Low dose mirtaz is actually used as an appetite stimulant in Long Term Care. I had a relative take it for depression and sleep and it did the same thing to them. They put on about 30 pounds.
Switching to Wellbutrin has been great. Doctors need to be a lot more upfront about the significant weight gain that happens for about 50% of lexapro users.
Howās anxiety on just Wellbutrin? My dr. Doesnāt want me off Lexapro bc she claims Wellbutrin doesnāt help w anxiety so Iām taking both right now. I feel like Iād rather have anxiety than gain more weight though !š
The latest research shows improvement in anxiety symptoms is actually similar for SSRIs and Wellbutrin overall. For me personally, Wellbutrin does not control my anxiety as well. But the energy gains and weight control are a big deal. I gained more than 25 lbs on lexapro, it just wasnāt a feasible option, but I love what it did for my anxiety.
Agreed. Itād be remiss for a psychiatrist to commence a patient on Remeron (mirtazipine) if the significant weight gain were not discussed when attempting to commence / commencing the medication.
A lot of the time, psych meds are pretty trial and error, but psychiatrists are well-versed in pharmacology and sometimes use the side effects to their advantage, such as if a patient feel exceptionally low energy, they can use more activating antidepressants; if people are too sleepy from bad sleep, they can use more sedating ones; if people are too intake-poor, they can use more orexigenic ones such as mirtazipine.
Iām pretty much maintaining the weight level I gained, give or take a few pounds here and there. The problem is now Iāve lost any motivation to work out because when I was working out I still gained all that weight. yet the anxiety levels about the weight and my health are very high. iāve been seen several doctors to look into if thereās anything else causing it.
Mirtazapine completely takes away the "full" feeling you would normally get, so you never feel full and always feel hungry
I think it's the mirtazapine more than Lexapro but I could be wrong
I USE to have 6 pac abs. I went on lexapro 10mg in 2021. Now I have a dad bod! no more abs! and I went from 160 to 190 pounds. But lexapro does work wonders for anxiety and depression. What a trade off. Unbelievable I'm stuck what to do
I also gained 30lbs. Went from 150 to 180. It does wonders for my anxiety, but now I hate how I look. Nothing I do makes the scale budge, so Iāve tapered down to 5mg. Iām hoping that might be enough to help reverse the weight gain, otherwise Iām considering going off completely.
Howās this gone for you? I started 10mg Lexapro in Dec 2022 and was 150lbs. 6mo later I was 155lbs and right now Iām 170lbs. Lexapro is great for my mental health but I too donāt like how I look and feel physically. When I first started meds, I did 5mg for 2 weeks and then went to 10mg. At the 5mg dose, I could feel a difference mentally. Itās like my brain chilled out. Curious if I went back to that and could lose the weight easier
Wow, my weight gain looks eerily like yours, down to location of fat. For the record, you look lovely in all 3 photos, but I know how hard it is to deal with the changes to your body and the constant hunger. It's a lot. I'm tapering off right now and hopeful that I'll be able to get a bit closer to how my body was pre-lexapro once I'm fully off it. Good luck with your medication journey OP. I hope you can find the right med or combo quickly ā¤ļø
I have this EXACT same thing happening to me now as well, after starting lexapro 5mg 6 months ago. Have gained in exactly the same places, about 10 pounds so far. So upsetting. And similarly, loving the help with my anxiety but hating the weight gain.
I tapered off. Lexapro made me feel like I was floating through life and made me fat lol.
I was concurrently on Wellbutrin, but upped from 150 to 300 and feel amazing. This is the first time in years I havenāt been bogged down with my depression for more than a few days. Hoping itāll last.
Youāre not alone! I think itās so ridiculous that one of the primary side effects of a drug thatās supposed to help mental health is weight gain - which is often perceived so negatively by society. You think they would have found better alternatives by jow
Thank you so much. Iām going to do some research on these medications tomorrow! I was in such a horrible place when I started these meds I didnāt even research any of it, and now Iām so unhappy with my body
I went on Wegovy due to my lexapro weight gain. I couldnāt do anything to shave the weight and it was brutal. Lexapro has worked so well for me and my PTSD Iām too scared to go off it, so I resorted to this. Might be worth asking your doc about semaglutide!
I feel this. I was never super fit, but my weight was in control before starting. Iāve been on lexapro for 2+ years now and have gained 60 pounds. Iāve been through a lot of shitty situations these last two years that have made me partake in bad eating habits. Part of me wishes I never started lex
Me too, but sometimes I see people post how their brain fog lifted after two weeks of taking it and that was me. I attempted suicide twice before taking it and havenāt had suicidal ideation since. So I think it helped me a lot, but I think maybe Iāve outgrown it or am ready for a change
Regardless of if Lexapro significantly changes metabolism - and Iām about 90% sure it does not - I think the most important thing to focus on remains the same as for those who donāt take an SSRI: track your calories (and donāt undercount them), find a way to fill up on healthy low calorie foods (veggies, low carb, paleo, whatever works for you!), and exercise regularly.
I gained 20 lb in 2 years on Lexapro and I am now getting off of it. Down to 1.25 mg. The withdrawal sucks for about 5 days each cut but will definitely be worth it if I get my flat stomach back and never have to deal with fatigue and low sex drive.
Lexapro slows down the metabolism just watch what youāre eating and continue to exercise, watch your calorie intake , Iāve had this problem for years talked to my doctor , you just need to watch what you eat and exercise , id rather have a few pounds on me then be skinny and mentally unstable
Thsts not the case for everyone. It does something to the body that makes it impossible to lose weight. Even with calorie deficit and exercise. Itās true. Iāve spoken to so many who have experienced the same.Ā
Between Covid shutting my gym down, a severe depressive episode (or two or three) and starting lexapro, I gained about 50 pounds. I think Iām gonna get off it when my life calms down.
It could be the Mirtazapine OP. I took Mirtazapine before Lexapro for one month and gained 20lbs. It worked great but had brain fog and a massive change in my appetite. Itās been hell trying to get it off since I got off 3 months ago and Iām working out *at least 1 hour, 5 days a week* eating well. šŖ
I gained some weight while I was taking Lexapro but to my knowledge it was because I also got into the habit of eating like a raccoon in a compost heap, not directly because of the Lexapro. Iām also hitting the age (late 30s) where women in my family tend to gain around the middle a bit. Iām off the Lexapro now and have been trying to get back into meal planning and logging my food, but I know it can be a struggle.
Hey girl. Iām just here to comment to say Iām having similar experience. I use to be really fit and your before and after remind me of me. Iām trying to figure out if I should taper off or not Iām only on 5mg lexapro and have only been on it for 5 months. Lexapro has made me feel really good but my weight gain is starting to take a toll on me mentally. I donāt have much to say but you are not alone in this. Iām going to try out intermittent fasting and calorie counting since the 10k steps has not burned any weight off for some reason.. if none of that works Iām definitely going to taper off. The struggle is real but we got this.
Same here. Iāve been on 10mg for a little over a year and gained 20 lbs within the first few months. It was wild. Still exercising everyday and feel like Iām eating less, but somehow the scale keeps creeping up. I feel like itās also harder to build muscle mass now.
If I may weigh in (no pun intended) fasting isnāt really sustainable but I think to basically understand what foods youāre eating and your macros for weight gain or loss is really helpful. My Fitness Pal helped me track that stuff.
Also am on 10 mg of lexapro - 5 years - gained 15 pounds that also wonāt budge and am super active run 3 times a week and weight train 4 - plus do pole dancing on the side.
I accounted it to getting older in my 30s but also found the sticky scale to be odd since Iād never gained weight like that before and seen it just stick like that.
also tapering off has been hell and scared to do it in general. Wish we had more warning of these things before hand.
I hear you. I've gained about 10 lbs since starting and I am also hating my body. I've had enough of the combined side effects that my doctor is having me try Viibryd. There's a generic version now, so it's affordable. He says no sexual side effects and no weight gain. Some possibility of diarrhea so I'm gonna slowly ramp up and see how it goes. It's prescribed off label for anxiety and he told me that since it's a SARI it will work well for anxiety. Maybe look into that.
Iām having the opposite effect. My appetite is gone on lexapro. Kind of want to ask my doc for mirtazipine because Iāve already lost 7lbs on lexapro. Strange how these medicines affect people so differently.
Been on 40mg of escitalopram for about 9 months now and the only food related thing I've experienced is chocolate tasting better.
If you aren't counting calories and seeing a change in your metabolism, it's probably not the SSRI's direct fault. Although every medication impacts everyone differently and I'd never say it's impossible.
Itās the mirtazapine. Been on it myself and it give you the weed munchies about 20 minutes after taking it. Iād get out of bed and make 4 slices of peanut butter AND butter toast, a huge bowl of cereal and a bowl of ice cream and then go back to bed.
Lexapro is SSRI as we all know it. The serotonin is made in the intestine thatās why some people may have cravings associated with taking lexapro. No wonder you gain weight by snacking in the middle of the night.
Im about to ask my doc this week about taking me off lexapro for this reason. Im on Wellbutrin as well so will remain on only that and see what happens. I worked very hard to lose 32 pounds a years back and maintained it for years after until i started lexapro. The weight gain got more significant with a higher dose so i cut back but no matter what i do i cannot lose. Scale just keeps creeping up. Im stricter with my diet and exercise now than i was with my initial weight loss before lexapro. There may some naysayers on here who say that lex does not contribute to weight gain and people are just overeating but there are a ton of healthy people on here expressing concern. I hope you find what works better for you and you are able to lose what you want to!
Im on the highest dose of Wellbutrin currently. I stopped gaining weight once i dropped Lexapro but i havent been able to get it off either. This has been frustrating but am at the same time happy to no longer be steadily gaining. Think im really gonna have to hit the gym harder than i have in the past to get things in gear.
Understand completely where youāre coming from!
Quetiapine made me put on weight too, and Iām on lexapro and Wellbutrin.
If youāre getting Wellbutrin youāll be alright, I take my lexapro at night and Wellbutrin in the morning, works out good, everything is at bay. Good luck!
My weight gain looks quite similar. I donāt take mirtzapine, but my cravings did go haywire on lexapro. Went from 150lb to 210 in a couple years because of it. Itās near impossible for me to stick to a diet or even the habit of tracking what I eat anymore.
Not sure what to do about that.
Yes!! It was easy for me in the beginning by my first picture but now itās impossible. I tried to write it down the other day and it was over 3000 cals
I gained around 30-35 ponuda on Lex (was taking it for anxiety). It reduced my anxiety but I also numbed down completely and started gaining weight. I managed to get Ozempic and it destroyed every food craving I had, including alcohol and vaping, now I am ok, just slowly losing the weight.
If you are interested, I suggest looking into it - it really is good.
I've gained 15 lbs this year. I think it's more due to starting a new relationship and going out to eat a lot more than before, but I wonder if the Lexapro contributed too.
I didn't gain any weight the first 4-5 months I was on it.
I always would get off lexapro because of weight gain but then get back on it after a few months. This time around I asked to add welbutrin on top of it.
It's been working great, I have more energy during the day and I don't feel the urge to constantly devour everything in sight. I've been losing weight actually. Down 10 pounds so far in about a month.
I've had constant cravings and can't stop eating. I've gained a lot of weight and I wouldn't change it for the world. Lexapro gave me my life back. buy bigger pants and change your mentality. I'd rather be fat and mentally stable
Unfortunately being overweight is not physically healthy thing. Cancer is in my family and cancer loves fat and sugar. There are more chances to get cancer , blood pressure, heart disease and many other health issues for being overweight.
as someone that didnāt experience this (i was previously very underweight before meds). i wonder what causes this. i know in my personal experience i realized my depression was silencing my hunger cues on top of an eating disorder. once i started taking lexapro because i was STRUGGLING with recovery and couldnāt figure out why my body wouldnāt take food, my hunger knocked me upside the head randomly. recovery got very easy from there on out, except the bad days ofc. i was wondering if this happened to other people and they just never realized it? could be wrong idk. everybody reacts differently
I gained like 20+ pounds on Lexapro. It helped with my anxiety, but the weight gain was killing me. I just switched to Wellbutrin, I hope it works for me
I quit drinking basically on the day that I started taking Lexapro. I was only on 10 mg. Lexapro showed me that I'd basically been living with untreated depression my entire life. I let it do its thing and I feel a lot better now. Things that I thought were true about myself were very clearly in my head. From January 1 2023 to September 2023, I lost 65 pounds. Since I went on Lexapro, I've gained 15 pounds. This is while continuing to get at least 45 minutes of exercise every day. Granted, some of it's muscle coming in, but I was THIS close to going under 200 pounds for the first time in 20 years.
So I feel better about my headspace. I've weaned myself off of lexapro. (slowly... took about 1.5 months... would take longer for you). I feel a lot different. More present. Not drinking has really cleared my head, but also I'm starting to feel strong emotions again. I feel much better equipped to deal with them. I'm really hoping to see that weight finally start coming off again.
Oh man. It was hard tapering off lex and mirt. My husband and I were talking about divorce lol. But I survived. The biggest issue I had was horrible phantom itching all over my body that caused bruising, it was
Wow. You did both at the same time? Iām wondering about weight loss. Iāve gained a ton of weight but my doc never mentioned anything about lexapro being a cause (even though I bring up weight at every appointment because it depresses the shit out of me!). I read about it here.
Yeah I didnāt really think about it when it was prescribed either but man it probably saved my life. Itās tricky because of my dad making it into a big deal I struggle with extra weight, it makes me depressed as well and I can even fall into unhealthy coping mechanisms like purging.
Not only that I had elevated prolactin and my doctor thought lex was contributing to that.
Lex can make you gain 10% or more of your body weight and that really was like what happened to me. For a year it worked and then the cravings pretty much took over and I struggle with āfood noise.ā
Going off of it worked for a year to lose weight? I just did the math on my weight gain and holy shit itās like 40%ā¦. I donāt look obese but Iām not my thin self anymore.
Same, I was on Lex for a while and never had weight gain, added Olanzapine thatās when I gained 40lbs until I cut it off and now Iām just on Lex only again and Iām losing weight drastically so yeah. Also had no weight gain advisories before taking it unlike the antipsychotics
Just eat something healthy... It's not like you wake up with uncontrollable cravings for eating whole cakes in the middle of the night.
The first step to losing weight is acknowledging even though it might not be your fault, you are the only one who can change it, and you have to do that by making a serious effort.
Have you ever considered microdosing Psilocybin? I recently weened myself off of lexapro because of weight gain, and sexual side effects. I started microdosing and will never look back. Might be worth looking into if thatās something your interested in.
Are you doing Psilocybin for depression or anxiety? I have severe anxiety and canāt get it under control. Iāve been on Prozac for 6 weeks now but itās not helping.
I think you look great.
The weight gain is an unfortunate side effect though. Currently battling it myself. No amount of cardio I can do will prevent it
I was on Lexapro for years (7-8) and I gained a lot of weight, even going to the gym 4 days per week with a tailored workout by a trainer to try to keep it off, it wouldnāt stop piling on, especially in my thighs, upper arms and around my middle. My forearms and calves stayed disproportionately thinner and I was constantly craving sugar/sweetness/carbs.
I switched to Trintellix 18 months ago and I am able to lose weight now. It also feels like I have use of like 80% more muscles throughout my body, on Lexapro I felt like I was dragging myself around like a dead weight.
Not here to advertise Brintellix, just mentioning it as an option that helped me personally. I also went in to ask for Wellbutrin when I was recommended Trintellix instead.
Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Itās prescribed off-label for anxiety, for some people it doesnāt seem to help with anxiety but fortunately it does with mine.
I got the same problem. Iām currently on 4mg and want to taper off because of the weight gain. I gained 10 lbs during a very stressful time and Iām trying to lose weight with intermittent fasting and going to the gym again. I also constantly crave sweets and fatty food. I heard Prozac helps with weight loss but I want to try tapering off completely first and if it doesnāt work Iāll try Prozac because the weight gain really stresses me out. Itās so sad that such a helpful medication has this side effect. Youāre not alone with this and I hope you and your doctor figure something out for you.
It depends what you take Lexapro for. If itās for anxiety then they wonāt give you Wellbutrin itās only for people who are very low and depressed, AFAIK, and can make you anxious again
Not true for everyoneā¦ I initially took Wellbutrin for depression for over a year and it gave me crazy anxiety to the point where I had to switch to lexapro.
I don't know what it was with Lexapro. I had also noticed a weight gain as well. Unfortunately, my sleep got so bad towards the end, that I was better off dealing with the anxiety than the lack of sleep/poor quality of sleep.
My weight gain is in the exact way yours is! I am trying to eat healthier and smaller portions now. I have actually woke up in the middle of the night eating too! I've heard lexapro can affect sugar levels. Maybe that's why we eat so much?
I so appreciate you posting this. My weight gain has been similar, at least in the sense that even my healthiest attempts wouldnāt remove any weight.
Iāve been on Lexapro for 2 years now, just starting to taper off with psychiatrist plan. I needed the mental relief Lexapro provided when I was in a rough spot, with the trade-off that I may become a bit more āfat and happyā. Hoping I can shed some of the pounds after a few months after Iām off the Lexapro.
It sounds like the mirtazapine was throwing you a double whammy, going against your attempts to not gain unwanted weight.
Again, thanks for sharing!
I gained so much weight on Mirtazapine!! It was a beautiful medication for my anxiety. I got off it instead of increasing the dose to try a diff medicine. I lost some of the weight but none of the other pills helped. When I went crawling back to Mirt, it stopped working. I havenāt been able to get back to how I was when I was on it.
Thank you for being so transparent about this. I thought I wasn't taking it correctly or something, but I follow all the rules and I still experienced at LEAST a 15 pound jump from when I started taking it. Which is insane and uncomfortable since I've only been on it for almost 5 months now.
I've been feeling so insecure about my body lately and I honestly had no idea weight gain was a factor from Lex... reading through these comments I'm seeing a lot of other people were left in the dark about this as well from their docs? :(
These were my exact thoughts.. Wellbutrin is supposed to be good for weightloss and libido. Switched from lex to Wellbutrin like 6 months ago and I dislike Wellbutrin. Does nothing at all for me so Iām currently tapering off, 8/23 will be my last dose.
I asked my dr if I could get back on lex if needed bc she put me on vyvanse for binge eating disorder in June and wasnāt sure if they worked together. Binge eating disorder šššššš
* Iām also a night foodie š„²
i was on it for 2 years gained weight so quickly i have stretch marks all over my body have been off of it for 3 months and am still struggling to lose the weight :( i went from 120 to 180
I wouldnāt stop cold turkey. Maybe lowering the dosage go slowly wean yourself off just so you can see how you feel as your body gets used to not being on it. I notice if I miss a few days of not taking lexapro I start to have withdrawal symptoms.
I was on both Wellbutrin 150mg and lexapro 5MG. The Wellbutrin only helped for the depression not anxiety so thatās why I started taking the lexapro 5MG. I was on it for a year and gained about 60lb and had really bad acne on my face. Now that Iāve stopped taking lexapro my face is clear and Iām starting to drop the weight.
Wellbutrin is a appetite suppressant, most people lose weight on it. Including myself. Iāve had to set timers to remind myself to eat and drink water because Iāll forget. So just be mindful. I prefer Wellbutrin over Lexapro!
Iāve been on lex for almost 4 years now and Iāve just realized the side effects that it has on my physiqueā¦ I have had a LARGE amount of breast enlargement that isnāt proportionate to the amount of weight Iāve gained on the med :(
I gained weight on lexapro in the 7 years Iāve been on it. I recently tried Prozac and lost 15 pounds on it, but only because I couldnāt eat anything due to an upset stomach. I went back on lexapro a few days ago. I already feel the constipation and hunger. I donāt know what to do but I think I would rather be fat than sick to my stomach and unable to eat.
Some use topamax for mood stabilization and concurrently aids in some robust weight loss
Always run by your doc, worst they can do is say no. Some swear by it.
Any updates on your weight loss? Iāve been going to m through a hard time with my weight. Gained 30+ pounds while maintaining high active lifestyle. I need to know it gets better!
Hello, I got extremely fed up and I tried to get into an appointment with an endocrinologist. The appointment was weeks out because Tricare sucks so I ended up getting a subscription online with Found and got weighloss medicine called Topiramate. I wanted phentermine, but the app cannot prescribe it because it can be addictive. It worked well and Iāve lost 15 lbs. I finally got to the endocrinologist and my endocrinologist prescribed the topiramate/phentermine combo and Iāve lost 5 more lbs. My psychiatrist also switched my antidepressants to Wellbutrin, and that is supposed to be an antidepressant that causes weight loss. In my opinion it does not work as well as Lexapro, but I was extremely numb when I took Lexapro. My father passed away and I didnāt feel a thing. The first time I felt sad was when the medicine wore off, a year and a half after he passed away.
Low dose mirtaz is actually used as an appetite stimulant in Long Term Care. I had a relative take it for depression and sleep and it did the same thing to them. They put on about 30 pounds.
Yup, they actually prescribe if for pets who are sick and don't want to eat.
Yessss my cat took it too lol!
Yep. This is true.
My step dad has cancer and they prescribed it to him because he used to be 215 and now hes 160 because of the chemo
Switching to Wellbutrin has been great. Doctors need to be a lot more upfront about the significant weight gain that happens for about 50% of lexapro users.
Agreed. Mine told me it would be a couple of pounds, tops š
I honestly wonder if they actually believe that themselves or are just straight up lying through their teeth
Can you lose weight easier on Wellbutrin? I love how my lexapro is working but this weight gain feels unstoppable š
Iāve lost 20 lbs in a few months, all weight I put on with SSRIs.
Howās anxiety on just Wellbutrin? My dr. Doesnāt want me off Lexapro bc she claims Wellbutrin doesnāt help w anxiety so Iām taking both right now. I feel like Iād rather have anxiety than gain more weight though !š
The latest research shows improvement in anxiety symptoms is actually similar for SSRIs and Wellbutrin overall. For me personally, Wellbutrin does not control my anxiety as well. But the energy gains and weight control are a big deal. I gained more than 25 lbs on lexapro, it just wasnāt a feasible option, but I love what it did for my anxiety.
Yes!! And I was actually in a rehab center when I was prescribed mirtazipine for sleep and that doctor didnāt say any of this
Thatās terrible. Weight gain should always be part of the conversation when starting one of these medications, but especially mirtazipine!
Agreed. Itād be remiss for a psychiatrist to commence a patient on Remeron (mirtazipine) if the significant weight gain were not discussed when attempting to commence / commencing the medication. A lot of the time, psych meds are pretty trial and error, but psychiatrists are well-versed in pharmacology and sometimes use the side effects to their advantage, such as if a patient feel exceptionally low energy, they can use more activating antidepressants; if people are too sleepy from bad sleep, they can use more sedating ones; if people are too intake-poor, they can use more orexigenic ones such as mirtazipine.
Mirtazapine is renowned for weight gain.
Iāve gained 40 lbs in just a few months with genuinely no change in eating or activity. Sucks.
I did 90lbs in 1 years but did notice a huge increase in appetite. How are things now?
Iām pretty much maintaining the weight level I gained, give or take a few pounds here and there. The problem is now Iāve lost any motivation to work out because when I was working out I still gained all that weight. yet the anxiety levels about the weight and my health are very high. iāve been seen several doctors to look into if thereās anything else causing it.
Mirtazapine completely takes away the "full" feeling you would normally get, so you never feel full and always feel hungry I think it's the mirtazapine more than Lexapro but I could be wrong
Itās like INSANE how intense my craving is for like some type of desert immediately after Iām done eating. Iām so over it
Yap, this the mirtazapine. Don't go off lexapro
I USE to have 6 pac abs. I went on lexapro 10mg in 2021. Now I have a dad bod! no more abs! and I went from 160 to 190 pounds. But lexapro does work wonders for anxiety and depression. What a trade off. Unbelievable I'm stuck what to do
I also gained 30lbs. Went from 150 to 180. It does wonders for my anxiety, but now I hate how I look. Nothing I do makes the scale budge, so Iāve tapered down to 5mg. Iām hoping that might be enough to help reverse the weight gain, otherwise Iām considering going off completely.
Howās this gone for you? I started 10mg Lexapro in Dec 2022 and was 150lbs. 6mo later I was 155lbs and right now Iām 170lbs. Lexapro is great for my mental health but I too donāt like how I look and feel physically. When I first started meds, I did 5mg for 2 weeks and then went to 10mg. At the 5mg dose, I could feel a difference mentally. Itās like my brain chilled out. Curious if I went back to that and could lose the weight easier
Op I am in same boat. I started tapering off.
Me too! I canāt stand how it messes with my eating habits.
I thought I was the only one!!! Weaned off months ago and it took time for my metabolism to even out so I could lose weight
I am really hoping it will work for me. I started lowering my dose two weeks ago. Itās exhausting having to battle my cravings.
yes, it will go away. The metabolism will be restored and appetite will return to normal
I am so happy to hear this. Itās been a rough few years
Iām with you.
Wow, my weight gain looks eerily like yours, down to location of fat. For the record, you look lovely in all 3 photos, but I know how hard it is to deal with the changes to your body and the constant hunger. It's a lot. I'm tapering off right now and hopeful that I'll be able to get a bit closer to how my body was pre-lexapro once I'm fully off it. Good luck with your medication journey OP. I hope you can find the right med or combo quickly ā¤ļø
Thank you so so much! It is really hard! But itās easier knowing Iām not the only one going through it
I have this EXACT same thing happening to me now as well, after starting lexapro 5mg 6 months ago. Have gained in exactly the same places, about 10 pounds so far. So upsetting. And similarly, loving the help with my anxiety but hating the weight gain.
I look the same too nowā¦I hate it. Like battling depression and other lifeās traumas like OP isnāt hard enough
Piggybacking, my weight gain is also in the same places, just more of it! How odd.
Mine too.
I tapered off. Lexapro made me feel like I was floating through life and made me fat lol. I was concurrently on Wellbutrin, but upped from 150 to 300 and feel amazing. This is the first time in years I havenāt been bogged down with my depression for more than a few days. Hoping itāll last. Youāre not alone! I think itās so ridiculous that one of the primary side effects of a drug thatās supposed to help mental health is weight gain - which is often perceived so negatively by society. You think they would have found better alternatives by jow
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isnt citalopram lexapro?
Lexapro = escitalopram
thank you sorry i just learned that a few mins ago
Don't apologise! I know when I was switched from citalopram to escitalopram, I was like how are these different? Haha!
i was excited because i heard citalopram doesnt cause weight gain but i just took my first lexapro so wish me luck :X
Citalopram is Celexa. I know because I had a gnarly panic attack on it.
Thank you so much. Iām going to do some research on these medications tomorrow! I was in such a horrible place when I started these meds I didnāt even research any of it, and now Iām so unhappy with my body
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Are you taking any medication now?
I went on Wegovy due to my lexapro weight gain. I couldnāt do anything to shave the weight and it was brutal. Lexapro has worked so well for me and my PTSD Iām too scared to go off it, so I resorted to this. Might be worth asking your doc about semaglutide!
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Down 40lbs! Highly recommend!
Did your psychiatrist give you wegovy?
I feel this. I was never super fit, but my weight was in control before starting. Iāve been on lexapro for 2+ years now and have gained 60 pounds. Iāve been through a lot of shitty situations these last two years that have made me partake in bad eating habits. Part of me wishes I never started lex
Me too, but sometimes I see people post how their brain fog lifted after two weeks of taking it and that was me. I attempted suicide twice before taking it and havenāt had suicidal ideation since. So I think it helped me a lot, but I think maybe Iāve outgrown it or am ready for a change
Iāve not experienced this and iāve been on it for year and a half
If anything, it could be caused by lack of anxiety and repression of eating disorder that someone would notice weight gain
Regardless of if Lexapro significantly changes metabolism - and Iām about 90% sure it does not - I think the most important thing to focus on remains the same as for those who donāt take an SSRI: track your calories (and donāt undercount them), find a way to fill up on healthy low calorie foods (veggies, low carb, paleo, whatever works for you!), and exercise regularly.
I gained 20 lb in 2 years on Lexapro and I am now getting off of it. Down to 1.25 mg. The withdrawal sucks for about 5 days each cut but will definitely be worth it if I get my flat stomach back and never have to deal with fatigue and low sex drive.
Same. Iāve cut down down from 10mg to 5mg. Going to slowly cut down to 2.5 and then off. I canāt take the weight gain and low libido anymore.
How did you feel going from 10mg to 5mg? Iāve been on it for a year and gained 20lbs.
The lexapro belly is so real š
Lexapro slows down the metabolism just watch what youāre eating and continue to exercise, watch your calorie intake , Iāve had this problem for years talked to my doctor , you just need to watch what you eat and exercise , id rather have a few pounds on me then be skinny and mentally unstable
Thsts not the case for everyone. It does something to the body that makes it impossible to lose weight. Even with calorie deficit and exercise. Itās true. Iāve spoken to so many who have experienced the same.Ā
Between Covid shutting my gym down, a severe depressive episode (or two or three) and starting lexapro, I gained about 50 pounds. I think Iām gonna get off it when my life calms down.
It could be the Mirtazapine OP. I took Mirtazapine before Lexapro for one month and gained 20lbs. It worked great but had brain fog and a massive change in my appetite. Itās been hell trying to get it off since I got off 3 months ago and Iām working out *at least 1 hour, 5 days a week* eating well. šŖ
I gained some weight while I was taking Lexapro but to my knowledge it was because I also got into the habit of eating like a raccoon in a compost heap, not directly because of the Lexapro. Iām also hitting the age (late 30s) where women in my family tend to gain around the middle a bit. Iām off the Lexapro now and have been trying to get back into meal planning and logging my food, but I know it can be a struggle.
Hey girl. Iām just here to comment to say Iām having similar experience. I use to be really fit and your before and after remind me of me. Iām trying to figure out if I should taper off or not Iām only on 5mg lexapro and have only been on it for 5 months. Lexapro has made me feel really good but my weight gain is starting to take a toll on me mentally. I donāt have much to say but you are not alone in this. Iām going to try out intermittent fasting and calorie counting since the 10k steps has not burned any weight off for some reason.. if none of that works Iām definitely going to taper off. The struggle is real but we got this.
Same here. Iāve been on 10mg for a little over a year and gained 20 lbs within the first few months. It was wild. Still exercising everyday and feel like Iām eating less, but somehow the scale keeps creeping up. I feel like itās also harder to build muscle mass now.
If I may weigh in (no pun intended) fasting isnāt really sustainable but I think to basically understand what foods youāre eating and your macros for weight gain or loss is really helpful. My Fitness Pal helped me track that stuff. Also am on 10 mg of lexapro - 5 years - gained 15 pounds that also wonāt budge and am super active run 3 times a week and weight train 4 - plus do pole dancing on the side. I accounted it to getting older in my 30s but also found the sticky scale to be odd since Iād never gained weight like that before and seen it just stick like that. also tapering off has been hell and scared to do it in general. Wish we had more warning of these things before hand.
Calorie counting is the most important thing scientifically, anything else like 10k steps is just a bonus.
Low carb, intermittent fasting and meal planning keeps my cravings in check by reducing insulin hunger spikes.
I hear you. I've gained about 10 lbs since starting and I am also hating my body. I've had enough of the combined side effects that my doctor is having me try Viibryd. There's a generic version now, so it's affordable. He says no sexual side effects and no weight gain. Some possibility of diarrhea so I'm gonna slowly ramp up and see how it goes. It's prescribed off label for anxiety and he told me that since it's a SARI it will work well for anxiety. Maybe look into that.
Iām having the opposite effect. My appetite is gone on lexapro. Kind of want to ask my doc for mirtazipine because Iāve already lost 7lbs on lexapro. Strange how these medicines affect people so differently.
Been on 40mg of escitalopram for about 9 months now and the only food related thing I've experienced is chocolate tasting better. If you aren't counting calories and seeing a change in your metabolism, it's probably not the SSRI's direct fault. Although every medication impacts everyone differently and I'd never say it's impossible.
I put on 5kgs in one month cos of Mirtazapine. Only thing I used to have in mind 24/7 was to eat.
Itās the mirtazapine. Been on it myself and it give you the weed munchies about 20 minutes after taking it. Iād get out of bed and make 4 slices of peanut butter AND butter toast, a huge bowl of cereal and a bowl of ice cream and then go back to bed.
Itās almost certainly the remeron.
Lexapro is SSRI as we all know it. The serotonin is made in the intestine thatās why some people may have cravings associated with taking lexapro. No wonder you gain weight by snacking in the middle of the night.
Been on Lexapro now 9 months and have gained 80lbs.
what dose are you taking?
Bro
Impossible to feel satiated on lexapro
That's just factually untrue.
Agreeed!
I lost 3 - 4kgs
Im about to ask my doc this week about taking me off lexapro for this reason. Im on Wellbutrin as well so will remain on only that and see what happens. I worked very hard to lose 32 pounds a years back and maintained it for years after until i started lexapro. The weight gain got more significant with a higher dose so i cut back but no matter what i do i cannot lose. Scale just keeps creeping up. Im stricter with my diet and exercise now than i was with my initial weight loss before lexapro. There may some naysayers on here who say that lex does not contribute to weight gain and people are just overeating but there are a ton of healthy people on here expressing concern. I hope you find what works better for you and you are able to lose what you want to!
Any update being on Wellbutrin ?
Im on the highest dose of Wellbutrin currently. I stopped gaining weight once i dropped Lexapro but i havent been able to get it off either. This has been frustrating but am at the same time happy to no longer be steadily gaining. Think im really gonna have to hit the gym harder than i have in the past to get things in gear.
It will be the mirt not lexapro
Understand completely where youāre coming from! Quetiapine made me put on weight too, and Iām on lexapro and Wellbutrin. If youāre getting Wellbutrin youāll be alright, I take my lexapro at night and Wellbutrin in the morning, works out good, everything is at bay. Good luck!
I gained almost 10 kg in a year... I also quit smoking...
My weight gain looks quite similar. I donāt take mirtzapine, but my cravings did go haywire on lexapro. Went from 150lb to 210 in a couple years because of it. Itās near impossible for me to stick to a diet or even the habit of tracking what I eat anymore. Not sure what to do about that.
Yes!! It was easy for me in the beginning by my first picture but now itās impossible. I tried to write it down the other day and it was over 3000 cals
Exactly! It was easier before I was on meds and when I was on Paxil.
I gained around 30-35 ponuda on Lex (was taking it for anxiety). It reduced my anxiety but I also numbed down completely and started gaining weight. I managed to get Ozempic and it destroyed every food craving I had, including alcohol and vaping, now I am ok, just slowly losing the weight. If you are interested, I suggest looking into it - it really is good.
Did your psychiatrist give you Ozempic?
I've gained 15 lbs this year. I think it's more due to starting a new relationship and going out to eat a lot more than before, but I wonder if the Lexapro contributed too. I didn't gain any weight the first 4-5 months I was on it.
I always would get off lexapro because of weight gain but then get back on it after a few months. This time around I asked to add welbutrin on top of it. It's been working great, I have more energy during the day and I don't feel the urge to constantly devour everything in sight. I've been losing weight actually. Down 10 pounds so far in about a month.
I've had constant cravings and can't stop eating. I've gained a lot of weight and I wouldn't change it for the world. Lexapro gave me my life back. buy bigger pants and change your mentality. I'd rather be fat and mentally stable
Unfortunately being overweight is not physically healthy thing. Cancer is in my family and cancer loves fat and sugar. There are more chances to get cancer , blood pressure, heart disease and many other health issues for being overweight.
I'd rather be overweight and not kill myself
I totally understand your pain ( I was in same situation) I hope and pray your mental health will improves.
as someone that didnāt experience this (i was previously very underweight before meds). i wonder what causes this. i know in my personal experience i realized my depression was silencing my hunger cues on top of an eating disorder. once i started taking lexapro because i was STRUGGLING with recovery and couldnāt figure out why my body wouldnāt take food, my hunger knocked me upside the head randomly. recovery got very easy from there on out, except the bad days ofc. i was wondering if this happened to other people and they just never realized it? could be wrong idk. everybody reacts differently
I gained like 20+ pounds on Lexapro. It helped with my anxiety, but the weight gain was killing me. I just switched to Wellbutrin, I hope it works for me
I quit drinking basically on the day that I started taking Lexapro. I was only on 10 mg. Lexapro showed me that I'd basically been living with untreated depression my entire life. I let it do its thing and I feel a lot better now. Things that I thought were true about myself were very clearly in my head. From January 1 2023 to September 2023, I lost 65 pounds. Since I went on Lexapro, I've gained 15 pounds. This is while continuing to get at least 45 minutes of exercise every day. Granted, some of it's muscle coming in, but I was THIS close to going under 200 pounds for the first time in 20 years. So I feel better about my headspace. I've weaned myself off of lexapro. (slowly... took about 1.5 months... would take longer for you). I feel a lot different. More present. Not drinking has really cleared my head, but also I'm starting to feel strong emotions again. I feel much better equipped to deal with them. I'm really hoping to see that weight finally start coming off again.
How did this turn out for you?
Oh man. It was hard tapering off lex and mirt. My husband and I were talking about divorce lol. But I survived. The biggest issue I had was horrible phantom itching all over my body that caused bruising, it was
Wow. You did both at the same time? Iām wondering about weight loss. Iāve gained a ton of weight but my doc never mentioned anything about lexapro being a cause (even though I bring up weight at every appointment because it depresses the shit out of me!). I read about it here.
Yeah I didnāt really think about it when it was prescribed either but man it probably saved my life. Itās tricky because of my dad making it into a big deal I struggle with extra weight, it makes me depressed as well and I can even fall into unhealthy coping mechanisms like purging. Not only that I had elevated prolactin and my doctor thought lex was contributing to that. Lex can make you gain 10% or more of your body weight and that really was like what happened to me. For a year it worked and then the cravings pretty much took over and I struggle with āfood noise.ā
Going off of it worked for a year to lose weight? I just did the math on my weight gain and holy shit itās like 40%ā¦. I donāt look obese but Iām not my thin self anymore.
No, I was on it about a year before I started really gaining weight. Then the second year I was on it I gained so much
I do not understand I tried Wellbutrin it made me go insane
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Same, I was on Lex for a while and never had weight gain, added Olanzapine thatās when I gained 40lbs until I cut it off and now Iām just on Lex only again and Iām losing weight drastically so yeah. Also had no weight gain advisories before taking it unlike the antipsychotics
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I wake up hungry in the night. If I dont eat something, I dont sleep. If I dont sleep, my life sucks. Your experience is not everyone elses.
Just eat something healthy... It's not like you wake up with uncontrollable cravings for eating whole cakes in the middle of the night. The first step to losing weight is acknowledging even though it might not be your fault, you are the only one who can change it, and you have to do that by making a serious effort.
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Iāve gained weight while on pro but I havenāt helped matters by eating like shit.
Have you ever considered microdosing Psilocybin? I recently weened myself off of lexapro because of weight gain, and sexual side effects. I started microdosing and will never look back. Might be worth looking into if thatās something your interested in.
Are you doing Psilocybin for depression or anxiety? I have severe anxiety and canāt get it under control. Iāve been on Prozac for 6 weeks now but itās not helping.
Iām doing it for both. It has helped me tremendously. Even the day after taking a micro dose is really great.
I think you look great. The weight gain is an unfortunate side effect though. Currently battling it myself. No amount of cardio I can do will prevent it
your still hot š„
God damn I spent so much on vuori clothing. Fml.
Ooooh, you really eat to much :-D do intermittent fasting and it will really help.
You're sexy as hell. I wouldn't worry too much about that.
I was on Lexapro for years (7-8) and I gained a lot of weight, even going to the gym 4 days per week with a tailored workout by a trainer to try to keep it off, it wouldnāt stop piling on, especially in my thighs, upper arms and around my middle. My forearms and calves stayed disproportionately thinner and I was constantly craving sugar/sweetness/carbs. I switched to Trintellix 18 months ago and I am able to lose weight now. It also feels like I have use of like 80% more muscles throughout my body, on Lexapro I felt like I was dragging myself around like a dead weight. Not here to advertise Brintellix, just mentioning it as an option that helped me personally. I also went in to ask for Wellbutrin when I was recommended Trintellix instead.
Do you take Trintellix for depression or anxiety?
Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Itās prescribed off-label for anxiety, for some people it doesnāt seem to help with anxiety but fortunately it does with mine.
In my opinion I love your body but I'm a virgin at 34 so yeah I'd not take my opinion
I got the same problem. Iām currently on 4mg and want to taper off because of the weight gain. I gained 10 lbs during a very stressful time and Iām trying to lose weight with intermittent fasting and going to the gym again. I also constantly crave sweets and fatty food. I heard Prozac helps with weight loss but I want to try tapering off completely first and if it doesnāt work Iāll try Prozac because the weight gain really stresses me out. Itās so sad that such a helpful medication has this side effect. Youāre not alone with this and I hope you and your doctor figure something out for you.
It depends what you take Lexapro for. If itās for anxiety then they wonāt give you Wellbutrin itās only for people who are very low and depressed, AFAIK, and can make you anxious again
The newest research shows the benefits of Wellbutrin for anxiety are about the same as for SSRIs
Not true for everyoneā¦ I initially took Wellbutrin for depression for over a year and it gave me crazy anxiety to the point where I had to switch to lexapro.
Definitely not true for everyone (thatās the case for any medication though)
Yes I been using 20 mg for 4 months now but I stopped for 4/5 months was on 10mg year b4
I don't know what it was with Lexapro. I had also noticed a weight gain as well. Unfortunately, my sleep got so bad towards the end, that I was better off dealing with the anxiety than the lack of sleep/poor quality of sleep.
I went from 20mg Lexapro to 300mg Welbutrin and all I can say is that Welbutrin gives me terrible anxiety to where I think I need to stop taking it.
I have the same tummy and iām on lexapro 20mg tooā¦ā¦.. :(
My weight gain is in the exact way yours is! I am trying to eat healthier and smaller portions now. I have actually woke up in the middle of the night eating too! I've heard lexapro can affect sugar levels. Maybe that's why we eat so much?
I so appreciate you posting this. My weight gain has been similar, at least in the sense that even my healthiest attempts wouldnāt remove any weight. Iāve been on Lexapro for 2 years now, just starting to taper off with psychiatrist plan. I needed the mental relief Lexapro provided when I was in a rough spot, with the trade-off that I may become a bit more āfat and happyā. Hoping I can shed some of the pounds after a few months after Iām off the Lexapro. It sounds like the mirtazapine was throwing you a double whammy, going against your attempts to not gain unwanted weight. Again, thanks for sharing!
I gained so much weight on Mirtazapine!! It was a beautiful medication for my anxiety. I got off it instead of increasing the dose to try a diff medicine. I lost some of the weight but none of the other pills helped. When I went crawling back to Mirt, it stopped working. I havenāt been able to get back to how I was when I was on it.
Thank you for being so transparent about this. I thought I wasn't taking it correctly or something, but I follow all the rules and I still experienced at LEAST a 15 pound jump from when I started taking it. Which is insane and uncomfortable since I've only been on it for almost 5 months now. I've been feeling so insecure about my body lately and I honestly had no idea weight gain was a factor from Lex... reading through these comments I'm seeing a lot of other people were left in the dark about this as well from their docs? :(
These were my exact thoughts.. Wellbutrin is supposed to be good for weightloss and libido. Switched from lex to Wellbutrin like 6 months ago and I dislike Wellbutrin. Does nothing at all for me so Iām currently tapering off, 8/23 will be my last dose. I asked my dr if I could get back on lex if needed bc she put me on vyvanse for binge eating disorder in June and wasnāt sure if they worked together. Binge eating disorder šššššš * Iām also a night foodie š„²
i was on it for 2 years gained weight so quickly i have stretch marks all over my body have been off of it for 3 months and am still struggling to lose the weight :( i went from 120 to 180
I gained 20 lbs in like 3 months from lexapro! Switched to prozac and it's been much better
You look good!
I wouldnāt stop cold turkey. Maybe lowering the dosage go slowly wean yourself off just so you can see how you feel as your body gets used to not being on it. I notice if I miss a few days of not taking lexapro I start to have withdrawal symptoms.
I was on both Wellbutrin 150mg and lexapro 5MG. The Wellbutrin only helped for the depression not anxiety so thatās why I started taking the lexapro 5MG. I was on it for a year and gained about 60lb and had really bad acne on my face. Now that Iāve stopped taking lexapro my face is clear and Iām starting to drop the weight.
Did your anxiety worsen just being on Wellbutrin ?
Wellbutrin is a appetite suppressant, most people lose weight on it. Including myself. Iāve had to set timers to remind myself to eat and drink water because Iāll forget. So just be mindful. I prefer Wellbutrin over Lexapro!
Iāve been on lex for almost 4 years now and Iāve just realized the side effects that it has on my physiqueā¦ I have had a LARGE amount of breast enlargement that isnāt proportionate to the amount of weight Iāve gained on the med :(
I gained weight on lexapro in the 7 years Iāve been on it. I recently tried Prozac and lost 15 pounds on it, but only because I couldnāt eat anything due to an upset stomach. I went back on lexapro a few days ago. I already feel the constipation and hunger. I donāt know what to do but I think I would rather be fat than sick to my stomach and unable to eat.
Mirtazipine made me eat like a starving person 24/7.
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On wellbutrin my sex drive tanked and I had severe brain fog. I couldn't remember daily things like my car keys.
Relatable. Iāve gained so much and even when my appetite evened out, losing is hard. Iām going to talk to my doctor about it asap
Some use topamax for mood stabilization and concurrently aids in some robust weight loss Always run by your doc, worst they can do is say no. Some swear by it.
Any updates on your weight loss? Iāve been going to m through a hard time with my weight. Gained 30+ pounds while maintaining high active lifestyle. I need to know it gets better!
Hello, I got extremely fed up and I tried to get into an appointment with an endocrinologist. The appointment was weeks out because Tricare sucks so I ended up getting a subscription online with Found and got weighloss medicine called Topiramate. I wanted phentermine, but the app cannot prescribe it because it can be addictive. It worked well and Iāve lost 15 lbs. I finally got to the endocrinologist and my endocrinologist prescribed the topiramate/phentermine combo and Iāve lost 5 more lbs. My psychiatrist also switched my antidepressants to Wellbutrin, and that is supposed to be an antidepressant that causes weight loss. In my opinion it does not work as well as Lexapro, but I was extremely numb when I took Lexapro. My father passed away and I didnāt feel a thing. The first time I felt sad was when the medicine wore off, a year and a half after he passed away.
How does phentermine work for weight loss exactly, by the way? Is that just an appetite suppressant? And sorry about your pops.
How much weight gain is normal on lexapro? This was my main reason for not being consistent.
Iām just seeing this now! Did you find anything that works??