Some patients actually lose weight on Celexa; in fact, Forest found that “Patients treated with Celexa in controlled trials experienced a weight loss of about 0.5 kg compared to no change for placebo patients.” However, other patients report that the drug seems to prompt a craving for food.

Achieving or maintaining a healthy weight can be a real challenge for patients who suffer from this effect, but several options are available to them

A common question asked by depression patients is: “Can you lose weight on Celexa?” According to experts and clinical studies, the short answer to that is yes, it is possible.

Celexa

Lundbeck, a pharmaceutical company, developed Celexa in 1989. When the patent expired in 2003, the drug came out in various generic forms.

Typically, Celexa is prescribed as a treatment for depression. It is also considered a treatment for social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. From time to time, it can also be included in treatment plans for Huntington’s Disease and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Considered a mild anti-depressant, its side effects list is mild compared to many drugs of its kind. Just over 10 percent of patients taking Celexa experienced side effects including vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. Other side effects may be experienced, but these are the ones most linked to the potential for weight loss or gain. Studies have shown that these side effects are short-lived and decrease as the patient is on the drug longer.

Can You Lose Weight on Celexa?

It is very possible to lose weight while taking Celexa. Doctors haven’t gone on record as to exactly why, but there are a certain percentage of patients who have actually lost weight without trying while on Celexa.

It could be said that the side effects of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are directly linked to the causes of the weight loss. If these side effects are somewhat severe in the first few weeks a patient is taking Celexa, it’s understandable that weight loss would be experienced.

As the drug begins to take effect, patients may return to their previous eating habits. Their depression recedes and they start to get back to regular, daily activities, which may mean exercising. This is a natural way that the drug may, indirectly, cause weight loss. As their moods even out, it becomes less difficult to control eating habits and a focus on a healthy diet may return.

It Won’t Happen on Its Own

As much as you might like to hope that it will, Celexa is not going to instantly make you lose weight and become thin like in your dreams. Just like any diet plan, it’s going to take work, effort and determination on your part.

Healthy Diet

The first thing to do is to eat healthier. This means paying attention to calories, fat content, sugar levels, sodium levels, etc. You may need to cut portion size, or concentrate on not snacking on junk food throughout the day. Some dietitians recommend their patients eat several small meals each day instead of two or three larger ones. This dispersal of calories is more effective than bundling them all into two or three meals. It stretches out your chances to eat throughout the day, making you feel more satisfied and less hungry.

Exercise

You’ll need to start exercising, too. Just changing your eating habits isn’t going to completely help. It’s healthy for you to exercise, and a routine that includes both weight training and aerobic exercises is going to get you pretty quick results. Exercising four days a week for 30 to 45 minutes each day will get you in the groove pretty quickly. It may seem hard at first, but just keep trying. You should alternate your types of exercise every day. For instance, if the first day you work on strength training exercises, then the second day should be some sort of aerobic exercise.

It is Possible

Even though it may seem your metabolism is working against you, there are no scientific reasons that weight loss on Celexa isn’t possible. Ask yourself the question. “Can you lose weight on Celexa?” If you think you can, then you can. If you tell yourself that it’s impossible, it probably is.

# Step 1
Discuss this and any other side effects with your health-care provider. (The pharmacy instructions include this warning: “Call the doctor right away to report new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings. Signs to watch for include new or worsening depression, new or worsening anxiety, agitation, insomnia, hostility, panic attacks, restlessness, extreme hyperactivity, and suicidal thinking or behavior.”) Some side effects vanish as you become physically accustomed to the drug over the course of a few weeks. If not, you and your doctor may decide that a side effect of weight gain is unimportant considered against the benefits of the drug. If you are on a high dose of Celexa, your doctor may suggest trying a lower dose.

#Step 2
Healthy eating and exercise may counteract any weight gain. Exercise itself is helpful in treating depression. According to a study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas published in 2005, “Individuals who participated in moderately intense aerobics, such as exercising on a treadmill or stationary bicycle–whether it was for three or five days per week–experienced a decline in depressive symptoms by an average of 47 percent after 12 weeks.”
The Mayo Clinic recommends dealing with weight gain caused by depressants through eating healthy foods “such as plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains”; cutting back on sweets, sweet drinks, and fast food; getting 30 minutes of exercise each day; and consulting a dietitian or nutritionist.

#Step 3
The Mayo Clinic also recommends talking to your doctor about switching medications. The antidepressant bupropion (brand name Wellbutrin), for example, is not chemically related to SSRI drugs and not associated with weight gain. In fact, a study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine in 2005 found that 400 mg of bupropion daily was effective in treating obesity: “Over a period of 6 to 12 months, weight loss in the bupropion group (4.4 kg) was significantly greater than in the placebo group (1.7 kg).” However, many patients find that SSRIs like Celexa are more effective than bupropion in treating mood disorders, especially major depression.

A doctor may consider prescribing a mild dose of bupropion in addition to an SSRI to help counteract the effect of increased appetite. (Bupropion’s effectiveness as an anti-smoking drug, marketed under the name Zyban, may be related.) It is important to note that other antidepressants, especially monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as Nardil, should never be combined with SSRI drugs.

# Step 4
You may need to learn coping skills to deal with increased appetite. Weight loss programs like Weight Watchers, weight loss counseling or a program to deal with eating disorders such as Overeaters Anonymous may be useful. Remember that you have taken a major step in dealing with mood disorders, and even good change can be stressful. Take advantage of help available to learn to adapt to these changes.