medication advice needed

I need some advice on medication and weight gain.

For the past few months I've been taking citalopram (I think it's called Celexa in the US?) to treat an anxiety disorder. Although my doctor said it was one of the safest drugs, it's had several side effects, including weight gain. I gained 10lbs in just a few weeks depsite intense working out 6+ times a week, etc.

Yesterday I asked my doctor if I could change medication and she gave me something called flupentixol. I assumed it was another SSRI like citalopram, but have since discovered it's a low dose of an antipsychotic. Now, I thought antipsychotics had a reputation for causing MASSIVE weight gain - or is that just at the higher doses when they're used to treat schizophrenia, etc?

If anyone has experience of this drug, I'd be grateful for whatever you can tell me.

 

I'm sorry to hear your having problems. I too have been on various anti depressant drugs. Citalopram made me gain the most weight, thats why I'm on my new found healthy living kick. The unfortunate thing about most of the depressant/psychotic drugs the doctors hand out is that they seem to have a weight gaining effect for most people, which in it's self is very upsetting. The only anti depressant drug that didn't make me gain weight was Prozac but even at a high dose it wasn't helping me deal with my problem so the doctors changed it.

If you feel like you need to talk about anything you don't want to post publicly, just email me. I know what it's like to do things by yourself, even if people around you seem understanding and supportive, it's not the same as talking to people who are going through similar problems.

I hope you find a drug that helps and doesn't interfere with your diet.

I find that interesting that you gained weight off of that. Are you sure its the US version of celexa? I've been taking celexa and was told one of the side effects was weight loss. Actually, nearly all the medicines I take have a weight loss side effect. As silly as it sounds, at a max dose of celexa I don't notice a difference at all, so I'm going to get the prescription changed. So far what has helped with my anxiety the most is actually Adderall, but that drug really isn't to be taken lightly.

Thanks for your replies - and many thanks for the kind support, malkavian.

I think citalopram can cause either weight loss or weight gain depending on how you react to it.  I've also heard it gives you carb cravings, though I wasn't aware of any cravings myself, just the extra weight.  I guess I'll wait and see what this new drug does!

edited to add: it also seemed to cause water rentention, I don't know if this is common either.

I too gained weight being on that Citalopram. I have been on several other anti-d's within the past several months, but that one caused the most weight gain. Sadly, I didn't even see it coming. Along with the weight gain came fatigue and an increased appetite. Once I realized it happened in conjuction with starting this med, I quit cold-turkey much to my doctor's surprise. I told her that I was already depressed, now the weight gain is making me even more depressed than I was to begin with. After a week of dizzy spells, she eventually put me on Wellbutrin, so hopefully this will do it. I am new to this website, and I am very motivated just reading the stories of others going through similiar issues with weight, depression, diet, exercise, etc. Sometimes it's harder to talk about these things with those closest to you. Thanks Cat-eyes for making me feel normal.

Original Post by cats-eyes:

I need some advice on medication and weight gain.

For the past few months I've been taking citalopram (I think it's called Celexa in the US?) to treat an anxiety disorder. Although my doctor said it was one of the safest drugs, it's had several side effects, including weight gain. I gained 10lbs in just a few weeks depsite intense working out 6+ times a week, etc.

Yesterday I asked my doctor if I could change medication and she gave me something called flupentixol. I assumed it was another SSRI like citalopram, but have since discovered it's a low dose of an antipsychotic. Now, I thought antipsychotics had a reputation for causing MASSIVE weight gain - or is that just at the higher doses when they're used to treat schizophrenia, etc?

If anyone has experience of this drug, I'd be grateful for whatever you can tell me.

 

 

there is another ssri.....well ther is in ireland anyway the chemical name is sertraline...trade name lustral. it has the usual ole ssri effect on anxiety but it actually causes weight loss......................................... ..wow everyone's gonna b lukn for it