Has anyone used Lexapro for anxiety and gained weight?

Yes, and I don’t have a scale so I don’t know exactly how much but I just sort of felt bloated and gross and out of sorts. It’s common with many mental health medications. I stopped it because I felt gross and any benefits I derived were very much overshadowed by how gross I felt, and the issues I was having with myself self image. I hate that my feeling of self-worth is so tied to my body image, but it is.

I took Lexapro for over 20 years. I also did Keto diet so weight was not a problem. I had to quit Lexapro because it gave me QT prolongation (heart rhythm). If you are female (males are protected by testosterone) and over 65 years old, Lexapro may not be for you (see the prescription insert or look online). The QT issue is well known.

@masso.
Silly site won't let me post comments...
Thanks for the greeting! Just had a brief little medical detour... all better now.
Take care and good to hear from you!

LEXAPRO - Common (1% to 10% of users): Decreased appetite, increased appetite, weight increased, weight decreased
PAXIL - Common (1% to 10% of users): Decreased appetite, increased appetite, weight gain, weight loss

This means that 90 - 99% of users do not gain weight. These two medications are considered "weight neutral" because any potential weight change could go either way.
Something to remember is that the reviews you read are written by the minority who do experience a problem. The majority aren't going to sit down and write a review saying, "Golly, I've been taking Lexapro/Paxil and haven't gained an ounce." It probably doesn't even occur to them.
Wildcat
P.S., I've taken both medications for anxiety disorders and didn't gain an ounce on either.

Yes, I've been on it for about 7 years and gained 60 pounds. I just weaned off it because the weight gain is just too much and there is a significant cardiac history in my family.

Me and my husband just recently saw our doctor and he had to switch from Lexapro to another medication because his weight gain came in so fast and so hard that he has to start counting calories and watching his portions. You think Santa Claus has a tummy try taking some Lexapro.

Only 10% or less of users will potentially experience weight changes that can go either way:
Lexapro
Common (1% to 10% of users): Decreased appetite, increased appetite, weight increased
Uncommon (0.1% to 1% of users): Anorexia, weight decreased
Paxil
Common (1% to 10% of users): Decreased appetite, increased appetite, weight gain
Most, if not all, antidepressants have this potential. The comments you may read are written only by those who have gained weight... those users who don't have weight changes aren't apt to mention it.
Just for the record, I took escitalopram (Le3xapro) for over seven years and had no weight change at all.

I'm on 25 mgs of Lexapro. I am 36 yrs old... I have tried so many different antidepressant/mood stabilizers over the past 17 years. Lexapro has been the only one that has helped me A LOT. But as far as your question about weight gain .. I have gained some weight on it but I can't pinpoint if it's the Lexapro ALONE causing the weight gain. I was in my 20s the last time I was on it and didn't gain weight with it but now that I'm 36 yrs old I been gaining weight from, what I believe to be, different mental health medications and it seems like I just keep gaining. It's frustrating because if our mental health isn't stable then our whole world is out of whack, including our physical health. But if we take the mental health drugs prescribed to us so that we are mentally stable, then we gain weight... which can, at times, affect our health in other ways. It's like a double edged sword. But I still vote for being mentally stable first and foremost above all.

I have been on Lexapro for 14 months for anxiety related insomnia. It was so bad, I was afraid that I would take my own life. After 8 weeks with dose up to 20 mg, I found my sanity again, sleeping and enjoying life. But about 6 months in, I started to gain weight. I’m have been exercising for 30 years regularly, eating healthy with minimal alcohol intake. But no matter what I did , 10 hours a week at the gym, from strength training, Pilates, yoga, Zumba, plus Intermittent fasting…..going to bed hungry , still nothing. I have always been slim, so 10lbs is devastating to me, and it’s all in the middle .I hate looking at myself in the mirror. I’m an Asian woman but I’m now look like an Amazon woman….I finally asked my doc to take me off but I’m afraid that I won’t sleep again. So as of yesterday, I’m went on buspirone 5mg twice a day. Wish me luck

Oh yes! I gained 20-22 pounds after using Lexapro. Been on it for 8 years.

I have been on it for 4 years and I seem to gain 10 lbs a year. My eating habits have not changed for the worse I actually eat less now. I feel great mentally but not too happy with the weight gain.

I got on in 2015 and I’ve had five pregnancies since so I’m not sure how much is from that and how much from lexapro but I haven’t changed what I eat or my exercise. I am constantly active (mom life

I have been on it for years, it does not make you gain weight. If anyone does during that time, they are gaining due to something else & putting it on the lexapro cause most depression meds do cause weight gain. I actually just left a Dr appt and was discussing getting off of the lexapro b/c I don’t believe it’s working well for me any longer. And that was one of our main topics, weight gain. My dr.’s exact words were “Lexapro is one of the few that does NOT cause that.” I normally wouldn’t have commented on this if I hadn’t literally just spoke to my Dr. about that today. This is coming from a Dr. not the opinion of of others who have taken it. Even though I have been taking it and have had no weight gain from that particular medication. And I have tried almost everything. Unfortunately. Good luck!

Hello - I was on Lexapro 20 mg, I gained 35 lbs and felt worse on meds vs off. I was taking it for PMDD, I've been good for two years, now it's back in my life, and I feel terrible before my cycle. I went to the dr. e=and expressed, I will not take Lexapro (it did make my PMDD go away but ... ), so he recently put me on Citalopram 20 mg (I take 10mg because it's too strong for me.) I've lost weight on this meds, I feel like superwomen!! FYI - It's in the same medicine family. I totally recommend it!!!