I had been on Wellbutrin but had to stop due to increased agitation and rage issues. I am now on Celexa and have noticed weight gain. I also wake up with puffiness around the eyes. Has anyone experienced this? Will it go away?? The Celexa is supposed to treat depression, but if I keep gaining weight, I really WILL be depressed!!
Has anyone noticed weight gain with Celexa?
- Posted:
- 30 Sep 2009 by Valatron
- Topics:
- celexa, wellbutrin, depression, obesity, agitation, weight
Details:
Responses (23)
3 Oct 2009
Valatron: I too am taking Celexa. I've been on it approx 2 months, starting @ 20mg and up to 40mg. Yes, I packed on some weight myself, like 10-12 lbs.! Hefty Sinch Sac is what I feel like!Ha! I suppose it is one of the side effects of this med but all in all, if that's the only amount of weight that I am to gain(?), then I'll take that anyday over the debilitating effects that depression brings! If I am to gain more weight, I might have a different response in the future! Gotta laugh at something, even if it is myself!Ha! Best of luck to you-
Pandagirl6 Oct 2009
I logged in just now to ask the same exact question, I have been on celaxa for a month now, and I feel like a fat cow! Emotionally, I feel great but physically, I hate the way I look! I haven't weighed in, but I know for sure that I have gained weight, and Im so scared to weigh myself! I can tell by how my clothes fit me! I really hate this, and if it is a side effect, I want out!
tonyab
12 days ago
buspirone is suppose to have low side effects.. my daughter had taken it and didnt notice any.. celexa made me gain 40 pounds but it was over time so i didnt notice what it was due to until i stopped taking it 18 years later and lost the 40 pounds..If i would have known that then i wouldnt have taken it..
27 Dec 2009
I was on celexa /anti depressants for approximately 6 years, the weight gain is awful it doesn't stop, I would exercise vigorously to get it off but it is so incredibly tough! It doesn't come off! I am now 40 ish pounds overweight. I have been off celexa for over 6 months and the energy and weight loss is just peeling off! There are alternatives people, you just need really supportive people around you to help you through the withdrawl and depression! If I can do it than anyone else definitely can!
Debrincon
17 Dec 2010
Yeah me too, I exercised all the time? It didn't budge, I thought it was menopausal or something but now I know it was the Celexa. I am off all meds now because of all the side effects. I don't plan on taking anymore meds anytime soon? I am in therapy one on one, it's alot better & it helps alot more. I feel really good these past 2 yrs now, that's why I would rather do the real work on your Depression. Meds are only temporary, but if you do the real work and find out the underlying issues that caused all of it in the first place, you will never have to take medicines again LIKE ME.
tonyab
12 days ago
how long did it take for it to come off and how much did you lose? I was on celexa for 18 years and became 40 pounds heavier wich I was told was getting older and having kids.. I stopped taking it and lost 40 pounds within 4 months.. If i knew this back then i wouldnt have taken it.. The pharmacy said this was not a medicine that made you gain weight but Iam seeing different?
7 Jan 2010
well... from my experiences with citalopram I have had it work BOTH ways..first time I was on it I packed on about 50 lbs., my stomach hurt constantly and I found that if I ate something it stopped for a short while. when I started taking this medicine again about 5 yrs later I had NO appitite at all and litlerally had to make myself eat. and I also did not have the stomach pain this time... so I don't know why the different effects other then a change in my body due to age...
26 Jan 2010
Both in response to Valatron's question regarding weight gain while taking Celexa? I did respond a couple of months ago with a 10-12lb weight gain?! Well... as an update pertaining to this issue-(again), I have now gained a total-(so far!) of 20lbs!!! All within a 3 month period, no less! Not one pair of my jeans fit. Fit? That's an understatement! I can't even get them up past mid-thigh! Naturally, one would be upset and I certainly do not want to frighten anyone that could/would benefit from using this med, so on a better note, I will say that pertaining to my depression & anxiety, this med has definitely helped me cope better with very minimal anxiety, very minimal. While outweighing-(no pun intended) Ha!, the benefit of getting minimal and/or substantial relief from the debilitating effects that go along with depression and/or anxiety as opposed to the weight gain, I would prefer-(between the two), the anxiety of gaining some weight.
26 Jan 2010
that was one of the first things i asked my doctor when prescribed because i suffer an eating disorder and that would make it worse,anyhow,he told me it's one of the lowest ones out there,that if i do gain any weight at all,it would only be around 5 pounds. i was on it for months and didnt gain,but it wasnt working for my depression so we changed meds. hope this helped some:)
teal
26 Jan 2010
well from what im reading here,it must be a weight gainer,jeez,maybe the doctor lied for just that reason,to gain weight,but like i said before i didnt,although i wasnt on it for a long long time either. i went and looked it up here,and it says one of the side effects are loss of appetite,here,i will paste it. it also say's weight changes,but doesnt say either gain or lose. but other things i've read about it,i can say the doctor should have NOT put me on it. I guess too,it's different for other ppl. talk to your doctor and tell him/her that you want off and you want to try something else. Sorry that this has happened to you,just hang in there,and maybe if you change meds the weight will come off. im on zoloft,and that causes weight loss,and it's an anti depressant,just a suggestion for you,good luck:)
very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, overactive reflexes;
Corri
1 Feb 2010
Please don't hate me. I've been on Celexa for about 5 months. I began having excessive whole body sweating. She (doc) reduced me to 10 mg.
When I was on 20 mg. I lost 12 pounds... since I've been on 10 mg. I've lost 10 more.
I have no appetite for "real" food. Have been that way for about 2 years.
This is my diet:
Wonder Chocolate Cupcakes w/peanut butter on top.
Defrosted frozen waffles, toasted w/powder sugar on top.
3 slices of pizza every 2 days or so.
I can't stand the fact that there is meat in my fridge. It's my sons, but knowing it's there makes me nauseated.
Oh, I drink bottled water and about 3 regular Pepsi's a day. I don't take vitamins, they make my stomach hurt.
So, that's my plight. The weight loss makes me look haggard. I'm 61, but a "young" 61. I don't look my age... but since the weight loss, I still don't look my age, I just look like a haggard younger person.
mikec021
13 Feb 2010
weird, ive been on it for two months along with klonopins and i have noticed a lack of being hungry, sometimes dont even eat, i take the celexa every morning
robbi4564
10 Dec 2011
I agree I do better taking it at night and that helps better and I have not gained weight on it st all
lexx089920 Feb 2010
Well, as far as anti-depressant, it's the best I've ever taken. I have been on Risperdal and Lexapro as well as Abilify. I am not super-thin but could be seen as "average" weight now. The problem is that the medicine makes you feel so good you forget you arfe gaining 20 pounds every 10 years slowly. I eat veggies all day and no dairy. Low calories and no snacks but granola. No bread either.(I'm serious). I also excersize and take the Celexa at night. But I was VERY small before this. So, I dont know. Maybe it's effort or maybe not.
20 Feb 2010
I gained weight with celexa,which just added to my depression rather than helping,so i got looking up all depression meds and found that zoloft doesnt cause weight gain,in fact it can cause weight loss,so we went with that one,and i have not gained a pound,in fact im losing what i had gained,AND,it's actually working,which is surprising after going through all these different anti depressants. check it out,and bring it up to your doctor you would like to try that one,due to the fact you dont feel the celexa is working,that's what i did,and so we changed over to zoloft. Hope this helped some,and good luck to you,i can relate believe me:)
Debrincon
17 Dec 2010
Really how long have you been on Zoloft, cause I have been thinking of trying another Depression/Anti depressant? I am all for anything that will help me lose the weight I have gained after all the other meds. I have tried everything under the moon also? I am so happy after I read your posting today, I have been in Therapy but it works most of the time, but not all the time. Thanks and I hope that my doctor will listen to me, this time again???
taylorml0223 Feb 2010
I took celexa for 7 months and gained 30lbs. It did great for my panic attacks but the weight gain was horriable. I am now on cymbalta and it works great as well. I still gain weight but not as fast as I did with celexa. I just started taking xenical for weight loss and in 4 days lost 2 lbs. Hopefully this will help.
9 Mar 2010
It's important to remember that association is not the same as causation. There are many factors that can work together to contribute to weight gain during antidepressant therapy. Some people lose weight as part of their depression. In turn, an improved appetite associated with improved mood may result in increased weight. Overeating as a result of depression also can cause weight gain. In addition, some medical conditions that mimic depression — such as underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) — may cause weight gain.
In my personall experience while taking Celexa I gained weight as well. I was never a "sweats eater" until I started the Celexa and as soon as I did I only craved sweats and carbs. All i ate was sugary cerials and toast with peanut butter and jelly for every meal. I believe there is a connection between increased seritonin levels and the craving of carbohydrates. Also, the increased seritonin levels reduces stress so I did not really stress about eating the poor diet.
Debrincon17 Dec 2010
I was on Celexa for depression it didn't work out for me, but I wouldn't say it won't for you? But, yes I did gain some weight and also weight water retention in my legs. I had to get off it asap. But, I can't really say if that's what will happen to you. THAT's why I sometimes don't want to answer some questions cause everyone's body is different. BUT, yeah sometimes they don't tell you all the side effects. I am pretty sure if you read all the paperwork for that medication it's on there. I HOPE this HELPS!!!
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