It's quite simple. A lot of these drugs cause a person to gain weight because they make you retain water, thus weighing more, it's not fat. Fat is caused by consuming more calories than you burn. So yes if you are feeling better and eating more and not excercising, it's obvious you will gain fat weight on top of water weight thats why you hear people complaining that they gained 20 lbs or so.
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I am glad to know that I am not going crazy. I have gained about 150 pounds in the last 6 years about 100 in the last two. I have been taking lexapro for about as long. I have a hypo thyroid and I am taking medicine for that, I thought that I would start to lose weight after I got it under control, I am still gaining weight. What scares me is that 300 pound is not that far away. I tried different medication to help with the anxiety and depression but nothing works as well as the Lexapro. I am scared. I know I need to lose weight and I have tried just about every thing short of surgery. I hate that I can not even go on field trips with my children's classes because I get winded and can not walk because I have so much weight to haul around. I am just about to my wits end. If any one has any ideas please share with me.
thanks
thanks
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I voluntarily began 10mg of lexapro in February 08. It is now November and I have gained 20+ lbs. Interestingly, I have had no appetite, so it is not food-weight. I have lost interest in activity, so I can contribute some to lack of movement. I have consulted my MD and began weening off of the medication. I began with 5 mg every day for two weeks, then 5 mg every other day for 2 weeks (which is where I am now). DO NOT try to quit cold-I got seriously, violent ill about the 3rd/4th day.
I am already feeling better and will not get back on this medication again.
Good luck to all you other Lexapro users.
I am already feeling better and will not get back on this medication again.
Good luck to all you other Lexapro users.
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This is the first I have heard of people gaining weight on Lexapro. I began taking it 2 years ago and in 6 months I lost 40 pounds. I stopped taking it and I quickly put the weight back on. I just started taking it again and have lost 5lbs. in one week. Is there anyone else who has had weight loss associated with Lexapro?
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I've actually lost weight on lexapro as well. I've only been on it for 4 months, so maybe the weight gain comes later, but I've actually lost around 8 lbs since I've started taking it.
That said, when I first started taking lexapro I was aware of the weight gain associated with taking it. I was kind of terrified that I would gain weight, so I started working out more and being very careful to monitor what I eat when I started taking it. I'm just hoping that I don't start gaining weight later. However, lexapro doesn't make me hungrier at all. I was a stress eater before and I think the lexapro has eased my anxiety and therefore regulated my eating habits.
I wish there were more people posting who haven't gained weight. It worries me to see all of these posts.
That said, when I first started taking lexapro I was aware of the weight gain associated with taking it. I was kind of terrified that I would gain weight, so I started working out more and being very careful to monitor what I eat when I started taking it. I'm just hoping that I don't start gaining weight later. However, lexapro doesn't make me hungrier at all. I was a stress eater before and I think the lexapro has eased my anxiety and therefore regulated my eating habits.
I wish there were more people posting who haven't gained weight. It worries me to see all of these posts.
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If you are concerned about your weight, I say see a doctor about changeing pills. I was on it for a very long time, and I got very big. I am a very petite person, but I gained a ridiculous amount of weight on that drug. I also had a lot of other really horrible side effects.
Um also, maybe try to get a range of opinions if your doctor won't change it, because honestly, some doctors have no idea.
Um also, maybe try to get a range of opinions if your doctor won't change it, because honestly, some doctors have no idea.
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I am currently taking Lexapro and no weight gain so ever . Very good medication better than Zoloft or others out there. I visit my doctor every 5 months and actually I have lost 20 pounds while on lexapro It all depends on every individuals habits of eating. Make sure you consult your doc before making any drastic changes it might be some other issues in relation with weight gain. Good luck to anyone taking this medication I am very happy with it :-) thanks Lexapro
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I started taking Lexapro in Aug of 08. After 6 weeks of taking it, I felt less stressed but I also had that mind fog that I absolutely can not stand when taking certain medications. It did make me feel less anxious, and I felt like I could block the little things that use to get to me. However, I ended up getting scared from the posts, and all the mind zaps feedback, and the fact that after 6 weeks I still felt lethargic...and of course I was worried that I would gain a significant amount of weight. I had just stopped going to the gym since my membership ran out, got a new puppy though that kept me active, and what happened? To my surprise I LOST over 10-12 pounds! I didn't even realize I was losing. I went from a tight size 6 to a size 4 and was able to fit into some 2's! So when I stopped taking it because of the lethargy, my weight came back! How is it that some people gain so much weight with this drug and others lose? Is it that you lose at the beginning but then start to gain after your body gets adjusted to it? I am so confused! Anyone else experience this??? Any feedback? Does the lethargy go away?? How about the brain fog?
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I just started taking lexapro about two weeks ago. I have had 0 appetite and I have lost about 9 lbs in a week and 1/2.. I am only taking 1/2 of a 10 mg pill per day in the morning, and I haven't upgraded yet to the whole pill. I don't think that my results are typical though, because my sex drive increased it didn't decrease.
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I started lexapro in September 2008 and in a matter of 6 months I had gained just over 30 pounds. I was a size 2, I am now a size 10 or 12. It is horrible. I exercise and diet and nothing will take it off. I talked to my doctor and she told me it was my lifestyle and to change things. I have tried everything.
I now want to get off the lexapro, but I have high anxiety and severe depression, I take lexapro and welbutrine, anyone know of a good substitute for lexapro that has weight LOSS as a side effect ?
I can't get better when I am this depressed about my body image and being 19 and weighing more than your mom is horrible.
any suggestions?
I now want to get off the lexapro, but I have high anxiety and severe depression, I take lexapro and welbutrine, anyone know of a good substitute for lexapro that has weight LOSS as a side effect ?
I can't get better when I am this depressed about my body image and being 19 and weighing more than your mom is horrible.
any suggestions?
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I have been on Lexapro for a year. This summer I went to wear my summer clothes and they were all tight. I have noticed my stomach is always bloated looking and I have the handles. Yuk Some of the clothes that I have are from 5 years ago and they have NEVER been tight like now! I am just disgusted! So I haven't changed my eating habits, I got on the computer and started researching. Well it seems like alot of people on this has this symptom. I do like how it helps with my anxiety and worries.
I have decided to wean myself off of it.... I tried cold turkey but I was get the shocks in the head (that was a strange feeling). I am watching what I eat by cutting the calories and walking and jogging everyday. I hope the weight comes off fast or I will be depressed over that..
I have decided to wean myself off of it.... I tried cold turkey but I was get the shocks in the head (that was a strange feeling). I am watching what I eat by cutting the calories and walking and jogging everyday. I hope the weight comes off fast or I will be depressed over that..
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I have also lost weight on lexapro. I was a stress eater and also a binge drinker. The warnings to not drink on lexapro as well as the reading I had done on weight gain have made me very cautious. I have always been about 20-30 lbs over weight even going to the gym 4-5 days a week. Taking the lexapro has made me reduce my calorie intake and in the past month I have lost a belt size. It also has given me a lot of extra pep in the gym. My bench press jumped about 20 lbs in the first week. I almost feel like I'm on a performance enhancing drug.
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I have been on Lexapro for 8 years and in the first 5 years gained 100 Lbs. At that point I hit the gym...and I hit it hard. I was tired of being fat. Over the past three years...I have not lost a single pound...but i have gained a lot of muscle mass and have lost some fat...so my BMI has changed. I am 50 years old and have never had trouble losing weight pre-lexapro...but this stuff is really hard to shed weight on. Since hitting the gym 3 years ago...I have increased in strength like I never have before in my life...it is almost like taking performance enhancing drugs. I have noticed this. I started out three years ago with a max bench press of 180Lbs and I am now over 315. I have never been so strong in all my life and I wonder if Lexapro has anything to do with it. Everyone reacts differently to this medication...and there are some generic alternatives to Lexapro that my help in sheding the fat. Citalopram is one...but check with your doctor and ask. As always...the dreaded two words...diet and exersise...is key to any healthy life style. You can make a change if you really want to.
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I was a user of lexapro for 3 months, during that time I was 150.030 pounds (68kgs) then went down to 99 pounds (45kgs). I found it impossible to eat, I had no desire for food or even to drink water was a very hard task. I personally belive it depends on how the person deals with stress and depression, as for myself when I am sad I shy away from everything including food, but a friend of mine eats when she is depressed. Although I definatly think the drug has a major impact on these choices. I wouldnt recommend it to anyone it had horrible effects.
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I was on 20mg of lexapro for about a year and a half and I actually never gained weight. I then started losing weight. I was able to get off of it by exercising: Like daily, to the point of exhaustion. My depression was a combination of feeling soo bad I felt I had to die and i also had anxiety. I figured out that when I was tired, my mind was too sleepy to think and this eventually helped me deal with things better ( yes I was in counseling too) eventually the anxiety started to deminish and started to feel better. I no longer had to fake laughter to feel normal. I know you all know what I'm talking about. But even faking it was a way for me to set myself up for one day really feeling the emotion laughter. So I basically just kinda tricked myself into getting better. With a lot of hard work and discipline because if I didn't do it. I probably would have killed myself. I'm only sharing this because I noticed some of you have been on the medication for years! I know everyone's situation is different. Like some of you might be bipolar( so you need it to balance your moods) or don't have as much support, but neither did I, my family thought I was going nutts, but I had to really remind myself I wasn't born in the state of mind which I was in, so I didn't matter what anyone thought as long as i remembered who i use to be.Eventually I stopped shaking, yes I shook. My hands trembled of fear. It was embarrassing. But when my Dr thought I was strong enough to get off the medication he started to Ween me off of it. From 20mg to 10mg then 5mg (dizzy days followed ) you become very dizzy and kind of sleepy like a zombie. But if you remain active on perpous. Eventually your brain wakes up to a new life and well being. All you have to do is TRY. Its better than being on medication your whole life.
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