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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 Kel on February 7, 1999, at 15:38:16
Just wanted to know if anyone has experienced any weight gain since starting Celexa. It's not suppose to cause weight gain, but neither was the Prozac 30 lbs. later and I can't bear to gain one more ounce. There's nothing worse than being fat and depressed. The weight gain has become as big an issue as the depression.
Posted by Tomjay on February 12, 1999, at 11:56:04
In reply to Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by Kel on February 7, 1999, at 15:38:16
I've been on Celexa, but only for a couple of weeks.
I certainly haven't noticed anything yet. I did do research, though,
before I took it, and I found that studies show a small, and
probably statistically insignificant weight loss in people
taking Celexa. Good luck
Tom
Posted by Amy on September 9, 1999, at 13:52:42
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by Tomjay on February 12, 1999, at 11:56:04
> I've been on Celexa, but only for a couple of weeks.
> I certainly haven't noticed anything yet. I did do research, though,
> before I took it, and I found that studies show a small, and
> probably statistically insignificant weight loss in people
> taking Celexa. Good luck
> TomI heard the same thing
Posted by Justitia on September 13, 1999, at 9:00:00
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by Amy on September 9, 1999, at 13:52:42
I was on Celexa and immediately started againing weight. About 1-2 ponds a week. After 6 weeks,b ecause of that and induced extremetired ness (I was ending up in bed 14-16 hours a day--and I am a high energy person--normally work out in gym 5 days a week) and no sex drive, I quit. The positive benefits, psychologically, were great. But not worth the side effects. Everytime I went back on , even in the minutest of doses (like 1 mg or half of that) the negative side effects would come back with a vengeance. There was a thread earlier last winter with a fair number of people reporting the same effects as me. Some people just can't take SSRI's which is too bad because they are very effective for their positive benefits.
Posted by onlooker on August 22, 2000, at 16:23:12
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by Justitia on September 13, 1999, at 9:00:00
I took Celexa for about 4 months. I noticed a weight gain of about 12 lbs. I also noticed extreme tiredness. I can sleep 12-to-18 hours easily. I don't think I ate more; I think I just slept more and exercised less. My dosage was kept at 20mg/day. I have broke up the tablets to 10mg/day for approx one week, then 7.5mg/day for another week. Now I'm taking about 5mg/day, and I intend to totally withdraw from this med. My energy is increasing. I'm NOT DEPRESSED! I don't think that I was ever really depressed, just stressed out over work and school. I'm feeling more and more like myself, and realizing that I really like myself. The one thing that I noticed about first taking Celexa is that I felt it was easier to concentrate. I initially felt that the fog of ADD was lifted; but that was temporary. Then the fatigue set in. By the end of this week I will be totally off Celexa. If I feel stressed out again, I'm try exercise! I don't recommend this to anyone else, though. This is just my own personal agenda. Anyone else who is thinking of stopping or reducing meds should consult with their MDs. Just sharing my thoughts on extreme tiredness. Anyone else experienced the fatigue and weight gain?
Posted by Cam W. on August 22, 2000, at 22:34:30
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by onlooker on August 22, 2000, at 16:23:12
Anyone else experienced the fatigue and weight gain [with Celexa]?
Onlooker - Yup. Fairly common, but doesn't happen to everyone that takes Celexa. - Cam
Posted by CraigF on August 25, 2000, at 14:50:58
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa? » onlooker, posted by Cam W. on August 22, 2000, at 22:34:30
I don't know about weight gain per se, but my appetite is quite high, mostly for carbs, and my energy is low. -- Until 3 a.m. when the agitation keeps me awake and shaking for the rest of the night. Only four weeks, though, the weight gain may come (hopefully in the form of muscle, right?)
Posted by dls on August 25, 2000, at 21:53:50
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa? » onlooker, posted by Cam W. on August 22, 2000, at 22:34:30
> Anyone else experienced the fatigue and weight gain [with Celexa]?
>
>
> Onlooker - Yup. Fairly common, but doesn't happen to everyone that takes Celexa. - CamWeight gain (40 lbs), fatigue and elevated blood pressure here - bp was up to 190/140 when I weaned myself off the stuff.
Changed to Wellbutrin with none of those three results.Don
Posted by RoseM on August 31, 2000, at 12:54:39
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by onlooker on August 22, 2000, at 16:23:12
I totaly agree with everything you wrote. I tried to cold turkey, now I'm on the long road to weaning myself.
I feel tired and I have gain 40 lbs, which is impossible to loose.
Like you I look foward to being a person again.
Posted by mlk on October 15, 2000, at 11:48:02
In reply to Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by Kel on February 7, 1999, at 15:38:16
I gained 35 lbs when I was taking paxil. When I switched to wellbutrin I losted 20 lbs over two months. Unfortunately, wellbutrin alone was insufficient to counter my depression so I started taking celexa in addition. Since then I haven't lost any weight, but I haven't gained any weight. I moved over this period, so I haven't been able to excercise as much as I'd like, so I may be able to lose some more weight once I start excercising regularly again. Even if I don't lose any further weight, the fact that my weight has been stable for over four months is fabulous. The combination of wellbutrin and celexa has made a tremendous difference for me. My energy level is much better than it ever was when I was taking paxil and I like not having to watch everything that I eat all the time.
Posted by Snowie on October 18, 2000, at 19:38:10
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by mlk on October 15, 2000, at 11:48:02
Congratulations on the weight loss! I tried Celexa, and it worked great on anxiety. I had to discontinue it when I had eye surgery (dry eyes), and didn't continue taking it thereafter, so I don't know whether or not I would have gained weight. I'm certain this subject has been discussed before, so if you go to the top and do a search of Celexa, you'll find oodles and oodles of posts!
I think maybe the combo of Celexa and Wellbutrin is keeping your weight down. If you exercise I expect that you'll lose the rest of it. My sister is on Paxil and she's almost 300 lbs. now. It's sad, but she feels so much better since she started taking it.
Snowie
> I gained 35 lbs when I was taking paxil. When I switched to wellbutrin I losted 20 lbs over two months. Unfortunately, wellbutrin alone was insufficient to counter my depression so I started taking celexa in addition. Since then I haven't lost any weight, but I haven't gained any weight. I moved over this period, so I haven't been able to excercise as much as I'd like, so I may be able to lose some more weight once I start excercising regularly again. Even if I don't lose any further weight, the fact that my weight has been stable for over four months is fabulous. The combination of wellbutrin and celexa has made a tremendous difference for me. My energy level is much better than it ever was when I was taking paxil and I like not having to watch everything that I eat all the time.
Posted by ksvt on October 21, 2000, at 21:13:23
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by mlk on October 15, 2000, at 11:48:02
> I gained 35 lbs when I was taking paxil. When I switched to wellbutrin I losted 20 lbs over two months. Unfortunately, wellbutrin alone was insufficient to counter my depression so I started taking celexa in addition. Since then I haven't lost any weight, but I haven't gained any weight. I moved over this period, so I haven't been able to exercise as much as I'd like, so I may be able to lose some more weight once I start excercising regularly again. Even if I don't lose any further weight, the fact that my weight has been stable for over four months is fabulous. The combination of wellbutrin and celexa has made a tremendous difference for me. My energy level is much better than it ever was when I was taking paxil and I like not having to watch everything that I eat all the time.
Would you mind telling me what dosages you're taking of celexa and Wellbutrin? I used to take 400 mgs of WB but decreased it when I started augmenting with zoloft. That was not a good combination so I dropped the zoloft and never increased the WB over the 300 mgs I had reduced it to. Now it's clear that maybe I need to try something else and Celexa was an option once discussed.thanks ksvt
Posted by Lainey on September 13, 2005, at 8:49:35
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by ksvt on October 21, 2000, at 21:13:23
I've been taking Celexa for almost 2 years now and have gained about 40+ pounds. I've tried dieting and even joined an excercise club but can't take any of it off. It's so frustrating!
I know I need the Celexa for depression but all this weight gain adds to the depression. I wonder if it's worth it? I'm thinking of weaning myself off the Celexa and opting for weight loss to make me feel better.
Any comments?
Posted by Diffy Q on September 13, 2005, at 11:43:53
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by ksvt on October 21, 2000, at 21:13:23
I took Celexa for 4 years. I actually lost weight so I can't help you there... However- I will tell you my experience of getting off of Celexa. It was very difficult. It really made me angry after all was said and done that my psychopharm. did't clue me in! The fiorst few times I tried to go off of it I felt like I was losing my mind - like I was insane. (And I had lowered my dose from 30mg to 10 mg well before this.) I tried reducing to 5 and then stopped taking it for 3 or 4 days. I did this twice about a year apart. Then I would go back on becasue I was SOO insane/ crazy/ angry. I freaked out becasue I thought things like "wow I really am emotionally unstable...I will probably have to stay on this drug forever becasue look how I am with out it!" When I told the psych this she said stuff like 'well, maybe you are not ready to go off..." What a crock of sh*t!!!!! I did a ton of research and learned that there are big time withdrawal symptoms with Celexa and you will feel unnaturally insane when getting off of them. I eventually got off of them by cutting my 10 mg pills in quarters an then eigths (no joke!) and just kept tapering down. In the end I only took some whenever I started to feel nuts. After time I could go 3 or 4 days and then just take a wee crumb of a pill and feel ok and then eventually I didn't need them anymore.
I felt FINE when all was said and done. I still have anxiety/ depression issues but they are less severe than 4 years ago. And I realize now that I did not cry AT ALL while taking Celexa. I used to cry at a moving TV commercial. I never did that w/ Celexa. I didn't cry when my best friends father died...Not me.It was like being numbed. Also - as another poster said on this site- it was like being numbed form the waist down. Big time! I am pleased to say that off of Celexa I have my sex drive and hot buttons back:)
So seriously think about getting off of it. There are many alternatives - I have used SAMe to good effect. There is also Claronet and many others- check it out!
Good luck!!
Diffy
Posted by glenn on September 14, 2005, at 15:11:47
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by Diffy Q on September 13, 2005, at 11:43:53
You are absolutely right that these meds can be very hard to get off and the lack of warning is a disgrace.
It is easier in my view however if you get the liquid version, with this you can lower the dose by ridiculously small amounts.
Even so I would recommend many months and adjusting the reductions carefully , ie a 1 mg reduction from 20 mg is 5%, from 2 mg this is a 50% reduction so bear this in mind.
This method has produced 0% withdrawal for me and having suffered before I would suggest it may be worth a try.Glenn
Posted by krzeekat on September 20, 2005, at 3:05:58
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by Diffy Q on September 13, 2005, at 11:43:53
Wow, am I ever glad I found this message board. I started on the South Beach diet earlier this year and quickly lost 15 lbs. Around the same time, my psych doc put me on Celexa (in addition to the Wellbutrin I was taking). Well, for the past several months, my appetite has been out of control and I have gained back all the weight I lost. I also don't have any sex drive. I am going off of this crap! Hopefully, since I haven't been on it that long, it will be relatively easy to stop.
Posted by Lainey on September 20, 2005, at 8:52:32
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by krzeekat on September 20, 2005, at 3:05:58
So, what I'm understanding from everyone out there is that by taking Celexa there are two major draw backs. First, the side affects when you stop taking them are absolutely terrible, and second, mostly everyone who is taking Celexa has either gained quite a bit of weight and can't lose weight while taking Celexa. I'd be curious to know if more people have gained a lot of weight while taking this drug.
Also, is this 'Wellbutrin' a prescription drug or is it something you'd find in a 'natural' drug store? Have people reported weight gain taking this one?
Ohhh! What to do?? I feel like dropping Celexa cold turkey now and just getting it out of my system...The weight gain from it is so discouraging and I've tried so hard to lose but can't seem to no matter what I do.
The medical system should be aware of this before prescribing it to some patients. You're treated for depression or 'chemical imbalance' and what do you end up feeling when it's all said and done? More depressed because you look at yourself in the mirror and ask "What's happened to me?"
I was a size 10 three years ago and now I'm wearing size 14, how discouraging is that?
Have most people gained drastic amounts taking Celexa? I'd be interested to know...
It's good talking to all of you by the way! You feel like you're not 'alone' somehow, if that makes sense...
Posted by ramsea on September 22, 2005, at 4:45:57
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by Lainey on September 20, 2005, at 8:52:32
I did experience heavy weight gain on Celexa.
Posted by krzeekat on September 22, 2005, at 13:00:42
In reply to Re: Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by Lainey on September 20, 2005, at 8:52:32
Lainey - Wellbutrin is a RX drug. It really is in a class by itself as it isn't an SSRI. I gained weight on Prozac and Celexa. The first time I took Wellbutrin (many years ago), I lost about 25lbs without even trying. I was taking about 400-450mg a day. I saw my Psych doctor yesterday and she upped my Wellbutrin to 400 (200 2x day). So, we'll se what happens......
Posted by momof75 on December 2, 2005, at 10:27:25
In reply to Any weight gain on Celexa?, posted by Kel on February 7, 1999, at 15:38:16
I'm a little confused now after reading, to start Celexa. I know I need something because I'm short with my family, very agitated and (easily)..not sure if it's "depression". Was told not many side affects with this one. I've not tried anything else b/f. I have mitral valve prolapse, so truthfully, I'm afraid to take anything at all. I just know I do need something? Any suggestions?
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