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?
Question posted by Valatron on 30 Sep 2009
Last updated on 27 June 2023
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
89 Answers Page 4
efgslg
1 March 2013
I have been on Celexa for around a year and have gained 30 plus pounds. I have cut calories to 1200 a day and exercise at least 3 times a week. I have been to a dietician and have not lost any weight. My moods are very stable so I assume that is why is hasn't bothered me until my daughter told me I looked like i was about to have a baby. I weigh more now than I did after I had my second child. I talked with my provider today and we are going to take me off slowly and see if something else will help without gaining weight. Hopefully I will start to loose the weight soon. I can't stand how I feel and I have to buy stretchy pants or I can't bend over...
tonyab
27 April 2013
I gained 40 pounds over a few years total and I was 100 to begin with a 4'10 so it was bad... they didnt relate the two cause it snuck up but i stopped taking it and lost the 40 pounds in 4 to 5 months.. I cant believe I spent 10 years like that... never again.. but not having it is hard.. its weighing the pros and cons... i am thinking buspirone since it has less side effects but still iffy??
jenndon
20 Feb 2013
i have been on citalopram for a year now and i have gained 30 pounds..i only take 10 mil a day..i have been having memory loss,weight gain,feeling nomb,just fell like i cant get through a day without being tired..so i decided to stop taking this to see what happens..it has help with mood swings and anxitey but i cant live like this anymore.
Shaktigirl
5 Oct 2018
Hi Jenndon, Been on Celexa for 8 months (20ml). Same symptoms. The weight gain, however, didn't happen until this past month-suddenly and it floored me. I'm 69 and never worried too much about my weight as I've stayed around 128-132 for the last decade. In the last 3 weeks I shot up to 142 which horrified me. Ten pounds took me out of my current wardrobe! My eating habits did not change (contrary to popular thought about SSRIs). Exercise stayed the same and I cannot unload the pounds. Although my anxiety decreased I've had vertigo for the last two months, I can't remember a damn thing without writing it down and I have zero motivation and energy. I feel like a slug. For a previously high energy person, this sucks. Please note: I do not recommend this to anyone (because we are all different), but I'm tapering off because the weight and other side effects create worse anxiety for me. I am in therapy which I respect and will continue.
I figure I have only so many years left and I do not want to spend them dragging ass and going to sleep at nine, waking up at nine.
brighid
10 Feb 2013
I am so glad I found this forum!!! I have been on Citalopram for about 2 years, at first I did not think my weight gain was due to it, but my doctor said I gained 8 lbs the first year on it. I was having trouble sleeping and she prescribed doxepin to help and I blew up! I gained about 30 pounds in about 4 months!!! I had steadily gained weight with the citalopram but my doctor always told me that its not a common side effect, but I told her I was always hungry and could not stop binge eating. I mainly turned to sweets and ice cream for comfort but it did help with my anxiety, only to make me depressed about my weight gain. Absolutely none of my clothes fits me and I needed to buy bigger scrubs for work... scrubs are already a very lose uniform attire and I still couldn't fit into them! I haven't worn jeans in 4 months and I told my doctor that my weight gain was completely out of control.
She switched me to Wellbutrin and I have seen no difference in my weight... I just went up on the dose and we'll see how that goes. I am really glad that I am not alone in this... struggling with anxiety and depression is tough in itself, at least I have some hope now that since I stopped the Citalopram I will get back to my normal weight! Good luck everyone <3
P.S I only took the doxepin for a few weeks so I know the weight gain was mainly due to the Citalopram cause I stopped the doxepin and continued to gain. I hope this helped.
prettyfemaleparts
26 Jan 2013
Yeah. I've taken 20mg of Celexa per day for about one year and have noticed weight gain. I hovered around 160-165 lbs for about 5 years after college but since taking Celexa I have held a steady 175-180 lbs. I believe the main culprit is my impulsive appetite. More so than before taking the drug, I cannot control my impulsive eating, the urge to eat sweets and snacks feels at times uncontrollable. That, and I sweat a lot more. Those are my main side effects. But so far, I feel the benefits of less anxiety outweigh these effects.
robbi4564
16 Jan 2013
I am 40 mg celexa for 3 mos now
I noticed gained 8 lbs thats all has really helped with my depression. Issues alot
I have puffy eyes too
I use ice mask in morning
And brewed tea bags at night that really helps mine
Good luck to you
bestmimi
16 Jan 2013
I've been on citalopram since 01/2010. (3 yrs.) When I first started citalopram I didn't notice a real weight gain but my body was not the same either. I have always been into fitness and healthy eating. I maintained a healthy weight for 50 years. (53.7 yrs now). After four months on the medicine my clothes were getting tight. I started to do pilates, as well as my usual walking routine. I added muscle and just got 'thicker". I never weight myself, I just go by how my clothes fit. I contributed to, maybe, entering menopause, but I was still getting my period every 28 days. Four months into my new exercise routune, I missed a period. (hooray) The following month it came with "venegance"!
I didnt exercise that week and got out of the habit. In two months I went from a size 6-8 to a size 12!
People were shocked at my appearance. I've maintained a size 10-12 since even though I've tried to at least fit comfortably in a 10. My body will not cooperate! I know size 10 is not bad but I'm 5'4 and small boned so I look stocky and chubby. My boobs are huge 40D, I used to be 36B. To top it all off I still get a period every freakin 28 days. I thought it was middle age and not exercising as much. This is the first time I ever associated this med with my weight gain! Thank you, I'm calling my doctor today!
cbs55
16 Jan 2013
Sounds like me when I was on it. I never changed eating habits. I even tried to eat less and healthier and exercise and couldn't get the weight off. When I first started citalopram I was around 135. I steadily gained weight and got up to just over 150. I was horrified! The only thing I'm kind of missing not being on it is the anti-anxiety effect it had. I'm finding myself more anxious than before. I got some as-needed stuff to take for the bad times, so I should be good.
SMOOCHIE3
15 Jan 2013
OMG, I can't believe how many people have gained weight with Celexa. I am freaking out here. I have been on it since last summer and have gained at least 10 pounds. I am overweight as it is, like I needed any more help. I am seriously calling my doctor. I am only taking it for help with PMDD! It has helped with that but I would rather deal with that then gain any more weight.
Gunshotglitter
16 Jan 2013
I read through all the comments on weight gain and I have been on Celexa for about 5 years. I have not experienced any weight gain at all. W/ that said, I am an avid boxer I eat healthy and I work w/ my medication such as, making lists accomplishing tasks having goals it is very important you work with your Celexa it will work better, eat healthy. If you were depressed or had anxiety issues perhaps you were not eating right to begin with. Just remember to limit bread, drink lots of water and choose fruits and veggies first or nuts. Don't eat McDonalds or pints of Ice Cream. xoxo
robbi4564
27 Nov 2012
I have been on celexa 6 wks have not noticed weight gain it makes my tummy upset do not want to eat
But doc says as it starts to get in my system side effects will subside
And when meds work i think we eat better when we happy
Good luck to you
cbs55
27 Nov 2012
Well, here's an update since I went off citalopram and started bupropion 150 mg twice a day... so far since the end of June I have lost 8-10 pounds. I'm not as sleepy as I was on citalopram and I have more energy to do things. I don't have the "numb" feeling as far as emotions go. I also tend to eat less as well. Now I am definitely convinced it was the Celexa (citalopram) causing the weight gain.
rhnhsh
26 Nov 2012
Ive been on it for 1 1/2 mnths now and I have had a huge weight gain and no matter what I do I cant lose it. Is there anything out there that doesnt cause weight gain. Ive been diagnosed with high anxiety and panic attacks.
Zumba3
5 Nov 2012
I am so glad I found this site i have been having headaches , swelling, weight gain , I'm so tired no engery for nothing .. Celexa has helped me with my mood swings but I feel like crap all the time .. I need something else anyone know anything ? I have no sex drive its awful !!!
alexisglover
27 Oct 2012
No not at all I'm on 40mg
Phildo
16 Feb 2018
We seem to be in the minority here.
brendab1
26 Oct 2012
Hello! I've just joined and have to admit I'm suprised by how many women experience the same symptoms I do. I am currently taking Celexa and have noticed alot of weight gain. It really sucks!!! I don't want to stop taking my medications but want to lose weight. It is very frustrating on what to do and when I ask my doctor, I'm told its "middle age spread". Well that's not acceptable!!!
mebl41
25 Oct 2012
I have been on Celexa about 10 months and have gained ~8 pounds. I have recently had significant swelling/edema of my upper eyelids to the point where my eyelids are "hooded." Not sure if either of these are related to Celexa, but they only add to my anxiety...
Melissalives
24 Oct 2012
Hi I have been on the wellbutrin for 14 days now while I was weaning off the celexa and after I was done taking that and using Wellbutrin alone, I started to have panic attacks, nervousness, insonmia, and fast to anger for no reason. I wanted off the celexa because of weight gain. It did make me sleepy. I have now asked my Doc to give me 10mg of celexa(was taking 20mg) and 150mg of wellbutrin(for energy and to hope help with weight loss).I started that today and for some reason I already better. Try them both together if ur doc will allow cause wellbutrin helps with weight loss and the celexa helps with anxiety-irritability. Good luck
Related topics
celexa, wellbutrin, depression, weight loss (obesity/overweight), agitation, weight
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