!!Your Imput!! Lexapro Weight Issues.

[Chase]

I have been taking Lexapro for a year and a half. I started at 5 miligrams and worked up to 20 now I am back down to 5. I delt with side effects for the first 3 months but after that they went away.
I went from 180 to 243 while on lexapro, 15 pounds of that is probably fat. But I am also a powerlifter and I consume alot of calories. I have noticed it is much easier to gain weight since I have been on Lexapro. My experiance with the drug has been good. But I would not call it a cure. I still deal with anxiety just at a tolerable level. Anymore I feel better in the morning when the medicine is not in my system. I feel like it gives me anxiety. Does anyone else feel this way?

[Danika]

maggie wrote:

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?

Same, definitely. I've been on Lex 20mg and other similar drugs for 3 years and have gained 15kg and sleep almost double what I used to, with really bad vivid nightmares. But it gets me through the day.

[cc rizz]

will try it what have i got to lose? weight first hopefully maybe ill be nicer to the husband? time will tell. less irritability? less worries? good time to try. maybe president obama will need it soon. imagine his headaches? ill give it a month. i have 2 parents in their 80s getting dementia. i better take it now.

[cc rizz]

will get back to you after one month ok? go lexapro!

[Jay]

Ive been off Lex for about a week and I was on a daily dose of 20mg. Ive gotta say the withdrawals were not as traumatic as those described in this forum. I think its definitely mind over matter. I mean if you think about what Lex does to the brain the only side effect that would affect a person is the head aches because the serotonin levels are no longer stabilized. I will consider going back on but a more mild does this time. Reasons why I want to go back on are that I do feel that my anger is slowly creeping back. Either that or my control is weakening. Who knows but one thing is for sure, LEX WORKS.
Good luck to anyone trying Lex and just take the drug without judging it by what people write on here. Your bio chemical make up is different to mine and the next person so really its a trial and error thing.
Seeya

[Elle]

I couldn't disagree more with Jay. He hasn't been off it long enough to know how the actual withdrawal will affect him.
You have to be off it for three weeks or more to experience withdrawal symptoms. You feel great until the drug is finally completely out of your system. Your body is continually adjusting to it being gone and this is a huge adjustment.
This forum is to let people know the reality of withdrawal and to be able to plan for it instead of being blind-sided by intense pain, dizziness, and nausea to the point of tears and wanting to crumple up in heap. Taper off super-slowly (over many weeks/months), take Benadryl for dizziness and just be aware that while it will pass, MOST people do have intense withdrawal symptoms.
I think Lexapro is worth it. It helped me. I also think people need to be informed of the reality of the withdrawal.

[Poca]

I am about to start taking lexapro..my depression is not that critical but the doctor gave it to me...
i have doubts about taking it, would you guys recomend it??

[Jay]

Elle wrote:

I couldn't disagree more with Jay. He hasn't been off it long enough to know how the actual withdrawal will affect him.
You have to be off it for three weeks or more to experience withdrawal symptoms. You feel great until the drug is finally completely out of your system. Your body is continually adjusting to it being gone and this is a huge adjustment.
This forum is to let people know the reality of withdrawal and to be able to plan for it instead of being blind-sided by intense pain, dizziness, and nausea to the point of tears and wanting to crumple up in heap. Taper off super-slowly (over many weeks/months), take Benadryl for dizziness and just be aware that while it will pass, MOST people do have intense withdrawal symptoms.
I think Lexapro is worth it. It helped me. I also think people need to be informed of the reality of the withdrawal.

Like I said its a personal thing and not everyone reacts to withdrawals the same way you would. I have been off Lex for almost a month now and nothing has really changed other than the anger issues, if you paid attention to my post instead of jumping on and tearing down what I had to say you would of noticed that I said EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT! Disagree all you want it doesnt change how I feel about Lexapro. To anyone thinking of tapering off Lexapro dont feel disheartened by all the negative responses on here, just follow what your physician says and listen to your body.
PEACE

[Jay]

Poca wrote:

I am about to start taking lexapro..my depression is not that critical but the doctor gave it to me...
i have doubts about taking it, would you guys recomend it??

Hi Poca,
I know its a daunting prospect you may be facing but take it from me, a self confessed ANTI DRUGS OF ANY SORT person, Lexapro is a winner.
Ive grown up on herbal remedies and all sorts of natural concoctions and I was very resistant to the idea of taking a anti depressant drug. I thought, no way Im not a crazy person and that drug will stuff with your mind ect ect. Reality is I could not of bee so wrong. This particular drug has helped me in so many ways, as a mother its given me back my patience, its enabled me to be in control of my thoughts and not let them control me, my sense of humour is back and overall Im easier to handle. Its fantastic.

[Jay]

Elle wrote:

I couldn't disagree more with Jay. He hasn't been off it long enough to know how the actual withdrawal will affect him.
You have to be off it for three weeks or more to experience withdrawal symptoms. You feel great until the drug is finally completely out of your system. Your body is continually adjusting to it being gone and this is a huge adjustment.
This forum is to let people know the reality of withdrawal and to be able to plan for it instead of being blind-sided by intense pain, dizziness, and nausea to the point of tears and wanting to crumple up in heap. Taper off super-slowly (over many weeks/months), take Benadryl for dizziness and just be aware that while it will pass, MOST people do have intense withdrawal symptoms.
I think Lexapro is worth it. It helped me. I also think people need to be informed of the reality of the withdrawal.

AND IM A HER NOT A HIM!!!!!!! Thats my reality of withdrawals so Id like to reiterate just because you had intense this and intense that does not mean its a REALITY FOR EVERYONE.
Im a mother of 2 children so perhaps I dont have time to be feeling all these pseudo withdrawal symptoms you vividly describe but please do me a favour and keep your remarks to yourself because I know a few people who have come off this drug feeling ok.
To anyone worried about tapering off Lex, talk to your doctor and try and not read posts that encourage the use of other drugs to deal with the so called "REALITY" of withdrawing off LEX. PEACE TO ALL.

[Elle]

Hi Jay. It's sad to see someone get so upset over someone peacefully disagreeing with her. I am a mom as well. This fact of course has nothing to do with experiencing withdrawal symptoms or not, but your comment about motherhood indicated otherwise. I don't understand your need to excoriate my remarks. I wish you well and am glad that you had no withdrawal symptoms. Pax.

[Jay]

Its not sad that I got upset cos I didnt so dont sweat it. Perhaps thats the Lex still in my system working LOL. I never got the intense withdrawals so Im telling people how I was coming off the drug. Its annoying somewhat that you feel your withdrawal symptoms is the "reality" of tapering off Lex but I respect it. I havent jumped on here and discredited anyones ideas or experiences on Lex because I understand that everyone is fundamentally different. Wish you the best and mothers should be supporting one another so all the power to you.

[Luanne Lo]

I received samples for lexapro from my doctor and I don't know if I should take it. All the side effects is making me anxious. Is lexapro or paxil a better drug. I've always being thin and do not want to gain any weight. Yet, I am depress, esp that time of the month....I'm ready to move on and feel better but at the same time at what expense....help!!!

[Jay]

Luanne Lo wrote:

I received samples for lexapro from my doctor and I don't know if I should take it. All the side effects is making me anxious. Is lexapro or paxil a better drug. I've always being thin and do not want to gain any weight. Yet, I am depress, esp that time of the month....I'm ready to move on and feel better but at the same time at what expense....help!!!

You will have to trial it to find out if your part of the minority that dont put on weight with this drug. Its sucks but honestly its the only way to know. I know a few people who are very thin and on Lex and have gained no weight but than it is possible to gain weight from the side effects of the drug, excessive sleeping, slowed libido ect. I on the other hand lost a stack of weight because I was motivated to do more things in the day and not let things pile up. Emotionally the drug did wonders, I didnt care about issues that really did not concern me, I was slow to anger, I gave people the benefit of the doubt and just over all I was easy going and fun loving.
I still have anger issues now that Im off it but Ive learnt through taking Lex that alot of my problems existed because I was impulsive so Im slowly training myself to RELAX.
Lexapro is not the be all end all to your problems but its a helping hand. One that Ill never forget. Good luck.

[Brian]

(I also posted this in another thread but this is the big one re: weight gain/loss).

I just bumped my dosage from 5mg to 10mg and my appetite is GONE. I had to force myself just to eat half a muffin for breakfast, I'll probably skip lunch, and dinner might be a sandwich.

It also seems like my anxiety has gotten worse since I started taking it. But it's hard to tell if the vice that's crushing my heart is from my screwed up life-events or the medication itself. My doc gave me Klonopin to help with the more intense anxiety but it barely makes a dent.

[Jay]

Brian wrote:

(I also posted this in another thread but this is the big one re: weight gain/loss).
I just bumped my dosage from 5mg to 10mg and my appetite is GONE. I had to force myself just to eat half a muffin for breakfast, I'll probably skip lunch, and dinner might be a sandwich.
It also seems like my anxiety has gotten worse since I started taking it. But it's hard to tell if the vice that's crushing my heart is from my screwed up life-events or the medication itself. My doc gave me Klonopin to help with the more intense anxiety but it barely makes a dent.

Hi Brian
Lex can kill your appetite for a while but 10mg is a low dose so perhaps you have low tolerance to the drug or drugs in general like many people I know. Im guessing your a male and depending on your size perhaps you may need to speak to your doc about bumping your dosage up after your initial trial period. I started on 10mg and it didnt do much for my intense anxiety however one I started on 20mg the anxiety reduced dramatically. I to was having a tough time with post natal depression and a death in the family so I can relate to your situation some what. 10mg did nothing but 20mg did wonders. Im now on Prestiq which is ok but Lex is alot more effective in my opinion. Just work through the initial side effects because the payoff is worth it. People in my family commend me for trying the drug and a higher dose as they can see its working more effectively. Seek medical advice before you choose to increase your dosage but you need to be forthright with your doc cos your the one living with the anxiety. Peace.

[cc rizz]

havent gained or lost weight. im convinced it has no affect. been on it over one month,

[lauren]

i have been on lexapro for some time now my phyciatrist siad it was to give me energy. which i didn't really need any he was just putting me on a ton of meds for no reason... but i was 17 when i started taking it i have lost 60 pounds since i started taking all the shit he perscribed to me. but getting off lexapro is a pain in the BUTT you feel sick super dizzy like you been on a rollar costar all day. so just warning you don't cold turkey that stuff. and be careful with any meds givin to you... it might help you for awhile but when you want to get off of it you will feel reallyy really sick and its all bad. try to do things natural. we don't need drugs we can make it thru anything!!!!!! wish you all the best if people perscribe you things do research about it and listen to what people have to say.