!!Your Imput!! Lexapro Weight Issues.

I am very confused, I have been on lex for about 3 weeks, I hear that its one of the best with side effects that arent as harsh as some of the others (?)
NOW! The weight part. My neuro told me that Lex is weight NEUTRAL, the sheet inside the box says it causes weight LOSS, but many many sites that I have visited say that it causes weight GAIN. I of course know that drugs affect everyone differently but honestly, what is the story on Lexapro? Topamax makes you lose...Epilim makes you gain...Wellbutrin makes you lose etc and Lex?
For the first time I've been hearing that many people on this site say this drug is bad and that they do not like it? Why? Would love to know. And what did you switch to?
I would really appreciate your help,
because I am absolutely PETRIFIED of gaining weight, and this Lexapro weight issue is confusing me. I hear completely different things EVERYWHERE.

I have been on Lexapro for a month now and yes I had a few side effects at first, like feeling foggy headed, dry mouth, yawning and occasionally I would get chilled for some reason. I too was very skeptical about taking it. My vanity told me I could deal with anything but the weight gain. So that was the first thing I brought up to my doctor when she perscribed it. I have NEVER been on anti anxiety medication so of course I was fearful. I was having obssesive thoughts of dying or someone near me dying. I won't say that Lexapro is a miracle drug but the obssesive thinking has dulled a good bit. I don't feel foggy anymore and I have NOT gained a pound. If anything the first two weeks I lost a couple of pounds. I am still at my normal weight though. I have yet to figure out if the weight gain actually comes from the pill itself or are these people just eating more because they finally have an appetite. I still get a little thirsty and a little sleepy mid afternoon but no major side effects. I hope this is helpful.

I have been on Lexapro for about 3 weeks now and have to say that it has helped the depression element. However I have noticed two things, I can't seem to reach an orgasm anymore and I have very, very intense dreams. Anyone out there with the same problems?

I take Lexapro and I have the intense dreams also. Not scary or disturbing, just very vivid. I tell people that I live two lives, one while I am awake and one while I am asleep.

i have been on LEX for 6 months. and before that on and off for 2 years. it causes me to lose weight and decrease appetite. i know about the hard time achieving orgasm but for a man that is a good thing because you last longer.

I have been on 10 mg Lexapro for 3 weeks now and have lost 12 lbs. I don't know if it is a combination of the stress that caused me to need Lexapro, or the pill itself, but regardless, I am not unhappy with these results.
I can't say at this point I feel my anxiety level truly dropping, and I definately don't have the foggy head that I had when I started Zoloft, but I will give it a few more months to be sure it either is or is not working.
Just over a year ago, I took Zoloft for a year, which mentally made me feel great, but I gained 40 lbs. Definately not a good trade-off.

allen wrote:

I take Lexapro and I have the intense dreams also. Not scary or disturbing, just very vivid. I tell people that I live two lives, one while I am awake and one while I am asleep.

me too. the dreams are really worth having arent they!!..its as though the intensity I cannot feel during my waking hours visits at night.

lexapro seems to affect women's weight on the gaining side. and on the men's side like myself we lose weight.

i don't get it. could be psychological. all i read indicates that lex does not in itself cause weight gain or weight loss. it changes our behaviour in ways that we ourselves do not see.

I've noticed a loss in appetite since I started taking Lex a week ago. I know for sure that I'll lose weight, which in my case is not welcome as I'm already thin.

I need to force myself to eat more throughout the day which in the end will probably be a good habit to gain.

I have been on 10mg of lexapro for a month now. I was so concerned about the weight gain because I worked so hard to lose the weight after 2 kids.

What I have noticed is that I have a gained a few pounds (3-5 depending on the day). I am not happy about that but I am glad it is not more like other people have commented about.

The weight gain doesn't come as a shock. My appetite has been unsatiable. I am always hungry now. I crave everything and I especially crave alcohol.

My suggestion to anyone concerned about the weight is to just know that it can be an issue so keep a close eye on it but like everyone says it outweighs the other problems when you are not on the drugs. I am a much happier person...I still have anxiety but I think it isn't without reason.

I was on Lexapro about 4 years ago and had a terrible weight gain...something like 60 lbs..I was doing the weight watchers and counting those points faithfully doing the exercise but still the scales went up and the medication was the only thing that had changed in my life..since going off it, I have started losing again..in some research I have read where sometimes antidepressants can slow metabolisms..

I have been on lexapro for 6 months and lost weight. I use to want to eat alot all the time. After taking Lexapro I don't feel hungry during lunch really, but could eat a Cow at dinner. Weird, but im not complaining.

i started taking zoloft four weeks ago for anxiety. three days after starting zoloft i felt more anxious then ever and really jittery. i went to another doc and he changed me to lexapro. i have been taking that for four days now and i am still jittery and have to take a zanax to calm down. i am also very concerned about the weight gain issue. has anyone else ever felt jittery and how fast will it go away and will i gain weight?

lexapro kicks in pretty quick for these drugs. it calmed me down about 48 hours after taking. it's the sedating effect more than anything else at first i think. it you have really bad anxiety you might have to wait awhile for it to calm you down. i didn't have huge anxiety so it worked pretty fast for me.

sarah wrote:

I have been on 10 mg Lexapro for 3 weeks now and have lost 12 lbs. I don't know if it is a combination of the stress that caused me to need Lexapro, or the pill itself, but regardless, I am not unhappy with these results.
I can't say at this point I feel my anxiety level truly dropping, and I definately don't have the foggy head that I had when I started Zoloft, but I will give it a few more months to be sure it either is or is not working.
Just over a year ago, I took Zoloft for a year, which mentally made me feel great, but I gained 40 lbs. Definately not a good trade-off.

I have been on Lexapro 10mg for 3 weeks and have lost 10 lbs and hardly any appetite. I stay nauseated. It has changed my mood for the good, but I can't eat.

I have been on Lex for only 3 days now and already I cannot even force myself to eat. I am experiencing some mild depression which I hear is normal when starting the drug. My sex drive is already non-existant. If anyone has undergone the same side effects so early could you kindly tell me what's in store for me?

I've just started taking Lexapro (5mg) and I've lost 11 pounds this week. I don't feel as hungry and I don't crave carbs. I've finally felt happiness after over 12 years of living in depression. I really hope this lasts or if it's just a temporary thing.

I have been on Lexapro for 6 months now and can honestly say that it helped a huge amount with my depression but I have gained 30 pounds since starting it. I am weaning myself now because I fell worse than I did before taking it because now I am fat!

I have been taking Lexapro now for 1 yr. and have gained 25 lbs. I have gone up 4 sizes and still growing I am hungry all the time and I also do weight watchers and exercise nothing helps for me except the Lexapro does take away all anxiety and keeps me feeling very happy 24 hrs. a day ...Yikes I need to get rid of the weight though

I am in the SAME exact boat as you.. everytime I read a post that says they lost weight, i'm like wow awesome, then i'll read some that say they gained 60lbs and my stomach drops.. i just started taking it today so I couldn't tell you my story, I noticed you posted this a few months ago...what happened with you?