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?
Question posted by sashaw9589 on 30 June 2010
Last updated on 26 May 2024 by Boneappletea
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.
113 Answers Page 4
Boneappletea
25 Nov 2017
I was on Lexapro (for anxiety) for apprx. 6 months. I was consistently 112 lbs for YEARS and always struggled gaining weight no matter what I ate or what I did. While on Lexapro, I gained about 13 lbs.. after stopping about 3.5 months ago, I gained an additional 7 lbs. - now weighing 132!!
I stopped because it wasn't worth it - my health was out of control (blood pressure raised, crazy acid reflux, nausea, etc.) because of this hard weight gain. So much in such a short period of time.
It has been so difficult maintaining my weight and losing weight/stubborn belly fat even after stopping. I thought that after I stopped, my body would go back to normal... not the case. I regret starting Lexapro because I feel like my body has changed for good.
Saphire18
22 Nov 2017
I have only been on Lexapro for one month and I've gained 17 pounds! That is absolutely ridiculous! I was on Prozac before that and didn't gain a pound. I have not changed my eating habits or activity so there is no reason to gain that much weight in one month!
Christine1966
30 Oct 2017
I have been on lexapro for about 4 months and have gained 12 pounds. I am 51 and was a normal weight of 147 which I was happy with. Now no matter how hard I try I can’t lose the weight. Being in menopause doesn’t help me either. I even had thermasculpt done and that didn’t work!
Sssmarks
19 Oct 2017
I have always been lean and have a very healthy weight. I was put on Lexapro by a new doctor and although it initially helped me with my anxiety I gained around 50 pounds (in 9 months) all around my stomach, waist, hips and chest. Was taking it a few months and noticed my dress since jumped up dramatically. I only took it for 9 months and then decided to come off it, even my doctor agreed to come off with the extreme weight gain. Horrible drug and wouldn't recommend anyone to take it, finally losing some weight now but still have at least 35 pounds to lose.
Jessrogersssss
16 Oct 2017
I have! I have just come off it after gaining10kg
Inactive
24 Sep 2017
I gained 22 pounds from taking lexapro. This is a fact. It gave me carb cravings. It raised my cortisol levels. I was taking it for anxiety. The weight gain caused me to become depressed. I got off lexapro. My depression went away. I lost the weight. I spent all that time trying to overcome anxiety, and ended up exacerbating my problem, having to overcome the depression, weight gain, and anxiety caused by this "placebo" effect medication, other than being very effective at causing bad side effects. I am in a much better place now. I lost the weight rapidly after coming off the lexapro. I would never take lexapro again! It increased my anxiety while I was on it. I didn't even mention all the other crappy side effects I had to put up with while on it either, of which there were many! I feel so much better now., without it.
I hope others will just take my personal experience into consideration before starting on this medication. So many people have had trouble while on it and didn't get the relief they were seeking.
Kiwi29
22 Sep 2017
I took Lexapro for about 9 months and gained around 7lbs (this is a lot for me as I am 5'1" and only weighed 98lbs when I started - I have always been petite). Enough to go up a full clothes size.
I was on 10mg for the first month or so and gained little to no weight. Once I upped my my dose to 15mg (the 10mg wasn't working), I felt fantastic but was slowly gaining 1lb a month and it showed no signs of stopping. I run regularly, tried all kinds of diets and calorie deficits just to stall the gain, but could not. I just kept gaining. It was ridiculous. I'm the type of person who loses weight quickly with a few weeks of healthy eating and exercise, but I could not get rid of these lbs. Also, I gained all around my hips and midsection, which is unusual for me (I usually gain in my thighs).
I also had INTENSE carb and sugar cravings, which I had never experienced before (this was not "hmm, I feel like eating some cake," it was "I NEED THREE DONUTS, NOW!"). This made my efforts to lose weight and stop gaining any more excruciatingly hard at times.
I decided to stop Lexapro before I gained any more weight. I realise 7lbs isn't much, but I knew 7 would soon become 14, 20, and more. It was really disappointing because the medication worked wonders for my anxiety. In the end though, it wasnt worth the stress and torture of constantly wanting to binge on junk food, and never being able to lose a single lb.
I switched to Zoloft a month ago and weight loss started almost straight away after I stopped Lexapro. I have lost 3lbs so far with moderate exercise and healthy eating. My appetite is normal again. Zoloft isn't as effective at helping my anxiety yet (still adjusting my dose to find relief) but I hope it'll work in time.
I am convinced Lexapro did something to me from a hormonal/chemical perspective that changed how I metabolise food or burned fat... I've read it can raise cortisol and cause weight gain in some. Others have no weight gain at all. It all depends on the individual!
Inactive
24 Sep 2017
I gained 22 pounds on lexapro.
Bella82
27 Aug 2017
I honestly can't remember if I replied on here before but I have gained weight from taking Lexapro and I've been on it for a year and five months. Now before I started taking it I was an emotional mess. It got to the point where I could not go out without having anxiety that I stopped going out.
It was rough when I first started taking it as well and I waited for it to work. That was my problem. I expected for it to work right away. It took a while and some work but I started to go out to stores. It wasn't easy and sometimes it still isn't but I'm not sure if I would be ok now if I wasn't taking it.
The weight gain bothers me. But then again I was not in a good head space when I was 30 lbs lighter. It's a love hate thing. There has to be a balance somewhere. I just haven't found it yet.
WildcatVet
27 Aug 2017
Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Valium, etc.) are intended for short term use ~ 4 to 6 weeks ~ because they are habituating and highly addictive. They also cause depression, anxiety, serious sleep disturbances, memory loss, and dementia with extended use.
Heatherash14
27 Aug 2017
I started taking Lexapro in January, and I started noticing my weight was increasing. Despite going to the gym, the fact that I literally walked all day long because I'm in college so I walk all around campus, and then I worked as a camp counselor during the summer, I could not lose weight at all. I get gaining. I gained at least 15 pounds being on it, and if I wasn't so active and exercised, that number would be much higher. I don't recommend lexapro at all.
Inactive
7 Aug 2017
Regardless of if the figure is 10% or higher, of users gaining weight on this medication, or some feel that according to the "statistics," a much greater percentage do not have any weight gain on this medication, am I to assume from this large number of comments here stating having experienced weight gain while taking lexapro, I guess that a very large majority of people who gained weight while taking it have posted here? Because for a small # as 10%, then most all of that 10% or so must have read this question and felt the need to answer that they were one of the 10% who gained weight? I guess what I am trying to say is this: This seems like a lot of comments from people who have gained weight on lexapro, all lumped into one Q&A on this forum! P.S. For what it's worth, I gained a whopping 22 pounds while taking lexapro (unfortunately), and it came off quite fast after I quit taking it. I was one of the "unhappy" 10%!! Coincidence? IDK
WildcatVet
7 Aug 2017
Why would the happy, functional people who didn't gain weight (the +/- 90% of users) come back to this board to post a comment? They're busy with their lives, right?
Inactive
8 Aug 2017
I stay busy with my life whether a prescribed medication works for me or not. It's an ongoing process.
I have stayed around to post, whether the medication worked well for me or not, to help others who want an honest answer from personal experiences. It goes both ways here from what I can see. The experiences of others that I have read here have helped me also. Trying to make a point that I, and others, stay here to post and help others even when my meds are working successfully to share our success stories as well.
Inactive
8 Aug 2017
And I don't think that being happy and functional has to require gaining weight in the process. Time for a med change then.
WildcatVet
8 Aug 2017
Good for you!! The majority can certainly lend a positive note to the minority!
WildcatVet
8 Aug 2017
Or time for a priority check??
Inactive
8 Aug 2017
I don't need a priority check. Instead I found an antidepressant that works for me that doesn't involve gaining 22 pounds, or any amount of weight, while giving me relief. It's just a matter of a med change for some of us, and mine was successful. And I am one of the ones who is sticking around, and still here posting after finding a successful treatment.
WildcatVet
8 Aug 2017
How about the people who gain four pounds and go off their meds because OMG! Encourage them? Is this board turning into CrazyMeds?? :-)
Inactive
8 Aug 2017
IMO - there is a vast gap between putting on 4 pounds, as opposed to 22 pounds!! At 22 pounds, it's time to try a med that doesn't cause a large weight gain. This then possibly puts someone in the position to develop high blood pressure or metabolic syndrome, which could then lead to diabetes ll. Both conditions are well known to be exacerbated by excess weight gain. Those physical health conditions could be avoided by getting on another med that doesn't have as drastic effect on a person's system.
But let that person weigh their options and be knowledgable so as to know how to proceed. (Instead of finding out, after the fact, these conditions could be caused by lexapro, the antidepressant in question here, or another SSRI). Personally, I believe in being an informed patient and looking at all options ahead of time.
WildcatVet
8 Aug 2017
THAT is ENTIRELY my point!! Someone who gains 4 pounds should be told to chill out and get real, not be told the horror stories of the MINORITY.
WildcatVet
8 Aug 2017
Notice the original poster implied that reading the horror stories led her to believe that ALL users were doomed to*serious weight gain*. The MAJORITY of users who report weight gain report weight gain that is *medically insignificant* meaning it doesn't affect the patient's health. And the vast MAJORITY of users report NO weight gain.
So we're back to those who feel size 6 jeans are more important than their mental health. Sad, but oh, so true!
Inactive
9 Aug 2017
The original poster and her question is here copied and pasted:
~~~Home › Q & A › Questions › Has anyone used Lexapro for...
Has anyone used Lexapro for anxiety and gained weight?
Asked
30 Jun 2010 by sashaw9589
Active
22 hours ago
Topics
lexapro, paxil, obesity, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, weight, anxiety and stress
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?~~~
All I did was answer the poster's question honestly with what she asked for - my personal experience with lexapro, which involved a large amount of weight gain. My intent was not to scare her off. It was to answer her accurately. This is what she asked for. There are a lot of antidepressants available on the market today. It sounds like she is doing her research ahead of time, because she is concerned about gaining weight on this particular antidepressant. So, no, this is not "CrazyMeds". I gave an honest answer to a person who specifically asked about a particular antidepressant - Lexapro.
WildcatVet
7 Aug 2017
*Patients treated with Lexapro in controlled trials did not differ from placebo-treated patients with regard to clinically important change in body weight.*
Almost all antidepressants and antipsychotic medications can cause mild to moderate weight gain by changing the patient's metabolism and fat storage mechanisms. Diet and exercise can only affect this gain to a slight degree.
The keywords are *clinically important*. Most weight gain caused by psychotropic drugs, while probably distressing to the patient, is purely cosmetic and not a threat to the patient's overall health.
It's a choice to be made: mental health and happiness or size 6 jeans.
Coxjjune
7 Aug 2017
I have been on Lexapro for about 3 months I've gained about 13#'s with exercise and eating mostly well. I've talked to my Dr she keeps telling me it's not the prescription. I'm.not convinced.
Cardeno
26 July 2017
I have been on this medication for 6 months due to a traumatic event that made me very depressed. I've gain 15 pounds in 6 months, that is crazy for me since I've always being very worried about my weight. I started to slowly go off of the medication and I've been feeling ok specially since in 1 week I already lost 5 pounds since going lower on my dose.
Inactive
27 July 2017
Lastly as a board certified therapist with a doctoral degree and 16 years of experience. Vs a guy on multiple psych meds (over 12) that apparently work for him. ( which is good). Good for him. Lexapro can make people gain weight. If weight is not a factor, take it. Some people don't gain weight. I lost my wife. Went from 6'2 155, to 6'2 218. Exercis and no chants with Eating, the same. I gained weight. The thread talked about gaining weight. I gained weight. Been off it a year. Now weigh 150. Take it as it is. But be suspicious of people with personality disorders doing exactly what people with personalities do. Making up stories to feel important and spend their life tim on forums like this trying to seem so important. Education is education , being loud in s being loud. Lexapro can make you gain significant weight. But still see your me for alternative options.
Inactive
27 July 2017
Lastly as a board certified therapist with a doctoral degree and 16 years of experience. Vs a guy on multiple psych meds (over 12) that apparently work for him. ( which is good). Good for him. Lexapro can make people gain weight. If weight is not a factor, take it. Some people don't gain weight. I lost my wife. Went from 6'2 155, to 6'2 218. Exercis and no chants with Eating, the same. I gained weight. The thread talked about gaining weight. I gained weight. Been off it a year. Now weigh 150. Take it as it is. But be suspicious of people with personality disorders doing exactly what people with personalities do. Making up stories to feel important and spend their life tim on forums like this trying to seem so important. Education is education , being loud in s being loud. Lexapro can make you gain significant weight. But still see your me for alternative options.
Inactive
27 July 2017
Cardino... Please look into Wellbutrin. Has a weight loss effect for most people.
WildcatVet
27 July 2017
Yes, some people are loud and feel they must boast their credentials and cast accusations to prove their expertise and veracity.
Cardeno
27 July 2017
Hamburglerguy, thank you I'll look into that. I successfully have been off Lexapro for about 2 weeks and I'm feeling fantastic, actually now I know what it was causing for me to want to sleep all the time. I'm not tired anymore and have more energy. I also have lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks.
I have always been very small so that's why I was worried. I was a size 1 and weight 110 which is ok because I'm only 5,4" and went to size 3 and 125 pounds in only 6 months and I was doing my regular exercise routine and eating healthy as always. I didn't like that I felt heavy and that caused me a lot of anxiety again and mood swings oh and I haven't mentioned that I didn't have any sex desire at all.
SuzieMac49
27 July 2017
I was recently, prescribed Lexapro for insomnia, and GAD. I have been on it a week; so far no relief from the insomnia, but I have already gained 4 pounds!
I asked my Doctor before she prescribed it and she said "no" to weight gain with no logical explanation otherwise... Forget "tradefoffs"; I don't see any benefit and can't afford a new wardrobe. I'm getting off this stuff !!
WildcatVet
27 July 2017
It's sad that people consult a doctor and then refuse to follow that doctor's advice. Do some research on your medication and weigh the pros and cons with some factual information to use for reference.
Tens of millions of patients use psychiatric medications to live a full, productive, happy life. They can't all be wrong, can they?
WildcatVet
19 July 2017
Don't believe everything you read! Less than 10% of users experience ANY side or discontinuation effects. You might if you're in that small minority but 90% of users are doing just fine.
I've been on over a dozen psych medications over the years and never gained an ounce on any of them. In fact, I lost weight on a few that are supposedly notorious for weight gain.
Inactive
25 July 2017
This is your response to the medications. People have different responses to medicines. Having a graduate degree in human medical science I know a little about research and a lot of these studies are only 6 to 8 weeks. The people who experience the weight gain are usually on the medications for over 6 months. And the research I have access to says 25% have weight gain. So let people describe their own experiences. It's great to hear you have no weight gain on so many psych meds
WildcatVet
25 July 2017
That's exactly what I'm doing. The horror stories you read on boards like this are preventing many people from enjoying mental health ~ on medications ~because they don't realize that the vast majority of users tolerate their meds with great benefits with few, if any, side effects.
Unfortunately, those people are too busy living their lives to comment and balance out the reviews. Let's have some actual facts and statistics here, please.
Inactive
26 July 2017
The thread is about weight gain. I think that is why most people who respond are explaining their own personal life experience on Lexapro. I don't think anyone said everyone gains weight. Cheers
WildcatVet
26 July 2017
As someone with a degree in medicine you should be familiar with negative reinforcement. According to THIS board and others like CrazyMeds EVERYONE who goes near any drug will have severe side effects.
My point being, personal experiences are fine to tell but let's have some reality. You know as well as I that thousands of people are suffering needlessly because they've been made afraid by pure bias and negative personal experiences should not supercede professional advice.
Inactive
27 July 2017
Reality is personal experiences. I'm not discounting your experiences. But the fact is, some people have uncontrolled weight gain of on this medication. I read another thread on another website from you. Sounds like you have more than anxiety and depression. Possibly a personality disorder? As a lice ended therapist. Stop misleading people.
Inactive
27 July 2017
Just stop generalizing your experience to everyone else's. So uneducated. That being said, people with depression issues should seek help. Not from the advice of me, or wildcat vet. Talk to your doctor about possible side effects. Don't put all straws on someone who has been the n multiple psyche meds.
Inactive
27 July 2017
And lastly. I have no more need to respond to this guy. But there are many, many, many reports on this thread of weight gain. But yet, he has some Devine information that disproves all of our stories. Based on his own personal experience. But he has been on '12' meds. Makes you wonder why 12? I guess his meds haven't been so effecrive. Lol 12 meds. Stop giving medication advice. Just fix yourself.
Inactive
27 July 2017
And lastly. I have no more need to respond to this guy. But there are many, many, many reports on this thread of weight gain. But yet, he has some Devine information that disproves all of our stories. Based on his own personal experience. But he has been on '12' meds. Makes you wonder why 12? I guess his meds haven't been so effecrive. Lol 12 meds. Stop giving medication advice. Just fix yourself.
WildcatVet
27 July 2017
Feeling a bit manic? Off meds?
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lexapro, paxil, weight loss (obesity/overweight), anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, weight, anxiety and stress
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