Citalopram

[Patsy33]

I wondered if any on here have taken these or know someone that has. My youngest daughter started taking them about 8 months or so ago. She feels better but upset about all the weight she has put on. Over 1 & a half stone. She's always been petite.. she's never had a large appetite, either. I'm wondering is she should come off them and try a different one. I told her to ring for doctor appointment to discuss it. In the mean time, has anyone had similar problems?.

[brainiac]

Seems it's quite common. More info and links to forums that might help here:
https://optimistminds.com/citalopram-and-weight-gain/

[Patsy33]

Thank you brainiac for the link. I have just read it. Will pass it on to my daughter.

[roopower]

Not Citalpram but my son has been on Mirtazapine with similar effects. Fortunately, he feels anle to slowly come off them now and has already noticed some weight loss.

[Patsy33]

Thank you roopower. I know a lot of certain antidepressants can cause weight gain. I was on Mirtazapine about 12 years ago. I put on about 2 stone! I just wanted to eat sweet stuff and food loaded with carbohydrates! I stayed on them for 5 years, then gradually weaned myself off them. On a different one now. :-)

[andy-hughes]

I have taken Citalopram for a number of years, and I do carry a little extra weight.

I always put that down to bad diet and lack of exercise, I was not aware that weight gain was a possible side-effect.

[rowanwitch]

Weight gain with all that family of anti depressants seems to be a given. Not listed as a side effect but enough users saying the same. Estimates vary but around 8-10 lb a year are often mentioned. I gained weight on citalopram, and sertraline however not so much on mirtazipine, in fact I have found it possible to lose a little but not at the rates I used to. There are other options within the SSRI type but it seems unless you are really strict with yourself it's the price to pay for being better mentally.
As exercise is also helpful in managing depression increasing activity levels might mean a dose reduction is possible after a while and help keep any gains to a minimum.

[LadyCG]

I tried these a few years ago - my GP's bright idea as a first line of treatment for IBS - but gave up on them after a few weeks. I didn't gain weight, if anything I lost weight due to constantly feeling nauseous whilst on them. They also caused insomnia and they made me grind my teeth too.

My mother is on Fluoxetine and she's probably lost about a stone and a half overall.

[Patsy33]

Thank you all for replies. It seems a common problem for a lot of people. I did read Fluoxine is one, where some people actually lose weight.
My eldest son took Citalopram about 10 years ago. He put on a couple of stone and also with going to the gym regularly, he looked massive! He came off them after about 3 years. He's as skinny as a rake now.. Anyway, my daughter needs to discuss it with her GP, to help sort this out. We did agree to start walking early evenings, so that might shift a few pounds! :-)

[Ken4155]

Didn't put any weight on when i took Citalopram, but it did have the opposite effect to what it was prescribed for. I was climbing the walls and chewing the wallpaper - metaphorically, not literally, of course. Also had an effect on my sit down visits to the loo, in particular, the colour of what it was i was producing. One would have thought i survived on a diet of liquorice:-(

[Patsy33]

Obviously didn't suit you, Ken! Did you take a different one?

[Ken4155]

I currently take Sertraline, Patsy. I did try and wean myself off them a few months back, taking one every two days, then every 3 days, but after a couple of weeks of doing this, i began to realise that perhaps i do need them after all. Back on one a day now and they appear to be working again.
Well, i'm no longer climbing walls and chewing wallpaper:-))

[Patsy33]

It can be a bit of a trial, finding one that suits you. More of a trial coming off them! Glad youve settled down :-) I've tried in the past but ended up having panic attacks. So looks like I'm on them for life.

[Newgirlonthebloc]

I have been on Citalopram for 1uite a few years and am the heaviest I have ever been. At least 4 stone heavier than when I started