I am prescribed to take lexapro but after reading MANY reviews I see that they all involve serious weight gain. I was wondering if anyone who uses this for anxiety purposes or other have this problem?
Paxil and weight gain?
Has anyone used Lexapro for anxiety and gained weight?
- Posted:
- 30 Jun 2010 by sashaw9589
- Topics:
- lexapro, paxil, obesity, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, weight, anxiety and stress
Details:
Responses (34)
Anonymous 30 Jun 2010
I was on lexapro for about three weeks, all it did was make me depressed and I myself actually lost weight. So hopefully other people out there can give you some more input from their stories. Remember everybody reacts to medication differently. It might be worth trying it out for a week or two, you should know by then. Someone once said to me would'nt you rather be happy and less anxious with a little extra weight, heck no being overweight myself would just add to my stress and self esteem issues. Hope I helped a bit. Good luck
Whidbeyhead3 Jul 2010
I have been on 10 mg of Lexapro for anxiety and moderate depression for around 5 years. I love the way that it has helped me with feeling better... however I have had horrible weight gain. I started out at 135 and am now 165 lbs. I have gained it primarily in my waist and hips... i have always had a flat stomach. At the same time that I started the Lexapro, I moved and became involved in a major remodel, so my lifestyle changed and didn't have much time for exercise like I used to, so I can't say for sure that it's because of the drug and not middle age. However, the scale and dress size keep increasing... it is very interesting to read people's experiences that are so similar to mine. I hate to think of going off of the drug that makes me feel so much better, but this has to stop...
rebeccann
13 Oct 2010
I had been on lexapro since 2005 10 mg. daily, just recently weened off of it and have been off for about a month. It's horrible, all of my old anxiety symptoms are back & worse than before. I just started back up again today in fact 10 mg. again. I did go from 120 lbs. in 2005 to $145 lbs. today but to me, it's worth it, better to be a little heavier & happy than miserable @120 lbs. right? Good luck to you, hope you feel better soon!
cleaningup9 Jul 2010
I didn't initially, but by 6 months after starting - I had gained 20 pounds. This could be due to a lack of anxiety... I usually found eating better than normal and increasing exercise would shift any extra weight - but this weight was stubborn and I was always a healthy eater and exerciser and never had weight issues before. Strangely too - at this time I didn't care I was feeling disconnected from any concern about what my body looked like. I suppose it was that peaceful state of indifference that in some ways is good to strive for - but perhaps not so great to achieve when it is drug induced.
Whidbeyhead
12 Jul 2010
That's so interesting that you mention the "disconnect" about concern about how your body looks. That really describes how I feel, too. As someone who has always been very concerned (obsessed?) about body image, it is interesting that it really doesn't bother me how I look now, other than how my clothes (don't) fit. When I buy larger clothing that fits, I am indifferent to my weight. It is a great peaceful state - however, not particularly healthy to accept major weight gain and lack of drive to fix it. LOVE the feeling of peace, tho... the only time in my 47 years that I have had it is on Lexapro. So is it worth the tradeoff? Do any others have similar experience?
cleaningup
12 Jul 2010
Well I was feeling disconnected to everything. I was happy to be by myself and not socialise, go out or strive ambitiously... It was such a relief to be so peaceful though so for a long time I was content with the trade-off but I have tapered off and am attempting to be completely drug free now.
mezozAnonymous 12 Jul 2010
Hi I was on that for a while, I don't remember it causing me to gain any weight. Umm that anti deppressent is not known to help anxiety at all. It didn't help me.
For Paxil it can cause weight gain and does help with anxiety. I was on that too.
dmfdjttor572 Aug 2010
My brother, of whom i am guardian, has been on Lexapro for a few years and he has lost weight, but he had other different types of medications he takes and has diabetes type 2. I do know that many of the antidepressents cause weight gain. I took Effexor for about a year, found it to be a wonderful drug for my depression, but gained about 50 lbs. In doing what you did, looking it up, i found that almost everyone that took it gained weight, and also, that getting the weight off after coming off the drug seemed to take an unusually long period of time. Right after that, I began a decline in my health that prevented me from exercising and so it has really been a long process to lose any of that weight, I now have about 20-25 lbs. to go and will be happy again.
11 Aug 2010
Yes!! I gained 45 pounds in about 6 years. I went from 135 to 175. Lexapro worked for me, but the weight gain was getting me depressed. I took myself off of it. You have to taper off this drug or you will have side effects. I had brain zaps or jolts or whatever you want to call them, and they lasted for about 3 or 4 weeks. I didn't taper long enough and would recommend tapering for at least a couple of months. I have been off it now for about 3 or 4 months and have lost 15 pounds. I am still having anxiety so I'm thinking about Klonopin. I have done some research on it and it seems it doesn't make you gain weight and most people have good results from it. Good luck to you!!
frustratedgirl
17 Mar 2011
ugh, i too gained a lot of weight. i went off, and still cant lose the weight. how long did it take before you lost even a pound?
Seatrout
25 Aug 2011
Did the weight just come off or did you have to work hard?
11 Aug 2010
I have been on Lexapro 10mg for about 3 years now and have tried to get off of it a couple of times. I have notice a small weight gain, nothing like the others have posted, only maybe 5 lbs on average.
I have noticed a few other symptoms and relief in the time I have been on it. For the first few months, headaches, insomnia, night sweats, lack of libido. They all subsided after that. The good things for my anxiety have been no more terrible feelings of hopelessness, ability to handle difficult situations without breaking down so badly, less crying, better ability to keep my feelings at bay and no overreact, handle stressful situations better.
I am starting today on the reduction of the med again in the hopes of getting off of it. It served its' purpose at the time but just want to get off of it. I am doing the very slow method combined with several suggested supplements.
Share10
14 Aug 2010
So I started my reduction from 10mg down to 7.5mg and it is my 3rd day. I am already experiencing headaches very bad between my eyes and this morning the tingling in my left arm and hand started. Any other suggestions besides what I am taking naturally?
markricha...13 Aug 2010
Hello, I was on Lexapro (weaned off of Paxil with it) for about 5months and never showed any signs of weight gain, but im sure it all depends on the person whos taking the medicines' body make-up.
I did notice myself to be sleepy and more attached to my bed but I have to say my ANXIETY was 120% GONE.
Be sure to check out my best friends new site www.itakemeds.com for more stories and advice on Lexapro and other SSRI's! Hope this helps, :)
angi12316 Aug 2010
When I was prescribed Lexapro 2 years ago, I was having alot of anxiety, panic attacks, which was wierd since I had never had a problem with anxiety, just depression. I was a size 4... 2 years later I am a size 10! I could not figure out if it was the Lexapro (I was only on 10mg) or my Hashimotots causing this excessive weight gain, the funny thing is I am also on ADD medication, Vyvance, that was the reason I was a size 4,(my normal weight is generally size 8). It was nice to lose so much weight without trying for once ya know but I know it wasn't healthy weightloss, now my new medication regiem is Vyvance, Pristique(dropped the lexapro),Armour Thyroid, and Lunesta. Still, have not lost a single pound, I'm frustrated. I know I may not be considered Obese, but I just keep putting on the weight. I think Lexapro may have caused me to gain some weight, but I also know two people who lost some weight. I know Ughh, so frustrating!
jaws518 Sep 2010
Please check out this thread regarding withdrawals from Lexapro:
http://www.drugs.com/forum/featured-conditions/lexapro-withdrawal-24681.html
Read some of the horrific withdrawal stories before you take it.
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I use to take Lexapro for my depression and anxiety. It helped me alot but it took at least 2 wks before it to set in. I was happier always laughing!!! even boost my sex drive again!! However, I did begin to notice that my weight did go down some. but it went back up then down. it never stayed the same.I wasn't worried about the weight. It was never to much or to little. I thought I looked good and had a personality.
It helped me lose weight. I was Zoloft for 6 months and it gave me cravings. I don't have them on either Celexa or Lexapro for anxiety. They were all about as effective for anxiety which is par. You have to try SSRIs until you find which suits you best. It doc said in a nutshell it all comes down to patient preference when it comes to SSRI's. One will seem to agree with you more.