Help! Stories and advice needed for stopping lexapro or other SSRI

[Anonymous]

Hi all. I started lexapro over a year ago for insomnia. That seems to have resolved itself, but in the meantime, I have gained over 20 pounds. In spite of active weight loss attempts, the punds continue to creep on, with almost 5 pounds in just over a week.

I need to go off this stuff, stat. I have an appointment next Monday, but if I wait until then to take more steps, I could be 5 pounds heavier

I know the general advice is to taper, and the medication insert also says as much.

What experiences have any of you had going cold turkey or tapering? Any tips or tricks to ease the transition?

Thank you in advance for any and all help.

[Anonymous]

Don't go cold turkey. Follow doctor's instructions for tapering off. It's probably going to be difficult enough tapering off the medication. No tricks or tips, it's a straightforward process. The weight should fall off very quickly once you've gotten started! Good luck.

[Anonymous]

" The weight should fall off very quickly once you've gotten started!"

Do you think? This is what terrifies me. I have used CBT to mange my insomnia, so I don't need the lex for other anxiety, but I am worried I will go through withdrawal and still be fat.

Thanks for the reply!

[Anonymous]

Let me just say, it is hard to wean off Lexapro. Follow the doc's instructions. It will take time.

[Anonymous]

i had an easy time weaning off, I think I was on 10 mg (?) and just halved them as best I could gradually. I too gained a lot of weight on them, so I think it was in part them, and in part i was slightly less active at that time. I did end up losing weight, but very gradually, and I was also walking a lot more soon after I was off (I had moved and was able to walk to and from work at that time). Good luck! I think you'll do fine as long as you wean slowly.

[Anonymous]

DO NOT stop cold turkey! You will need to wean gradually over the next month or you run a huge risk or very nasty side effects. Lexapro is not making you put on weight. Watch what you eat and you will stop the weight gain.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. Did not think leapfrog led to weight gain. My doc told me. Much. But I have actually put on 10 lbs since I started it 1.5 years ago. Having a hard time losing it too. Do not stop cold turkey. I have a friend who I'd tat with another SSRI and he had insomnia for weeks. Just wean gradually....

[Anonymous]

I don't know if it's the lexapro or not for sure, but I will tell you this. I was not fat before I went on it. For the last four months, I have been doing what I used to do to lose weight: journaling, keeping calories at 1200/1300 and working out. I also added in a mile plus round trip walk to school every day, so my activity level is up and calories are down. My job also involved standing and moving, so I am not exactly sedentary.


I am a vegetarian health nut, I dont eat sugar, I don't eat refined carbs. I know how to eat well.

So if it is not the lexapro, then I don't know what it is. 20+ in a year in which I have actively tried losing weight is pretty suspect to me.

So will definitely taper instead of cold turkey.

But has anyone's else experienced this kind of weight gain?

[Anonymous]

Spell check turned lexapro into leapfrog somehow!

[Anonymous]

I gained 20 lbs on lexapro, too. It was awful and so was getting off the meds. Def go slowly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if it's the lexapro or not for sure, but I will tell you this. I was not fat before I went on it. For the last four months, I have been doing what I used to do to lose weight: journaling, keeping calories at 1200/1300 and working out. I also added in a mile plus round trip walk to school every day, so my activity level is up and calories are down. My job also involved standing and moving, so I am not exactly sedentary.


I am a vegetarian health nut, I dont eat sugar, I don't eat refined carbs. I know how to eat well.

So if it is not the lexapro, then I don't know what it is. 20+ in a year in which I have actively tried losing weight is pretty suspect to me.

So will definitely taper instead of cold turkey.

But has anyone's else experienced this kind of weight gain?

Yes, I did. Not on Lexapro, but on another antidepressant medication. Once I began tapering off, the weight dropped off. I was back to my normal weight well before I'd stopped taking the medication altogether.

[Anonymous]

I quit cold turkey. I don't recommend it. Even a little.

Also, despite all the literature and docs saying it doesn't cause weight gain, I know an awful lot of people -- myself included -- that have gained significantly while not increasing intake. As an obsessive calorie counter, it's not just in my head. I record everything I eat (and it's not much) and still kept gaining. Frustration!

[Anonymous]

All right. Day two of tapering. Too soon to see any effects, I guess, but so far so good. Thanks to everybody for your stories.

I'm going to up my omega supplement and my magnesium, see if that helps with some of the the nasties.

I would just like to wake up in my own body some morning.

Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

After seeing this post I decided to try tapering off lexapro. I have inked 10 to 15 lbs in the past 1.5 years. Would be nice if weight comes off quickly and if I can keep anxiety in check.

[Anonymous]

Not Lexapro, but I am tapering off Effexor. I was on 225mg for 4 years and now am at 75mg. Tapered from 225 to 75 in 3 months I guess. One baby step at a time. Please don't quit cold turkey.