Not currently using it, but it did cause weight gain, as did every traditional anti-depressant I tried. After being on them for 7 years, I am finally, with a lot of effort, starting to loose the weight I put on.
If it's enough weight gain to be really problematic, you might ask your doctor about Wellbutrin. I can't take it for other reasons, but it doesn't cause the weight gain (or sexual problems) the SSRI's do. Although, now that I think about it, while I was put on it partially for anxiety, I don't know that it's been proven to work on that.
__________________ -diagnosed 1/2004
-treating with diet and exercise
-mom to 5 furkids, Patrick the greyhound, Gretta and Samantha the rabbits, Sophie and Rosie the guinea pigs, and 4 guinea pigs waiting at the Bridge.
-working on a PhD in American History
I don't think I noticed any weight gain from the medicine when I started it. I did gain weight the year I started taking it, but I wasn't watching my diet/exercise at all. Once I did, I did lose weight. Of course, I have a hard time managing weight in general, so I can't pinpoint it to Lexapro. I'd say compared to other antidepressants I've been on, it didn't particularly affect my weight.
__________________ "Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them."- Orison Swett Marden
I actually lost weight on Lexapro, it wasn't the right med for me and drove my anxiety through the roof. But everyone is different ya know :p
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Lexapro worked really well for my anxiety, and I really started to overcome my long term agoraphobia while I was taking it (but had to come off due to various numerous side effects ). I was very ill when I first started taking it and lost 5lbs in the first 5 days which was a bit scary. I gradually put it back on and my weight stabilized, but when I was withdrawing from it I put on a few extra lbs (which I lost within a few months). So yeah, it messed around with my weight a bit, but only slightly.
I know someone mentioned Wellbutrin. I believe it's possible to take Wellbutrin alongside something like Lex to negate the weight gain. I might be wrong though. Does anyone know whether this is true?
__________________ Dianette
Spiro 100mg
Zinc
EPA fish oils
Ground flaxseed (when I remember) and flaxseed oil on salads
Pure Inositol 3 grams a day (for panic disorder - thrilled to discover it could help with pcos as well)
I have never heard of taking wellbutrin with lexapro. That is interesting. I know that my doctor thought that wellbutrin would be way too stimulating for me since she said I has GAD. Well, lately I have been trying to walk an hour each day to help with the weight gain that I feel I put on since taking Lexapro. Very slowly my jeans are getting looser. Now I know that I do not have to stop Lexapro if I keep on exercising. I feel like it saved my life. It does have its side effects like constipation (TMI?), but its well worth taking it to maintain the positive outlook I have and peace of mind. I can worry all the time and analyze things up and down when I don't take it. With Lexapro I feel like I can just be a normal person, sleep like a rock and wake up happy in the morning. Maybe they should hire me to be in one of their commercials .
Wellbutrin is often used with SSRI's (like lexapro). I know it will negate the sexual side effects of the SSRI's, I don't know about the weight issue but it would make sense it would help with that too.
__________________ -diagnosed 1/2004
-treating with diet and exercise
-mom to 5 furkids, Patrick the greyhound, Gretta and Samantha the rabbits, Sophie and Rosie the guinea pigs, and 4 guinea pigs waiting at the Bridge.
-working on a PhD in American History
Wellbutrin is often used with SSRI's (like lexapro). I know it will negate the sexual side effects of the SSRI's, I don't know about the weight issue but it would make sense it would help with that too.
Maybe that's what I'm confusing it with. I do think I read that Wellbutrin can negate weight gain but I'm not cetain. It does make sense though
__________________ Dianette
Spiro 100mg
Zinc
EPA fish oils
Ground flaxseed (when I remember) and flaxseed oil on salads
Pure Inositol 3 grams a day (for panic disorder - thrilled to discover it could help with pcos as well)
I have never heard of taking wellbutrin with lexapro. That is interesting. I know that my doctor thought that wellbutrin would be way too stimulating for me since she said I has GAD. Well, lately I have been trying to walk an hour each day to help with the weight gain that I feel I put on since taking Lexapro. Very slowly my jeans are getting looser. Now I know that I do not have to stop Lexapro if I keep on exercising. I feel like it saved my life. It does have its side effects like constipation (TMI?), but its well worth taking it to maintain the positive outlook I have and peace of mind. I can worry all the time and analyze things up and down when I don't take it. With Lexapro I feel like I can just be a normal person, sleep like a rock and wake up happy in the morning. Maybe they should hire me to be in one of their commercials .
Constipation on Lex?! Wow, i had the opposite
It's great that you're exercising and able to keep your weight down that way. I also felt like a new person on Lex and just wish I could tolerate it. I was prescribed 20mg but couldn't even tolerate 10mg. I was very unwell on 10mg. I could just about tolerate 7.5 so I stayed on that and it was still very helpful It's great for anxiety isn't it.
__________________ Dianette
Spiro 100mg
Zinc
EPA fish oils
Ground flaxseed (when I remember) and flaxseed oil on salads
Pure Inositol 3 grams a day (for panic disorder - thrilled to discover it could help with pcos as well)
Last edited by MarianneUnfaithfull; 07-22-2009 at 07:23 AM.
Lexapro and Weight 
). I was very ill when I first started taking it and lost 5lbs in the first 5 days which was a bit scary. I gradually put it back on and my weight stabilized, but when I was withdrawing from it I put on a few extra lbs (which I lost within a few months). So yeah, it messed around with my weight a bit, but only slightly.
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