Citalopram and weight gain
 

I am on an anti-anxiety and depression medication called citalopram. Is anyone else taking it or has anyone else had significant weight gain after being prescribed this drug?

I gained almost 20 lbs within 2 months after starting to take this medication. Any recommendation as to a substitute?? Help! :o


Thanks!

:welcome: Bristar

Its so frustrating that we need to lose weight but its 10 times worse when a medication we need makes us gain grrrrrrrrrrr. I'm sorry its happening to you.

A substitute would be something only your doctor should/could recommend, after all he/she knows you best.

:hug: Good Luck !!!!! and again welcome to 3FC's

Leenie

Thanks Leenie! Yes, i am going to see my doc in a month. Hopefully she will be able to help me make some informed choices!

Great !!! and it can't hurt to get different opinions. Let us know what your doctor changes you to.

The only meds i have ever been on were Prozac, Welbutrin and Zoloft. I did well with the first two (no weight gain) but Zoloft made me wacky...really horrible wacky.

:hug:

I have been on Citolopram for 7 years...and I dont think it has ever directly effected my weight...I continue to have ups and downs with my weight...My two sisters also take this medication and have beed on it for several years...no change in their weight

I just started taking Effexor...my doc put me on this because it does not have an effect on your weight...you might want to ask about it...

It really is on an individual basis...just ask your doc lots of questions!

I've been on Citolopram for 2 years and it hasn't effected my weight. Everyone is different, however.

Me, too--I have taken Celexa for about 6 years, noticed a weight gain that I wasn't sure was due to the drug or the fact that very sad things kept happening in my life for awhile.
I still continue to take Celexa 20mg per day, and it is not, in any way affecting my weight loss journey. Just thought I would share. Best wishes. ;)

Hiya i'm also on citralopram and i don't think it's effected my weight atall but i'm sure if you speak to the doctor they ca help :)

My doc gave me citalopram with something else (cant remember, sorry) a while ago and it didnt affect my weight. Everyone is different, though. Why dont u ask your doc to change your meds?

Celexa - Citalopram Is Amazing. I Never Gained A Pound. You Have To Keep On It To Get The Results. It Took Me 6 Months To Really Feel The Benefits

I started celexa last November. We were having a weight loss contest at work and I had lost 30 pounds. Since taking celexa I have gained all that back plus. I don't know if it's the medication, but my doctor is weening me off. I have also had a difficult time with "happy endings". So whatever the benefit of the medicine, it's not worth it.

I was perscribed citalopram a few years ago and i found (besides the fact that it made me sleep like a log) I was sluggish and grogy the next day. It had a terrible effect on my energy levels. I did gain weight due to that.

I'm on citalopram but so far haven't noticed any weight gain (no weight loss though either :( ) I'm not sure if it's affected my energy levels because I felt very lethargic before I went on them anyway, I think that's probably something to do with my diet lacking in something.

Talk to your doc about it and hopefully you can get the problem sorted.

All the best! ;)

I've been on Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro and now Cymbalta and gained about 40 lbs on them over the course of my treatment. I have lost 30 while still on Cymbalta and have come to the conclusion that I gained weight because I no longer felt guilty about eating and after being so tired of fighting depression and weight for so long I just kind of enjoyed feeling good, 40 lbs worth. Now that I realized that I am able to get back on track with portion control, etc. Effexor and Cymbalta are very similar (both SNRI's) and have shown to be more likely to induce weight loss than gain. If this info helps, yeah! if not, sorry:-)

yes..about 3 years ago and my dr. thought i was crazy when i complained that i was gaining weight..i have since gone off them, but that was the start of my weight gain..i haven't lost it and i've since packed on 30 lbs more.

I'm on citalopram too, but I'm losing weight as normal.

Hi, I had a small weight gain in the beginning 5-10 lbs. But I restricted myself from working out due to some of the side effects in the beginning. I am now (3 months later) up to 10 mgs 2x @ day. I am doing better and motivated again, and have lost 6.2 lbs in the last 20 days.

I took citalopram for 6 weeks when I was 18 and gained 25+ lbs over that time. With other side affects, such as constant dizziness, and very sick thoughts of hurting myself, it was the worst thing that ever happened to me. I threw my pills away and gradually learned to cope without anti-depressants over the past two years. I'm glad it works for some of you and I wish you all the best in getting the help you need for greater mental health. It's key to our greater physical health. (:

I was on Flouxetine for a year and it worked til I gradually started to feel down again. After an increase in the dose didn't work, my doc put me on citalopram. I have gained a few pounds since being on it but I gained more when I was on flouxetine. I think rather than the drug itself it is how your hormones are reacting to it. Sometimes i'm fine, no comfort eating, feeling good. but i can have an off day and just munch til my hearts content. I think it varies a lot. But the doc told me the best way to maintain or lose the weight is to just not give in to any binges that might come from it. some anti depressants increase your hunger as they are often used for anorexics and bulemics so if you feel hungry when you know you shouldnt be you just have to fight it. at least thats what my doc told me lol. good luck!

I think the key to not gaining is planning meals in advance and sticking to that plan. Feeling hunger doesn't require instant eating. I'm on 40 mcg of citalopram and still losing.

Hi,
I have been on citalopram for almost a month but I also started my program at the same time and I haven't noticed it affecting my weight loss. However, I don't feel tired, just unmotivated..anyone else have that happen to them?

Hi, there,
I was on Celexa for ages, in combination with Wellbutrin XL, then my doctor switched me to the new Citalopram - Escitalopram. It's the newest formulation of the drug. I have to say, I'm the most balanced and stable I've been in 20 years.
If you're on Citalopram and still unhappy, then speak to your doctor about escitalopram, or a complete change. The weight loss problem is a bit more manageable when you're balanced mentally.
Hang in there!!

I take Citalopram too. And YES i gained weight with it. About 20 pounds or so. I have been taking it for two years and it does help stabilize my mood. this summer it seemed like it was not working well and my doctor decided to add wellbutrin to my daily meds. So now I take both of them. The wellbutrin in awesome because it is a mild amphetamine. It gives me more energy and it has decreased my appetite. Since starting it almost 2 months ago I have lost 13 pounds. Some of that comes from counting calories and walking almost daily. But the medication has seriously helped me to stop overeating because I'm just not hungry. Plus I am feeling less depressed than I have in many years! Life is starting to feel good again.:woohoo:

I just started taking this; I'm scared of it making me gain more weight, but my doctor says it shouldn't affect my weight. Even if it doesn't make me gain, I hope it doesn't make it more difficult to lose weight for me. It seems I will just have to wait and see how it reacts with me (so far I feel a lot of the side effects - I'm not consentrating well and I can't sleep because it's really making me feel edgy and twitchy - which I never had a problem with before.)

Thankyou, this has been interesting to read. Today I've just been given literature to read about Citalopram to see if I want to try it. All additional information useful!

I'm also on Celexa and it's never made a difference in my weight. I've always liked it. It made me a new person. But that's just me, I tried Wellbutrin for a while too but that did nothing for me, and I know it's done wonders for others. Crazy how everyone reacts so different.

Terri, I had the "happy ending" issue too for several months, but it finally went away. However if your weight gain could be related to Celexa, I think your smart to wean off.

When I started on Citalopram I asked my GP about the potential for weight gain, she said if anything it might actually cause a slight weight loss. So far it's not interfered with my weightloss. Not to sound like a broken record but as everyone says it really does seem to depend on the individual...

I've been on Citalopram for almost 2 years and I dont think it has directly effected my weight.

I guess everyone is different!

I'm on citalopram, and it's actually decreased my appetite significantly. Matter of fact, it's what has caused me to incorporate exercise into my "med-imposed" diet and honestly I've had no difficulty losing weight (knock on wood).

I'm on Celexa too and haven't had any weight gain side effects from it. I agree though that everyone is different and may be affected differently by meds.

me too
 

i've been on celexa for 6 months, tried to get off of it but became very depressed. I don't like the weight gain it caused me which is 10 pounds but now that i'm back on it i'm going to fight very hard to lose weight. I also give credit to my eating out everyday for the weight gain. ;)

I have been on citalopram for several years and it definitely has payed a role in weight gain. Not sure whether that is a direct side effect or because cit. makes me feel tired.

Have currently reduced to 20 from 40 mg. depression seems to be at bay.

Have also just started Ideal Protein and am happy to say it seems to be working whereas eg, Weight Watchers did not.

As far as a choice between taking meds to ward off depression or being thin? I'd rather have a healthy mind.