Published on: 03 Apr 2023
Mental well being is an integral a part of our total well-being. When we expertise sure psychological well being situations, medicine will be an efficient part of our psychological well being therapy plan. Lexapro (escitalopram) is a standard psychiatrist-prescribed medicine that’s been confirmed efficient in serving to to handle signs associated to melancholy and anxiousness. It’s not with out uncomfortable side effects, although. Research suggests that some folks acquire weight on Lexapro or different antidepressants.
If you’re contemplating taking Lexapro or are already on it and have seen weight change, you may be questioning about Lexapro weight acquire. Once you perceive extra about this potential facet impact, you may make knowledgeable choices about whether or not or not Lexapro is best for you.
Keep studying to study extra about Lexapro and weight acquire. We’re protecting how a lot weight some folks acquire, why weight change would possibly occur, find out how to keep away from it, and extra.
Does Lexapro Cause Weight Gain?
Lexapro is an antidepressant medicine that belongs to a category of medication referred to as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It’s used to deal with melancholy, generalized anxiousness dysfunction (GAD), and different temper issues. While it may be efficient for many individuals in treating these situations, Lexapro and weight acquire has been present in some folks.
“All medications have some level of side effects associated with them. It is no different with Lexapro. A commonly reported symptom is weight gain. This can be due to a multitude of reasons but it does exist. Managing the possibility of weight gain through adjustments in exercise and diet will be important.”
How a lot weight do you acquire on Lexapro?
Some analysis discovered that as much as 41% of individuals who take Lexapro would possibly expertise elevated physique weight. It can take wherever from 6 – 8 weeks to see the uncomfortable side effects of Lexapro absolutely, and it’s throughout that point it may be extra frequent to start out seeing fluctuations in weight.
Lexapro and weight acquire can differ from individual to individual. One research discovered that individuals on Lexapro for 9 months gained a median of two.4 kilos.
Why Does Lexapro Cause Weight Gain?
Several components can contribute to Lexapro and weight acquire. For instance, some drugs are identified to trigger a rise in urge for food, modifications in metabolism, or fluid retention. In addition, some folks discover it difficult to take care of an energetic way of life when feeling low or anxious — which may additionally contribute to weight acquire over time if left unchecked.
The precise purpose Lexapro would possibly trigger weight acquire isn’t absolutely understood but. However, many specialists consider that modifications in metabolism or urge for food may play a job in inflicting this specific facet impact. Other potential explanations embody elevated cravings for carbohydrates or elevated fats storage because of decreased bodily exercise attributable to low power ranges related to melancholy or anxiousness drugs like Lexapro.
Research identifies a number of potential explanations for why somebody would possibly acquire weight on Lexapro. Some of them embody the next:
Sedentary way of life
Some individuals who aren’t energetic or don’t work out may be extra vulnerable to gaining weight when on melancholy or anxiousness medicine like Lexapro.
Serotonin ranges altering
One concept about Lexapro and weight acquire is that elevated serotonin ranges can result in modifications in urge for food or metabolism, leading to undesirable weight acquire.
Increased cravings
Another chance is that an SSRI antidepressant like Lexapro can improve cravings for sure varieties of meals, together with carbohydrates or sweets.
Smoking
Some folks with a historical past of smoking would possibly acquire weight after beginning prescription antidepressant therapy.
As all the time it’s essential to speak to your physician earlier than you smoke or use any substance alongside Lexapro. Lexapro and alcohol usually are not beneficial collectively so make sure you all the time speak to your physician about potential interactions.
Improved urge for food
Finally, some folks merely eat extra when feeling higher emotionally because of improved moods from antidepressants like Lexapro. Depression and anxiousness may cause a decreased urge for food so a discount of these signs can enhance somebody’s urge for food.
Does Lexapro Weight Gain Go Away?
It’s not unusual for folks to expertise weight acquire whereas taking Lexapro. The excellent news is that this facet impact usually would possibly go away as soon as the physique adjusts to the drug and your metabolism returns to regular.
How lengthy does weight acquire from Lexapro final?
The length of Lexapro weight acquire varies from individual to individual. Some folks expertise it instantly after beginning the medicine. Others, although, would possibly solely discover modifications as soon as they’ve taken it for a number of weeks or months. It may be the case that the longer you’re taking Lexapro, the extra seemingly it’s that you simply’ll expertise some weight acquire.
How to Avoid Gaining Weight on Lexapro
If you wish to try to keep away from the potential facet impact of gaining an excessive amount of weight whereas on Lexapro, there are steps you may take. Here are some suggestions for avoiding weight acquire when taking Lexapro:
- Eat wholesome meals: Eating wholesome meals equivalent to fruit and veggies, lean proteins, complete grains, and low-fat dairy merchandise may help hold your physique fueled with the vitamins it wants with out including additional energy or fats. Avoid processed meals excessive in sugar and saturated fat which may result in weight acquire.
- Exercise frequently: Regular train helps preserve a wholesome weight. Working out additionally releases endorphins that may enhance temper and cut back stress ranges (each of which have been linked to overeating or unhealthy consuming habits). Aim for no less than half-hour of average bodily exercise every day. Try issues like strolling, jogging, yoga, or biking.
- Monitor your weight: Keeping monitor of your weight frequently will enable you establish any modifications rapidly as a way to make changes if wanted. Some folks discover it useful to weigh themselves as soon as per week on the identical time, carrying related clothes every time for accuracy.
“Learning to manage weight gain while on Lexapro will be helpful in ensuring the benefits of the medication are aiding the symptoms of depression. Weight gain can cause additional health-related risks but also more symptoms of depression heavily related to the weight gain. Ensuring proactive changes to diet and exercise, employing healthy coping skills, and talking to the psychiatrists and therapists will be important in managing those side effects.”
If you discover important modifications in your urge for food or sudden unexplained will increase in weight whereas taking Lexapro, speak to your physician instantly. They might counsel adjusting the dosage or switching drugs if obligatory. Additionally, they will advise on how finest to handle another uncomfortable side effects related to this drug, together with undesirable weight acquire.
By making way of life modifications and monitoring your weight whereas taking Lexapro, you may keep away from gaining weight.
Some pure dietary supplements are additionally out there which have been proven efficient at decreasing signs related to melancholy. Some are efficient with out inflicting important Lexapro uncomfortable side effects like elevated urge for food or cravings. You can ask your physician about these choices as effectively.
Talk to Your Doctor About Lexapro Side Effects
It’s essential to ask your physician the query: can Lexapro trigger weight acquire? While it may be efficient in treating your psychological well being situation, there are uncomfortable side effects — like the opportunity of weight acquire — to concentrate on earlier than beginning the medicine.
Understanding the potential Lexapro uncomfortable side effects may help decide if the drug may be an excellent possibility as a part of your therapy plan. Your physician will make sure you perceive what would possibly happen and find out how to finest handle uncomfortable side effects like weight acquire in case you expertise them. Be certain to additionally speak to your physician about different medical recommendation relating to Lexapro, equivalent to utilizing Lexapro whereas pregnant.
Lexapro weight acquire generally is a frequent facet impact, nevertheless it doesn’t affect everybody who takes this medicine. Multiple research conclude that SSRIs like Lexapro can lead to weight acquire. However, it varies from individual to individual relying on particular person components equivalent to age, way of life habits, eating regimen, and exercise stage.
Are you fighting weight acquire whereas taking Lexapro? Are you searching for an answer to assist handle your signs and cut back the chance of uncomfortable side effects? Online remedy from Talkspace offers customized help to handle the bodily, psychological, and emotional features of coping with any psychological well being situation.
Talkspace gives handy, reasonably priced, evidence-based remedy tailor-made to your wants. With the assistance of a Talkspace therapist, you will discover aid from signs and cut back your fear about undesirable uncomfortable side effects like weight acquire. Contact us right now to get began in your journey towards wellness.
Sources:
- Gafoor R, Booth HP, Gulliford MC. Antidepressant utilisation and incidence of weight acquire throughout 10 years’ follow-up: Population based mostly cohort research. BMJ. 2018. doi:10.1136/bmj.k1951. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5964332/. Accessed December 12, 2022.
- Anagha Okay, Shihabudheen P, Uvais NA. Side impact profiles of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The Primary Care Companion For CNS Disorders. 2021;23(4). doi:10.4088/pcc.20m02747. https://www.psychiatrist.com/pcc/depression/side-effect-profiles-selective-serotonin-reuptake-inhibitors-cross-sectional-study-naturalistic-setting/. Accessed December 12, 2022.
- Escitalopram (Lexapro). NAMI. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Mental-Health-Medications/Types-of-Medication/Escitalopram-%28Lexapro%29#: Accessed December 14, 2022.
- Blumenthal SR, Castro VM, Clements CC, et al. An digital well being information research of long-term weight acquire following antidepressant use. JAMA Psychiatry. 2014;71(8):889. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.414. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/1878922. Accessed December 14, 2022.
- Shi Z, Atlantis E, Taylor AW, et al. SSRI antidepressant use potentiates weight acquire within the context of unhealthy life: Results from a 4-year Australian follow-up research. BMJ Open. 2017;7(8). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016224. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/8/e016224. Accessed December 14, 2022.
- Lee SH, Paz-Filho G, Mastronardi C, Licinio J, Wong M-L. Is elevated antidepressant publicity a contributory issue to the weight problems pandemic? Translational Psychiatry. 2016;6(3). doi:10.1038/tp.2016.25. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26978741/. Accessed December 14, 2022.
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