Keeping weight off while on Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (i.e., Lexapro, Celexa, Zoloft)
esanata
Posts: 1 Member
Hello MFP community. For those to whom this applies to, how do you keep the weight off while on seratonin inhibitors (i.e., Lexapro, Celexa, Zoloft) - these are a kind of antidepressant.
I've found that the medicine is attributed to weight gain, and no matter the calorie counting or consistent work outs, I still can't manage to keep the weight off. Anyone else out there have similar experiences? What do you do about it? I'm 5'5", at 145lbs. I'm a size 8 and my goal is to lose at lease one pant size!
Thanks!
I've found that the medicine is attributed to weight gain, and no matter the calorie counting or consistent work outs, I still can't manage to keep the weight off. Anyone else out there have similar experiences? What do you do about it? I'm 5'5", at 145lbs. I'm a size 8 and my goal is to lose at lease one pant size!
Thanks!
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Replies
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I am on Lexapro and here is what my GP told me...I will feel like the food, but if I don't eat the food then I won't put on the weight. For the first 3 months this was right. Didn't gain a pound. I was working out 6 days a week and losing. Then I lost motivation to keep going to the gym and started eating so much crap...and the weight piled on so fast. Now I have discovered MFP and I am nourishing my body with ample calories from wholesome food and the weight is falling off. The drugs themselves do not make you gain weight but rather make you feel like you want to eat and thats why people gain weight on them. So just as my doctor said, if you dont eat the food, you won't gain the weight 16
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PS you may have a sluggish thyroid. Ask your DR for a blood test to determine if thats what is going on. If you do have hypothyroidism then they will probably put you on a drug which will solve that problem (however you will be on it for life) and you will lose weight. Worth asking about.3
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I was on Lexapro twice, each time for about a year. It didn't make me gain any weight either time. It didn't have any affect at all on my appetite or weight as far as I could tell.5
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Currently on lexapro (again).
Personally, I lose weight on it. Not directly because of the medication, but because it helps me not feel like a miserable sack of crap. I have the motivation and desire to take care of myself again, instead of drowning my sorrows in alcohol and cheeseburgers.14 -
Hello MFP community. For those to whom this applies to, how do you keep the weight off while on seratonin inhibitors (i.e., Lexapro, Celexa, Zoloft) - these are a kind of antidepressant.
I've found that the medicine is attributed to weight gain, and no matter the calorie counting or consistent work outs, I still can't manage to keep the weight off. Anyone else out there have similar experiences? What do you do about it? I'm 5'5", at 145lbs. I'm a size 8 and my goal is to lose at lease one pant size!
Thanks!
If your words in bold are accurate, talk to your doctor. There may be some other health issue involved here. If you are consistently counting calories and working out, weight should not be an issue on those medications. Most cases of weight gain can be attributed to the medication giving people increased appetite. But that alone wouldn't cause weight gain. It's what you do with that appetite. So go get checked out for other possible problems. Good luck! 4 -
I've been on Lexapro three times and gained significant weight each time. The first two times I lost the weight after going off the medication, the last time....I'm still working on it.0
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I've been on Lexapro and switched to Zoloft because Lexapro was making me lethargic. My psychiatrist said that fatigue is a common symptom of Lexapro. I think if you are feeling lethargic, you may be eating more to gain energy (?). That is exactly what I was doing! Think about that and talk to your doctor. Even though both drugs are Seratonin inhibitors, they are not exactly the same.3
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I'm on Sertraline for the second time and this time I'm putting on weight, plainly due to laziness. Last time I was quite stressed, but eating well and walking about 40 mins a day. I have PCOS and this is why I'm on the anti depressants.
Have a talk with your doctor and ask them to give you blood tests and an ultrasound if necessary.
Best of luck!0 -
I lost weight on zoloft because I was self-medicating with food to treat my depression/anxiety. Once all of that "evened out," I felt like I could make better choices. I still feel genuinely hungry and eat plenty, but I've managed to keep the weight off for about a year.5
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I was on zoloft for anxiety and panic disorder and had a problem with increased appetite and lethargy and a general feeling of disinterest in literally everything, so my doctor switched me to an SSNRI instead (Effexor). I've had a lot more energy and haven't noticed an increased appetite at all and it does a lot better job at curbing my panic episodes. I dunno how this class of drug works for depression, though, but might be something to talk to your doctor about if you're generally not feeling well on the particular drug you're on. There are so many options out there, I'm sure you can find one that works better for you.2
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Sweet_Heresy wrote: »Currently on lexapro (again).
Personally, I lose weight on it. Not directly because of the medication, but because it helps me not feel like a miserable sack of crap. I have the motivation and desire to take care of myself again, instead of drowning my sorrows in alcohol and cheeseburgers.
I am currently on Zoloft, and this has been my experience as well. When I first started the medication, it actually seriously decreased my appetite. That only lasted about 2 weeks though. While I still get hungry, it's a little easier now to resist emotional eating or stop eating at a reasonable point.5 -
Wife takes Celexa and lost over 50 pounds while on it. She's been maintaining for about a year now.
Don't believe all the stuff you hear. She's not doing anything superhuman either.
PS she's also postmenopausal.5 -
Hello MFP community. For those to whom this applies to, how do you keep the weight off while on seratonin inhibitors (i.e., Lexapro, Celexa, Zoloft) - these are a kind of antidepressant.
I've found that the medicine is attributed to weight gain, and no matter the calorie counting or consistent work outs, I still can't manage to keep the weight off. Anyone else out there have similar experiences? What do you do about it? I'm 5'5", at 145lbs. I'm a size 8 and my goal is to lose at lease one pant size!
Thanks!
Log your food. Eat below caloric goal. No weight will be added. It's like science, or something!3 -
I had unacceptable sexual side effects with Zoloft. I'm taking Wellbutrin now, which is a little speedy, a side effect I like. This indirectly helps with weight loss.1
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I'm on Sertraline [Zoloft], have been for the whole length of my journey and I've lost over 50lbs and kept it off. I've even decreased my medication from treating my depression (100mg) to just my OCD (50mg) [under doctor's supervision of course] because I'm doing so well with working out/eating well. I think the mental illness has more to do with the weight gain than the medication does. If you feel crappy you eat crappy because you just want to feel better and refined sugars are the immediate high. Keep strong and don't let it boss you around and the weight will come off. If you're still having problems, go to your doctor and discuss changing your medication. 1
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there are a number of recent posts about this. i have been on Lexapro for 5+ years. the medication itself DOES NOT directly cause weight gain. sometimes people experience increased appetite as a side effect, which of course will lead to weight gain. if you think you are having issues beyond this (as you state, "no matter the calorie counting or consistent work outs, I still can't manage to keep the weight off") then the Lexapro may not be the problem - talk to your doctor about other possible causes (i.e. underactive thyroid, etc.).4
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I've been on Lexapro for several years now and weight gain has not been an issue for me. I think there are other factors at play like others have mentioned beyond the SSRI. I'm still on Lexapro in fact and am not having difficulty losing weight with MFP and exercise.
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I am on Lexapro and I started gaining weight and had not changed anything I was doing. Ate selectively, went to fitness club 3 times week, packed on 30 pounds. So I have no idea and my doctors were not interested. That was 20 years ago and today being on Medicare, doctor isnt interested. I have to work harder just to maintain that 30 pounds I gained. Working out longer isnt an option since I have developed arthritis in the knees. If I go below 1200 calories I will lose but I can't live that way. yes I will be taking Lexapro till I die.. nothing shows up on my blood-work - ever.2
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Not changing diet or routine I gained 40lbs in 6 months on Lexapro. I talked to my doctor about it. My doctor was skeptical it was the medication (apparently weight loss is more common) but after running tests to rule out other issues switched me to a different medication. In the first 4 months after the switch I lost 20lbs, once again not changing much about diet or exercise. I've had to make changes since then to continue losing weight but for me changing the medication made a huge difference, not only to my weight by also to general mood. Not sure if it was directly the medication or issues surrounding my diagnosis that causes the weight gain/loss. On my new medication I have less stress and a lot more energy, which makes it easier to adhere to the changes I need to maintain for my health.3
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coreyreichle wrote: »Hello MFP community. For those to whom this applies to, how do you keep the weight off while on seratonin inhibitors (i.e., Lexapro, Celexa, Zoloft) - these are a kind of antidepressant.
I've found that the medicine is attributed to weight gain, and no matter the calorie counting or consistent work outs, I still can't manage to keep the weight off. Anyone else out there have similar experiences? What do you do about it? I'm 5'5", at 145lbs. I'm a size 8 and my goal is to lose at lease one pant size!
Thanks!
Log your food. Eat below caloric goal. No weight will be added. It's like science, or something!
If only it were that simple. I did all of the above - and still managed to pack on 15 pounds over the course of 7 months on Zoloft, and that's after 3 years of perfect maintenance. Nothing else changed... weighed/measured everything, exercised daily, no other changes other than the introduction of the medication. Sertraline can cause metabolic changes that affect the body's ability to use/absorb calories in a small percentage of the population, and it appears that I got lumped into the lucky few. I've been off the medication for 5 weeks, and managed to lose 5 pounds off the gain by changing nothing but stopping the meds.
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Hi Esanata! Sometimes being on these meds directly or indirectly attribute to weight gain. I was only on Lexapro for a few weeks and *things* stopped working so I switched, but I was on depakote for 3 months and gained ~12lbs in the first month. I only managed to maintain by super dieting and constant exercise.
Celexa had no affect on weight but also made *things* not work so I dropped that.
I have known others who had more success with weight loss once off Lexapro.
I was switched to Latuda about 1.5 years ago and I did not gain on it.
When it comes to taking ANY medication, be mindful of as much as possible so you can appropriately tell your doctors how they are affecting you. Feedback is so important and it's not helpful if it's not accurate.
Grab an app for your phone and track mood, weight, bloat, hunger, sex drive, freak outs, activities, exercise, etc, etc.
Eventually you will see a pattern. Try not to worry about weight gain before it happens, Good luck!
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Not changing diet or routine I gained 40lbs in 6 months on Lexapro. I talked to my doctor about it. My doctor was skeptical it was the medication (apparently weight loss is more common) but after running tests to rule out other issues switched me to a different medication. In the first 4 months after the switch I lost 20lbs, once again not changing much about diet or exercise. I've had to make changes since then to continue losing weight but for me changing the medication made a huge difference, not only to my weight by also to general mood. Not sure if it was directly the medication or issues surrounding my diagnosis that causes the weight gain/loss. On my new medication I have less stress and a lot more energy, which makes it easier to adhere to the changes I need to maintain for my health.
I would be skeptical too. Something changed: You either ate more, or were less active.2 -
IrishHarpy1 wrote: »coreyreichle wrote: »Hello MFP community. For those to whom this applies to, how do you keep the weight off while on seratonin inhibitors (i.e., Lexapro, Celexa, Zoloft) - these are a kind of antidepressant.
I've found that the medicine is attributed to weight gain, and no matter the calorie counting or consistent work outs, I still can't manage to keep the weight off. Anyone else out there have similar experiences? What do you do about it? I'm 5'5", at 145lbs. I'm a size 8 and my goal is to lose at lease one pant size!
Thanks!
Log your food. Eat below caloric goal. No weight will be added. It's like science, or something!
If only it were that simple. I did all of the above - and still managed to pack on 15 pounds over the course of 7 months on Zoloft, and that's after 3 years of perfect maintenance. Nothing else changed... weighed/measured everything, exercised daily, no other changes other than the introduction of the medication. Sertraline can cause metabolic changes that affect the body's ability to use/absorb calories in a small percentage of the population, and it appears that I got lumped into the lucky few. I've been off the medication for 5 weeks, and managed to lose 5 pounds off the gain by changing nothing but stopping the meds.
It is that simple. Science, it works. You must eat at, or below, your TDEE to maintain/lose weight. It's pure science.3 -
coreyreichle wrote: »IrishHarpy1 wrote: »coreyreichle wrote: »Hello MFP community. For those to whom this applies to, how do you keep the weight off while on seratonin inhibitors (i.e., Lexapro, Celexa, Zoloft) - these are a kind of antidepressant.
I've found that the medicine is attributed to weight gain, and no matter the calorie counting or consistent work outs, I still can't manage to keep the weight off. Anyone else out there have similar experiences? What do you do about it? I'm 5'5", at 145lbs. I'm a size 8 and my goal is to lose at lease one pant size!
Thanks!
Log your food. Eat below caloric goal. No weight will be added. It's like science, or something!
If only it were that simple. I did all of the above - and still managed to pack on 15 pounds over the course of 7 months on Zoloft, and that's after 3 years of perfect maintenance. Nothing else changed... weighed/measured everything, exercised daily, no other changes other than the introduction of the medication. Sertraline can cause metabolic changes that affect the body's ability to use/absorb calories in a small percentage of the population, and it appears that I got lumped into the lucky few. I've been off the medication for 5 weeks, and managed to lose 5 pounds off the gain by changing nothing but stopping the meds.
It is that simple. Science, it works. You must eat at, or below, your TDEE to maintain/lose weight. It's pure science.
Not sure if you caught the part about NOTHING changing except the meds...0 -
My medication has not affected my weight whatsoever. When I asked my doctor (prescribing physician) if it might affect me, she pretty much rolled her eyes and said only if I overeat.1
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denversillygoose wrote: »My medication has not affected my weight whatsoever. When I asked my doctor (prescribing physician) if it might affect me, she pretty much rolled her eyes and said only if I overeat.
Yep, that's it. They should really just say that it increases appetite, rather than blaming it for weight gain haha.
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I am on Lexapro and have lost about 75 lbs....not because of the meds because I changed my outlook on food, I workout and log my food, like others say, if you don't overeat then it shouldn't affect your weight.2
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I'm not a doctor by any means but to say that it's "pure science" why someone's gaining or losing weight on medication is kind of harsh. I mean every body is different. I was on Lexapro, it's supposed to HELP with depression but it made me almost kill myself. Every person's body is different and just because it will normally effect people a certain way doesn't mean that it will be true in every case.4
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I'm on some kind of generic zoloft and if anything, it's keeping my mood up and helping me feel motivated to work out more.
But My doctor also said weight gain loss isn't a side effect of the medicin.0 -
This topic showed up on my page and I have a daughter (teen) who is now being treated medically for anxiety. She is on her third try with medication and it seems to be working(had allergic reaction to the other 2). I never said anything to her but she struggles with her weight and I was afraid this will be a problem with her. So far, so good but I felt relief reading everyones response here and have a better understanding of what can happen. Thanks to all of you for responding to this question! And thanks to the original poster too!1
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