Has anyone used Lexapro for anxiety and gained weight?

I am on day 7 of quitting lexapro cold turkey. I was on 20 mgs a day. One of the reasons was the weight gain. I was 120 lbs before starting and now I am 165 lbs. I have been on lexapro for about 4-5 years. Drugs react differently for everyone. Before going cold turkey, I read the threads and was scared to death, but tried anyway. I have had no withdrawal symptoms except a migraine a couple of days ago. So, just because most people on these treads post negative remarks does mean everyone will have the same affect. I just wanted to give some people hope and not scare them that withdrawling may not be as aweful as most threads state.

I've been on lexapro for about 5 years and have gained around 35 lbs. over that time period. It definitely helped my anxiety attacks and depression but I've been dropping the dosage very slowly from 20 to 10 and now trying 5. It seems time to try life without it!

I've been on it for one year.I went from 160 to 190.

I was on Lex for 5 years and didn't gain a pound. I maintained my same weight and clothing size the entire time and I loved being on it! It really worked wonders for me.

Yes < I have found the same thing hap[en to me. My weight was totally normal , until I started getting huge headaches, and started , the antipdepressants. I went to the gym to loose it and found it took a lot of patiense and self control .

Have been on Lexapro since beginning of 2010. Didn't realise there was a connection between it and weight gain but myself have gained approx 12 kilos ( 22lb) and find it very hard to get motivated to exercise more. Perhaps that is part of the issue. Feel like I am always slightly off balance and have a disconcerting fog around my mind. I guess this to suppress anxiety symptoms but am wondering if the Lexapro is not the answer. Now I find out the withdrawal has huge issues.

I have! I've been taking it for approximately 3yrs and will admit that it helped somewhat with the anxiety. I went from a size 7/8 to my current 11/12. I decided that I'm going to stop taking it and am slowly weaning myself off.

i have been on 20mg lexapro for about 2 years for depression from month to month some months i might weigh 3 pounds more than the last some months i might loose 4 pounds so for me it hasnt made me gain or loose

I have been on lexapro and then switch to paxil, for over 1 year, and I have gained 15 lbs., I feel very good, no more depression or axiety, the gain weight does not bother me too much, as I think it should.

Yes I gained 15 pounds

I gained 30 pounds on Lexapro. Another doctor switched me to L-Tryptophan at night and L-Tyrosine and Sam-E in the morning. Works for me.

When I was prescribed Lexapro 2 years ago, I was having alot of anxiety, panic attacks, which was wierd since I had never had a problem with anxiety, just depression. I was a size 4... 2 years later I am a size 10! I could not figure out if it was the Lexapro (I was only on 10mg) or my Hashimotots causing this excessive weight gain, the funny thing is I am also on ADD medication, Vyvanse, that was the reason I was a size 4,(my normal weight is generally size 8). It was nice to lose so much weight without trying for once ya know but I know it wasn't healthy weightloss, now my new medication regiem is Vyvanse, Pristiq(dropped the lexapro),Armour Thyroid, and Lunesta. Still, have not lost a single pound, I'm frustrated. I know I may not be considered Obese, but I just keep putting on the weight. I think Lexapro may have caused me to gain some weight, but I also know two people who lost some weight. I know Ughh, so frustrating!

Hello, I was on Lexapro (weaned off of Paxil with it) for about 5months and never showed any signs of weight gain, but im sure it all depends on the person whos taking the medicines' body make-up.

I did notice myself to be sleepy and more attached to my bed but I have to say my ANXIETY was 120% GONE.

Be sure to check out my best friends new site www.itakemeds.com for more stories and advice on Lexapro and other SSRI's! Hope this helps, :)

I have been on Lexapro 10mg for about 3 years now and have tried to get off of it a couple of times. I have notice a small weight gain, nothing like the others have posted, only maybe 5 lbs on average.

I have noticed a few other symptoms and relief in the time I have been on it. For the first few months, headaches, insomnia, night sweats, lack of libido. They all subsided after that. The good things for my anxiety have been no more terrible feelings of hopelessness, ability to handle difficult situations without breaking down so badly, less crying, better ability to keep my feelings at bay and no overreact, handle stressful situations better.

I am starting today on the reduction of the med again in the hopes of getting off of it. It served its' purpose at the time but just want to get off of it. I am doing the very slow method combined with several suggested supplements.

Yes!! I gained 45 pounds in about 6 years. I went from 135 to 175. Lexapro worked for me, but the weight gain was getting me depressed. I took myself off of it. You have to taper off this drug or you will have side effects. I had brain zaps or jolts or whatever you want to call them, and they lasted for about 3 or 4 weeks. I didn't taper long enough and would recommend tapering for at least a couple of months. I have been off it now for about 3 or 4 months and have lost 15 pounds. I am still having anxiety so I'm thinking about Klonopin. I have done some research on it and it seems it doesn't make you gain weight and most people have good results from it. Good luck to you!!