Weight Loss and Anti-Depressants. Please HELP!!!

[Kelly27]

Hello everyone!  I have never gone on the computer for advice before but I am desperate for help.  I am 27yrs old and I am getting married in six months.  I have been on celexa for the past 5 years and have just recently started researching some strange symptoms I have, only to find out that they may be related to the medication.  I am almost always tired and have not had a menstrual period in almost 2 years.  I've gone to the doctor about these 2 symptoms, but they never told me that these symptoms could be from the celexa!  I have also gained about 20 pounds over the past four years, and although I eat healthy, drink only water, and exercise regularly, I can not lose an ounce!!  So my question is, has anyone else experienced any of these symptoms while taking an SSRI, celexa in particular?  Does celexa slow your metabolism?  Should I come off of it?  Any advice or thoughts are greatly appreciated!!

[lydia231]

I was on lexapro for about two years. I could not understand why I am unable to lose weight. I would diet and excersise and not lose a pound.  I have also been trying to find out why I have been having symptoms simular to ms. I found out by researching the internet that Lexpro can cause ms like symptoms and weight gain. I was takin 20mg of Lexapro and decreased it to 10mg for about two weeks. Than I decreased it to 5mg for about two weeks. I than stopped taking it completley and started having severe vertigo, confusion, mood swings. I didn't want to start taking this med again so for about a week I would take 5mg only if my symptoms of withdrawl were to much to handle.  I have now not taken this med for over a week and the withdrawl symptoms have improved greatly.  I think the withdrawl symptoms severity level is different for everyone. I am glad to be free of this drug and am trying to find something natural to replace it because I do not want my depression to worsen.

[dee1974681]

CELEXA made me gain 40 poundsin only 4 months. The problem is that this drug makes you retain water and crave carbohydrates like crazy. I had to stop this medication and try others but unfortunately weight gain is a side effect for all anti-depressants. Wellbutrin is the only one that I've taken that had minimal side effects (wt gain). You may want to ask your doctor is Wellbutrin is right for you. Goodluck :)

[Nikki_Tisi]

Hi
I am new to this site so here goes.
I commenced Lexapro around 18 months ago after going through a harrowing time with the sole care of my baby son and fleeing a domestic violence situation.
My anxiety and panic attacks were at their most intense and I must admit going onto Lexapro did wonders in calming my hyperviligant state.
Once on this medication I felt I could function more normally and I came to believe I was destined to forever be medicated to retain this sense of 'normality'.
I must also add that I am a surviving victim of childhood onset PTSD and adolescent anorexia. To this day I believe I will always carry some elements of my eating disorder with me, of which I go through a process of daily control, to curb my tendency of resorting to past, starving coping mechanisms.

To then find I have gained 30 lb (previous overall weight of 95 lb) has been particularly disastrous, if not emotive for my sense of well-being.

After reading some of the comments posted by those who have also experienced weight gain since commencing anti-depressant medication, I feel some validation in my suspicions that there was some form of external contributor to my weight gain and as well as comfort in my own sanity.

I have a question though - how does one get off this medication? I am currently on 10mg so I am unsure how to go about ceasing it?

Your comments are appreciated

Nikki - Australia

[Barb135]

I'm not on antidepressants, but I know one of the side effects can be weight gain.  BUT I would also like to recommend that you check with your doctors and have your thyroid checked.  The tests to ask for are Free T4, Free T3 and TSH -- if those levels are off, it will be seemingly impossible to lose weight.  I struggled with that for a very long time before I finally got my doctor to test my thyroid -- sure enough, that's what it was.  

[CAB27]

I tapered down from Lexapro 20 mg to 10 mg last week.   This week, I averaged about 7.5 mg a day.

I weighed myself Tuesday morning at 157.5.    I got on the scale this morning (Friday) for ha ha's and was surprised to see 155.5 ...    granted that includes 2 hours at the gym and a rather strict diet, I am now hopeful that I will be able to drop this weight much more quickly than before after reading all the horror stories out there about it.

And as someone else commented I feel much less BLOATED already!

The Dr did say yesterday that as I decrease the dose, the side effects will go away just as fast - I am hoping....

[cjpietrz]

Hi there,

So, I found this site because I was doing some research on Lexapro.  In about 6 months of taking it, I gained almost 30 lbs, and thanks to this site, I found that I was NOT the only one!  

Hows it going with your depression/anxiety/weight?  Your situation sounds very similar to my own.  I have found a few things that have worked for me and wonder if they might work for you, too.  Get back to me, I bet we could help each other out!