lexapro

[DAWNIMMEL]

Does anyone know if Lexapro makes you gain weight? I started gaining weight while on atkins right after I started on lexapro. I was taking Celexa when I lost over 30 lbs. Now in a year and a half I gained it back. I went on induction again and I have been on for 3 weeks now and I actually gained two pounds back. The only difference I made in my woe on week 3 is I started using Ranch dressing on my salads. Any suggestions? Thanks Dawn

[xcape]

Re: lexapro

Weight gain is one of it's main side effects. My doctor put me on 10mg at the end of February, since then I have gained around 18 pounds

I have decided I don't need lexapro anymore. The depression, I feel, has been dealt with. I was out of action for six months with a broken foot with horrible ongoing complications. but now my life is moving forward and good things are happening for me.

So I'm now taking Ashwaghanda and St John's Wort to combat any of those apparent wicked side effects you get when coming off Lexapro. It's been over a week and a half now and the only thing that I notice is a bad headache sometimes. If symptoms were to get worse then yes I'd go back to my doctor for a smaller dose to wean off.

I've now been on induction again for three days and have lost 3 pounds

[AuntyLaura]

Re: lexapro

I took Lexapro for 1 year and it worked great for me. The first 6 or 7 months, I was on Atkins and lost 25 lbs. Then I started gaining and gaining. 5 months later, I had gained the weight back. The doctor told me that delayed weight loss can happen on Lexapro. I have since switched to Wellbutrin and it helps my depression and hasn't affected my weight loss. I'm back on the road to losing.

[DAWNIMMEL]

Re: lexapro

Thank you both, I may ask my doctor to put me back on Celexa since I have gained almost all my weight back. I have been so good and instead of loosing, I am gaining. The only thing I could think of is the Lexapro since that is when I started gaining the weight again. I really appreciate the input. I gained back 30 lbs........Dawn

[DAWNIMMEL]

Re: lexapro

I have decided to taper myself off the lexapro and call my doctor Monday since I will be in town. I have been working out of town at least three days a week. The hotel I stay at has a small gym, but good enough to get a little work out. I know how to ween my self off. I do have something going on in my life that is very stressful right now, but hopefully I can handle it without medication. I have been on antidepressants for about five years now, but I feel I can go off them. One of the things that I am reallys tressing about is I go back to my endocrinologist the end of August and instead of loosing weight, I gained more. She also specializes in metabolism. So we will see what she has to say. Thanks for you support. Dawn

[AuntyLaura]

Re: lexapro

I think it's great that you're going to try to go without the antidepressants. When I went off, it was ok for a while, but I felt that I needed them still in some capacity. Don't be hard on yourself if you have to go back on. If you need them, you need them. Don't ever feel weak because you do. Good luck and keep us posted.

[DAWNIMMEL]

Re: lexapro

Thanks Aunty Laura, If I need to go back on them, I will go on Celexa which I lost weight on before. I just looked up in the PDR and it said that in clinical trials there was no weight difference. We will see If I start loosing after a month. It may take up to a month to get this out of my system.......Dawn

[ttdriver]

Re: lexapro

Goodluck, Dawn on going off the ADs .. I had a horrible experience going off Effexor ... took me a full 6 weeks of tapering and it was H E L L . Living in a constant state of dizziness and nausea IS NOT FUN. Take it slow.



Betty

[DAWNIMMEL]

Re: lexapro

Thank you Betty, I am going to taper off over a couple of weeks. So far I feel fine. I have a bad stomache (gastroparesis) so I am expecting some stomache upset. I will keep in touch........Dawn

[jennyj]

Re: lexapro

I am really mad!!!! I've gained approximatly 15 pounds over the course of 3 years and it didn't dawn on me that it could be the lexapro. When I went to my doctor and asked for an antianxiety medication, we tried quite a few, but had horrible side effects. My only request was that she put me on something that WOULD NOT put weight on me. She said that if I gain weight on Lexapro, "it's a result of what you're eating and not the drug". Well, I haven't changed anything about how I eat my entire life and just chalked up the weight gain to age (will turn 37 this year). I tried going off of it for awhile, but ended up back on it due to my family's complaining that I was getting grumpy again. Well now I'm REALLY grumpy that my doc wasn't straightforward with me! She said weight gain WAS NOT a side effect of Lexapro!

[DAWNIMMEL]

Re: lexapro

Jenny, accourding to the PDR weight changes are not usual with this drug, however, I spoke to a friend of mine this morning and she said she heard that Lexapro would make you gain weight so she is on Celexa. I don't know if it is the Lexapro that has made me gain back almost all my weight in the past year and a half, it is just funny that I started gaining it back after I started taking it. Also, I just can't seem to loose a pound. I have been back on induction for four weeks now and I have gained weight. my synthoid was adjusted and my tsh is where it should be. I am getting frustated. I will let you know if I loose weight once this drug is out of my system........dawn

[DAWNIMMEL]

Re: lexapro

xcape, good job on the 3 lbs. I went out and got good SJW, but I am weaning off the Lexapro. Hopefully I will start to loose soon. How long have you been off the lexapro? Dawn

[jennyj]

Re: lexapro

Thanks, Dawn. I'll be really interested in knowing how it works for you once the Lexapro is completely out of your system. I don't want to do all of this hard work only to have my medication stall me or worse yet, make me gain more!!!

[Pie4me]

Re: lexapro

Hey friends...

I have been on Lexapro for forever and it has worked wonders for me.
BUT, I did notice I gained weight and the Lexapro was expensive for me.

Here's what I did that helped tremendously.....

I cut the Lexapro down to 10mg so it went further and added 1 tablet of
Wellbutrin (it is cheaper). The Wellbutrin boosted my energy while boosting
the capabilities of the Lexapro and I LOST weight. This combo has worked
well for me for years....Maybe this would help you.


Pie4me
48 yoa
5'9
sw 168
cw 145
goal 145

[DAWNIMMEL]

Re: lexapro

Pie4me, I tried welbutrin and it didn't work for me. Also I am only on 10mg of lexapro now. Also, my family doctor will not prescribe two antidepressants. She says that If I need it, She will send me to a psychiatrist to prescribe them. Glad it worked for you, but I feel I am ready to go off them now. Thanks for the great advice though. I will keep it in mind.......Dawn