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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TriedEveryMedication on November 3, 2010, at 15:42:33
counter act this?
I've been on lexapro 2 or 3 months now. I've gained at least 20lbs in that time. 185 -> 205. Maybe 210 now.
Short of dumping this med, is there any way to counteract this weight gain?I'm too fatigued to exercise. Which sucks, because I used to be a long distance runner.
FML
Posted by morgan miller on November 3, 2010, at 16:05:58
In reply to Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to, posted by TriedEveryMedication on November 3, 2010, at 15:42:33
Well if you are too fatigued to exercise and you've been on Lexapro for over 2 months now, it sounds like Lexapro is not going to be the drug for you.
What has Lexapro improved? I guessing it is working in some way since you have stayed with it and are considering staying with it.
What antidepressants have you tried including Lexapro?
The only suggestions I have are to drink plenty of water, optimize your diet, and exercise(but you are too tired to do so).
Were you just as fatigued before you started Lexapro?
Posted by TriedEveryMedication on November 3, 2010, at 18:30:49
In reply to Re: Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to, posted by morgan miller on November 3, 2010, at 16:05:58
Hi morgan,
well, lexapro has improved my mood, or at least keeps me from getting too depressed without side-effects like anxiety (hi TCAs & wellbutrin) or insomnia (hi strattera) or being furiously angry all the time (hi, TCAs)
I've tried pretty much everything, from TCAs to MAOIs to 3 or 4 SSRIs to lamictal to emsam to strattera to minacipran, etc. etc. etc.
funny thing is - it doesn't matter what I take - if I'm taking any mood drug, I do not exercise. I find it practically impossible. If I stop, I start exercising right away. damnedest thing.
anyway, I've even combined lexapro with adderal and focalin at different times... the weight keeps coming on.
on strattera I lost weight - it was great - except for the insomnia and the depression it caused.
thanks.
Posted by Phillipa on November 3, 2010, at 23:57:50
In reply to Re: Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to » morgan miller, posted by TriedEveryMedication on November 3, 2010, at 18:30:49
I just stopped lexapro was going to go on it got to l0mg with 50mg luvox and noticed I didn't care and opted to just go back to just luvox and even try and get off that and keep downing the benzos lower. Do you definitely need an ad? Phillipa
Posted by emmanuel98 on November 4, 2010, at 19:28:42
In reply to Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to, posted by TriedEveryMedication on November 3, 2010, at 15:42:33
It's funny. My nursing textbooks say lexapro causes anorexia and weight loss. That was certainly my experience, at least in the first couple of months. I lost 10 pounds because my stomach was so jittery. I also had tons of energy and would wake up at 4:00 every morning. I joined a gym that opened at 5:00, so I'd have something to do that early in the morning. But after a couple of months, all that stabilized and I just felt less irritable and anxious all the time. Not really less depressed, but less miserable.
Posted by Maxime on November 6, 2010, at 14:43:01
In reply to Re: Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to, posted by emmanuel98 on November 4, 2010, at 19:28:42
From what I have read, Lexapro is notorious for weight gain. I hate meds like that.
Posted by Conundrum on November 6, 2010, at 15:31:37
In reply to Re: Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to, posted by emmanuel98 on November 4, 2010, at 19:28:42
weird lexapro made me want to sleep right from the beginning. There was some nervousness the first few days then I got really tired.
> It's funny. My nursing textbooks say lexapro causes anorexia and weight loss. That was certainly my experience, at least in the first couple of months. I lost 10 pounds because my stomach was so jittery. I also had tons of energy and would wake up at 4:00 every morning. I joined a gym that opened at 5:00, so I'd have something to do that early in the morning. But after a couple of months, all that stabilized and I just felt less irritable and anxious all the time. Not really less depressed, but less miserable.
Posted by emmanuel98 on November 6, 2010, at 19:23:18
In reply to Re: Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to, posted by Conundrum on November 6, 2010, at 15:31:37
Everybody seems to react differently to these drugs. I lost weight at first on lexapro then didn't gain an ounce. I started on abilify, which is often weight neutral, and gained 2-3 pounds a week. I'm still trying to work off the weight from the AAPs I had taken.
Posted by Phillipa on November 6, 2010, at 19:50:28
In reply to Re: Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to, posted by emmanuel98 on November 6, 2010, at 19:23:18
When I was trying lexapro I thought I was gaining weight and was only on 10mg. Glad I stopped it. Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on November 7, 2010, at 22:34:53
In reply to Re: Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to » emmanuel98, posted by Phillipa on November 6, 2010, at 19:50:28
> When I was trying lexapro I thought I was gaining weight and was only on 10mg. Glad I stopped it. Phillipa
But what if the med had helped you? The weight gain isn't the same as what you would get from an AP or Remeron. Why did you stop taking it? Because you felt like you were gaining weight?
Posted by Phillipa on November 7, 2010, at 23:33:23
In reply to Re: Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to » Phillipa, posted by Maxime on November 7, 2010, at 22:34:53
Took it with the 50mg of luvox for a good three months and nothing so why put chemicals in your body? Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on November 8, 2010, at 0:08:27
In reply to Re: Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to » Maxime, posted by Phillipa on November 7, 2010, at 23:33:23
Why indeed.
Do you read the labels of the food you eat? Chemicals galore. Massive amounts. You only eat organic I pressume and are vegetarian?
Posted by Conundrum on November 8, 2010, at 9:46:07
In reply to Re: Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to » Phillipa, posted by Maxime on November 8, 2010, at 0:08:27
> Why indeed.
>
> Do you read the labels of the food you eat? Chemicals galore. Massive amounts. You only eat organic I pressume and are vegetarian?She said she took it for three months and it did nothing. I wouldn't want to keep taking a drug that has negative metabolic effects if it was not working. Of course there are chemicals in foods, but why would you continue taking lexapro if it didn't work, that just doesn't make sense.
Posted by creepy on November 8, 2010, at 11:41:16
In reply to Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to, posted by TriedEveryMedication on November 3, 2010, at 15:42:33
wellbutrin or topamax.
you may not need much topamax. I found a small amount kept the carb cravings down where other medications such as stims did not.
Posted by bearfan on November 8, 2010, at 16:01:48
In reply to Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to, posted by TriedEveryMedication on November 3, 2010, at 15:42:33
What dosage are you on the lexapro? Do you take it morning or night. Also, I have tried much of available medications and have come the conclusion that most psych meds cause some kind of weight gain. Whether this has to do with the metabolism of the drug first, or increased hunger or slowing of metabolism I do not know. My experience with Lexapro was that I didn't gain more than 15lbs than before I started it, and I was on it for 6 months. Lexparo also has a trackrecord for not being the worst offender for weight gain (compared to other SSRIs-in fact, some studies show it weight neutral). I didn't eat that unhealthy but I could of exercised more. I think part of the issue is also age factors. If your not in your early 20s, it's starts becoming harder to lose weight with or without medication. This is of course, if you do not have a high active lifestyle.
Posted by Phillipa on November 8, 2010, at 20:03:36
In reply to Re: Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to, posted by Conundrum on November 8, 2010, at 9:46:07
Thanks great answer and true!!!! Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on November 8, 2010, at 20:34:16
In reply to Re: Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to, posted by Conundrum on November 8, 2010, at 9:46:07
> > Why indeed.
> >
> > Do you read the labels of the food you eat? Chemicals galore. Massive amounts. You only eat organic I pressume and are vegetarian?
>
> She said she took it for three months and it did nothing. I wouldn't want to keep taking a drug that has negative metabolic effects if it was not working. Of course there are chemicals in foods, but why would you continue taking lexapro if it didn't work, that just doesn't make sense.I agree. But she said didn't want to ingest chemicals if not necessary and I agreed with that as well. I was just wondering if she applied the same philosophy to the food she ate. I was more curious than anything else.
For instance, I feel like a hypocrite because I am vegetarian (almost vegan), I only eat organic and I don't eat any processed food. Yet I swallow a bunch of pills (chemicals) in the morning with the hopes that they will help me with my deep and painful depression. Every morning I hate doing it, but if it keeps me out of the hospital then I will swallow those damn pills.
Posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on November 16, 2010, at 10:50:09
In reply to Ugh - Lexapro is making me so fat. Any way to, posted by TriedEveryMedication on November 3, 2010, at 15:42:33
Dump the lexapro. You have to think long term. This doens't sound like the drug for you.
This is the end of the thread.
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