Lexapro and weight gain
LEXAPRO AND WEIGHT GAIN
Will you gain weight while taking Lexapro? What can be done to lessen this side effect? Read this article to find questions to these answers.
Escitalopram Oxalate (Lexapro) is a prescription medicine for treatment of major depression and other related problems. Lexapro is a potent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Lexapro (escitalopram) is the active isomer of the antidepressant drug Celexa (citalopram).
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT) is known as “chemical of happiness”. This neurotransmitter (a chemical in the nervous system that helps transmit messages along the nervous system) is present in at least three main areas of the body: the central nervous system, blood vessels, and the intestinal wall. Sufficient levels of serotonin in human body produce feelings of happiness and content, make us relaxed and energised, alleviate pains.
Weight Gain is a possible side effect of Lexapro medication. Weight gain reason could that SSRI antidepressants as Lexapro slow down your metabolism and inhibit specific enzymes in your liver that allow your metabolism to function correctly. And when your metabolism is slow, you are likely to gain weight and even become overweight. Although not officially determined as a side effect of this particular SSRI, weight gain has been reported on many occasions of using Lexapro.
Some people, on the contrary, are known to lose weight while taking Lexapro. This is a very dangerous way of losing weight, however, and the specialists in the field emphatically don’t recommend it. Gaining weight may also happen shortly after a patient quits Lexapro medication.
Lexapro and other SSRI drugs have proved to be very helpful in fighting major depression condition, as they boost serotonin levels in your brain. They change the way your brain works on your mood, but they probably change some other reactions of your brain as well. Because every system of human body functions under brain commands, any part of your body may start to work differently when commanded by the brain treated with SSRI medication.
Hopefully some people will not experience any Lexapro side effects, especially if they take the drug for a short period of time. But some other patients face very wide range of side effects, from gut problems to inability to drive their car properly; decreased libido and, returning to the topic, becoming overweight.
So, what can be done to avoid or lessen weight gain and other Lexapro side effects?
First, if you have already started taking Lexapro, never give it up abruptly. Immediate quitting this treatment will be more dangerous for anyone than just continuing medication. You must gradually reduce the doze after being advised to do so by your doctor.
Second, Lexapro is a medicine for major depression. To be considered major, depression must continue for at least two weeks, and include at least five of the following symptoms: low mood, loss of interest in everyday activities, change in weight or appetite or sleeping patterns, agitation or lethargy, fatigue, feeling guilty or worthless, lack of concentration, and thoughts of suicide.
If you never thought of harming or killing yourself or someone else, it is highly recommended that you start Lexapro treatment after your serotonin levels are tested by a specialist doctor (psychiatrist). And only if the psychiatrist finds out (blood and other tests) that your serotonin levels are low indeed, and gives you a consultation.
If, on the contrary, you have had suicidal thoughts or suicidal attempt, you are to go on with taking Lexapro now. But, anyway, regular psychiatrist’s consultations and regular monitoring or your serotonin levels are necessary until your condition improves significantly.
Third, when you see the specialist, it’s advisable to discuss all possible side effects of Lexapro or other prescribed medication. Start with problems that bother you most.
It will be much better if your treatment is complex, e.g. includes not only taking the prescription drug, but other things such as:
# psychotherapy;
# exercise. For instance, Bodyflex program requires only 15 minutes daily at home, easy to perform and proved to be amazingly effective in making you healthy and slim;
# healthy diet;
# some alternative therapies. Many people are helped by Traditional Chinese Medicine specialists, particularly in pain management;
# body detox program;
# herbal medicine and healthcare products;
# neurofeedback training;
# music therapy etc…
But you need to ask your doctor before starting anything in this list – to make sure that everything is safe for your health condition. For instance, you must ask your doctor before undertaking any exercise program.
In addition to being advised by the specialist and family doctor, you can get help from the appropriate resources (not a full list):
# Community health centre
# Private clinics or State hospitals
# Family services
# Social agencies
# Telephone hotlines
In the end of this article we would like to finalize that Lexapro cause weight gain in some pacients but there is not official confirmation or notice from Lexapro manufacturer that Lexapro may cause weight gain or loss – probably the reason of such changes in weight could be in depression side effects and not associated with Lexapro drug.
