Has anyone used Lexapro for anxiety and gained weight?

I gained 20 pounds on lexapro. It gave me carb cravings, and as a result of that, belly bloat. I was hungry all the time. I quit taking lexapro, for that side effect and several more side effects, which I will go into if someone asks. I lost 22 pounds after I quit taking lexapro. I am absolutely 100% sure that it was the lexapro that caused the rapid weight gain.
"G"

I took Lexapro for almost 5 years and never gained an ounce. In clinical trials <10% of patients gained weight of any clinical significance.

I've been on Lexapro for a year now and I have gained 20 lbs since. I believe it is the drug because my eating habits are fairly constant and though I don't work out often, I did not usually work out in the past either. I went from a size 0 to a size 4.

Hi I surely gained weight on lexapro in a short time it didnt work on my depression or anxiety after close to 8 weeks so now I switched to paxil I'm on day 6 and still am constantly hungry wouldn't b so horrific if I got fat And happy but so fAr just getting fat lol

I usually weigh 95 lb and now 125 !!! And its in my belly. Doess it go away after ur off of it?

Yes but no weight gain instead i felt like i wasnt real... worst feeling in the world!

I gained 50lbs. I worked on construction took 3 shirts to work because I sweat like a pig with this never before smell coming from me. It also gave me terrible breath . Also had trouble ejaculating .. Other then that it worked great for me...

I'm 53, been in menopause for 6 years, and recently started Lexapro for depression. I've been taking it for 5 months and noticed gradual weight coming on. I'd been at the same healthy weight for 10 months prior to starting this drug. I started on 10mg for 12 weeks and noticed a small weight gain of 2 lbs. Because I still had symptoms of depression my dose was adjusted to 20mg. I've been taking this dose for 5 weeks and have jumped up another 6 lbs!! Some of it in just the last two weeks!! Now after reading all of the posts on different forums on this site I'm scared to keep taking it, and frightened to stop. Like many of you have mentioned it has helped my depression, but like many others on this site, the weight gain is not helping my self esteem. The weight gain in mostly in my abdominal area and chest. What a bummer. Wish the pharmaceutical companies could come up with something better.

When I just started taking lexapro, i weighed 100 lbs. 5 years of taking lexapro, I now weigh 160 lbs. I don't want to blame my weight gain all on lexapro, but I'm sure lexapro had something to do with some of my weight gain.

Yes!! I have gained about 30lbs since starting but I'm starting to loose it now. Just try to start a walking routine or something to get active so you don't gain much. I wish I would've done it in the beginning. However, I love Lexapro. It has really helped with my anxiety. I have been on and off of it for about 5 years now. I would say be careful when you stop taking it. I didn't have any physical reactions but I had major mood swings. Definitely go slow. Good luck!

I've been taking Lexapro for 10 years. From someone whose taken all of the SSRI's, I would say Lexapro works very well. However, within the first year, I gained 100 lbs. The weight gain is a depressant in itself. Because of this, I've tried to stop taking Lexapro on several occasions without my doctors knowledge. Everytime I try, even with a very slow
taper, I've experienced moderate to downright incapacitating withdrawal symptoms. The latter being after the first two days. I experienced migraines, body aches, vomiting, brain zaps and dizziness. Ive often thought if I could just get away from my family and not be
relied on for about 2 weeks, I would check onto a hotel and stay I'm bed until the dark clouds have past.

I was put on Lexapro 10mg in February 2011 for anxiety after marriage break up, car crash, work stress, among other things. I'm 5'4'' and was always an athletic, slim 135lb woman, but have put on 12lbs in four months since I started on Lexapro. My clothes don't fit me any more. Most of the weight is around my waist, but I always had a flat stomach. I'm back to doing the same amount of exercise I always did, but I always feel hungry, I am craving carbohydrates (I never did before) and I never feel full. I want to come off it as the weight gain is starting to get me down, it's affecting my joints when I run, and I can't afford to buy a new size-bigger wardrobe-worth of clothes. I am so glad that others are posting their experiences of weight gain - the manufacturers will try to play down this side effect, given that it is a serious issue for so many people. Keep posting people! XX

I started taking Lexapro for Depression & Anxiety, I recommed NOT taking this medicene I gained seious weight, and I'm currently trying to quit taking it if you can do not quit Cold Turkey its awful! But I do not take Paxil just Lexapro, and wouldn't want anyone to take this medicene!

Yes most SSRI's like Paxil, Zolft,Prozac, Lithium, ,Celexa, Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Seroquel, and Zyprexia will make you gain weight. Especially Zyprexia for me, I would sleep for almost 24 hours and when I got up , I felt so hungry that I could eat the paint chips off the wall.
I was on so many of those meds when I was younger, like Risperdol, and Nuerontin/ Gapabentin. used for seizures and nerve damage also works as a Pshyco -somatic drug as well as for things like this,It's not uncommon at all.
It is only Natural to gain weight while on these kinds of Medications.
The MedicATION THEMSELVES ADD ON POUNDS, AND ON TOP OF THAT ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS EAT SOMETIMES, NO MATTER even if you don't even like it , youll find yourself eating strange things.

Yes I gained about 60 pounds. And before Lexapro I had never had a weight problem. .