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 6
Nikkiwth
24 June 2010
im been taking celexa for a while but i always stop nd thn start again and now it feels like its not working could this b because of me stopping then starting it again?
Shaktigirl
5 Oct 2018
I believe there is a proven risk with stopping and restarting SSRIs, that being, they may not have the original effect.
nan5775
26 May 2010
I switched from Paxil to Celexa... have been on Celexa for 9 days now, and I am hungry ALL the time, even after I eat a full meal, I feel like I'm starving! I already have a weight issue of +40lbs IF i gain more weight I will become more depressed!!! HELP!!!
Psych nurse
9 March 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.
sapphire2011
25 Feb 2017
I am a Psychiatric Nuse as well... you made important points.
Sapphire
taylorml02
23 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.
teal
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???
lexx0899
20 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.
jdoggt
29 Jan 2010
yes unfortunatly that is one of the side effects it makes you eat more.but i solve that problem i started taking it at night.you know cause when your asleep you dont eat..by the next morning i had my regular appetite..give it a try
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
Cheryl Mon
24 Aug 2016
Thanks for the suggestion... I am going to start citalopram & I was wondering IF I should take it in the morning or before bedtime.
teal
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;
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, feeling unsteady, loss of coordination; or
headache, trouble concentrating, memory problems, weakness, confusion, hallucinations, fainting, seizure, shallow breathing or breathing that stops.
Less serious Celexa side effects may include:
drowsiness;
sleep problems (insomnia);
mild nausea, gas, upset stomach;
weight changes;
urinating more than usual;
decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm;
dry or watery mouth, yawning; or
cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.
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.
Zumba3
5 Nov 2012
I also asked about weight gain an was told it was fine I also have night sweats so bad it's terrible ! Food when I can't stop I am so mad !!!
Cheryl Mon
24 Aug 2016
Hi there, I would seriously worry about your diet you told us about in your post. It is,VERY poor, VERY unhealrhy. You don't want to get diabetes.
fragile1
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. At least having that anxiety and/or feeling depressed over putting on some weight, we can always find an answer or solution in doing something about it, ie; diet/exercise/walking, etc. As we all have experienced/experiencing with the depression/anxiety, we all could only hope for an answer/solution to feeling better and being able to lead a productive life for ourselves as well as the people who love and care about us and hurt along with us in having to witness the pain and fight we struggle with on a daily basis. Hope one could find some comfort as well as a little humor in what I've written. I'm right there with you all . Best of luck~
Miller9810
20 Jan 2017
I have been on Celexa for 1 week. My appetite has increased. I am a diabetic and blood sugar is high.
Tingaling
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...
Evabella
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 withdrawal 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
14 May 2012
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?
kellyjm1121
17 July 2017
I have been on Celexa 20 mg for seven years and every year I have gained 8 lbs so I started at 207 and now weigh 265. I didn't realize that it might be the drug until a few days ago after I started researching belly fat and realized my liver maybe full of toxins due to the drug and that maybe why I'm exercising and starving myself fat! I swear I am the most fit fat person you know! There is no way to get rid of the weigh gain. I have tried and tried. I am now considering going off the Celexa and hoping the doctor can give me something that works and doesn't cause this. I took Lexapro before but had to stop because I could not afford it and my insurance company would not cover it. It was working great and I was slim and trim. Now that I think back I gained the first part of my weight on Zoloft and this last 58 lbs on Celexa.
cmp5
19 Oct 2017
I have been on this drug for several years. Over the span of its use, I have gained 60 pounds but I can only partially blame the medication. I have been a high-carb type and have also gone through menopause. My "take" on this is that perhaps the celexa/citalopram may have changed my metabolism slightly but it may have changed anyway. A few years ago I tried losing weight and found it really difficult even though I was eating well. I have just weaned myself off the drug and am taking a holistic approach to maintain my mood. The literature seems to suggest that for mild depression, exercise, meditation, healthy eating, etc. are just as effective but I would not recommend that to someone who has just gone on the drug. I would rather be overweight and happy than perfect weight and sitting home in my "black hole". My suggestion would be to eat slightly less to accomodate for the drug but that is an unqualified opinion, to be sure.
bailey06
4 Nov 2009
I also gained weight and could not lose it. I exercised daily, cut calories in half and now went no carbs or sugar and couldn't lose the weight. Discussed w/ dr. and she had me try Wellbutrin and that made me so sick. Too afraid now to try buspirone.
tonyab
14 May 2012
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..
Pandagirl
6 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!
gypsyrose1971
11 Oct 2012
Just hang in there, it will take some getting use to, but you also need to work on holding back on what you eat. The weight gain may still be part of the depression, but only you can change your eating habits if you want to.the celexa will work on the depression and you might have to take it forever but it will change your outlook on life. It is best to take it at bed time that way you will be under the covers and you will not want to get up to eat.
fragile1
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-
Valatron
23 Feb 2010
I have been increased from 20 to 30 mg. I have actually lost 5 lbs but have really been working out (3x week) and watching my snacks. I think if you're mindful of what you eat and become more active, you will begin to lose weight too. Good luck!
angie46
24 Oct 2012
OMG !! thank you !! I am not the only one that cares not to compound myself with even more self-esteem issues (weight gain) !! I can't say anything about celexa, but seroquil is doing a number on my weight and don't know how to stop it.. I have gotten to the point of cutting it wayyyy back at the expense of feeling anxious, so as to balance the mayor increase in my weight. Thank you all !! I feel validated that its not only me who worries about all the weight gain. Love to all
Angie
Kara L48
15 Jan 2013
I also started gaining Celexa gave me a horrendous appetite plus cravings the whole time I was on it I have just recently stop it after two years and that has gone away.
Cheryl12
18 Jan 2013
Actually since I have been on Celexa I have lost an extreme amount of weight. Have had a lot going on in my life the past year so I'm sure that has a lot to do with my weight loss also.
Related topics
celexa, wellbutrin, depression, weight loss (obesity/overweight), agitation, weight
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