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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LISABECK on January 25, 2001, at 13:57:28
I Have been on Celexa for 4 weeks now, and at the same time I have been weaning off Paxil. I have lost 11lbs over the past month. I'm not sure if it's the Paxil coming out of my system or if it is the Celexa going in! I have no decreased libido at all either..I'M WONDERING WHEN THE WEIGH GAIN AND DECREASED LIBIDO USUALLY OCCUR? ANYONE???
Posted by ccass on January 25, 2001, at 15:23:31
In reply to WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by LISABECK on January 25, 2001, at 13:57:28
My experience was that in the first 3 months I lost 20lbs I had such a burst of energy I was just working out and socializing no time to eat because I was bored or stressed but then after about another 3 months I gained 40lbs very quickly (I'd say within 2 months) So we decided to up my dose of celexa from 20 to 40, I was hoping for the same reaction but that hasn't happened and I've been trying but failing to loose this weight. I'm wondering if effective dosage has anything to do with body weight, anyone know anything about this? I liked the high I was on when I first took the drug it felt amazing, I could conquer anything hehe...
> I Have been on Celexa for 4 weeks now, and at the same time I have been weaning off Paxil. I have lost 11lbs over the past month. I'm not sure if it's the Paxil coming out of my system or if it is the Celexa going in! I have no decreased libido at all either..I'M WONDERING WHEN THE WEIGH GAIN AND DECREASED LIBIDO USUALLY OCCUR? ANYONE???
Posted by allisonm on January 25, 2001, at 17:38:38
In reply to WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by LISABECK on January 25, 2001, at 13:57:28
My Dr. told me Celexa is known for weight loss, not gain. I'vve read as much in the drug descriptions on the internet also. I have not been on it long enough to say.
Posted by Joy on January 25, 2001, at 19:07:52
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by allisonm on January 25, 2001, at 17:38:38
These docs all say 'weight loss', that's what the drug companies say in their inserts; but we know better. IMHO Celexa, Paxil, and Zoloft put weight on most users, unfortunately.
Joy> My Dr. told me Celexa is known for weight loss, not gain. I'vve read as much in the drug descriptions on the internet also. I have not been on it long enough to say.
Posted by allisonm on January 25, 2001, at 20:09:29
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by Joy on January 25, 2001, at 19:07:52
Say what you will, Joy, but I don't think he's lying. He warned me about weight gain with Remeron and others I've tried. He warned me about weight loss with Wellbutrin, and all have been true. He told me no weight effect with Neurontin. He said slight weight loss with Celexa, but weight gain with the older SSRIs -- Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, etc. -- with Paxil being the worst offender. He has never steered me wrong before. Plus, he has other patients who use Celexa and hasn't seen a problem with them.
In reading the posts in the archives where people complain about weight gain on Celexa, they've also been on a drug known FOR weight gain at the same time. In fact I just saw one the other day where the person had also been on Paxil. Time will tell, won't it?
Posted by LISABECK on January 25, 2001, at 20:42:41
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA » Joy, posted by allisonm on January 25, 2001, at 20:09:29
Alison, Well, at least you have an honest doctor. The two I have seen say it's very unlikely to have gained the weight I've gained! WHICH AS YOU KNOW IS TOTAL BULL. Prozac was the first med I ever took, and I was 40lbs heavier in 6 months-No Kidding...I also gained from Zoloft and Paxil..I'm finally losing some weight, and I'm really praying that it stays off because I finally feel a little better about myself.
Posted by Joy on January 25, 2001, at 20:53:43
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA » Joy, posted by allisonm on January 25, 2001, at 20:09:29
Maybe that is why I read the posts about Celexa and weight gain; they may have been on another SSRI before. I will say my girlfriend who is 45 years old and on Prozac 11 years has not gained an ounce. I hope the Celexa works well for you in every way. I did not mean to be negative. I was lumping 'all docs'. I have a good one too.
Joy> Say what you will, Joy, but I don't think he's lying. He warned me about weight gain with Remeron and others I've tried. He warned me about weight loss with Wellbutrin, and all have been true. He told me no weight effect with Neurontin. He said slight weight loss with Celexa, but weight gain with the older SSRIs -- Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, etc. -- with Paxil being the worst offender. He has never steered me wrong before. Plus, he has other patients who use Celexa and hasn't seen a problem with them.
>
> In reading the posts in the archives where people complain about weight gain on Celexa, they've also been on a drug known FOR weight gain at the same time. In fact I just saw one the other day where the person had also been on Paxil. Time will tell, won't it?
Posted by saka on January 26, 2001, at 19:12:09
In reply to WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by LISABECK on January 25, 2001, at 13:57:28
> I Have been on Celexa for 4 weeks now, and at the same time I have been weaning off Paxil. I have lost 11lbs over the past month. I'm not sure if it's the Paxil coming out of my system or if it is the Celexa going in! I have no decreased libido at all either..I'M WONDERING WHEN THE WEIGH GAIN AND DECREASED LIBIDO USUALLY OCCUR? ANYONE???
I have been on celexa 20mgs for about 5 months. Prior to the celexa I was on Paxil. I gained alot of weight on the paxil. It took me several months to loose the weight from the paxil. The funny thing is when I would diet and excercise I had no luck. When I just gave up and went back to my normal habbits (which still are fairly healthy) the weight just spontaneously came off. I have a problem with anxiety, so after several months being drug free all my symptons came back.
This time my pdoc put me on the celexa. I find it to be completely neutral as far as the weight goes. I have no increase or decrease in appetite. With the paxil I had a definite increase in appetite. I have not gained any weight on the celexa. I found also with the paxil the relief of symptoms were fairly quick (a few weeks) with the celexa it seemed to take much longer (maybe 4-5wks) but when it kicked in it worked very well. I also had a lot of insomnia and nervousness, in the beginning (with the celexa) which eventually passed but lasted a little longer than the first week or two.
All in all I am very happy with the celexa and plan to stick with it. As far as a decreased libido with the celexa there has been no change. Maybe I'm an exception to the rule but even with the paxil I only experienced a slight change. Good luck to you!
Posted by LISABECK on January 26, 2001, at 23:29:54
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by saka on January 26, 2001, at 19:12:19
Hi Saka, Thanks for your reply. I wanted to say that I had a big appetite on Paxil too and especially for sweet stuff. Now, I couldn't care less about cake, chocolate..or anything like that,which I am really grateful for. I wanted to ask you what you are taking Celexa for? I am taking it for anxiety...
Posted by saka on January 27, 2001, at 8:06:04
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by LISABECK on January 26, 2001, at 23:29:54
> Hi Saka, Thanks for your reply. I wanted to say that I had a big appetite on Paxil too and especially for sweet stuff. Now, I couldn't care less about cake, chocolate..or anything like that,which I am really grateful for. I wanted to ask you what you are taking Celexa for? I am taking it for anxiety...
You're very welcome, I too am taking celexa for anxiety. I find the celexa works very well for it, it just took so much longer to kick in!!
Posted by LISABECK on January 27, 2001, at 11:08:34
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by saka on January 26, 2001, at 19:12:09
Saka, I wanted to add that I had some very bad anxiety attacks while I was on Paxil, so it obviously didn't work for me at all. The problem was though, that when I went to wean off it, I had a horrible time. Oh, also, I have had the same thing as you with the Celexa...Insomnia, some nervousness, and I also have had very vivid dreams and some dry mouth, but that's about it as far as side effects go. I wondered also about something. I started with 10mgs, so would that mean that I would have to be on 20mgs for 4-5 weeks for it to start to work or would the time that I was on the 10mgs count too?
Posted by saka on January 27, 2001, at 20:53:18
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by LISABECK on January 27, 2001, at 11:08:34
> Saka, I wanted to add that I had some very bad anxiety attacks while I was on Paxil, so it obviously didn't work for me at all. The problem was though, that when I went to wean off it, I had a horrible time. Oh, also, I have had the same thing as you with the Celexa...Insomnia, some nervousness, and I also have had very vivid dreams and some dry mouth, but that's about it as far as side effects go. I wondered also about something. I started with 10mgs, so would that mean that I would have to be on 20mgs for 4-5 weeks for it to start to work or would the time that I was on the 10mgs count too?
Coming off of paxil was difficult for me also. I had a week of major irritablility, and I weaned off of it very slowly. I vaguely remember how I started on the celexa. I think, it was 10mg for 5 maybe 7 days, then up to 20mgs. after that. The 4-5 weeks included the time while I was on the 10mgs. I found the paxil worked very well, it was just the weight gain I couldn't deal with. I had just lost major weight from a pregnancy with multiples, then to gain it back was just too much. I don't feel drugged at all on the celexa, and it works exactly where I need it. I still have problems with insomnia from time to time, and for that I take prn ativan (.5mgs) and that always helps.
I too, had dry mouth in the beginning but it passed. I am a major lurker on this site and thanks to all the information I gathered I stuck it out on the celexa and now I'm glad that I did. I also like the fact that it's a once a day medication.
Posted by margaret on January 30, 2001, at 18:47:20
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by saka on January 27, 2001, at 20:53:18
Lisabeck and Saka, I have been on paxil a while and like you guys have gained weight. I have found that paxil has worked well for my anxiety and depression. I would love to try out the celexa but i am afraid it won't work. Did you guys find that it gave you the same success with these symptoms that paxil gave you.
Posted by LISABECK on January 30, 2001, at 19:35:22
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by margaret on January 30, 2001, at 18:47:20
Margaret, Paxil did NOT work for me at all. I had some major anxiety attacks while I was on that medication. As far as the Celexa goes, I have only been on it for 3.5 weeks, and one of those weeks I have been on 15. The remainder of the time I was on 10mgs. I have to go onto medication slowly. I don't feel any different yet. I'm hoping and praying it will help. Saka has had a lot of success with it. I think she talks about it in her first post and response to me.. I wouldn't be afraid of the Celexa though because the side effects are very minimal..good luck!
Posted by JoyL on February 20, 2001, at 20:07:17
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by LISABECK on January 30, 2001, at 19:35:22
Hello everyone--
I lost about 7 pounds in one month on prozac, and then I switched insurance companies and prozac is not covered under pacificare. So I was switched to celexa, and I've gained about 4 pounds in the last 2 weeks. celexa has increased my cravings for carbs and sweets, so I stopped using it this weekend. (also, i had terrible headaches). Do you think it would be okay if I increased my dosage from 10 mg to 20 mg to try to lose weight again? I'm taking it with 15 mg of phentermine.
Thanks.
Posted by nellieG on February 26, 2001, at 7:59:35
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by JoyL on February 20, 2001, at 20:07:17
> Hello everyone--
>
> I lost about 7 pounds in one month on prozac, and then I switched insurance companies and prozac is not covered under pacificare. So I was switched to celexa, and I've gained about 4 pounds in the last 2 weeks. celexa has increased my cravings for carbs and sweets, so I stopped using it this weekend. (also, i had terrible headaches). Do you think it would be okay if I increased my dosage from 10 mg to 20 mg to try to lose weight again? I'm taking it with 15 mg of phentermine.
>
> Thanks.Hi!
i've been reading all the things you've said, and i'm interested to know if any of you have been on celexa for as much as 10 to 18 mos. i had absolutely no problem with celexa and weight gain, and i don't even remember dry mouth, constipation, any of that, until i'd been on it for about 10 months. I started a very active new job, lots of walking, no time to eat, etc. and begain to gain weight at about a half pound a week for a month or so, then about a pound a week. i've been a professional dieter my whole life - - i'm in my early 40s, but i couldn't budge the weight, and when i added neurontin, i began to gain even faster. i went off neurontin after about 6 weeks, lost a couple,sorta, then went back on, and immediately regained 4lbs. now i'm convinced it was the celexa first, and the neurontin next. i threw the neurontin out, and i'm weaning off the celexa. i'm looking for someone who is trying to lose celexa weight - did going off help? how long did it take? you know, all those kinds of questions. the things that accompany aging (and perimenopause) are not so much fun that i want to add a matronly figure to the mix. now, THAT is really depressing.
thanks, nellieG
Posted by Barb on February 26, 2001, at 21:01:38
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by nellieG on February 26, 2001, at 7:59:35
I have been taking Celexa for about 6 months now after I took Paxil for 3 months with little results.
I actually lost weight on Celexa and have been very happy with the results....except for a bit too much "squishing" of my emotions.
I was up as high as 60mg of Celexa and recently have gone back down to 40 mg.
B
> > Hello everyone--
> >
> > I lost about 7 pounds in one month on prozac, and then I switched insurance companies and prozac is not covered under pacificare. So I was switched to celexa, and I've gained about 4 pounds in the last 2 weeks. celexa has increased my cravings for carbs and sweets, so I stopped using it this weekend. (also, i had terrible headaches). Do you think it would be okay if I increased my dosage from 10 mg to 20 mg to try to lose weight again? I'm taking it with 15 mg of phentermine.
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> Hi!
> i've been reading all the things you've said, and i'm interested to know if any of you have been on celexa for as much as 10 to 18 mos. i had absolutely no problem with celexa and weight gain, and i don't even remember dry mouth, constipation, any of that, until i'd been on it for about 10 months. I started a very active new job, lots of walking, no time to eat, etc. and begain to gain weight at about a half pound a week for a month or so, then about a pound a week. i've been a professional dieter my whole life - - i'm in my early 40s, but i couldn't budge the weight, and when i added neurontin, i began to gain even faster. i went off neurontin after about 6 weeks, lost a couple,sorta, then went back on, and immediately regained 4lbs. now i'm convinced it was the celexa first, and the neurontin next. i threw the neurontin out, and i'm weaning off the celexa. i'm looking for someone who is trying to lose celexa weight - did going off help? how long did it take? you know, all those kinds of questions. the things that accompany aging (and perimenopause) are not so much fun that i want to add a matronly figure to the mix. now, THAT is really depressing.
> thanks, nellieG
Posted by Lynne on February 28, 2001, at 13:59:17
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by Barb on February 26, 2001, at 21:01:38
It seems that if you take a higher doseage like 40mg is there less chance of weight gain?? Is this true? Maybe I never got my doseage high enough to help me. I took it when it first came out 20mg a day. It didn't seem to help me very much. Maybe I should try again and work up to 40mg?
Any suggestions?Thanks,
Lynne
>>
>
> > > Hello everyone--
> > >
> > > I lost about 7 pounds in one month on prozac, and then I switched insurance companies and prozac is not covered under pacificare. So I was switched to celexa, and I've gained about 4 pounds in the last 2 weeks. celexa has increased my cravings for carbs and sweets, so I stopped using it this weekend. (also, i had terrible headaches). Do you think it would be okay if I increased my dosage from 10 mg to 20 mg to try to lose weight again? I'm taking it with 15 mg of phentermine.
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> >
> > Hi!
> > i've been reading all the things you've said, and i'm interested to know if any of you have been on celexa for as much as 10 to 18 mos. i had absolutely no problem with celexa and weight gain, and i don't even remember dry mouth, constipation, any of that, until i'd been on it for about 10 months. I started a very active new job, lots of walking, no time to eat, etc. and begain to gain weight at about a half pound a week for a month or so, then about a pound a week. i've been a professional dieter my whole life - - i'm in my early 40s, but i couldn't budge the weight, and when i added neurontin, i began to gain even faster. i went off neurontin after about 6 weeks, lost a couple,sorta, then went back on, and immediately regained 4lbs. now i'm convinced it was the celexa first, and the neurontin next. i threw the neurontin out, and i'm weaning off the celexa. i'm looking for someone who is trying to lose celexa weight - did going off help? how long did it take? you know, all those kinds of questions. the things that accompany aging (and perimenopause) are not so much fun that i want to add a matronly figure to the mix. now, THAT is really depressing.
> > thanks, nellieG
Posted by jessey on February 4, 2002, at 15:07:31
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by saka on January 26, 2001, at 19:12:09
For what it's worth. I began taking Celexa this past summer. I dropped from 139 lbs to 124 lbs. Since then I have levelled off at a very acceptable 130 lbs. (i'm 5'5") The Celexa has done wonders for my emotions. I am sooo much better. Initially, I did find the side effects very trying, especially the diarrhea & teeth clenching. Since that time my only remaining side effects have been crazy crazy nightmares & unstable sleep. Which is to say i tend to flip flop between sleeping heavily or not sleeping at all. (these phases last about a week) But in the end...i am willing to put up with the inconvenience, because the results have been so good.
Posted by ST on February 5, 2002, at 3:03:33
In reply to Re: WEIGHT LOSS/CELEXA, posted by jessey on February 4, 2002, at 15:07:31
Hi,
Wow. I gained thirty pounds in three months on Celexa. As soon as I went off and on to Effexor (which is known for weight loss) I dropped almost 15 pounds in 6 weeks! It's so strange how different medications work differently with each body.
Sounds like Celexa is working great for you. Good luck!
Sarah
> For what it's worth. I began taking Celexa this past summer. I dropped from 139 lbs to 124 lbs. Since then I have levelled off at a very acceptable 130 lbs. (i'm 5'5") The Celexa has done wonders for my emotions. I am sooo much better. Initially, I did find the side effects very trying, especially the diarrhea & teeth clenching. Since that time my only remaining side effects have been crazy crazy nightmares & unstable sleep. Which is to say i tend to flip flop between sleeping heavily or not sleeping at all. (these phases last about a week) But in the end...i am willing to put up with the inconvenience, because the results have been so good.
This is the end of the thread.
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