Anyway to avoid anti-depressant weight gain?
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Right off the bat, I gained 8 pounds! But I did notice my eating pattern had changed. I was craving SUGAR like a fricken' ANT! I usually don't eat lots of sweets. And I craved carb, junk. I would be starve at nighttime, so I'd eat! So, I decide to switch my eating binges with fruit and sunflower seeds. And I made a conscious effort to drink more water. I'm not a big fruit eater or big water drinker, so it took me a couple weeks to get into the groove of it all. When I really wanted a whole box of Chicken in a Biscuit crackers and a whole roll of cookies! It can be managed because I'm pretty much a wimp when it comes to denying myself cravings!
The bottom line with weight changes and anti-depressants is that any weight changes are NOT a direct result of the medication. They are a result of changes in caloric intake (possibly from increased appetite due to the meds). If you do not eat more than you did before, and continue the same exercise plan, you won't gain weight from any antidepressent (including lexapro).
If you can get your doc to prescribe wellbutrin, you'd be smart to go with it. If you're looking to lose weight anyway, wellbutrin is strongly associated with a DECREASE in appetite (which then, in turn, frequently leads to weight LOSS).
Best of luck to you in your treatment,
~M~
Unfortunately I have gained 30+ pounds taking lexapro over the past year. My mother, who has dementia, has also been put on lexapro and gained 30 over the past 6 months. The reason was not just caloric intake but lack of energy. My depression made me want to sleep all the time. Get out and simply walk and it will balance the difference. I've gotten off lexapro and am now on cymbalta. I am hoping. I can loose some weight with exercise alone since I never was an excessive eater.
i never had any weight gain on lexapro. If anything i lost weight but it also sent me manic too. But i dont think it is known to increase appetite or anything like that
good luck
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