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Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
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Lexapro Weight gain
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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MedHelp Member's Question

Lexapro Weight gain

by mwshallcr, Feb 11, 2006 12:00AM
I posted a while ago about performance anxiety and lexapro. I have recently been reading alot about people gaining alot of weight from this drug. I used to be overweight and this is a big problem if it will cause this. I was wondering if this is a norm or if pretty much everyone gains weight from it. It sucks if it does cause it is really helping with my anxiety. Also how long before the weight starts to go on... I've been on for about 2 weeks and go to the gyma about 5 to lift weights and run. Will this help or is there no hope in stopping the weight gain?
Doctor's Answer

by Roger Gould, M.D., Feb 12, 2006 12:00AM
Weight gain is not inevitable, and probably occurs in less than 30% of cases. Its mostly from increased appetite, so if you exercise and use portion control, you should not have a problem.
Member Comments (53)

by DJ-RxT, Feb 11, 2006 12:00AM
Some people who take Lexapro may experience feelings of lethargy, which can sometimes prevent them from wanting to go exercise, and hence experience weightgain. If you keep up with your normal exercise routine, possibly even enhance it, you shouldn't experience weight gain. There are no chemical substances in Lexapro that have been tied with anything related to weight.

by bigbaz, Feb 24, 2006 12:00AM
To: tamyb
Hey tamyb..where are you??  I was wondering how you are doing...the other thread is closed and they are not accepting any new comments..I hope you find this thread.....

by Taimse, Feb 24, 2006 12:00AM


I have been on Lexapro since November.  5 mg starting out and went to 10 mg middle of January.  I have gained 10 pounds in a month....I exercise like normal....30 min tread mill and 30 min weights interspersed with cardio.  I don't eat white breads ( really , don't eat bread )sugars.  I haven't varied my diet too much....had a birthday in there and a potluck, but otherwise diet has been the same as before.  I lost 20 pounds over a year ago and kept it off until a month ago.   Help. I'm about to have slim fast three times a day and go to working out 2 hours a day to see if that does anything.

by curious50, Mar 05, 2006 12:00AM
I was able to maintain a 40 lb weight loss for over two years. After only one month on Lexapro I gained 4 pounds. That was enough for me. I stopped the Lexapro and will have to look into some other drug therapy.

by llb30, Mar 08, 2006 12:00AM
I'm glad to find others who have gained weight on Lexapro. I was beginning to think it was all in my head! I lost 25 pounds over a year ago then went on Lexapro. Have gained it all back without drastic changes to diet. I'm going to look for something else!

by aj1980, Mar 10, 2006 12:00AM
lexapro def. makes you gain weight I have been taking it for 1 year I started at 95 pounds now I weigh 125 It really makes you feel like you have no energy too but I guess it effects everyone diffrent

by warshell, Mar 18, 2006 12:00AM
Hi everyone, I have just started on Lexapro today, 10mg, and have been reading allyour comments about weight gain.  I am

already 100 pounds overweight which makes me very depressed as it is, if this is something that is going to make me put on more weight, then it really isn't going to help me is it?  Is there anyone else that was already overweight and then started on Lexapro , and how did you go?  Please help...

by Judykaylee, Mar 23, 2006 12:00AM
I've been reading all the problems with getting off Lexapro, but let me tell you all the problems I had while on Lexapro.  I have been on Lexapro 10 mg daily for 2 1/2 years.  It was prescribed because of anxiety I was experiencing after a car wreck.  The effects Lexapro had on me came on so gradually that I hardly noticed them for awhile.  And my doctor did not tell me anything about any of these side effects.  I gained 60 pounds in that 2 1/2 years without a change in my eating habits and exercise.  I have not been able to control my blood sugar and had to go on Insulin.  I did not "feel" anything while I was on Lexapro.  I really had no emotions.  It was like nothing mattered.  I had no interest in anything.  I could not concentrate.  I was falling asleep while reading, working at my desk, in meetings, watching TV.  I noticed that when I fell asleep during the day, it was sudden and involuntary.  I did not feel sleepy and doze.  I would be typing and the next thing I knew, I was dreaming.  I had quit having (or maybe just remembering) any dreams at night.  I slept a lot but always felt tired.  I decided that Lexapro was keeping me from going into REM sleep stages at night and that my body forced them on me during the day.  I was contemplating going to a sleep clinic.  I read that I needed to be off any antidepressants before participating in a sleep clinic so I quit taking the Lexapro.  I did not have any ill effects from stopping the Lexapro.  I only had ill effects while taking the horrible stuff.  I didn't reduce the dose or gradually wean myself off it.  I just quit, cold turkey.  Within 4 days, I was sleeping and dreaming at night, waking up feeling refreshed.  I no longer fell asleep during the day.  I am awake and alert with emotions and interest in doing things.  I am productive again.  I lost 10 pounds in one week without any changes except stopping the Lexapro.  I am getting my blood sugar under control again.  Now maybe I didn't have any ill effects from stopping the Lexapro because maybe I never really needed it.  But at any rate, I will never take it again.  Anyone having the problems I was having, quit taking the stuff and see how much better you feel.

by llb30, Mar 23, 2006 12:00AM
I started tapering off but after 1 week I quit altogether.  Its now been a week and I've already lost 6 pounds.  No more Lexapro for me ever again!

by Katiedid044, Mar 23, 2006 12:00AM
My daughter started Lexapro last April at age 12.  She gained 50 lbs. by February and was still having "bad feelings".  I asked her Dr. to prescribe another med, but we had to taper her off the Lexapro.  She is now on Wellbutrin, having more positive thoughts, and is not ravenous like she was with the Lexapro.  She's been on the Wellbutrin for 4 weeks now.  Hallelujah!  This poor kid had issues with self-esteem before the Lexapro.  The weight issues only added to her problems.  Thank heaven we changed meds!

by Hollyivy, Apr 04, 2006 12:00AM
In January 2007 it will be 2 yrs. that I'm taking 10mg. of Lexapro. I started taking it for menopauasal symptoms because I didn't want to take synthetic hormones, I had uterine fibroids. Since I started taking Lexapro, my hot flashes and depression have disappeared however I seemed to have gone from 132 which is my high to a whopping 165, so now I have no clothes that fit, and am now depressed about the way I look. There has been no change in my diet or exercise habits, sure it could be blamed on menopause, but I find it just a bit too coincidental that I gained the weight when I started the Lexapro. I have recently found a doctor who does bio-identical hormone inserts, I told him that I really want to get off the Lexapro, but he told me to wait until he gets my hormones balanced, so that I don't crash and burn. I'm afraid the Lexapro is screwing up my hormone levels, any thoughts on that? I can't afford a new wardrobe. The only other Lexapro side effect I have are bad vivid dreams, very exhausting. Thanks for your feedback. Holly

by Katiedid044, Apr 05, 2006 12:00AM
Update.....Since my daughter started the Wellbutrin (5 weeks ago), she's lost 10 of the 50 lbs. she gained from taking Lexapro.  She is also feeling better about herself.  I truly believe that Lexapro caused the weight gain.  It's hard enough to be turning 13, with all the issues of puberty, braces acne...she sure didn't need to pile on the pounds,too.  



Take it easy.  



by cobo1, Apr 11, 2006 12:00AM
I quit smoking Nov 04 and was in a deep depression by Aug 05.  Up until then I had been managing my weight