the meds too much though, because I still believe in CICO. Does it make it a little harder- maybe? But having kids makes it harder, working full time makes it harder, being married or single can make it harder. There are a LOT of barriers to weight loss, but none of them insurmountable if you're completely committed to clearing the hurdle.

I take Zoloft in the morning, but the whammy for me is when I take the Trazadone at night for sleep. When it kicks in I become the most ravenous animal. After a full day of eating well/ healthy over all, I engage in a 700 (or more) calorie binge, preferably on unrefined carbs. I have stopped the chips/ cookies since re-starting here this week, and have replaced it with tuna/ baked chicken/ triscuits with low-fat cheese etc, but I haven't eliminated the 700 calorie binge yet. I think it's a bad habit I've developed but it's also something related to the meds, and probably the underlying imbalance as well. Right now (the next week or two) I'm just getting the habit down of logging, eating better foods and looking at my patterns.

I don't have the science but I believe SSRI's slow down certain body systems. Perhaps, it's the fact that they allow more Seratonin (relaxing, balancing) to remain in the brain, in comparison to other neurotransmitters like dopamine and neuroephendrine (sp?) which are more stimulating (i.e. the reduction in libido as well). I imagine it may be similar to how we weigh and watch children on stimulants for ADHD because it can decrease appetite and induce weight loss. I believe SSRI's can have the opposite effect.

I tried Wellbutrin for ONE day. I felt better, my appetite for food was down and for sex was up, lol. My husband was happy until the crazy, anxious, angry, insomniac wife showed up and he was like- Get back on the Zoloft/ Trazadone! You can just be fat and frigid (I'm JUST KIDDING!!) I'm neither and if I was, we've been married 17 years- he'd know better than to say it!

So, here's to slimming down on SSRI's!!

ryanrieb

Before I started taking citalopram I had lost about 40lbs and kept it off for almost 1 year. I started taking it and CHANGED NOTHING with regards to my eating habits and gained about 30lbs back over 3 months. The withdrawal from the medication was the worst thing i ever experienced.....

lemon629

The thing is, all of our bodies work differently. We have different genetic makeup, metabolism, etc.

We're not all that different. Humans are 99.9% percent genetically similar. Your metabolism doesn't stop or slow down to the point where weight loss becomes exceedingly difficult just because you're on anti-depressants. Calories in / calories out still applies. Celexa doesn't help you defy physics and make you magically gain weight.

the problem is that when i have started eating better, i'm still gaining weight.

You could have been "eating better" but you were still consuming more calories than you expended.

People really just need to stop trying to blame their doctor for their fatness and start owning responsibility and changing something.

This.

You are incorrect. My father is a noted psychiatrist, dual board certified in internal medicine. He specializes in psychopharmacology and has an additional certificate on that subject. He also teaches courses on psychopharmacology to medical students. He says that ADs affect people differently depending on a whole host of various chemical and genetic characteristics and interactions. That is why most antidepressants include both insomnia and somnolence in the list of possible side effects, ditto for weight gain/loss. Some people, for example, metabolize drugs at different rates than other people do. This is well documented fact.

Also, most studies are fairly short term. Weight gain sometimes doesn't start to kick in until several months have passed.

MizTerry

I took it a few years back and I'm not going to blame it for making me fat, but I will blame it for making me LAZY.

Each person is different though.

I weaned myself off of it and just use Kava Kava from time to time.

daybehavior

You are incorrect. My father is a noted psychiatrist, dual board certified in internal medicine. He specializes in psychopharmacology and has an additional certificate on that subject. He also teaches courses on psychopharmacology to medical students. He says that ADs affect people differently depending on a whole host of various chemical and genetic characteristics and interactions. That is why most antidepressants include both insomnia and somnolence in the list of possible side effects, ditto for weight gain/loss. Some people, for example, metabolize drugs at different rates than other people do. This is well documented fact.

Also, most studies are fairly short term. Weight gain sometimes doesn't start to kick in until several months have passed.

I never said SSRIs don't have the possibility to make people gain weight. For the 50th time, people are claiming they are gaining weight WHILE BEING ON A DEFICIT, which is impossible. I don't know why this is so hard for everyone to understand.

rachaelbeech

hi just wondered if anyone can help I have been on citalopram 20 mg for a few months. I started on 1200 calories a day for a few eeks and lost nothing. so I downed it to 1000 a day and still no weight loss. I lost 5 stone a few years ago and lost that quite easily. unfortunately through pregnancy I put 3 stone back on. I have read that citalopram can slow metabolism? is there anything I can do as it is making my anxiety worse not being able to shift anything

smittybuilt19

You are incorrect. My father is a noted psychiatrist, dual board certified in internal medicine. He specializes in psychopharmacology and has an additional certificate on that subject. He also teaches courses on psychopharmacology to medical students. He says that ADs affect people differently depending on a whole host of various chemical and genetic characteristics and interactions. That is why most antidepressants include both insomnia and somnolence in the list of possible side effects, ditto for weight gain/loss. Some people, for example, metabolize drugs at different rates than other people do. This is well documented fact.

Also, most studies are fairly short term. Weight gain sometimes doesn't start to kick in until several months have passed.

I never said SSRIs don't have the possibility to make people gain weight. For the 50th time, people are claiming they are gaining weight WHILE BEING ON A DEFICIT, which is impossible. I don't know why this is so hard for everyone to understand.

I too wonder how one can gain weight while in a deficit.

For the 50th time, I have been on Citalopram for about 5 months and have gained weight steadily the entire time, I have also been over my calorie goal nearly every day for the past 5 months. Coincidence?

Or, is it just the med making me gain?

DaniJeanine

If it helps anyone, I've been on Celexa (20 mg) for about 1 year and I have not gained any weight. Well, allow me to rephrase...any fluctuation in pounds was not gradual or out of my control. I am in control of my weight depending on diet and exercise. Everyone's body is different, but overall, and in my experience with friends who are also on it, Celexa seems to be pretty weight neutral. My doctor also told me this. In contrast, she told me that Paxil is the AD that seems to make people gain the most.

leahraskie

I only used citalopram for a month, it did nothing for me depression/anxiety wise and I got the rare side effects which sucked, so I switched. My doctor suggested that it would aid in weight loss for me, but I think a lot of it depends on your mentality at the time of dosing.

I was switched to venlafaxine/Effexor, not sure I'd recommend that to anyone unless they got the extended release. It works well until you accidentally forget a pill or run out and don't have time to get more. The withdrawal is the worst. It's fairly weight neutral but sides more with losing weight rather than gaining. It does cause you to feel like not eating for a week or two.


I was just switched to bupropion/Wellbutrin yesterday, anorexia is not common as a side effect but weight gain is unheard of unless used as a smoking cessation aid.

To find a good pill for yourself you may need to look at multiple different pills over a period of at least 1 month for each, if one is making you gain weight then go to your doctor and ask for a different SSRI or SNRI. SSRI's are "supposed" to be less serious side effects, but they have a more influence on your weight.

autumnfireflys

It does NOT make you fat. YOU make you fat.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/276128-celexa-and-weight-loss-side-effects/

heatherdonovan1

I was on Citalopram for anxiety for exactly 1 year 3 months before I started to wean off. It was great the first 5 months. I lost weight, I felt great and I thought -- wow, this is a magic pill! Then, month 6 came and the weight started piling on. I've noticed a lot of people making remarks that month 6 was when it all began for them too. Weird....

I will say that I am an organic health nut, I do drink alcohol (it's my guilty pleasure but it's always in moderation) and I only was eating junk 1 meal a week (and barely at that).

Originally 125 pounds, I ballooned to 150. I was shocked. And it literally was over the course of 2-3 months. I lost my entire self esteem...I had always identified with being a relatively thin girl. Then all of a sudden none of my clothes fit and I'm embarassed to leave the house. Mind you, I had gotten married the summer before so I'm sure my husband (who has dated me for 10 years) was like what the heck happened to my wife?! For those who swear it's not the medication, you are SO wrong. I couldn't believe what was happening to me. My thyroid was fine, everything checked out... and my doctor agreed, it was 100% the medication.

Surprisingly, I barely had any side effects going off the medication (I was on a low dose... maybe I never even needed it?). Now 1 year later, I've been off 100% and am down 18 pounds but I had to fight like hell to get to this point (even though I was exercising like a mad woman and eating 100% HEALTHY). Another 5 or so to go.. but I feel like it's SO MUCH tougher than before. It definitely did something to my metabolism. I used to lose weight so easily.

Now I feel like I need to go back on medication and I'm so stuck. I liked citalopram but I swore I'd never go down that road again. Afraid how bad the others are...

smittybuilt19

I was on Citalopram for anxiety for exactly 1 year 3 months before I started to wean off. It was great the first 5 months. I lost weight, I felt great and I thought -- wow, this is a magic pill! Then, month 6 came and the weight started piling on. I've noticed a lot of people making remarks that month 6 was when it all began for them too. Weird....

I will say that I am an organic health nut, I do drink alcohol (it's my guilty pleasure but it's always in moderation) and I only was eating junk 1 meal a week (and barely at that).

Originally 125 pounds, I ballooned to 150. I was shocked. And it literally was over the course of 2-3 months. I lost my entire self esteem...I had always identified with being a relatively thin girl. Then all of a sudden none of my clothes fit and I'm embarassed to leave the house. Mind you, I had gotten married the summer before so I'm sure my husband (who has dated me for 10 years) was like what the heck happened to my wife?! For those who swear it's not the medication, you are SO wrong. I couldn't believe what was happening to me. My thyroid was fine, everything checked out... and my doctor agreed, it was 100% the medication.

Surprisingly, I barely had any side effects going off the medication (I was on a low dose... maybe I never even needed it?). Now 1 year later, I've been off 100% and am down 18 pounds but I had to fight like hell to get to this point (even though I was exercising like a mad woman and eating 100% HEALTHY). Another 5 or so to go.. but I feel like it's SO MUCH tougher than before. It definitely did something to my metabolism. I used to lose weight so easily.

Now I feel like I need to go back on medication and I'm so stuck. I liked citalopram but I swore I'd never go down that road again. Afraid how bad the others are...

On a 100% serious note (because I too have gained since being put on celexa), how was your intake ratio during the gaining process? Calories in vs. Calories out. I am curious to know, btw I am at the 6 month point.

daybehavior

On a 100% serious note (because I too have gained since being put on celexa), how was your intake ratio during the gaining process? Calories in vs. Calories out. I am curious to know, btw I am at the 6 month point.

Please don't mention calories in vs calories out in this thread or you will get dog piled like I did. It's just easier let them believe some voodoo priestess in Haiti is conjuring up fat cells for them while they sleep.

osteological

I've been on both escitalopram/Cipralex and citalopram/Celexa, each for about a year - I switched from Cipralex to Celexa because I was even lower energy than I was when I was depressed taking Cipralex. When I started Celexa at the 20mg dosage, I started getting terrible headaches - they disappeared when I was swapped down to the 10mg dosage. I have mild depression and anxiety, and neither of the drugs seemed to cause an issue with my metabolism -- but I was and am taking very low dosages!

I'm sure it's been said on here already, but one of the problems i had with both of these drugs is something I think is 'emotional flattening', where I experience less excitement and energy over things I used to enjoy. I also started taking the Celexa at night because of how drowsy I got right after taking it. The low energy definitely made me want to eat more, and when compounded with a higher dosage of the drugs it doesn't surprise me that the most commonly reported side effect of anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medications is weight gain.