Lexapro and weight
DanniB423
Posts: 777 Member
After a long talk with my doctor, she wrote me a prescription for 5mg daily of Lexapro for some issues with anxiety and depression. I’ve been googling( bad idea) and I am nervous how this will impact my weight loss or make it more difficult. Any input would be appreciated.
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Replies
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The medication can increase your appetite, so it can become harder to eat less, but if you're careful with logging, and stick to your calories, it will not impact your weightloss. ETA: Feeling better emotionally can also make it easier for you to handle the mental aspects of eating less, so maybe it evens out, or you actually get a better deal.14
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I was able to lose weight while on Lexapro. As long as you log your food and exercise regularly, you shouldn't have an issue. These medications sometimes increase your appetite, which admittedly makes it hard to stay within your calories, but it's not impossible!
I've been on Lexapro for years. It's the only med that works for me. PM me if you want to talk more.9 -
I take 20ml a day and it hasn’t affected me much. Everyone is different, but just hope for the best:)3
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Your anxiety and depression are more important in the short term. If you gain a few pounds in the early stages, you'll be able to lose them more easily as your mood stabilizes and your body gets used to the medicine.11
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Also, I've struggled with anxiety and depression myself. Shoot a note any time you need to talk.
And please know that it gets better.6 -
i lost weight on all the many different ssris and other antidepressants/anxiety medications.
plus once you are feeling more balanced, you can make more balanced decisions6 -
Thank you all so much. Love this community for so many reasons.8
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I lost 140 lbs on lexapro. It didn’t hinder my weight loss 😉4
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I gained almost 2 pounds in three months on Lexipro. I am now on Wellbutrin and the weight is coming off and I feel great3
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SSRIs (LEXAPRO/(S)-citalopram) have VERY modest impact on weight (+/-) vs atypical antipsychotics (these have HbA1C, blood glucose, BMI/weight listed as monitoring parameters actually) and Tricyclic Antidepressants (+++) due to histamine-1-antagonism & 5-HT2-antagonism properties (binding affinities). Loss or gain of modest weight (a few lbs in either direction) is typical; nothing extreme for SSRIs.2
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When my doctor prescribed Lexapro to me 16 years ago, he told me that it wasn't known to cause weight gain. I guess that was at the time? But I've never had any issues with losing weight while taking it. I successfully lost around 30 lbs. while taking Lexapro, gained 20 of it all back by not watching my eating while still taking it, and I've lost 17 of the pounds I regained while still taking it. At least for me, it doesn't affect anything.2
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I did not have a great experience with lexapro. Took it for two or three months and then slowly cycled myself off of it. Experienced headaches and other withdrawal symptoms.3
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i've been on a pretty high dose (15mg) for almost 3 years now, with no discernible impact on my weight or appetite.
Actually, the only SSRI I've been on (and i've been on tons of them) that correlated with any weight gain was zoloft.
Yea Zoloft was awful for me too for weight gain,I honestly didn't change how/what I was eating,plus it messed up my stomach I just don't know why I ballooned up on it1 -
Lexapro didn't affect my weight or appetite at all. Depression/anxiety since childhood. If you ever need a listening ear just PM me 😊2
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Riding a bike is good for my anxiety. I have to pay attention to not crash, and that pulls me out of my head. Bikes aren't for everyone, but anything that forces you to be present in the here and now, that requires a lot of attention, might help.3
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Re: Sertaline (ZOLOFT) is notorious/superlative for diarrhea amongst the SSRIs (at least initially starting out/before tolerance). Venlafaxine (EFFEXOR) is another harsh (notorious) SSRI/SNRI (based on dose) harsh on GI tract (dyspepsia, nausea, vomitting, bloating)0
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After a long talk with my doctor, she wrote me a prescription for 5mg daily of Lexapro for some issues with anxiety and depression. I’ve been googling( bad idea) and I am nervous how this will impact my weight loss or make it more difficult. Any input would be appreciated.
I'm on 20 mg. Have been for 3 years or more. No effect on weight, esepcailly when counting calories.
Just stay consistent with tracking. If anything it might impact your satiety cues or cravings.
Your on such a low dose it prob won't.
Anyways mental health is way more important1 -
moogie_fit wrote: »After a long talk with my doctor, she wrote me a prescription for 5mg daily of Lexapro for some issues with anxiety and depression. I’ve been googling( bad idea) and I am nervous how this will impact my weight loss or make it more difficult. Any input would be appreciated.
I'm on 20 mg. Have been for 3 years or more. No effect on weight, esepcailly when counting calories.
Just stay consistent with tracking. If anything it might impact your satiety cues or cravings.
Your on such a low dose it prob won't.
Anyways mental health is way more important
Thank you! The doctor said we will discuss upping the dose in 30 day increments.0 -
I'm one of those who did gain weight after starting Lexapro. My appetite increased a lot, and I was eating like crazy. After I outgrew all my clothes I decided it was time to lose the weight, rather than buy all new clothes. That's what brought me to MFP. When I started tracking my food intake, I was amazed at the number of calories I was eating. I'm halfway to my goal weight now, still taking the Lexapro, just being very careful to track all my eating. Being vigilant about tracking is key for me!2
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For those of you that do take Lexapro has it helped your mood? I wish there was just a "happy pill" but I guess it would be illegal
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For those of you that do take Lexapro has it helped your mood? I wish there was just a "happy pill" but I guess it would be illegal
cant think of the pill they gave my daughter a few years ago. but it was for a "mood" disorder they said she had and let me tell you someone could have told her their family member died and she would laugh or just smile. she was happy when she shouldnt have been. she hated feeling like that so she stopped taking them so be careful what you wish for lol.1 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »For those of you that do take Lexapro has it helped your mood? I wish there was just a "happy pill" but I guess it would be illegal
cant think of the pill they gave my daughter a few years ago. but it was for a "mood" disorder they said she had and let me tell you someone could have told her their family member died and she would laugh or just smile. she was happy when she shouldnt have been. she hated feeling like that so she stopped taking them so be careful what you wish for lol.
Yeah,that would be creepy to feel like that!0 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »For those of you that do take Lexapro has it helped your mood? I wish there was just a "happy pill" but I guess it would be illegal
cant think of the pill they gave my daughter a few years ago. but it was for a "mood" disorder they said she had and let me tell you someone could have told her their family member died and she would laugh or just smile. she was happy when she shouldnt have been. she hated feeling like that so she stopped taking them so be careful what you wish for lol.
Yeah,that would be creepy to feel like that!
she said it was and she didnt like it
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If you enjoy certain foods, eat a lot of them now. This is temporary. Depression is about having too many bad experiences and too free good ones, no joy, nothing to look forward to. A pint of ice cream can be something to look forward to.0
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Anyone take Zoloft and was able to loose weight while still on it?0
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