Can Lexapro cause weight gain without changing diet?

It's clearly stated in the literature and on the Patient Information Sheet that comes with your prescription that Lexapro (and most other antidepressants) can cause EITHER weight gain or weight loss:

"Metabolic
Common (1% to 10% of users): Decreased appetite, increased appetite, weight increased"

I always do my due diligence BEFORE I take any medication including prescription, OTC, and "natural" supplements.

You have no idea what this drug has done to my life. I am 57 and never had a weight problem. My younger brother died two years ago and I had to take something for depression. The world had shut down and we all struggled. For the first time in my life I succumbed to take it. 75lbs later, I am horrified about my body, humiliated, none of my clothes fit, and now I need an anti depressant to get over the depression that came from this rapid weight gain. DO NOT DO THIS TO YOURSELF. I am weaning off, dangerously overweight, I feel horrible, my joints hurt, I would rather do anything than do this... I have to get this garbage out of my body. It is the worst decision I have ever let well meaning people talk me into.

I have been on Lexapro since 2016 and am now coming off of it since I’m TTC and I want to breastfeed, plus I’ve been very stable. Personally, I gained around 50lbs in that 5 and a half year period, due to Lexapro. Between the ridiculous carb cravings and what seems to be just regular changes to my metabolism, it’s been insane. I’d been trying to lose weight for three months, and I was stuck trying to get the same 600g off, but it kept coming back literally the next day, no matter what I did. I’m decently active most of the time and very active the rest, and when I’m reducing my food intake, it makes no sense that weight shouldn’t come off. It’s insane how stubborn my body has become, seemingly because of Lexapro. Here’s hoping that it starts sliding off now that I’m tapering off!

I have three kids. The last one was born when I was 35 and I’ve always lost the weight and maintained a weight between 125 and 130 pounds. I was on Lexapro for 30 days and gained 30 pounds. I didn’t change my eating I didn’t change my workout absolutely nothing changed except the medication. This was 12 years ago and I still can’t get the weight off. We eat healthy and I am more active than most 30-year-olds. I think the medication changed my metabolism. I think however I am an outlier in the amount of weight I gained in such a short time. When my psychiatrist asked if I was eating a lot I asked him if he understood how much a person had to eat to gain a pound a day For 30 days.

This is discouraging. I have been on the generic Lexapro for a few days and I can already feel calmer. I have not had any weight gain but I have noticed a difference in my appetite. I just figured I’d eat when I am hungry. I am overweight so I don’t want the problem to get worse. I will monitor and see how this goes.

yes and yes. I've been taking it for years. you simply have to weigh your options. If you really are unbelievably sad, don't quit this right now. I've gains 50 + pounds over 2 years and no, have not changed my diet. Annoys me that doctors say it doesn't cause weight gain. Clearly, it does. I'm off this medication for 1 week, and down one dress size. Being overweight doesn't help with your health either. Such a pill society. As now i have high blood pressure and vision problems. Taking another pill for that, isn't the solution when the cause of the problem is this!!! So, now I'm weaning off this, and trying to get to a happy medium, of reduced stress, good healthy diet with lots of fish, and good friends.

I'm so happy I found this thread. I was on Lexapro for just over a year and gained 30lbs. I've never in my life had an issue with weight. at 5'6" I was a constant 128lbs with no effort. While on Lexapro I felt wonderful in my brain, but the weight issue has been torture. I went from a size 6 to a size 10. On Lexapro, I also started to binge eat. Like, it was an urge I can't describe. I was also more complacent and satisfied with just staying home. I've slowly weened myself off of them (I recognize that I should have informed my doctor first ) simply because the weight gain is too much to bear. I hope this helps anyone who is looking for guidance.

I went off Lexapro in July and in a few months dropped 15 pounds! I take Effexor now and love it.

I’ve been on lexapro for nearly a year now and have gained around 20lbs. For the first three months that I was on 10mg I lost a few pounds. By the time we bumped me to 20mg, the weight started coming. I ate more, slept more, lost energy. My IBS got worse too. I even.. STARTED SMOKING again! The trad off isn’t worth it to me. I’d rather be grumpy than be morbidly obese. I’ll have to find something else. I crave carbs and sugars like CRAZY! Especially around that time of the month. I can see it in my husbands eyes when he sees me in the shower.. I really do look hideous compared to what I was. I was obese prior to this but still had my body shape. Now I look like a potato. I think I’ll request to stop this drug and get my seretonin the old fashioned way and work out... :’(

I was put on Lexapro due to a sustained depression that lasted 18 months. Within 3 months, I gained over 40 pounds. I know this because I was weighed at the doctor's at the time I was prescribed Lexapro and again weighed because I thought I had a dangerous health condition due to the massive swelling in my legs and feet that immediately took place. For my entire adult life (with the exception of pregnancy), I have weighed between 132 and 145 and have been very physically active, so a 40 pound weight gain was very disturbing. In addition to the the massive swelling, I also have tinnitus. From my limited research, there anti-depressants that do not cause weight gain, such as Wellburtin. I would suggest that you ask many questions about the many potential side-effects before starting Lexapro. I wish you the best of luck.

Wow! I'm REALLY glad I found my way to this page. I've been on Lexapro, 20mg, since last year and have been slowly gaining weight - about 12 to 15 pounds. I joined Weight Watchers and started a cardio exercise program, but NOTHING is helping. I even contacted my doctor with my concerns - I go to see her in 3 weeks. I think I will ask to switch to Zoloft or Wellbutrin. This is ridiculous! I was getting very concerned and my pants just continue to get tighter.

I gained around 55 pounds in 7 months on Lexapro. It turned me into a binge eating zombie. I am furious the doctor prescribed me that monstrous drug and never told me the true side effects. Be very mindful of excessive weight gain. I'm off it now almost 12 months and have lost all the weight thank goodness and not taking anything just lots of exercise, good healthy food and 8 hours sleep a night, good routine sorted me out not medication.

I've been on Lexapro for a year and have gained 40ibs. I am completely and totally discouraged as I have NEVER had an issue with weight. In fact I've always been extremely fit and loved my body... until now. I'm on a low almost nonexistent carb diet and consume NO sugar. I only drink tea and water and am at the gym EVERY SINGLE DAY yet the scale does not move. Lexapro has helped me tremendously but I'm not sure how much longer I can take this weight. This is just my own personal experience. I wish you the absolute best!!!

I wanted to clarify that it took literally *years* on Lexapro for me to have any real problems with weight gain. The scary thing was when, after 10 years or so, I could not lose the weight by cutting back on calories as I'd always done before.
I have heard that it is typical for Lex to not cause weight problems until it's been used long-term, and that was my experience.
But if the stuff is what you need to stay sane, stay on it!