Celexa, and weight loss afterwards?

futuremilf2015
futuremilf2015 Posts: 31 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I was on 40mg of celexa for 1.5 years. I worked out 2 hrs a day and only averaged 1200 calories per day. I gained 45lbs before realizing it was the meds. I ha e never been overweight until taking celexa. I was always a gym rat and super fit. My body now resembles the Goodyear blimp. I stopped taking celexa January 211st of this year. I haven't lost weight. I am still exercising like crazy. Anyone gain weight on celexa, when will it come off? I am currently on 450mg of wellbutrin but researched it and found that it is weight neutral. Again when can expect the weight to drop. I am going crazy. I hate being fat and I am getting depressed about it. Please help!!!!

Replies

  • MelaniaTrump
    MelaniaTrump Posts: 2,694 Member
    Weight loss is a side effect of wellbutrin.
    I unknowingly lost weight on it years ago.
    Log every single bite of food. Get a food scale. Plan your meals.
    Weight gain is due to too many calories.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    celexa itself does not make you gain weight. I've lost weight on it. but it's that sometimes it causes you to eat more because it can do two things: brain hunger and you feel better so you are more likely to eat more.
    the best thing to do is weigh your food and adjust your calories as needed.
  • mapumba
    mapumba Posts: 5 Member
    I was on Celexa for a few years, and yes I gained weight too. I have switched to a different med, and although I haven't gained weight on the new med, I am having a hard time loosing what I gained. I too stay under my 1200 calorie limit, but the weight just wants to stick around. Wish I had an answer, but I have the same problem.
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    im in the same boat. I gained 20 lbs and now hired a trainer that is a nutrionist as well. After 3 weeks, i only lost 3 lbs but im gonna quit it. Paleo diet is just not for me.
  • futuremilf2015
    futuremilf2015 Posts: 31 Member
    i COUNT my calories. Every thing I put in my mouth is recorded. I have seen both a nutritionist and personal trainer. The nutrionist agrees its the medication because I should be losing weight not gaining. So you are mistaken. I also workout intensely. My nutritionist and personal trainer say I don't eat enough. I need to eat MORE calories. If I eat normally 1800 calories a day, I gain weight. Obviously my metabolism is screwed.

    moyer566 wrote: »
    celexa itself does not make you gain weight. I've lost weight on it. but it's that sometimes it causes you to eat more because it can do two things: brain hunger and you feel better so you are more likely to eat more.
    the best thing to do is weigh your food and adjust your calories as needed.

  • futuremilf2015
    futuremilf2015 Posts: 31 Member
    I swear if one more person tells me to exercise and count calories I am going to scream. Obviously something is up with my metabolism because of this med. I had no problems before it. I count all my calories, and macros for years. I didn't start to gain weight until about 4 months on the medication.
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    are you off the meds?
  • futuremilf2015
    futuremilf2015 Posts: 31 Member
    moyer566 wrote: »
    celexa itself does not make you gain weight. I've lost weight on it. but it's that sometimes it causes you to eat more because it can do two things: brain hunger and you feel better so you are more likely to eat more.
    the best thing to do is weigh your food and adjust your calories as needed. [/quote

    Furthermore, there are studies done that point to the drug causing weight gain in some individuals. Research it.
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    futuremilf2015 wrote: »
    moyer566 wrote: »
    celexa itself does not make you gain weight. I've lost weight on it. but it's that sometimes it causes you to eat more because it can do two things: brain hunger and you feel better so you are more likely to eat more.
    the best thing to do is weigh your food and adjust your calories as needed. [/quote

    Furthermore, there are studies done that point to the drug causing weight gain in some individuals. Research it.

    Futuremilf...are you off the meds? im asking because it should gradually come off. Are you counting the calories you are burning?

    Im in the same boat as you so you are not alone
  • Karen_DisneyFan
    Karen_DisneyFan Posts: 130 Member
    I don't have a solution for you, but I want to tell you that I totally sympathize!! I have metabolic syndrome & type II and my body wants to hold onto _every.last.calorie_ I put into it. It's taken me 1 1/2 years to lose 35 pounds <sigh> You're in much better shape than me to begin with - I still have LOTS to lose... You gained your weight pretty quickly due to the medication, so hopefully once you're on the new meds for a while, it will start coming back off. Good luck!!
  • futuremilf2015
    futuremilf2015 Posts: 31 Member
    http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/01/17/celexa-and-weight-gain-causes-factors-to-consider/

    http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/antidepressants-weight-gain-study-article-1.1827211

    HERE ARE STUDIES SUPPORTING MY CLAIM. PLENTY MORE IF YOU RESEARCH. My boyfriend is also a psychiatrist and says he sees it alot
  • Crazedtroll
    Crazedtroll Posts: 9 Member
    Different people metabolize different drugs in different ways. That's why some people have issues with some drugs and others don't. Also, it takes time for some medications to build up in your system. This means that once you've stopped taking a medicine, you might still have it in your system. It's why some people can go off a drug and feel fine for another week or more. The drug is still in their body.

    That said, the only thought I have is to maybe try slowly increasing your calories. If both your trainer and nutritionist think you are eating too little, perhaps the way to approach is to slowly build. You said you tried eating at 1800, but that just put weight on. Maybe you should try to aim for 1250. If you don't move the scale in either direction that week, maybe try 1300. You don't need to do big jumps. Little steps. Think of it like trying to find the balance that is perfect for your metabolism.



    Good luck. Try not to get frustrated.
  • MelaniaTrump
    MelaniaTrump Posts: 2,694 Member
    1,800 calories a day may be too high.
    Exercise for health. Food you eat is 90% of the battle.
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    futuremilf2015 wrote: »
    http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/01/17/celexa-and-weight-gain-causes-factors-to-consider/

    http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/antidepressants-weight-gain-study-article-1.1827211

    HERE ARE STUDIES SUPPORTING MY CLAIM. PLENTY MORE IF YOU RESEARCH. My boyfriend is also a psychiatrist and says he sees it alot

    calm down. relax... deep breath...

    its gonna take time but you need to ask more questions in here. You will find some info helpful
  • 4leighbee
    4leighbee Posts: 1,275 Member
    futuremilf2015 wrote: »
    I swear if one more person tells me to exercise and count calories I am going to scream. Obviously something is up with my metabolism because of this med. I had no problems before it. I count all my calories, and macros for years. I didn't start to gain weight until about 4 months on the medication.

    It happens. I believe you.
  • Crazedtroll
    Crazedtroll Posts: 9 Member
    It took four months for you to see the gain. Four months with the meds in your system. Maybe give yourself the same amount of time with it leaving your system before you really start the worry.
  • futuremilf2015
    futuremilf2015 Posts: 31 Member
    Crazedtroll wrote: »
    Different people metabolize different drugs in different ways. That's why some people have issues with some drugs and others don't. Also, it takes time for some medications to build up in your system. This means that once you've stopped taking a medicine, you might still have it in your system. It's why some people can go off a drug and feel fine for another week or more. The drug is still in their body.

    That said, the only thought I have is to maybe try slowly increasing your calories. If both your trainer and nutritionist think you are eating too little, perhaps the way to approach is to slowly build. You said you tried eating at 1800, but that just put weight on. Maybe you should try to aim for 1250. If you don't move the scale in either direction that week, maybe try 1300. You don't need to do big jumps. Little steps. Think of it like trying to find the balance that is perfect for your metabolism.



    Good luck. Try not to get frustrated.

    Sorry , I am just really frustrated. It has been one heck of a year. At first I thought it couldn't be the drug, but then the weight just kept coming on regardless of how little i eat and how much i exercise. I started researching and reading studies, as well as looking a patient reviews. I then realized it may be the meds because thats the only factor that had changed during the year. well right now I am only eating about 700 calories. I am terrified of eating more because I gained weight when eating the normal 1800. I have been to a nutritionist and been told to eat about 1900. She calculated this from my body fat measurements within the BODPOD, which is the most accurate way of determining the amount of calories you need daily. The BODPOD is a high tech machine that measures you body fat, lean muscle, and etc to determine how much you should eat. I am going to try to listen and eat more, but if the pounds keep coming, I am off antipsychotics for good. Id rather be sad and skinny , than miserable and fat.
  • futuremilf2015
    futuremilf2015 Posts: 31 Member
    raven56706 wrote: »
    futuremilf2015 wrote: »
    http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/01/17/celexa-and-weight-gain-causes-factors-to-consider/

    http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/antidepressants-weight-gain-study-article-1.1827211

    HERE ARE STUDIES SUPPORTING MY CLAIM. PLENTY MORE IF YOU RESEARCH. My boyfriend is also a psychiatrist and says he sees it alot

    calm down. relax... deep breath...

    its gonna take time but you need to ask more questions in here. You will find some info helpful

    I apologize. I am just beyond frustrated. I am so fat that I don't even want to socialize anymore. I hate taking my clothes off to be intimate with my boyfriend. I have just been working out so hard and eating so little for so long. I am exhausted and want to be skinny again.
  • TheDoctorMulder
    TheDoctorMulder Posts: 3 Member
    I think your body has moved into starvation mode with eating so few calories. Add that to the damage to your metabolism from the medication, and your entire problem is that your body isn't burning the calories it needs to burn.

    The nutritionist is right. the only way you're going to be able to lose the weight is to gain some more as you're fixing your metabolism.

    I'm on celexa too. gained 90 pounds since I started it, but the mental health benefits have been worth it. I just need to adjust what I eat.
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    im on citlopram(the generic version) and its helped me immensely with anxiety but i gained 20 lbs from it.

    it sucks. and now i want to lose the weight but its appearing as a lost cause. Adjust the food you eat and try to eat at a deficit. Or eat all your calories and just add 200 more after all your workouts.

    also are you weight training and doing cardio?
  • futuremilf2015
    futuremilf2015 Posts: 31 Member
    raven56706 wrote: »
    im on citlopram(the generic version) and its helped me immensely with anxiety but i gained 20 lbs from it.

    it sucks. and now i want to lose the weight but its appearing as a lost cause. Adjust the food you eat and try to eat at a deficit. Or eat all your calories and just add 200 more after all your workouts.

    also are you weight training and doing cardio?

    Well I workout a lot. I usually do HIT ( High Intensity Training) which incorporates weight training, intervals, and running. I do this every Tuesday and Thursday for an hour. Afterwards I do Zumba for an hour. On Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays I do 1 hour of interval training ( sprinting, lunges, squats, pushups, etc) then I go to a Step class at the gym for 1 hour. On Saturdays and Sundays, I use the elliptical for an hour each day. Ihave hired a personal trainer because I was just frustrated and thought maybe she could enlighten me on what is going on with my body. She wants me to completely cut the carbs and eat only fresh vegetables. So I am trying that now.
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    futuremilf2015 wrote: »
    raven56706 wrote: »
    im on citlopram(the generic version) and its helped me immensely with anxiety but i gained 20 lbs from it.

    it sucks. and now i want to lose the weight but its appearing as a lost cause. Adjust the food you eat and try to eat at a deficit. Or eat all your calories and just add 200 more after all your workouts.

    also are you weight training and doing cardio?

    Well I workout a lot. I usually do HIT ( High Intensity Training) which incorporates weight training, intervals, and running. I do this every Tuesday and Thursday for an hour. Afterwards I do Zumba for an hour. On Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays I do 1 hour of interval training ( sprinting, lunges, squats, pushups, etc) then I go to a Step class at the gym for 1 hour. On Saturdays and Sundays, I use the elliptical for an hour each day. Ihave hired a personal trainer because I was just frustrated and thought maybe she could enlighten me on what is going on with my body. She wants me to completely cut the carbs and eat only fresh vegetables. So I am trying that now.

    she is doing this to change up your diet. Im in the same boat as im in a paleo diet but its making me more mad than helping me.

    listen, you have to be happy but you have to be patient. i know thats a tough pill to swallow but its true. you are taking medicine that is making you better and unfortunately there might be side effects. But just know you arent alone and your boyfriend if he loves you will continue to love you regardless. You being happy and alive is better than anything. But with the weight, remember "Rome wasnt built in a day. "
  • Crazedtroll
    Crazedtroll Posts: 9 Member
    [/quote] if the pounds keep coming, I am off antipsychotics for good. Id rather be sad and skinny , than miserable and fat.[/quote]

    You might talk to whoever prescribed the drug and see if you should have your metabolizer status checked. This might at least give the prescriber an idea of what medications will and won't work for you. Some people are rapid metabolizers so may need a higher dose. Others can be poor metabolizers so they'd need a different drug entirely. There are labs which will test that for you.

    I understand your frustration. I really do, but you are a human being. Give yourself time. I can tell how upset you are but remember that stress can actually cause you to put on weight! Take it slow, try changing things one at a time. Listen to your body and figure out what makes you feel better in the long run (not instantly). Just doing more and more isn't working. Try doing different, maybe. Do you enjoy your workouts? What do you do for fun? Maybe try to find activities that keep you active, but don't have you focused on the weight as much. It might help with the stress and the weight loss at the same time.

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