A person taking Lexapro may experience some weight gain, especially with long-term use. That risk may continue for up to six years.
Lexapro's prescribing information states that people using the drug to treat major depression may experience significant changes in weight and appetite. These include both increases and decreases. The leaflet cites animal studies in which significant weight gain occurred.
Long-term use of Lexapro may lead to physical dependence in some patients. If the medication is suddenly stopped, it may cause withdrawal symptoms known as “SSRI discontinuation syndrome.”
So if weight gain is caused by the medication, then weight loss should follow its discontinuation. And it does, for many people: Once the medication is out of the body, normal appetite returns, fatigue diminishes, and the patient returns to eating and exercising normally.
The antidepressants with the highest risk of causing weight gain are amitriptyline, citalopram, mirtazapine, nortriptyline, trimipramine, paroxetine, and phenelzine.
Lexapro may cause weight gain because it blocks the serotonin transporter, which increases levels of serotonin in the brain, but also increases appetite and decreases metabolism. Research has shown approximately 40% of people taking antidepressants such as Lexapro will gain 7% or more of their starting body weight.
Modify Your Diet And Exercise Routine
This is an important strategy you can implement before taking Lexapro to help sustain a healthy body composition. You can also work with a healthcare professional who can create an optimized meal plan and fitness regime that may stop weight gain before it even starts.
Some people may struggle with returning to pre-treatment weight after they stop taking antidepressants. Reasons for consideration include sleep pattern changes, food intake, and decreased muscle mass. Starting a new type of physical activity may help accelerate weight loss.
The exact reason Lexapro might cause weight gain isn't fully understood yet. However, many experts believe that changes in metabolism or appetite could play a role in causing this particular side effect.
Lexapro is prescribed long-term, allowing it to create neuroadaptation in the CNS, brain, and body. Long-term effects of Lexapro may develop making continuing treatment untenable. Lexapro is not a cure.
And luckily, as long as the benefits of the medication outweigh the potential side effects, there's no strong evidence that long-term use of SSRIs poses any major problems.
If this is your first episode of depression, your doctor may prescribe Lexapro for a set period, for example, 6 months to a year. Some people with persistent depression may need to take it for many years. There are no known problems when Lexapro is taken long-term.
Generally speaking, these medications act on signaling pathways in our brain that influence mood and appetite. As a result, people taking antidepressants may consume more calories, leading to weight gain. It's also important to keep in mind how common symptoms of mood disorders impact our weight.
Lexapro withdrawal symptoms are most often described as flu-like symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, fatigue, fever, headache, trouble sleeping, and mood swings. The safest way to safely stop taking Lexapro, or any other antidepressant, is to do so under the direct supervision of your doctor.
According to the University of Regina research, popular SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) antidepressant medications, such as Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, Zoloft, etc., are associated with a twofold increase in the odds of developing some form of cognitive impairment, such as dementia, including Alzheimer's.
A person taking Lexapro may experience some weight gain, especially with long-term use. That risk may continue for up to six years. 3 There are many reasons why this may occur. One of Lexapro's weight gain mechanisms is that it increases serotonin levels, and serotonin plays a role in weight control.
Escitalopram may cause weight loss or a decrease in appetite. Teenagers who will be taking it for a long time should have their weight and growth measured on a regular basis.
Rapid weight gain or swelling in particular areas of the body can be due to fluid retention and may be a sign of heart failure. According to the American Heart Association , a weight gain of more than 2–3 pounds (lb) over 24 hours or 5 lb in a week could be a sign of heart failure.
Best anxiety meds that cause weight loss
These include: Bupropion (Wellbutrin; see Important Safety Information) Fluoxetine (Prozac; see Important Safety Information) Duloxetine (Cymbalta; see Important Safety Information)
What dose of Lexapro is used for anxiety? The typical dose⁷ of Lexapro for anxiety is 10mg daily. Your doctor may start you at 5mg and taper up to 10mg to prevent your anxiety symptoms from worsening during the first two weeks of treatment.