Lexapro and weight loss?
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free skin care · Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:41 pm

This is most likely the wrong forum but has anyone found that Lexapro helps you lose weight?

free skin care · Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:13 pm

dreamskin wrote:

This is most likely the wrong forum but has anyone found that Lexapro helps you lose weight?

That seems to swing both ways, when my dad was diagnosed with dementia and was losing weight it was prescribed to help increase his appetite, that seems to be the more likely side effect, but it can also do just the reverse! It depends on your individual reaction.

HTH
DM Smile

free skin care · Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:26 pm

dreamskin,

In my personal experience, Lexapro does not help (me) lose weight. If anything, it makes it harder. Sad

free skin care · Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:58 pm

There's something about SSRIs working in the gut (where serotonin is created). Serotonin plays a part in how hungry someone is and it also affects fat metabolism. Some say it even affects judgment.

Anyway, dreamskin, it's wellbutrin that's the mood-altering Rx that causes many people to lose weight.

Pluto

free skin care · Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:11 am

I thought "most" anti-depressants were associated with weight gain, not loss ?

Anecdotal, but the two people I know taking anti-depressants (one on Lexapro) have both gained substantial amounts of weight.

free skin care · Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:44 am

One side of Lexapro is weight gain. Now my hubby's doc prescribed Topiramte along with B 12 and his thyroid medicine to help with weight loss.

free skin care · Thu Feb 25, 2010 6:32 pm

Annie,

Have you seen the site theroadbackDOTorg? (I can't post urls here yet.) It's a site dedicated to helping people come off meds especially a/d AND to help them lose weight (not to mention sleep).

Pluto

free skin care · Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:30 am

No, but I will check it out.
My hubby doesn't take it because he doesn't like any meds, he's trying to lose it the old fashioned way, hard work, walking and eating right. When I read the side effects,I wasn't thrilled either.
My son had anxiety attacks in college and his doc had prescribed Lexapro. When he read about the weight gain, he did not take it.
Instead he went to his chiropractor, who also did acupuncture, for treatment and that cured him. It also cured his teeth grinding, so I am always in favor of other alternatives if at all possible.
My hubby and son have an inheritable liver disease that tends to be fatty and have high bilirubin counts so we are very cautious of meds and alcohol.

free skin care · Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:57 am

Annie, so glad your husband and son are so smart! We all know many docs are too quick with the Rx pad, even if a patient wants to hear about the alternative, healthy way. Can your guys take fish oil? (Remember the old adage about fish is brain food?) It's very good for keeping the grey matter oiled.

Pluto

free skin care · Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:00 am

Yes, both my hubby and I do. He also has a strong genetic predisposition for Alzheimer's so we try to stay healthy and smart.
Seems all that runs in my family is orneriness!
We seem to be too stubborn to kill off. Laughing

free skin care · Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:00 am

AnnieR,

You may want to read through this, my father had pernicious anemia and developed dementia, as well as 2 brothers and 1 sister. There is a link between Alzheimer's and even a slight B-12 deficiency mentioned, just something to be aware of and have the proper blood work done if not already done.
I am not quoting the part that mentioned the above but you will find it in the link.
All My Best
DM

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B12?wasRedirected=true

Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is a water soluble vitamin with a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and for the formation of blood. It is one of the eight B vitamins. It is normally involved in the metabolism of every cell of the body, especially affecting DNA synthesis and regulation, but also fatty acid synthesis and energy production.

free skin care · Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:46 pm

I take antidepressants and have tried quiet a few, Iknow Wellbutrin can reduce your appetite and also Topamax which is a medicine for seizures and also headaches (migraines). The Topamax took my hunger dramatically away, later I found out it helps with people who suffer from binge eating> I took it for migraines, my migraines have dissappeared, but I got used to the dosage and my hunger is back Sad

my doctor does not want to up the dosage since my migraines are under control.

free skin care · Thu Mar 04, 2010 7:41 am

Dark Moon-
You are right about the B-12 deficiency. He gets his blood work done every 6 months as part of his program and that is a supplement he must take, especially since Alzheimer's is very predominant in his family.
He takes Crestor, thyroid medication, B-12 and a compund containing testosterone, all to also help stimulate his metabolism and help him lose weight.
He can also take Adipex or Adderall, which can also contain appetite and speed metabolism, but it makes him shaky. So most days of the week he choses not to.
Losing weight can be a complicated process as you need to know what is preventing you from losing it in order to help you shed those pounds, hence all of his blood work.
But most people I know who have been on anti-depressants have gained weight, so it's a tough choice.
Margaret-That is interesting about the Topamax. My hubby has a RX for it but hasn't taken it yet as part of the regime.
Have you had any side effects of it? In our business of Home Inspections and on roofs part of the day, he is cautious about what he takes.

free skin care · Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:30 am

AnnieR,

I am not surprised that you are on top of the blood work! Smile

I hope anyone with a loved one, friend or even themselves that have a family predisposition to Alzheimer's will benefit from the information! It is a very hard disease to watch anyone suffer with, if a B-12 shot on a doctor recommended basis can help avoid it that would be fantastic!

DM

free skin care · Thu Mar 04, 2010 12:13 pm

AnnieR wrote:

Margaret-That is interesting about the Topamax. My hubby has a RX for it but hasn't taken it yet as part of the regime.
Have you had any side effects of it? In our business of Home Inspections and on roofs part of the day, he is cautious about what he takes.

Annie, I started taking it probably two years ago and no, I did not have any serious side effect, I took it at night because it made me very sleepy right away, but the feeling wears off after a month or so,, once your body gets used to it. I have always been at the lowest dosage and my doctor has never wanted to up it, so I don't know on higher dosages. The main side effect for me was my lack of hunger, not in a sick way, just not as hungry as before. Mind you, I waas kind of binge eating at night, that stopped from day one after taking it.

free skin care · Thu Mar 04, 2010 12:41 pm

Interesting. He was advised to take one in the morning with an Adipex (I guess too offset the sleepiness) and then after 2 weeks add one in the afternoon. He tried it just by itself for a couple of weeks but then stopped.
I might have him try one at night, he seems to get hungry again right before bedtime so it might help.
Dark Moon-My hubby thinks I am going to nag him to death trying to keep him alive! We watched his grandfather slowly die for 15 years of that wretched disease. Every time DH forgets something I freak out a little, hard habit to break.
Weight loss is an ongoing battle and a constant one. Just because you lose the weight, you literally have to work your buns off to keep it off! Laughing

free skin care · Thu Mar 04, 2010 12:49 pm

AnnieR,

I know after seeing first hand with my own relatives and those of friends how devastating a disease it is!
Better you nag him and keep him healthy. Just remind him that if you didn't love him you wouldn't be looking out for his health!
I agree it's quite a battle for many to take and keep the weight off, it boils down to an entire lifestyle change, and even then for some it is quite difficult.

DM

free skin care · Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:54 pm

Pluto wrote:

There's something about SSRIs working in the gut (where serotonin is created). Serotonin plays a part in how hungry someone is and it also affects fat metabolism. Some say it even affects judgment.

Anyway, dreamskin, it's wellbutrin that's the mood-altering Rx that causes many people to lose weight.

Pluto

Hi, could you elaborate on serotonin and the gut area? Too much serotonin or too little? Just wondering if that's related to my expanding stomach these past few months. I exercise and monitor my calories but I swear my belly picked up a few lbs. Nope, I'm not pregnant (51 years old).
Sad

Thanks!

free skin care · Fri Mar 05, 2010 9:15 pm

antidepressants I think cause serotonin to not do its job correctly -- after eating the serotonin should release or get the brain to release a signal that "that was enough food." But that's just the simple part of it. Other parts aren't so understood -- that serotonin is manufactured in the gut, so its very persistence there, from the antidepressants (ssri = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), does something to metabolism. I only heard this part from a psychiatrist one time.

No one knows for sure how it works. But one thing's for sure, the drugs do knock a system out of balance. The weight gain may just be an outward sign of the body (the system) trying to rebalance.

If you are on a/ds and want to come off, and want to do something about weight and health, there is a really good site. I can't post urls, but you can find it if you google <the road back>. There are a couple of sites by this name, but you'll find the one having to do with detoxing easily from the descriptions.

Pluto

free skin care · Fri Mar 05, 2010 9:25 pm

Pluto,

Thanks for responding. I'm not taking AD's but recently started 5-HTP which is "supposed" to boost serotonin. I just wondered if that had anything to do with my recently expanding belly .... not that I had a flat belly but it's bigger than the usual.
Sad

free skin care · Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:25 pm

From reading I have done your gut needs serotonin to function properly as well as the effect that has on the whole system. What SSRI's do is divert serotonin from the gut to the brain to ease anxiety and depression, unfortunately that has a side effect of robbing the gut of needed serotonin. It's a simplistic explanation but it makes sense. Always a trade off!

DM

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