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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linnie on October 19, 2004, at 14:22:42
What are the latest thoughts on Lexapro
Posted by CrazyCO on October 19, 2004, at 17:39:40
In reply to Lexapro, posted by linnie on October 19, 2004, at 14:22:42
It causes a lot of weight gain, myself a friend and a relative all took lexapro and all gained at least 20 lbs within just a couple of months, and it wasn't dosage related, because I was on 40mg, my relative was on 20, and the friend on 10mg. Also after taking for around a year my memory loss had become so bad, that I had to switch to something else.
Posted by linnie on October 19, 2004, at 20:34:37
In reply to Re: Lexapro, posted by CrazyCO on October 19, 2004, at 17:39:40
> It causes a lot of weight gain, myself a friend and a relative all took lexapro and all gained at least 20 lbs within just a couple of months, and it wasn't dosage related, because I was on 40mg, my relative was on 20, and the friend on 10mg. Also after taking for around a year my memory loss had become so bad, that I had to switch to something else.
Wow...I am surprised.I had that prob with Paxil but Lex has been fine. I have been on it for almost a year 10mgs. It just goes to show you that everyone's body chemistry is different and you have to hunt to find what is right for you. Thanx
Posted by Dave001 on October 19, 2004, at 21:16:05
In reply to Re: Lexapro, posted by CrazyCO on October 19, 2004, at 17:39:40
> It causes a lot of weight gain, myself a friend and a relative all took lexapro and all gained at least 20 lbs within just a couple of months, and it wasn't dosage related, because I was on 40mg, my relative was on 20, and the friend on 10mg. Also after taking for around a year my memory loss had become so bad, that I had to switch to something else.
The fact that the weight gain was seemingly unrelated to the dose is probably good evidence that Lexapro was not the cause of weight gain. Anecdotal comments like this carry very little weight (no pun intended) when we have double blind placebo controlled studies showing no significant effect on weight from escitalopram.
Dave
Posted by CrazyCO on October 19, 2004, at 22:42:25
In reply to Re: Lexapro, posted by Dave001 on October 19, 2004, at 21:16:05
Well I know it was because of the medicine because it didnt' start for any of us until we began taking this medication, and soon after I stopped so did the weight gain, same for one of the others who stopped it, but the one still taking it is still gaining.
Posted by utopizen on October 19, 2004, at 22:49:13
In reply to Re: Lexapro, posted by CrazyCO on October 19, 2004, at 22:42:25
> Well I know it was because of the medicine because it didnt' start for any of us until we began taking this medication, and soon after I stopped so did the weight gain, same for one of the others who stopped it, but the one still taking it is still gaining.
>I understand where you're coming from, and it sounds to you true as science, but the reality is no one understands weight gains and losses at all beyond the law of thermodynamics (which has yet to be short-changed).
Amphetamines have been studied and studied and studied again, by FDA and industry, for over 60 years-- longer than it has been studied for ADHD! And the results? It *might* be true that you may lose 1/2 a lb. per week for the first few weeks of taking them, and this may be because of an increase in metabolism, or a decrease in appetite, or both. No one knows!
No one will ever know.
Posted by CrazyCO on October 19, 2004, at 23:00:16
In reply to Re: Lexapro, posted by CrazyCO on October 19, 2004, at 17:39:40
I wasn't aware that you had to have some sort of advanced psycopharmacological knowledge with double blind studies in order to post personal experiences with a medication on this board. I have only been coming to this board for a few days but it seems that maybe it isn't a good place for a lay person to communicate.
Posted by jboud24 on October 19, 2004, at 23:05:26
In reply to Re: Lexapro, posted by utopizen on October 19, 2004, at 22:49:13
I disagree. While there is no way to be completely certain, I have noticed that all of the SSRI's have a tendency to induce weight gain in people. The reports may be anecdotal, and the scientific journals may say otherwise, but many people on this board have complained of weight gain from every SSRI made, including Prozac. In addition, if no other factors have changed except medication, you are essentially telling the poster that they are erroneous in believing that lexapro caused weight gain. In reality, they know their situation far better than you do, and it is scientific deduction to believe that if one factors out the alternatives whatever is left, however improbale, is likely to be the answer. And another thing. Not only are the studies on these drugs biased, but no 6-8 week trial is going to tell you real results on the side-effect of weight gain, especially since it takes the brain approxamately that long just to begin responding significantly to the medication, as is the case with TCA, SSRI, and MAOI anti-depressants.
Justin
Posted by jboud24 on October 19, 2004, at 23:10:48
In reply to Lexapro, posted by linnie on October 19, 2004, at 14:22:42
It made me feel less depressed, but it helped my anxiety very little. It made me feel spacey like coming up on acid about 2-3 hours post dosing. It has been the only anti-depressant that has done this to me out of Celexa, Lex, Zoloft, and Paxil. I was up to 60mgs per day on Lexapro at the end before I gave up after 1 1/2 years from starting out on 10mgs.
When I started Zoloft, my anxiety actually improved marginally for once, although still a far cry from what I'd consider acceptable.
Justin
Posted by Stressee on October 20, 2004, at 8:10:06
In reply to Personal Lex experience » linnie, posted by jboud24 on October 19, 2004, at 23:10:48
I took Lexapro and didn't gain weight, but my daughter took it (she went up to 40mg) and gained over a period of two months. She's off now, and we are hoping the extra lbs. will be also. -L
Posted by Wildflower on October 20, 2004, at 11:30:03
In reply to Re: Lexapro, posted by CrazyCO on October 19, 2004, at 17:39:40
I think the weight gain is a personal issue. I haven't found any correlation between Lexapro and weight. Some ADs may increase your desire for comfort foods and carbs which may explain weight gain. I've also read that certain ADs affect your metabolism. It's also important to note that ADs may make you sleepy and less likely to workout.
I've tried many ADs and Lexapro seems to be the best one for me. BTW, I supplement it with Wellbutrin, Seroquel and Lactimil.
Posted by simoncat on October 20, 2004, at 13:39:04
In reply to Lexapro, posted by linnie on October 19, 2004, at 14:22:42
> What are the latest thoughts on Lexapro
So far doing ok for me. I do have friends, however, who took it and said they would have gotten the same thing from a placebo.
Posted by Wildman on October 20, 2004, at 14:11:22
In reply to Personal Lex experience » linnie, posted by jboud24 on October 19, 2004, at 23:10:48
I've found Lexapro to be weight neutral. When I started, I did gain a bit (I was stressing so much at the time, I was chowing like a pig).
As the depression has faded, I find that I don't seek refuge in food so much so I've been able to get back to my normal weight or maybe 5lbs below.
Since I take Seroquel also, alcohol (beer, yum!) intake has been reduced so that's more calories I'm not getting.
Before Seroquel, I was on Doxepin, which gave me a persistent wicked case of the munchies. I put on 5 lbs fast and had to discontinue it.
I think for a lot of us, we overeat and drink alcohol to relieve our depression or to distract us. When the depression is relieved, we may still have the old eating/drinking habits, until we learn how to handle food diffently. Most of the meds don't mix well with alcohol, either.
Wildman
Posted by Bill LL on October 21, 2004, at 13:49:17
In reply to Lexapro, posted by linnie on October 19, 2004, at 14:22:42
It has not caused any weight gain or appetite change for me. I take 20 mg Lexapro with 120 mg Strattera, and 400 mg in caffeine pills each morning. Working good so far.
Posted by Mariposa on October 22, 2004, at 10:17:32
In reply to Re: Personal Lex experience, posted by Wildman on October 20, 2004, at 14:11:22
I lost 10 lbs. w/Lex. Currently @30mg, been taking 16+ mos. Has done wonders for depression and PMDD, can not imagine going back to the way I was!!~~~8|8
Posted by Pfinstegg on October 22, 2004, at 22:17:16
In reply to Re: Personal Lex experience, posted by Mariposa on October 22, 2004, at 10:17:32
I'm taking 10 mg. Lexapro and 37,5 mg. Wellbutrin. During the year I've been taking this combination, I have lost the 45 lbs. I gained from taking Zyprexa. Sexual s/e's are the only ones I have noticed from the Lexapro- they are moderate at 10 mg., but almost not a problem when I go to 5 mg., which I do when I'm feeling better.
This is the end of the thread.
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