How do I keep from gaining weight on Lexapro?

Taking Lexapro may cause a person to gain a small amount of weight. Less commonly, it can cause weight loss. A healthful diet and regular exercise can help to prevent unwanted changes in weight.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com


Does Lexapro weight gain go away?

Does Lexapro weight gain go away? If you gain weight when taking Lexapro, you may be able to lose weight with regular exercise and healthy eating. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian for support and individual guidance.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on khealth.com


Is it common to gain weight on Lexapro?

Weight gain while taking Lexapro (escitalopram) is not uncommon. The medication, often prescribed to treat depression or anxiety disorders, belongs to a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medications all list weight gain as a possible side effect.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on verywellhealth.com


What percentage of patients gain weight on Lexapro?

Experts say that for up to 25% of people, most antidepressant medications -- including the popular SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) drugs like Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft -- can cause a weight gain of 10 pounds or more.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on webmd.com


How do you stop antidepressants from making you gain weight?

As simple as it may sound, the best chance of avoiding, or lessening further, undesirable weight gain when taking a prescribed antidepressant or antipsychotic medication, is to simultaneously participate in a formal weight management program.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on endocrineweb.com


Why do you gain weight with antidepressants and mood stabilizers?



How can I lose weight while on antidepressants?

Increasing both aerobic exercise and strength training, ideally four times a week for a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes, can increase muscle tone and metabolism and reduce fat stores. Regular exercise has also been shown to reduce risk for depression relapse when combined with a stable medication regimen.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on dbsalliance.org


Why do people gain weight on antidepressants?

Antidepressants interfere with serotonin, the neurotransmitter that regulates anxiety and mood while also controlling appetite. In particular, these changes may increase cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods, such as bread, pasta, and desserts. When people are depressed, their appetites are affected.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com


Does Lexapro cause belly fat?

What medications cause weight gain? Antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants , and mood stabilizers are common drugs that have the most potential to increase weight gain. All 12 of the leading antidepressants, including fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and escitalopram (Lexapro), make gaining weight more likely.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


Should I take Lexapro in the morning or at night?

You can take escitalopram at any time of day, as long as you stick to the same time every day. If you have trouble sleeping, it's best to take it in the morning.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhs.uk


What is the best antidepressant that doesn't cause weight gain?

Antidepressants that do not cause weight gain

According to current scientific research, antidepressants that are least likely to cause weight gain are: Effexor (venlafaxine) Wellbutrin (bupropion) Nefazodone (however, this is rarely used because it can cause severe liver problems)
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicinenet.com


Will I lose weight if I stop Lexapro?

If you decrease your daily calorie intake as a result, you could potentially lose weight by stopping your antidepressants. On the other hand, if you experience loss of appetite with depression, and your depression comes back after stopping antidepressants, you may also lose weight.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


Which antidepressant causes most weight gain?

Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and tetracyclic antidepressants such as mirtazapine are linked to the most weight gain.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on psycom.net


Is antidepressant weight gain permanent?

The research also raises concerns about the duration of risk that patients are exposed to. Previous studies correlating antidepressants with weight gain have been short-term, typically less than a year.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


Does Lexapro give you energy or make you tired?

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like escitalopram (Lexapro), citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil), and fluoxetine (Prozac), taken for depression or anxiety, can make you feel sleepy.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on goodrx.com


Can I have an occasional drink while on Lexapro?

To avoid dangerous side effects such as drowsiness and liver problems, it's best not to use alcohol while you take Lexapro. Alcohol may also keep Lexapro from working as well as it should. With or without a drug, alcohol may aggravate your symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


What is the success rate of Lexapro?

The overall response and remission rates after escitalopram monotherapy were 68.4% and 46.4%, respectively. The response rate was 76.9%, 63.7%, and 63.0%, in mild, moderate, and moderate–severe subgroups, respectively, showing significant difference among them (P < .
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ncbi.nlm.nih.gov


Does Lexapro decrease appetite?

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


How can I boost up my metabolism?

Alrutz shares these five tips to boost your metabolism:
  1. Exercise more. Add interval training to your cardio routine and burn more calories in less time. ...
  2. Weight train. ...
  3. Don't skip meals, especially breakfast. ...
  4. Eat fat-burning foods. ...
  5. Get a good night's sleep every night.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on piedmont.org


How can I lose my stomach fat?

19 Effective Tips to Lose Belly Fat (Backed by Science)
  1. Eat plenty of soluble fiber. ...
  2. Avoid foods that contain trans fats. ...
  3. Don't drink too much alcohol. ...
  4. Eat a high protein diet. ...
  5. Reduce your stress levels. ...
  6. Don't eat a lot of sugary foods. ...
  7. Do aerobic exercise (cardio) ...
  8. Cut back on carbs — especially refined carbs.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


How do I wean off 10mg Lexapro?

Taper Off Medication Slowly

The most effective way to minimize symptoms of withdrawal is to slowly taper off your medication. Tapering involves adjusting your dose by a small amount, gradually decreasing until your body gets used to lower levels of the medication.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on verywellmind.com


Why have I been gaining weight so fast?

Poor sleep, sedentary activities, and eating too many processed or sugary foods are just some of the habits that may increase your risk of weight gain. Yet, a few simple steps — such as mindful eating, exercise, and focusing on whole foods — can help you reach your weight loss goals and improve your overall health.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


What is the difference between Zoloft and Lexapro?

The only difference between them and their brand-name counterparts is that they tend to cost significantly less. A generic version of Lexapro is available, which is called escitalopram. The generic version of Zoloft is called sertraline, and it is available in tablet and liquid forms.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on khealth.com


Do all SSRIs cause weight gain?

Weight gain is a possible side effect of nearly all antidepressants. However, each person responds to antidepressants differently. Some people gain weight when taking a certain antidepressant, while others don't.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


What anxiety meds do not cause weight gain?

Bupropion was associated with the least amount of weight gain, close to none. Two others that also appeared to have less weight gain were amitriptyline and nortriptyline. Amitriptyline and nortriptyline are older drugs.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on health.harvard.edu


Which SSRI causes weightloss?

Most antidepressant medications are more commonly associated with weight gain, but there are three that have been connected to weight loss: Bupropion (Wellbutrin) Fluoxetine (Prozac) Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on khealth.com