Lexapro
 

I've been taking Lexapro, and I actually think I've LOST a little weight on it.

But, it makes my insanely hungry! I try to take it right before bed so I sleep through the hunger pangs, but it's annoying, especially when I wasn't hungry before I took it!

Has anyone else had this experience? Does it go away?

I have been on Lexapro in the past and a side effect was increased appetite and weight gain. It did not go away. I just starting taking Cymbalta, which has decreased appetite as a side effect.

ive been on it for 3 wks. it hasn't affected (effected?) my appetite either way. I have been losing wt anyway by diet and exercise. I think it has helped my moods tho...and losing wt has also helped too so far i love it

I haven't noted much about the appetite or weight loss aspect of it, but I do know that my sleeping patterns seem a little... off. I find it harder to go to sleep, almost like there's a tinge of insomnia that's come along with it.

I was told that it doesn't cause weight gain necessarily, but it made me so loopy I had to get off it within a month. I do remember being really hungry, though.

I re-started lexapro in the beginning of january after being off of it for 8 months. It made me incredibly nauseous the first few days and i could not eat. After about a week the feeling went away and i was able to eat again, but my appetite returned to normal.

I've been on Lexapro for a year and a half now. I really don't think it's done much to my appetite after this long. If it had any effect in the beginning it has evened out a long time ago. I started on 10mg and then bumped up to 20 mg 6 months ago. It's really done wonders for keeping me balanced.. Hopefully the appetite issue will eventually work itself out for you.

I used to take lexapro and I tended to have that feeling of bottomless hunger and gained about 10 lbs on it. I have been on Wellbutrin XL since I started losing weight and found that when I went off of it, I would plateau. Who knows if that is the drug or just psychosomatic.

I have been on Lexapro for 3 years now, when I first started taking it I didnt have much of an appetite for about 2 weeks, after that things went back to normal ...now I did notice that if I took it in the morning I was more hungry
( and sleepy ) through out the day...after talking to my doc she said to take it right before bed and that has worked out great!

It is not the meds that make you gain weight, it is you ...it may be that the med makes you have an increased appetite but if you can stay on plan you will be fine.

Lexapro
 

Brain chemistry determines individual differences in reaction to meds.
I've been on lexapro ever since it was rolled out along with lamictal.
And my weight has been up and down along with bouts of depression.

Since these are meds I will be on the rest of my life, I've finally taken responsibility for taking off weight. I lost 23 and have 100 pounds to go.

Here's Hoping I don't crash. For those of you who do gain weight from particular meds, now thank goodness there are several meds you can try.
Best of luck

I've been taking Lexapro for two years. I have definitely gained weight- I am afraid to look at the scale. I just joined this website- I am glad to read that some people are losing weight DESPITE taking Lexapro! ( I am going to weigh myself Saturday)

I took it for a total of three days. It made me feel like I had the worst case of the flu EVER! I wanted to die I felt so bad. I could not stop shaking.

It just goes to show that people bodies can (and do) react differently to drugs. You just have to listen to the signals your body is giving to see how you are being effected. I would never tell someone to stop a medication, but if it causes too many problems for you I would talk to your doctor. Perhaps the hunger will go away with time. Symptoms sometimes do that.

Originally Posted by TRimom40:
I've been taking Lexapro for two years. I have definitely gained weight- I am afraid to look at the scale. I just joined this website- I am glad to read that some people are losing weight DESPITE taking Lexapro! ( I am going to weigh myself Saturday)

Hi TRimom, just this January I stopped with Lexapro and tearfully told my doctor that, maybe it was a coincidence, but I was on Lexapro for two years and in two years I am up 20 pounds. I also still had persistant suicidal thoughts, and just general low spirits/no ambition.

He suggested Wellbutrin for me. After two or three weeks on Wellbutrin, I finally 'clicked' and was able to focus on counting calories. Then I decided to try South Beach diet, and am doing well on that; but the main thing is that I had INITIATIVE to try and buckle down, and that was missing from my life for those two years. I was also so sleepy all the time, I was a public nuisance at the least, a menace at the worst :devil:

I know different meds are for different folk, but i am one person who is SO glad I switched. I am overall happy and feel like myself again (why didn't my family notice I was 'gone' for two years?!? :()

I wish you best for finding something that works well for you :hug:

I've been taking Lexapro for about 6 mos, and it has made me gain a little weight--about 8 #.

I feel so much better on it though, I will not go off. Just trying lately to knuckle down and watch what I eat and exercise. Spring cleaning is helping me stay away from too much eating also. Busy, busy.

Vermont mom, thank you for the reply. I have been on South Beach, phase 1, for a week. I weighed myself Saturday, and weighed 172~ Yikes! I have never been that heavy, except when I was 9 months pregnant! I don't know what I started at, since I did not weigh myself. Anyway, I weighed myself Sunday, and I was at 169. I asked my psych about wellbutrin, and she said that it does address anxiety, which I am very strongly prone to. So, I will keep plugging along, for now, with Lexapro.

I have tried several different medicines and only Lexapro works....however I have gained weight from it. Hopefully it won't be hard to lose the weight because of the medicine.

I am scared to say that my dr just put me on Lexapro, and I have not filled it yet. I am thinking after reading all the suggestions, talking to my dr that i want to try other things, like the Wellbutrin XL, for starters. What do you all think? I told him I had not taken it, and came home and looked up my person file on myself, and found out when it first came out and gained about 20 pounds on it. I will not take this if that will happen again. Any suggestions?

I dont know why you would feel "scared to say" the doc put you on Lexapro...I have been on it for 3 years with no problems :) So has a couple of my friends...I know each person is different, but dont just assume because others had problems that you will too...and no the Lexapro itself does not make you gain weight...you may feel better, you may eat more, and in turn gain weight but the drug itself does not make you gain weight...like I said I have not had any problems ( I was fat before Lexapro ), and I think it is a good drug...at least give it a try ( a good try, not a few days...like a couple of months ) and see how you feel....everyone is different.
Just my two cents.
Carri

Carri,

You are right give it a real try is the best. I am scared because of the things I had heard about it. I am and have expressed my concern to my dr and he is well aware of the situation. I trust my dr completely, and I know he is looking out for my best interest not trying to add complications in my life.

Thanks for your help!



Boo
aka Beth

I wish you luck on it. I was on prozac for years and I was complaining of weight gain that I can not get rid of. My doc switched me to WelbutrinXL at my request. That was a scarey transition. It did not work well with me. So then we went with Lexapro. My weight did not change. I can run all day long and eat healthy until I am blue in the face and I can't lose weight. I have decided to discontinue it as of a couple of weeks ago. I am at the point that the fat is making me depressed. I hope it works.

I was terrified to go on anything for an anxiety problem I developed. My doctor put me on Lexapro 5mg and it's helped immensely. I've been on it for about 3 months and the first couple of weeks on it, I gained weight. The problem for me was that my anxiety will feel like my hypoglycemia symptoms, so when I feel that coming on, I eat sugar like crazy.

Well, the Lexapro made me even more anxious for the first week I took it (the doc said that is normal), so I felt like i had a bottomless hunger that I tried to stuff food in there to fill.

It thankfully leveled off and since then, I've only gained about 5lbs and it's held steady.

As for if it effects how weight loss works...well, I guess I'll find out! I've just now started getting serious again about working out and trying to eat better, so we'll see!! :D

Originally Posted by crbowles:
I have been on Lexapro in the past and a side effect was increased appetite and weight gain. It did not go away. I just starting taking Cymbalta, which has decreased appetite as a side effect.

Huh. I'm on Cymbalta and haven't experienced appetite suppression. Wish I did - LOL...

I just changed from Celexa to Lexapro about a month ago. I really haven't noticed anything... then they added Topamax last week. I must be more motivated b/c I joined this site and signed up for a meal plan :) so maybe it's working. I'm still sleeping too much. I haven't noticed any change in my eating habits or weight yet.

I'm currently on lexapro (been on it for the past 11 months) and i've been doing good. I've been active and committed to my new work out plan, my moods are better, my "crazy thoughts" seem to abate except for the odd moment or two and I've been working towards a quiet, peaceful almost zen tactic to life. I can honestly say, I wouldn't have come so far, this fast without it.

As far as weight gain, appetite increases due to lexapro, I really can't say but i did gain weight due to binge eating, lack of exercise and motivation.

I have lost 23 pds since April 27th ...while on 20mgs of Lexapro, so it hasnt hindered me from losing ...watch your calories and exercise and you will be fine. Will power! :carrot:

Again Good Luck!

Carri

I was on Lexapro from Dec.. They are helping me. I did not experience any problems w/them. I was never on any other antidepressent so i don't have anything to compare them too.

Aside from the weight issues on Lexapro---- is there anyone else having issues with being extremely sleepy on it?

Ladyrider...I think I said this in an earlier post, but yes I did have issues with being really tired on it when I took it first thing in the morning....my doc then told me to start taking right before bed, and I have been fine ever since.

Carri

I have been taking lexapro for several months. I have still slowly lost weight since I've been on it. My doctor warned me that I may gain weight but so far so good!

Originally Posted by :
Aside from the weight issues on Lexapro---- is there anyone else having issues with being extremely sleepy on it?

I did. My best friend (a doctor) suggested taking it right before bed and I haven't had a problem since! I can't tell you how good this drug has made me feel. I haven't felt this good in about six years. Its amazing. Since going on this, I've also started to do something about my weight (joined Jenny Craig) and just feel fantastic.

It won't work for everyone, but its defentitly worked wonders for me!

i've been on lexapro in combination with topamax and welbutrin since i was sixteen and i don't know if they balance each other out or what. I did lose a lot of weight in the beginning, however i also had a nervous breakdown. I've always gone through periods on my meds of either wanting food all the time or not being hungry all that much.