can you loose weight from lexapro

carmine · Silver Member Joined: 13 Aug 2000 Posts: 249

I am on lexapro more than 8 months and have gained more than 20 pounds (most of it in past 2 months). I want to get off lexapro. This weigh gain is getting more and more depressed! Is anyone here that has been of lexapro and lost weight?
Can you loose weight from lexapro?

britt · Newbie Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 23

Hey there!
You must consult your doctor before going off lexapro.
I think it will be hard for you loosing weight while on lexapro. It would be better to go off and start with some good and healthy diet and exercise. And then, i am sure, you shall loose weight from lexapro.

Monica · Newbie Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 7

I have just started taking Lexapro and my husband coincidently has been on it for 4 months. He has not experienced weight gain, but he is also an avid member of a health club. I know that you can not just stop taking the Lexapro, it has to be weened and by a doctor. Are you exercising at all? If Lexapro is working on your depression and you overall feel better but do not sustain a healthy amount of exercise in your life then weight gain is almost imminant. Try keeping as food log and write down you food consumption and see if your intake has changed...it helps to keep track of your daily intake so that you can better see what changes you need to make in your eating habbits.

RMB · Newbie Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 4

I have been taking the drug for 3 years and have not gained any weight as a result. I dont feel it has any effect on metabolism or appetite. Especially compared to other medications like Avanza or Zyprexa.

Guest · Guest

I was on lexapro for a few months. I didn't gain weight. In fact, I had a loss of apetite (at the beginning). I went off b/c of sexual side effects. I know Wellbutrin is associated with weight loss. I am on that and have no negative side effects. I lost about 20 lbs over a year period, but I was working out and eating healthy. On Wellbutrin am able to maintain that weight.

Guest · Guest

I've been on Lexapro for 4 years and I didn't gain any weight when taking it by itself. However I did gain a huge amount of weight when it was combined with Lithium and olanzapine (2.5 stone in 10 weeks) Since I've stopped taking Olanzapine, and Lithium my appetite has returned to normal levels and my metabolism has returned to normal. In the four weeks that I stopped the weight gain combo I dropped 14lbs effortlessly, which goes to show how psychotropic medications play havoc with ones metabolism

Guest · Guest

I started Lexapro 10mg a few months ago and have gained about 15 pounds, have had sexual side-effects and my blood pressure has inexplicably gone up. Even with the added weight, I'm still within a healthy BMI range, but I don't like the way I feel or the side-effects. I talked to my doctor this week and am going off it now. I'm only taking 5 mg now. Soon I'll be off it and hopefully everything will be be back to normal soon. I'd love to fit in my jeans again!

I've had very good luck with Wellbutrin XL, taking 300 mg a day, and have never gained weight or had sexual side-effects from it, much less high blood pressure. I've been taking Wellbutrin for a couple of years and never went off it when the Lexapro was prescribed. The Lexapro was something my doctor added when I hit a rough patch a few months ago, thinking it would give me a boost I suppose.

We also do weekly talk therapy sessions, though. I wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't more helpful than the Lexapro. We'll see when it's out of my system, I guess.

Guest · Guest

I started Lexapro 10mg a few months ago and have gained about 15 pounds, have had sexual side-effects and my blood pressure has inexplicably gone up. Even with the added weight, I'm still within a healthy BMI range, but I don't like the way I feel or the side-effects. I talked to my doctor this week and am going off it now. I'm only taking 5 mg now. Soon I'll be off it and hopefully everything will be be back to normal soon. I'd love to fit in my jeans again!

I've had very good luck with Wellbutrin XL, taking 300 mg a day, and have never gained weight or had sexual side-effects from it, much less high blood pressure. I've been taking Wellbutrin for a couple of years and never went off it when the Lexapro was prescribed. The Lexapro was something my doctor added when I hit a rough patch a few months ago, thinking it would give me a boost I suppose.

We also do weekly talk therapy sessions, though. I wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't more helpful than the Lexapro. We'll see when it's out of my system, I guess.

Guest · Guest

I was put on Paxil CR for about a year to deal with GAD, and ended up putting on 40 pounds. Changed to Lexapro to drop the weight, and I can tell you that stringent diet and exercise (4 times a week, a 1200 calorie diet) has only allowed me to lose 15 of those pounds in the last 4 years. Some people don't gain weight on Lexapro, but many people do, and I know that it has prevented me from losing the weight I gained on Paxil. I'm slowly weaning myself off in hopes that my metabolism will rebound and I can lose the weight.

Guest · Guest

I have been on lexapro for about 1-2 years now and when i started it i gained five pounds and when they increased my dose i gained five more. My weight is much more inconsistent than ever. I am not sure if the medication is the cause, everyone reacts differently. But i weighed the same amt for almost 5 years and didn't gain weight until i started this medication.

can you loose weight from lexapro

LIFEFORM SOCIAL COMMUNITY NETWORK