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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
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.
Weight gain
by mylesshaela, Feb 13, 2008 01:00PM
I have been on Lexapro for a few months now and the only problem I have is the weight gain. I went to my doctor and told him how stressed out I was during the christmas holidays so he perscribed me this drug. I have been on and off anti-depressants most of my adult life but since I was feeling like I was going to kill everyone around me I thought it was time to go back on something. It has helped with my mood level and I am sleeping and dreaming, I still get angry but I can control it much better. There is one side effect that I am very very happy with and my doctor did not know about it. You see I am 40 years old and since I was a child I have been wetting the bed I would wet the bed most nights I may have had a dry bed for 2 nights but that was it. I went to so many doctor's about this problem and they could not find out why it was happening so I just suffered in silence for many year's ans luckily I have a wonderful husband that does not and has never passed judgement or made jokes about my problem. Now since I have been on this drug I have woke up dry since the first day that I have been taking it, my doctor is floored and so happy for me. I will continue with the lexapro as long as I keep waking up dry and try as best as I can to maintain weight.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Feb 13, 2008 03:19PM
, Feb 13, 2008 03:19PM
To: mylesssheala
That is a very interesting and important side effect that I have not heard about before. Regarding your weight, be sure not to use food as an auxillary drug to control your moods or your anger...that's what gets you to gain weight. Learn more about emotional eating and you may beat that side effect.
