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

Answer

Lexapro can cause weight gain and this is disclosed in the clinical trials, it is just downplayed and spun. In clinical trials Lexapro was shown to be weight gain neutral. This is different than other SSRIs that appear to cause weight gain. This is very different than being shown to have no effect on weight. This means that just as mean people in the lexapro group gained weight as lost weight. What's important is that the number of people that changed weight in the lexapro group was significantly larger than that of the placebo group indicating that lexapro does impact weight. What this really means is that Lexapro can increase or decrease weight depending on the person. Scientists really do not know why this is the case.

With that said, there were still many people in the placebo group that gained weight, so it is very difficult to attribute all of the weight gain to Lexapro.

After withdrawing from Lexapro, it may or may not cause a change in weight. There are currently no clinical trials or studies that have been conducted studying this aspect.  

Answer

I've gained almost 20 pounds in the 3 months that I have been on Lexapro. I have even been exercising (although lately I've lost my motivation) and eating pretty decently. I am convinced that the lexapro has caused the weight gain because there is no other change that I can account for. I am trying to get off it, but keep having electrical shocks in my head after a few days of no pills. I am trying to taper off now, hopefully it wont be long until it's over. I also will never take another antidepressant again.  

Answer

Woah, the Doctor that said weight gain is not a side affect is not up on their information. It is a HUGE (pardon the pun) side affect. I don't know anyone who has been on it that hasn't gained at least some weight in a short amount of time. It takes some people a relatively long time to get it off and it is virtually impossible if you still have Lexapro in your system. That is why I am weening off of it after about 4 years and a weight gain of 100lbs.

Wow. Another one. I'm having the same problem. I gained 15 lbs in 7 weeks.


I have been on Lexapro for 9 months; 10 mg first 6, then 20mg. Have just had to stop taking it as I've developed a mystery allergy so they're stopping all medicals to see if they can halt the allergy. Now I'm off it, I'm sure the weight I've put on is related to being on Lexapro, if not specifically caused by it. The Lexapro made me less concerned about things (like how I looked) and coupled that with a feeling of being constantly tired and low on energy, couldn't be bothered doing things - all that contributes to a lack of exercise and therefore weight gain. I'm hoping now I'm off it (and enjoying all the withdrawal stuff) that I will have the drive and energy to lose the weight I've gained.  

Answer

I don't have the answer, but I can confidently say my wife has gained 25-30 pounds from taking 10 mg. of Lexapro for two years. She is trying to wean herself of the drug, though it worked wonderfully for her while on it. She is normally works out but lost all interest while on the drug; could be the reason for the pounds. Will keep you posted.  

Answer

I have been off Lexapro for two months and can not lose weight to save my life!! I have tried everything imaginable it is driving me crazy-from what I have read-some people lose weight quickly and some are stuck with it for a long time.  

Answer

Dear Person, I feel for you. I have never gained weight easily, and I gained twelve pounds in six months taking lexapro. I'm trying to wean off of it for that reason.  

Answer

I've been on Lexapro for over a month and my doctor said that weight gain is NOT a side effect. I specifically asked. Now you all have me wondering!
I haven't gained a lot of weight and then again I would expect to since the weather is changing and I'm less physically active and still a bit down and doing my usual stress eating.

Like the first post in this thread, I have lost all interest in doing any of my usual physical activities -- like hiking, working out, etc. I'm going to force myself to hike today!

My doctor told me that Lexapro "only" increases the serotonin levels and nothing else. Does an increase in serotonin cause weight gain? Or what is the reason Lexapro causes weight gain? (I mean, for example, I know steroids make you ravenously hungry. But what does something like Lexapro physically do to cause weight gain?) Again, you all have me wondering now!  

Answer

I definitely think that Lexapro puts on the pounds. I have always weighed about 110 lbs. Now I have gained 10-15 pds. I have been on Lex for 1.5 years and have decided I've had enough of the horrible night sweats. If anyone tells you that Lex doesn't have side effects, take their advice and toss it out your window. Lexapro is a fairly new drug and is just now showing that it is not the best choice. Beware if you try to get off of it, because when I started taking it my doctor assured me that it is not addictive, bull bull bull. I am in the process of weaning myself off of it and thank goodness I haven't had the horrible side effects that some do, I have experienced nervousness, dizziness, and irritability. But on the up side, I am not as tired and the night sweats are starting to back off. I will never go on another anti-depressant as long as I live and I will warn anyone I meet to try a non chemical method to calm your anxiety/depression. The consequences are just not worth it. I have hopes that my metabolism will get back up so the weight I've gained will start to come off. Unlike the other people, I did not stop my exercising, even though the motivation was lacking, I still made myself do it, mainly because I have heart disease in my family and I don't want to end up like my parents.

Answer

I was taking Lexapro for about a year. Over this time, I easily gained 25 pounds. I was told back when I started taking the medication that I was not going to see an increase in weight and that there would not be many side effects that would effect daily living. Talk about being completely misinformed. I was taking 300 mg 2X a day. If you have any other options go to those first. Since stopping that medication about a month ago, I have dropped 13 lbs.

ANSWER
I have been taking Lexapro for 8 weeks now and have seen no weight gain, and no indication my weight will increase. I have ADHD as well and take adderall too. Complements together PERFECTLY.

ANSWER

I didn't start gaining weight on Lexapro until 3 months after I got up to the maximum dose (and over the incredible nausea). No change in diet or exercise and my weight went up 20 lbs in 2 1/2 months. Nothing would get it off -- NOTHING. I ate less than 1000 calories a day and worked out (HARD) 6x a week. After a year of struggling with my weight, under a doctor's care, I weaned myself off over 3 weeks -- disaster. I am still -- 2 years later -- dealing with the side effects from the withdrawal. It wasn't until I saw a competent doctor, who told me weight gain on Lexapro is normal, that I learned that weaning me off of the drug should have taken 6 months, not 3 weeks. To all those folks out there reading this -- DO NOT stop the drug cold turkey or even go off of it quickly. The withdrawal was a living hell. And, it was withdrawal. Your body becomes addicted to the drug exactly the way heroin addicts are addicted. The drug companies have worked hard to hide this fact. The only good news is that my weight went back to normal in about 4 months. Now, I am weaning myself off of Cymbalta because of the same problem -- weight gain. No terrible withdrawal side effects but I've taken my time -- 3 months. No weight loss...yet.

My answer is a lot, like the person ahead of me. I started on lexapro and at first i was fine but like 2/3 months later BAM 20 lbs. I was in tears starving myself! I went through a withdrawal period VERY BAD I stopped cold turkey. OH MY GOD when i tell you bad withdrawal wow, I'm a teen so when i gained the weight people would be like 'what happened to you?'. It SUCKS. I still haven't lost the weight
To the person whose doctor told him/her that lexapro does not cause weight gain -- IMMEDIATELY change doctors. Yours is incompetent in this area. Lexapro (and other antidepressants, change your metabolism. Weight gain on lexapro is well known and and to tell you otherwise means that he/she does not know what they are doing. As someone who has had to endure the horrors of incompetent treatment in this area (I am still suffering side effects 2 years later), please, please, go to another doctor -- NOW.

I have been taking this medication for 5 months and knew i had gained some weight, but when i went for a check up last week, i found out that my weight had ballooned by 2 stone!!!! I'm only 5 ft and even though I don't look like I've gained that much, i feel like a weeble wobble!!! I'm seeing my GP asap to find an alternative..... as this is just adding to my condition and making me feel dreadful! If he doesn't offer me one, I'm going cold turkey!
 

ANSWER

I've been on Lexapro since spring 2005. When I started taking it, I weighed 100 lbs (I'm 5'2"). I now weigh 130 and CANNOT lose the weight to save my life. I began weaning myself off the drug about 2 months ago and have only lost 1 lb. I'm eating right and working out every day, but the weight will not come off. The exercise really does help with my depression and anxiety though. I'm sure the medication works differently for everyone, and while it did help my depression/anxiety, it has caused weight gain that I now can't get rid of. There are natural ways to combat depression and I do take Klonopin as needed, when I'm feeling overly anxious. I now take a multi -vitamin every day, along with a B-complex. I drink lots of milk so I'm getting my Vitamin D (the anti-depressant vitamin) there. I really do want to get back to my pre-Lexapro weight and I'm doing everything I can to get there. I wouldn't suggest taking the drug unless you don't mind gaining up to 30 lbs. (And I was on 10 mg, which may be why the weight piled on over 4 years rather than more quickly).


Ive been taking Lexapro for bout 5 months... in January I weighed 208lb. Its now the first of April and I weigh 223! In the middle of the year last year I was staying between 182 and 191... I can't afford to take Lexapro anymore, it cost too much money. I stopped taking it a week ago and now I'm having severe mood swings, throwing up, and have been very tired and have had head aches. My advice, avoid taking this drug if there are others that will work. Nothing seems to work for me. Guess some of us are just destined to be a little crazy. That's life.

I can also say that I have been on Lexapro for about six months now and have gained 30 pounds. It actually caused me to think i was pregnant! I am not, and I cannot lose the weight for anything. I've never had trouble losing weight before in my life.

Note: There are comments associated with this question. See the discussion page to add to the conversation.

First answer by Yinzer. Last edit by Alexia642. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 131 [recommend question].