lexapro

xrayu2
xrayu2 Posts: 20
edited September 19 in Health and Weight Loss
Is anyone else out there taking lexapro or something similar? I think some of my weight gain came from taking it. I did not take it for a couple of days and I started having hot flashes and night sweats! I am back on but I really want to taper off and heard that it is hard. ??

Replies

  • xrayu2
    xrayu2 Posts: 20
    Is anyone else out there taking lexapro or something similar? I think some of my weight gain came from taking it. I did not take it for a couple of days and I started having hot flashes and night sweats! I am back on but I really want to taper off and heard that it is hard. ??
  • genabug
    genabug Posts: 1,820 Member
    I have takin every med under the sun, and I did notice weight gain. I now take Prozac, no weight gain, or any other side effects. Most, if not all, you have to step down gradually. Call your dr, and follow his/her recommendations. They may want to switch you to something else, instead of quitting one and startng over. Good Luck
  • MrsTomy
    MrsTomy Posts: 504 Member
    I was on it and gained 20lbs in a month...and it didn't help me at all. i just stopped taking it and did not have any problems, however, I wouldn't recommend stopping "cold turkey". If it is helping you, you may want to stay on it...but if you are like me and it didn't...no one wants to gain weight.

    Also, several recent studies have shown that antidepressants are no more effective than placebos! I'm not a doctor, but I know that for me exercising and making sure I take the time to get out of the house and be around friends really helps me more than any medicine I've ever taken!

    Hope everything works well with you! Feel better! :flowerforyou:
  • xrayu2
    xrayu2 Posts: 20
    Thanks and i TOTALLY agree with the exercise thing. I felt so much better when I was walking. I have not been because it is only 17 degrees here. I hope it warms up soon so I can get treckin again. Also, too cold to take my little Yorkie with me and I cant find his *man* coat any where heh heh!
  • altazin0907
    altazin0907 Posts: 188 Member
    I am currently taking it, 10mg. I take it before I go to bed. I have not gained any weight from it. I asked my doctor before I started using it and she told me that it makes people crave carbs, so I watch my carb intake and it has worked for me!
  • MrsTomy
    MrsTomy Posts: 504 Member
    Also, many people become depressed in the winter...SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is pretty common...especially in areas where it gets very cold so you can't get outside! It is caused by not getting enough vitamin D (usually you get it from sunlight)...so try drinking vitamin D milk and upping the exercise!

    Good luck!
  • xrayu2
    xrayu2 Posts: 20
    I do take Vitamin D, around 2000 mg a day. It has mad a huge difference in how I feel and I have not been sick in a very long time * knocks on wood** :wink:
  • renae77
    renae77 Posts: 3,394 Member
    I took it too. Not anymore. I had my doctor up the dosage and then I decided not to take it anymore because it was actually causing my sex drive to diminish. And I had gained 20 pounds while on it, too. When I stopped taking it, cold turkey I must add, I got sick on my stomach, had awful headaches and was very dizzy for a while. I also had numbness in my hands and feet. Now I feel so much better and don't take any of that, thank goodness. I hope this helps you some.
  • little_wolfie
    little_wolfie Posts: 91
    Oh my gosh, I hate Lexapro. I tried quitting cold turkey (on accident actually) and it almost killed me - extremely, extremely weak and shaky, my brain felt like it was being shocked with electricity every 2 seconds, weepy, ew. I don't know if it affected my weight at all because I wasn't actively trying to lose weight while on it, but I definitely feel so much better now that I am off Lexapro. I'm currently taking Prozac, which also doesn't do a whole freakin' lot but exercising in the morning helps a little. I'm due for a medication adjustment and I almost just want to say screw it, as I've been on antidepressants for a year now and have seen no difference at all. Argh.
  • DaniL0385
    DaniL0385 Posts: 2
    I took lexapro for about two years and didn't experience much weight gain. However, when I lost insurance I switched to celexa, which is a lot like lexapro, and I gained about 25 pounds in a matter of two months!!! I'm currently trying to wein myself off of meds for good! I would be careful stopping cold turkey too, I have a friend who had some halluciantions, night sweats, and other side effects when she did that. So just be careful!!
  • xrayu2
    xrayu2 Posts: 20
    ACKKKK! Now I am scared! I started taking it because I had a hystro last december and my hormones got all out of whack and I started being crabby and then sad and then depressed and weepy. My doctor recommended it and when I started it I felt better. I have only been on it a couple of months ( maybe 3) and I the last few days forgot to take it and was thinking it was responsible for the 8 lb weight gain. I actually had gained some before that I think because of the surgery?? Anyway, I think I will go back on it and then start decreasing the dosages? Maybe cut the pills in half.
  • renae77
    renae77 Posts: 3,394 Member
    Yea just be careful stopping cold turkey. I was scared when I started having all those weird feelings. I honestly didn't think about not taking it anymore. I just stopped. Not a good thing! Do it slowly and talk to your doctor. I also had a hysterectomy and I actually feel good now that I don't take anything at all. Good luck to you!
  • DaniL0385
    DaniL0385 Posts: 2
    I've found that the best way is to take halves for a while, and maybe even quarters after that. I'm currently taking halves of the celexa I've been on for a while, and so far so good. And I know others who have successfully weined themselves off but lowering the dosage slowly- seems like the safe way to go.
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