I also recently stopped celexa 2 months ago and I have lost 5 lbs already. It will start to come off, don't worry. I have carried an extra 15 lbs from ssri's for the last 5 years. I believe it is all starting to come off now.
what do you expect , what in the world was your Dr. thinking putting you on all those meds . apparent giving you 4 different kinds of anti depressants at the same time is not good and to just stop all those meds is not a good idea ether
I have gained 10lbs and I eat healthy and exercise with cheat meals on the weekend. I never feel like I'm satisfied and miss the full feeling. I've been on the medication for 1 year now. This is the heaviest I have ever been in my history. Not good.
Very happy to have found this thread because I too was on an antidepressant (not Celexa but another SSRI) and gained almost 20 pounds in a little over six months. Actually in less time, because the weight gain didn't begin until about two months in. Went from 123 to 140 pounds. I'm 49 years old and have never weighed above 130 so this was a dramatic and unusual gain to say the least! Despite the drug working wonders for my mood, once I saw '140' on the scale I had to stop. I imagined the weight would then melt off, but it's been very slow going. I only started to lose weight about four months later, and at a pace much slower than anything I'd ever experienced before starting the drug. I'm also eating far less than I did before in an effort to move things along; I feel like I've been on a permanent diet. And when I go back to my normal diet I tend to gain a pound or two. But I think there's been a general downward trend and I'm keeping my fingers crossed it will continue. For all it's worth, I'm also taking Garcinia and Rhodiola - when I remember! - which some say helps with weight loss. My concern is ultimately this: will my metabolism ever return to what it was before, or will I forever have to 'watch what I eat'? Has the antidepressant permanently changed my metabolism?? I feel like I'm suddenly living in someone else's body, and I don't like it. It angers me that, despite all the thousands of women sharing their weight gain stories on sites like these, there are still medical experts out there saying that antidepressants don't cause weight gain. Or if they do, it's because people aren't watching what they eat.
Hi guys!
I've had a similar experience to many of you: I went on Celexa at a healthy weight, continued to eat well and exercise while on the med, and gained 15 pounds. I didn't notice increases in appetite or cravings, though I had less drive to work out while on the medication. Overall, the weight just gradually appeared regardless of attempts to lose it that had worked pre-Celexa.
I took the medication for about 6 months and discontinued it gradually with my doc's approval. The main side effect was 2-3 weeks of infrequent "brain bursts," which felt kind of like short, sudden bouts of dizziness.
I have now been off of the medication for 2 1/2 months and have struggled to lose weight. Here's what I've gleaned from my own experiences, internet research, and nutrition books:
- The folks who gain weight on SSRIs seem to either have stronger cravings and appetite (possible drop in serotonin levels) or simply put on weight regardless of what they do (possible slowdown of metabolism)
- Often the weight is concentrated in the midsection / belly (often connected with stress / cortisol levels)
- After discontinuing the drug, some folks find that the weight drops off on its own after anywhere from 2 months to 1 year (supports the theory that changes in brain chemistry are at least partly responsible)
- Taking supplements that increase serotonin levels, like St. John's Wort (usually 900 mg. daily)
- remember, we're not supposed to take SJW concurrently with prescribed SSRIs
- some studies support that SJW can be very effective for mild-moderate depression or anxiety on its own
- Taking supplements that help restore the fat-burner leptin, like fish oil (1000 mg. or more daily)
- Taking supplements that may assist a healthy metabolism, like selenium (200 mg. a day)
- Doing execises and activities that decrease stress and cortisol production, like walks, yoga, meditation, visiting the sauna, your favorite cardio, etc.
- If you fall into the increased appetite / craving camp, you might try The Serotonin Power Diet by Judith Wurtman and Nina T. Frusztajer
- If you are more of the "it just packed on" type, you might try The Fast Metabolism Diet by Haylie Pomroy
- Cutting out or reducing foods that you have found to make you bloat - common offenders are wheat or gluten, high levels of salt, and dairy; some less common are shellfish, egg, and corn
- You are fighting the good fight, whether your battle is with depression, anxiety, weight, or a combination
- Take time to recognize your accomplishments in dealing with anxiety/depression, weaning yourself from meds if you are ready, giving your body the healthy fuel it needs, shaving off even a half of a pound, building or toning muscles, saying no to that delicious cake that one time at a party, et cetera, etc.
- If you have the belly-concentrated chub, you might consider yourself similar to a woman just post-pregnancy or one of those ex-athlete guys with the awesome muscles and a pot belly: focus on the parts of your body that do show improvement from your efforts, and think of any ab work you do as an investment for whenever the fat starts melting off
I started celexa almost a full year ago. The highest my dose went was to 30mg. I truely believe medication is useful for certain time periods but our bodies will tell us when we no longer need them. I remember when I felt my dose was too high. It seemed that suddenly I was over medicated although I am sure it crept up. My memory worsened. I gained and held on to weight. I felt apathetic and bored.
So I talked to my doctor and was told I could cut my dose in half every week until I was off. I chose to ween off much slower. I felt a relief at 20mg, no negative side affects. When I lowered to 10mg I had some sleepless nights and some increased anxiety but I leveled out. I stayed at 10 for about a month. My decrease to 5 mg was anticlimactic. I stayed at 5mg for two weeks then got a terrible stomach bug- or maybe food poisoning. I was vomiting for two days. Since I hadn't taken the pills for two days I figured I might as well come off them completely. I am now on day 6 med free. I have had a consistent dull headache. I'm tired and go through dizzy spells. I can't say my stomach bug didn't contribute but I know it's some withdrawal. Each day gets better though!! I chose to write a post bc reading others really helped me to stay calm through the dizzy spells.
You should try Ovidac Pregnyl for weight loss. It very effective and providing fast results as compare to Celexa. You should try this and change your diet plan.
So its linalovescoco again, after a year of silence....
Well i can tell you one thing, approximately a year after i quit celexa, and checked my blood like 3 times extensively to find any cause as to why i am a fatass, other than the unknown magical reasons behind celexa, no one could give me an answer other than 'stubborn fat' .... But as ive mentioned, after a year my weight finally dropped, well i mean i am working out 2-3 times a week with a personal trainer and i do eat 1200-ish calories a day ( net calories) and i allow myself 1-2 chest days a week.
So yeah i weigh the same amount but my body has changed drastically, due to muscle mass increase and fat percentage decrease. Either way. I am accepting the slow progress, as it is better than no progress, and as frustrating as it can be, guys, dont give up, suck it up and continue to workout and eat healthy even if you do not see imediate results. Sometiems it takes a year! :)