Lexapro/Celexa weight gain issues!

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AlyssaLynette
AlyssaLynette Posts: 13 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have high anxiety and mild depression. I take Lexapro (have taken Celexa w/same problem before). They both cause weight gain! Does anyone else have this problem? How did you work around it? Did you change medication or discontinue it?
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Replies

  • dkvote
    dkvote Posts: 58
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    BIG PROBLEM with it...also on water pill...bad combination! I quit taking it and the doctor gave me buspar instead...
  • WordToYourMamma
    WordToYourMamma Posts: 31
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    I have been on several meds for depression/anxiety, including Celexa. I currently am on Cymbalta, which does not cause weight gain. I like it better too. Actually, I think like 4% of people on it lose a couple pounds. It kind of dulls your taste buds, some. Makes mine feel funny anyway. Don't know if that's the reason some people lose weight.
  • Gigi_licious
    Gigi_licious Posts: 1,185 Member
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    BIG PROBLEM with it...also on water pill...bad combination! I quit taking it and the doctor gave me buspar instead...

    I think your new meds are causing some discoloration of your skin....might want to get that checked out.
  • megz4987
    megz4987 Posts: 1,008 Member
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    I took lexapro for a year and didn't gain weight. Infact, I lost 10lb in 2 months mildly being cooperative with Weight Watchers.
  • khartley535
    khartley535 Posts: 151 Member
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    I've been taking Lexapro since the beginning of May, and my Dr. doubled my dose at the end of September. I haven't had any problems dropping weight since I started here mid September.
  • lisacandoit1965
    lisacandoit1965 Posts: 36
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    I am a pharmacy tech and have heard that Wellbutrin causes you to lose weight too
  • Marig0ld
    Marig0ld Posts: 671 Member
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    Everyone is different, of course. I had crazy weight gain on Lexapro, but I also was eating tons and tons of garbage food and not giving a crap about it. Zoloft wasn't so bad, but my mom gained a ton when she was on it. Just keep an open dialogue with your doctor about your reaction to meds and he/she will assess your needs (if they're a good doc, of course)! To be honest, regular exercise helps me more with my depression than meds ever did. But you gotta stick with it, and that's the hard part.

    Best of luck to you :-)
  • ahinescapron
    ahinescapron Posts: 351 Member
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    I was on Lexapro for about 5 years. It did not cause my weight gain (having babies and fertility treatments did that), but it did make it almost impossible to lose weight. I work out a lot and have for years and I count every calorie, but my body just doesn't want to give up the weight. Everyone is different, though, and it depends on your individual body chemistry.
  • dkvote
    dkvote Posts: 58
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    Oh and one more thing...when I was prescribed the Buspar...I didn't end up taking it, but it is supposed to work sooner than most of the others that take awhile to get into your system...good luck!
  • dkvote
    dkvote Posts: 58
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    :blushing:
  • shovav91
    shovav91 Posts: 2,335 Member
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    I was on Lexapro for a while and gained a LOT of weight. I don't take it anymore... I try to deal with my anxiety and depression in a more natural way now. Exercise helps so much as well. Best of luck! Feel free to message me with any questions.
  • TXBlonde81
    TXBlonde81 Posts: 78 Member
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    I have been on a few different ones. I found that Effexor and Lexapro didn't work for me so I was still, depressed and therefore, gained weight. I was only on Cymbalta for 1 week before I changed meds. I'm currently on Prozac and Wellbutrin and feeling so much better. I haven't noticed weight gain. I am retrying MFP and exercising so I'm hoping to see the weight loss.

    I think the main thing is making sure the medicine is working for you. If it isn't then you might still have depression and weight gain associated with that and not the meds.
  • it_be_asin
    it_be_asin Posts: 562 Member
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    Effexor and Celexa didn't cause me to gain a gram. They may or may not cause weight gain in others.
  • kristin335
    kristin335 Posts: 26
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    I'm actually a resident physician, and all the research I've read in professional journals indicates Wellbutrin (Buproprion) actually aids in weight loss, but it hasn't been shown to be as effective in managing anxiety and depression as some of the other options available. Something to keep in mind, and possibly to discuss with your doctor if this would be a good option for you.
  • AlyssaLynette
    AlyssaLynette Posts: 13 Member
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    Thank you all for the response. It helps to hear from others dealing with similar issues!
  • inlander
    inlander Posts: 339 Member
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    I had the same problem - actually, I'm on Celexa currently (prescribed 40mg) and it wasn't so much that the Celexa caused the weight gain as much as (1) it lowered my inhibitions and self-control and (2) it made the weight kind of hard to LOSE. Two things that don't combine to create a healthy girl, ha. In October, I began tapering down the medication on my own and am now taking 10mg daily. I'm attempting to completely get off them by mid-November; if you want, add me as a friend on here and you can see if that causes any kind of drastic change in my weight. ;) If you're interested, there are some supplements you can take that you can replace your SSRI with ... but that's only if you feel comfortable weaning yourself from your medication. If you don't think you're ready, I'd definitely recommend staying on the SSRI and just exercising a lot to make up for the metabolic resistance that the drug seems to cause. Mental health needs to be #1.
  • AlyssaLynette
    AlyssaLynette Posts: 13 Member
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    Great advice, Inlander. I am considering weaning back on the Lexapro a bit. I can't imagine stopping it, but eventually... maybe. Just maybe, once I am weaned back enough I can imagine stopping!
  • Espressocycle
    Espressocycle Posts: 2,245 Member
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    I gained 8 lbs after I went on Celexa. That was before MFP though. Since I started monitoring calories on this site my weight loss has been steady and in line with my goals.
  • TXBlonde81
    TXBlonde81 Posts: 78 Member
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    Great advice, Inlander. I am considering weaning back on the Lexapro a bit. I can't imagine stopping it, but eventually... maybe. Just maybe, once I am weaned back enough I can imagine stopping!

    Maybe next time you see your doctor you can mention the weight gain/loss issue and maybe they can cut one medication and add another or just switch you. I remember complaining about lack of energy and no interest in exercise and my doctor added in Wellbutrin to help with the energy issue. Maybe see if you can add that in?
  • mochaphobic
    mochaphobic Posts: 92 Member
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    I gained over 30 pounds on Lexapro while actively trying to maintain my weight. But it made me so sleepy the first 2 months that I ate to stay awake in the car. It was a bad med for me and it took me a year to call the dr's office and say I was weaning off it, mostly because I was told to stay on it every time I complained. I ended up switching doctors. My new one prescribed Wellbutrin and Xanax and they help my anxiety (and seasonal depression) much better.

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