I am 29 Years old and was on Lexapro for 5 years with no sign of any type of weight gain. My husbands job switched Insurance companies and the new insurance did not cover Lexapro. The alternative my doctor prescribed was Celexa. When I began taking the Celexa I couldn't even tell that I had switched to a new medication. I felt as if I was still taking the Lexapro and was so happy that this new medicine worked just as well as the old one.
About one month into taking Celexa, I noticed that my clothes were getting quite snug on me. So I began dieting which is something I never had to do,even with having a child, I never needed to diet. My husband began getting concerned because the weight was coming on so fast and my eating habits had decreased from dieting and excercise. I made an appointment with my Family Doctor to have my Thyroid checked as well as other tests ran. All came back fine.
I assumed maybe because of my age my Metabolism had just slowed down. I have now been on Celexa for roughly 6 months with a total weight gain of almost 30 pounds. I went from a size 6 to a size 12. I am miserable. The depression from being overweight is way worse than the depression I had from my Father's death. I feel completely unattractive. And for any person, that is an awful way to feel.
I have began breaking my medicine in half everyday. And skipping days when I can. My goal is to completely come off of this medication and just deal with Depression and anxiety. As well as everyone else on here, All of my weight gain has been mainly in my stomach and Thighs. It's so embarassing to go out shopping and run into people you know and have them ask you when your baby is due and you aren't even pregnant. No one call tell me that my weight gain was not due to Celexa. It is the only thing that changed over the past 6 months.
Some people may be lucky and not experience this side effect. But there seem to be a lot that do. I hope everyone with this problem is able to get off this medication and loose the weight they have put on. I am so glad I found this forum!! It has made me a firm believer now that Celexa should be given to people who need to gain weight. Best wishes to everyone in their attempt to shed the pounds. God Bless!
About one month into taking Celexa, I noticed that my clothes were getting quite snug on me. So I began dieting which is something I never had to do,even with having a child, I never needed to diet. My husband began getting concerned because the weight was coming on so fast and my eating habits had decreased from dieting and excercise. I made an appointment with my Family Doctor to have my Thyroid checked as well as other tests ran. All came back fine.
I assumed maybe because of my age my Metabolism had just slowed down. I have now been on Celexa for roughly 6 months with a total weight gain of almost 30 pounds. I went from a size 6 to a size 12. I am miserable. The depression from being overweight is way worse than the depression I had from my Father's death. I feel completely unattractive. And for any person, that is an awful way to feel.
I have began breaking my medicine in half everyday. And skipping days when I can. My goal is to completely come off of this medication and just deal with Depression and anxiety. As well as everyone else on here, All of my weight gain has been mainly in my stomach and Thighs. It's so embarassing to go out shopping and run into people you know and have them ask you when your baby is due and you aren't even pregnant. No one call tell me that my weight gain was not due to Celexa. It is the only thing that changed over the past 6 months.
Some people may be lucky and not experience this side effect. But there seem to be a lot that do. I hope everyone with this problem is able to get off this medication and loose the weight they have put on. I am so glad I found this forum!! It has made me a firm believer now that Celexa should be given to people who need to gain weight. Best wishes to everyone in their attempt to shed the pounds. God Bless!
Although Celexa does not cause weight gain in everyone it is a side effect. It was one of the first listed side effects on the packet that came with the medication when I first got it. I agree that people do try to blame anything for weight gain except for themselves, but this situation is a little different from your average weight gain stories. I have been on this medication for almost a year and a half and while I have never been thin I'm happy with my size 13 180 lb body. Now, as soon as I had been taking the medication long enough for it to start working, about a week or two, I started gaining weight relativley quickly. When I noticed the weight gain I started to look at what I was eating, I'm not on a strict diet but I have always been a pretty healthy eater, always the type of kid who would rather eat an apple than a cupcake, no change there. I wasn't on a strict excersize plan either but as I don't drive and hate taking the bus my bike is my main mode of transport and on an average day I usually end up riding at least 20 miles so it's not like I'm sitting on my ass all day. Yes your body changes, especially as you age, but it is not normal to gain a large amount of weight rapidly at any age. I have had several friends throughout my life who have had the misfortune of having to deal with mental illness and although treatable, weight gain is a very common side effect in many psychological medications and I have seen many a friend have to go through it and then being able to take weight off as soon as going off of different medications, including Celexa. So, that's great that it's working for you and that you aren't having to deal with a weight gain side effect but maybe this isn't the right topic for you to be posting on.
AFTER I HAD MY SON 9 MONTHS AGO I WAS 135LBS, NOW I HAVE BEEN ON CELEXA FOR 3 MONTHS AND I NOW WEIGH 152LBS AND THE WEIGHT WILL NOT COME OFF...I GO TO THE GYM EVERYDAY, I WATCH WHAT I EAT AND I HAVE A PERSONAL TRAINER! IT'S REALLY DEPRESSING AND I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY ON THE GYM. I WANT TO GET OFF THE CELEXA BUT I TRIED AND I WAS CRAZY MOODY. IDK WHAT TO DO....HELP!
I am 26 and have been on Celexa for about 10 months. For the first two months I didn't see much of a change, but after that I gained 20 lbs, fast! I have always been a very healthy eater and I exercise on a regular basis. As soon as I began gaining weight I cut back on portion sizes and exercised more, but continued gaining weight. I figure my metabolism may be starting to slow down at my age (?) but I definitely think the medication has something to do with it too. I am planning on weening myself off the Celexa and continuing diet and exercise...hopefully it works.
Yeah. I gained around 30 pounds altogether. 20 in about the first 2 months. 10 more after I stopped taking it, and it will NOT go away. I was all for this drug until I started looking pregnant. The pounds will not going away - no matter what I do. I literally went without food for a week, and did not lose any weight. It does something funny with your water retention. I don't know. I have never faced weight so difficult to lose. I will never take it again. IT IS CELEXA.
As an anti-depressant, it works. If you are naturally skinny - take it by all means. I went from a size 6 to a size 14. I just feel fat most days.
As an anti-depressant, it works. If you are naturally skinny - take it by all means. I went from a size 6 to a size 14. I just feel fat most days.
Oh I am so glad to have read that others are experiencing the same thing as me I went on this SSRI four months after having a baby I noticed that I was putting on more weight after about 3 months of taking this medication. I ride my bike everyday and I can not seem to slim back down to my recommended body weight. The celexa did help with the postpartum but now I'm down because of my weight so I guess you just can't win with depression. >;)
I am 27 and I have been on Celexa for 3 years and just began experiencing the weight gain more so than ever. I found out that the longer you are on it, the more likely you are to gain the weight. I didn't even know it was the Celexa until I started to research. In the past 2 months I have gained 14 lbs. Not only is that a lot in a short amount of time but I also eat VERY healthy, do weights with a trainer 2x a week (for 8 months now) and do cardio 4-5 days a week. I don't think it's fair for people to come onto this board and say that people are just blaming Celexa for weight gain. It is one of the side effects in about 1% of people. That means most of the time, people won't gain any weight from it but for the 1% that it does, it is even more depressing than being depressed in the first place!
That all being said, I have began weaning off of my Celexa as I have seen a therapist and feel stable enough to do so. I also have a friend who just started weaning off of Lexapro and lost 16 lbs in 2 months (with no change in exercise or diet). I hope to be able to report back in a few months to say that I am back to my normal weight!
That all being said, I have began weaning off of my Celexa as I have seen a therapist and feel stable enough to do so. I also have a friend who just started weaning off of Lexapro and lost 16 lbs in 2 months (with no change in exercise or diet). I hope to be able to report back in a few months to say that I am back to my normal weight!
I have been on celexa for going on 5 months now..i gained about 5-10 lbs but thats not the worst of it..i could care a less about the weight gain...I AM LOSING MY HAIR...!!!!!!!! i am a 39 yr old woman who used to model..I have 2 kids and USED TO have a head full of long auburn hair until CELEXA!! has anyone else experienced hair loss and if so did your hair come back once you stopped taking it..?
thanxs
Desperate in NC
thanxs
Desperate in NC
Im sorry to say there is only one way to stop the weight gain GET OFF ALL ANTIDEPRESSANTS i too am more depressed than I ever was being fat. i was never fat and i dont intend to stay this way im flushing all the pills down the toilet now.
I have just gotten off of Celexa after being on it for 10 months. I gained 30 pounds. I would like to send this forum link to my doctor so he can see that yes, weight gain IS a possible side effect of Celexa. I am annoyed that doctors deny this. However, I will say that the drug helped me during a time of high stress and crisis in my life so I don't think I would have NOT taken an antidepressant at all. It seems after reading all your responses that the body and metabolism will respond to being off Celexa in different ways for everyone. It is similar to the way that the side effects are different for everyone. I am starting dieting and have been exercising for a while and the weight hasn't budged yet. I will keep plugging away and am glad to know that I am not the only one that has been affected like this.
WOW!!! Glad I found this site.
I became super depressed back in January, went to my doctor and the very first thing she did was write me a prescription for Celexa, I was very excited at first for the depressing feeling to subside and it did, but when it did came along a load of weight. In the past 7 months I've gained approx 30 lbs. I stopped taking the pills last week cold turkey, I have had enough. I feel like I only needed them to help me over that hump in my life (family issues caused the depression).
I notice a difference in myself since I've stopped taking them, for the better, and it's only been a week. I've been very upset lately about all the weight gain and I wasn't sure why since like so many others I haven't changed any of my eating habits. Since I stopped the meds I feel nauseous at times but I know that this will pass once the drug is out of my system.
Good luck to you all.
:-)
I became super depressed back in January, went to my doctor and the very first thing she did was write me a prescription for Celexa, I was very excited at first for the depressing feeling to subside and it did, but when it did came along a load of weight. In the past 7 months I've gained approx 30 lbs. I stopped taking the pills last week cold turkey, I have had enough. I feel like I only needed them to help me over that hump in my life (family issues caused the depression).
I notice a difference in myself since I've stopped taking them, for the better, and it's only been a week. I've been very upset lately about all the weight gain and I wasn't sure why since like so many others I haven't changed any of my eating habits. Since I stopped the meds I feel nauseous at times but I know that this will pass once the drug is out of my system.
Good luck to you all.
:-)
I'm 37. I've been on Celexia for a year now, and I've gained about 10 pounds, lower than most posts on this site, but I was always very skinny. I have to say that the drug has made me feel SO much better, I'm thinking about asking to get off of it soon. Hopefully I'll be able to get rid of the weight after the fact.
I was on Celexa for a year and didnt gain any weight. I didnt even know that was a side effect! But now im on Lexapro and I was worried that would make me gain weight since i know its a side affect, but since i gained no weight on celexa, i doubt ill gain weight on lexapro either. And even if i do, i doubt it will be substantial.
Just wanted to say I can sympathize with everyone here, I have been on celexa since 2003 at 10 and 20mg, when I began I thought it was a miracle, my moods stabilized and I felt great enough to start a workout program which helped me lose 25 pounds over a year and a half. After that I experienced major unsettlement in my life ( divorce, remarriage, stepkids) which resulted in upping my dose to the high of 40mg, it was at that time that I noticed the weight start to creep back on even while maintaining my exercise ( have always been a healthy eater and did not change diet at all when losing the weight). Since 2006 I have gained 55 pounds, I am now heavier than I was at the birth of my third child. just spoke to my psychiatrist today and although she is not thrilled she said that going down to 10 is not going to be a therapeutic dose for me so I should just make sure I have a few days off work to go through my withdrawal ( which is hideous) and stop the celexa, following up with monthly appts in order for her to monitor me...I am grateful to her for allowing this because I explained to her today that, as many of you say, the weight is the thing depressing me most at the moment.
Good luck to everyone, as with you I will be maintaining my workouts and hoping to see the scale slide lower...soon!!
Good luck to everyone, as with you I will be maintaining my workouts and hoping to see the scale slide lower...soon!!
I just wanted to say how awful Celexa was. I gained 80lbs over 6 months. When I told my doctor, he added more medicines like Topomax. I'm finally getting off of it and my appetite is returning to normal. I feel like someone saved me.