How long does it take to lose weight gained while on Lexapro after you stop taking the medication?

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(21) On July 6, 2011 at 1:19 pm Sallyjo777 [0] said:

i was actually put on lexapro about 2.5 months ago by my cardiologist because of my irregular heartbeat (i am only 26 years old). i am 5'9" and before taking lexapro i weighed 136 pounds. i quit taking it cold turkey as of yesterday after weighing myself and seeing that i have gained 7 pounds! i was never put on it for depression/anxiety but am becoming depressed because of the weight gain lol. i cannot seem to control my appetite or eating while on this pill...i always feel like i'm starving! my stomach is SO bloated that it looks like i'm pregnant! i was worried about weight gain and was reading all of the forums saying to myself, oh this will never happen to me because i won't allow for the weight gain...well it did! i will let you know if the weight comes off easily or not!

(20) On June 25, 2011 at 2:46 am 199820073 [0] said:

I have been on Lexapro for 3 years now. I started taking Lexapro for post poturn depression/anxiety after my second child. I have had 30 pounds weight gain and night sweats the whole time, however it did help me. Now that i have been on it so long i really still feel anxiety. I bagn to think that the Lexapro was making me have anxiety and be irritated, so i have recently started tapering off of it. I was taking 10 mg, i am now cutting a half tablet in half. I feel better than ever. I prayed about it first and ask God to please help me to feel good. I promised i would have faith. So far so good. I do not feel as ill as i did before already. I am looking forward to loosing the weight. I know Lexapro help me through the time that i needed it, but it is time to move on from it.

(19) On March 28, 2011 at 4:04 am Lgjurich [0] said:

Well I started taking Lexapro 7 years ago. But gained the weight very quickly in the beginning. I am now depression and jitter free but terribly overweight. I have gained 60 lbs. Some days I practically starve myself. I hate the way I look. I stopped taking the drug yesterday. I sure hope I can stay off and drop some of this weight.

(18) On March 7, 2011 at 12:13 am Mttam [0] said:

I have been on 2.5 milligrams of Lexapro for nearly three years. I am very sensitive and couldn't go above that dose without intolerable and strangely patterned nightsweats. I came onto the medication after a period of severe stress, loss, and sleep deprivation. I had lost more than ten pounds and was an emaciated rail. All my life I have struggled to gain weight. After a few months on the Lexapro, I had put back the weight I had lost, and for the first time in my life, was gaining more. But unlike past patterns in my weight, I have not been able to control, through eating, the weight I've put on. Even going down to two meals and some snacking, I'm now nearly 12 pounds above my highest previous weight. Though I would like to get off the drug eventually (I thoroughly resisted going on it in the first place, but realized I needed some help), I am still grateful for the deep sleep I am able to get. Since sleep loss was the chief reason I went on the drug, I feel it has served me well in that category. But despite the low dose, I do feel sedated on the drug. While having a buffer against the harher aspects of life and one's own chemical imbalances is a blessing of one kind, it does come with costs.

I would like to understand more about the mechanism by which Lexapro and other serotonin-regulating drugs influence weight. There are many serotonin receptors in the gut, but I don't know how creating more availability of serotonin in the overall system appears to affect appetite, sweet-craving, and (seemingly) metabolism. Perhaps Forest Labs, the manufacturer of the drug, could explain this. But I can imagine they would be loathe to publicly admit the link between their drug and weight gain.

(17) On February 20, 2011 at 5:45 am Deborah4444 [0] said:

I went on lexapro seven years ago for menopausal depression. After two years trying to go off the first time, the depression returned. Four years later (taking 2 months to withdraw from 10 mgs) I was actually hospitalized twice for severe stomach cramps, bloating, and slowed digestion. It took a fourth doctor who knew that antidepressants have benefits for digestion, that withdrawal can lead to irritable bowel syndrome which was my diagnosis. Cure? Go back on lexapro. I became pain free and learned how to manage IBS w/ diet, fiber, and exercise. But very resentful that my trusted OB/GYN said there were no side effects. I should have known better. It is almost seven years on the drug and I will attempt one more time to withdraw, slowly over months, watching my digestion with extreme care, and hoping the symptoms disappear with time. I am scared. Unlike some of your comments lexapro dulled my appetite, zapped my energy and caused skin hypersensitiviy. I am average weight and yoga fit at 55 but am so scared to gain weight as withdrawal attempts always increased hunger. Would so advise NEVER taking these fairly new drugs too easily prescribed unless suicidally depressed. Menopause ends, drug addictions don't. Anyone with help, similarities please post. Good health to all, be brave, Deborah

(16) On December 1, 2010 at 5:27 pm Saffdarling [0] said:

Wow. Thanks to all of you for sharing. I gained 25 pounds in about 8 months, even though I've been eating healthier and exercising more than I ever have in my adult life. I even hired a personal trainer last year who worked me out hard 3 times a week for 3 months (plus I exercised in between sessions). I dropped maybe 3 or 4 pounds. I've been so frustrated with the weight gain despite my efforts to lose, and about the only thing I'm depressed about now is that I'm about 25 pounds overweight! I'm calling my doctor today to discuss tapering off Lexapro.

(15) On August 29, 2010 at 1:01 am Johnhopps [0] said:

Started on Lexapro for 3 months and gained 12 pounds then switched to Luvox and gained another 9 in 3 months for a total of 21 pounds. I started weaning off and have been off 2 1/2-3 months. 11 of the 21 pounds are gone but I'm struggling with these last 10. I also want to go back on the meds at a very low dose ( 1x ev 4days ) cause it did help me. And FYI I do exercise and weights and eat healthy.

(14) On June 17, 2010 at 8:17 am L3ecky [0] said:

I have increased my Lexapro from 10mgs to 20mgs over a year ago. It has helped stabilise my moods and my rages, however, it has only been recently after 4 weeks of rigorous exercise and healthy eating that I have noticed i am not losing weight AT ALL after gaining a good 11kgs (around 22 pounds) when usually on any previous diet I would have lost at least something.

I have tapered now down to 15mgs of Lexapro, but I am not doing it too quickly - the side effects cause dizziness and this feeling of constantly needing something (aka addicted to Lexapro) Unfortunately I will have to yet again work on finding a medication that works for me.. I am trying 3,000mgs of B3 and 3,000 Vitamin C, B Complex, and omega 3 a day -- hoping the theory of Vitamin therapy for depression is not just myth.

I am sick of being flabby, and I cannot believe what I have read here today, it digusts me to fix a problem adds another... it seems like no win sometimes.

I guess the positive side to this is we can be healthy doing all this exercise and eating properly, it becomes a way of life because we have to be on a diet for like 20 years to even lose 1 kg .. i know my ways have changed and I am more healthy. Though the extra weight gain has screwed my confidence and xapped my energy.

(13) On June 5, 2010 at 8:12 pm Sirensongs [0] said:

*Anyone* *successfully* lost the weight yet, the weight caused by this damned drug? After 2 months off Lexapro, have shed about 10 of the 20-something lbs I gained on it. About 12 more to go, and it's all in my abdomen, which is bloated like a balloon.

It would be super-encouraging to hear from anyone who's successfully lost the weight. Thanks so much.

(12) On June 3, 2010 at 7:37 pm SJHarris [0] said:

I went on Lexapro back in December and read information about the potential weight gain. I was concerned and so I was very careful about what I ate and getting enough exercise. My weight has always been steady - just a pound or two fluctuation my entire life. When I got home from the hosptital after the birth of my son I weighed myself and only weighed two pounds more than I did before I got pregnant. I say all of this to drive home my opinion that Lexapro definitely causes weight gain! Since I went on Lexapro five months ago, I have gained almost ten pounds! When I started gaining the weight I became even more careful about diet and exercise, but I've continued to gain. Nothing I do will stop the weight gain or take it off. I have decided to talk to my doctor about going off Lexapro. I just hope the weight comes off after I discontinue using it!

(11) On January 19, 2010 at 4:35 pm Christinaannfrick [0] said:

I've been on lexapro since I was 14; I'm on 20mg and I take it twice a day; I'm 15 and I have not gained one pound. I don't exercise or push myself to do anything more than I regularly did before the anti-depressant. I got put on lexapro because it doesnt make you gain weight as bad as the other medicines, although it doesn't help my depression any whatsoever.

(10) On July 13, 2009 at 9:50 pm Taybey [0] said:

Im on paxil and am getting off it. You are gaining the weight from the antidepressant. I have been thin all my life until i started taking paxil. it works but its not worth the weight gain.......its a shame it will take a few months to lose all the weight u didnt put it on over night and u wont lose it over night but get off it and u will lose it.

taybey

(9) On April 5, 2009 at 1:20 am Jenny635 [0] said:

I am thrilled to bits! After many years of dieting to stop my escalating weight until obese - I saw this on the News.

They said a man had lost all the weight he needed with a very simple method.

I watched the Current Affairs and his method was simple.

It sounded drastic but it only is at first if you have a sweet tooth afterwards our body soon changes it's taste!

You simply stop eating sweet things. (with fruit, avoid the sweeter fruit like grapes etc.)

I started this 10 days ago and found that I've not only lost my sweet tooth but it has altered my metabolism and I find I cannot eat the same amount of food.

I have lost 8 lbs in 10 days!

(8) On March 17, 2009 at 6:15 am Jfazzi [0] said:

I have just read this. I have been on Lexapro for a year and gained 25 pounds. I am getting married in less than 2 months. I have tried losing weight every way. The most I can lose is 5 pounds and am very upset. I feel horrible because of the weight gain. Does anybody know if you stop taking the Lexapro if you will lose weight?

Julia

(7) On October 22, 2008 at 6:41 pm Smellyflowers [0] said:

Hi there,

I have been on Lexapro for 5 1/2 years now. I have tried going off of the drug a few times within these years, but once I get to the point where I experience the "electric shocks" and irregular heartbeats, I go back on it because I am too scared.

I have gained a total of 80 pounds since going on Lexapro. I had gained 30 lbs in high school when I went on Paxil. Before going on Lexapro, I asked my doctor if it would make me gain weight. He said "nope" - I trusted him and here I am - 80 lbs heavier and not much more happier.

(6) On September 30, 2008 at 5:33 pm Jfaw1 [0] said:

I was on Lexapro for about 9 months and gained 15 lbs. My doctor told me this was a side effect and everyone he put on Lexapro did gain some weight. Unlike others, I was very active while on the drug becasue I did not want to gain the weight. I ran 10-15 miles a week, on top of the my usual weight lifting routine. I ran three 5K races, one 10K race and took part in my second triathlon in 2 years. Obviously I did not just sit around and do nothing. There were even days that I would not eat lunch, only taking in 1200-1500 calories during the day so as to fight off the weight gain. Any doctor that states there is no weight gain side effect with Lexapro needs to read a package insert! I have recently gone off Lexapro and came accross this page after trying to find out why I was so dizzy and why my brain felt like it was being shocked all the time. This sucks! I am hoping that this will go away soon, along with the 15 extra lbs.

(5) On September 7, 2008 at 3:24 am Krollins [0] said:

I took Lexepro for about 7 months and gained 25 lbs. I am so unhappy with my body now! I have been off of the Lexepro for about a month and have only lost 2 lbs. My mother also took Lexepro and gained 30 lbs. She also d/c it and she has lost about 5 lbs in 2 months off the medication. I wish I did this kind of reserch before starting the Lexepro. This medication really helps with anxiety but man, I cant deal with the weight gain! It is just flat out depressing by its self!

(4) On September 2, 2008 at 2:44 am Exlexuser [1] said:

I was on Lexapro for about a year and half at 10mg (at one point, for a few months, I was on 20mg). A month ago, I accidentally forgot to take it when I was away for a weekend. Once home, I decided to stop completely mostly due to the side effects which had increased over the last 6 months of use. FYI: I do NOT recommend going cold-turkey; I experienced some severe side effects coming off of it the first 2 weeks.

Now, after consulting my doctor, I am feeling a lot better though some symptoms are taking longer. The doctor told me expect 4-6 weeks for complete withdrawal. My irritability is evident along with a few other minor symptoms, but the worst part is over. That said, I did gain 20-25 lbs over the 1.5 yrs I was on it. That's a lot for a petite body. I am devastated. Losing weight is not easy... and while on it, I lost all interest and energy in exercising.t I did eat healthy but my appetite was up during the time I was on it. Actually, I did not notice until the very end and recently, when I realized that I am a lot less hungry now.

In recent weeks, I feel more "myself" (in a good way). But I am nervous/worried about weight lose, after reading the above responses.

Please note, weight gain IS a side effect. My doctor also told me it wasn't an issue, but after doing research and reading the Prescribing info, it's common to gain weight. The reason is unclear! Though is a slow battle, I did notice that ~5 lbs (recent gain before stopping Lexapro) came off in the first week of withdrawal. I am keeping it off with my usual eating; where my weight would go up with no changes in my dietary habits. So, there's hope?

I was told it really has to be 100% out of your system to get back to normal. Even though, diet and exercise are necessary without the chemical in your system, it seems there's a chance weight loss will happen. Don't give up.

Good luck.

(3) On July 4, 2008 at 10:09 pm Crawford30 [0] said:

I'm 5'5" and was 132.5 (I asked my dr what my exact weight was the day he prescribed it) and never gained weight easily. After 3 years, I am a steady 160 and hate it. I am in week 4 of life-after-Lexapro and my dr said it would be 6 months to a year to get this weight off.

(2) On April 4, 2008 at 5:40 pm NatalieSeto [0] said:

I also don't know how to get rid of the extra weight. I was on Lexapro for a little over a year and gained about 20 pounds. I couldn't understand why I was not losing it when I worked out everday, yoga 3 nights a week and hardly ever ate. I did notice that I had a craving for sweets alot more. I just went off the medication the week of Easter and I have been having severe cramping in my legs and sometimes cry becasue "everything is wrong". But I have already noticed a decrease in my apppetite. I was not aware that you can gain weight with Lexapro but now that I've been reading about it I was not surpriesed about my added pounds.

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