Celexa and Weight Gain: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• August 28, 2009

For Depression "I started taking Celexa in Nov '08 and continued it for seven months. My depression disappeared, and I was doing a whole lot better. Normality returned, and I had no side effects other than a little weight gain, which may not have been due to the drug. I was eating popcorn every night! Anyway, since I felt better, I decided to stop taking it in May '09. Well, my depression returned. It's funny, this time I felt it coming on but didn't do anything about it until it was full-blown. I started taking Celexa again three days ago (Aug 23), and poof! Most of my poor mood is gone, and I feel so much better already. I'm not stopping again. This medicine is great!"

• Fiz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "It works well for anxiety. Difficult to orgasm, get really sleepy if I drink (especially Scotch/liquor), but other than that, definitely more chill. Sleeping better, chest pain I was having from anxiety has virtually disappeared after 6 weeks on 20mg. Going to keep on it for 6 months then taper & reevaluate. Gained 10 lbs and liking carbs more. Seems related to the meds."

• Elv...
• March 22, 2013

For Anxiety and Stress "I have had anxiety forever and fell into a dark depression. I almost lost my marriage due to my state of mind. My doctor prescribed Celexa and it saved my life. I also was sleeping two hours a night during this horrible time and Celexa helps me get a great night's sleep now. I have gained 10 pounds but it's worth peace of mind."

• Bon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "I was diagnosed with panic disorder over a year ago and basically was a wreck. I couldn't drive, leave the house, or even talk on the phone. I sought out a psychiatrist who put me on Paxil... it helped me get my life back, but it also made me restless, zombified, and I gained 30 pounds (I'm normally quite thin). I moved and got a different doctor who put me on Celexa 20 mg because she claimed it had fewer side effects and my weight would go back to normal. Boy, was she right. It was a rough week of med transition, but I can sleep normally again, I feel more alert and less groggy during the day, can still orgasm, and I'm slowly losing weight. I love this medication."

• Cha...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 21, 2014

For Depression "I took Celexa (citalopram) for about 8 years. I started at 20mg dose and worked up to 40mg over the years. I found I was happier in the summer, and with my doctor's help, would decrease my dose for a bit, but in winter I'd bump it back up again. Mood-wise, Celexa did wonders for me. I was able to live happily for years. Missing a day or two was hell, between the brain zaps and bouts of crying, I was a mess. The downsides: my libido disappeared. COMPLETELY. Gone. I used to have a very healthy sexual appetite. I also gained about 60 lbs while taking this pill. I can't blame it all on the pill, but it didn't help. Overall it was a great mood enhancer, but take it with warning."

• PAa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 14, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "I have been on Celexa since 2002. The only side effect I have had is weight gain. I have tried the generic to reduce cost, but it did not work the same as the brand. I had my anxiety and panic attacks back. Went back on Celexa brand. I am taking 10 mg daily. I have tried going off completely, but approximately 1 month in, the anxiety and panic attacks come back. Celexa is a life-saver for me and I'm afraid to try anything else. Before Celexa, I was put on several other medications (I don't remember what they were), but they either did nothing to help my situation or they made the panic attacks more frequent; all had side effects."

• Moo...
• March 5, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "Started on 5 mg Celexa about 7 months ago. Works great to take away most of my anxiety and irritability, still comes around sometime but on more normal means instead of every single day like I was miserable before I started on Celexa. Took a couple weeks to adjust to it and my orgasms are few and hard to achieve, but still possible, unlike other meds I've been on in the past. I love everything about Celexa, and would have given it a 10/10... however, I've gained 15 pounds since I started taking it. My diet and activity level has not changed so I'm assuming Celexa is to blame. This is now causing depression from the weight gain and the inability to keep it off... If you start Celexa, start exercising regularly to help maintain, wish I had..."

• Hay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2015

For Depression "Within a few weeks of starting Celexa, my depression disappeared almost completely. The side effects that are the most noticeable for me are tiredness, weight gain, and sensitivity to light. The stuff does its job, but the side effects are a bit hard to deal with."

• Ley...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 26, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "Celexa helped me immensely with my social anxiety. It completely changed my personality for the better. I finally felt confident and stopped having frequent anxiety and panic attacks. The only downside to taking this drug was that it was a bit too good at reducing my anxiety. I gained a total of 80 pounds in the first two years of taking it. I used to be obsessed with my weight, weighing myself multiple times a day and having anxiety attacks over it. Celexa took away my insecurities, but at a major cost to my physical health. I was on Celexa for 7 years and only decided to try something else because I was having difficulty becoming motivated to lose weight and found that it was not helping me enough with depression."

• sec...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 9, 2013

For Depression "I had terrible side effects from taking Tamoxifen. I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, could not sleep due to hot flashes, cried all the time, and often just felt like I had the flu. My oncologist suggested I try citalopram. My world is wonderful! I feel better than I ever have. Not only did it help tremendously with the side effects of Tamoxifen, but it has also taken care of the anxiety and depression that I had been living with, but never did anything about it. I have no side effects from citalopram, except for weight gain. I am working on that, though. All my family and friends are amazed at the difference in me. I have been taking 20mg for over a year."

• gra...
• September 4, 2008

For Panic Disorder "I suffered my first panic attack in 1992. I took imipramine for years, which got rid of the attacks but gave some side effects and gained weight with Paxil. Doctors then put me on Celexa. It has been wonderful. The only way I can tell I'm on the drug is that the panic attacks disappeared. I would recommend it highly."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 11, 2021

For Depression "I have been off Celexa for about 6 months after taking it for 18 months. When I first started, 20 mg a day for a week, then 40 mg. I was a zombie for a month! Foggy-headed, that ended after a month. I started caring less and less about anything. The lack of motivation got worse. Then I would cry because my house was in such a mess! Nothing else bothered me. I have only seen the Dr. a few times after I started the medication, that was over a video appointment. I was gradually gaining weight, my heart pounded, blood pressure was high. No motivation! I'm now on another med and feel great!"

• Anonymous
• October 4, 2018

For Anxiety and Stress "I was on Celexa for 6 years. I recently weaned off the Celexa due to the unpleasant weight gain that I experienced. I wanted to try a different anti-anxiety medication that was less likely to gain weight. I tried a combination of Lexapro and Wellbutrin for a while and then Zoloft. None of those drugs were able to help ease my mind. I experienced increased anxiety and depression, especially panic attacks. I am hoping to get back on Celexa next week, as it was my saving grace for 6 years! My only complaints about Celexa are the weight gain and the headaches that occur if you accidentally miss a dose (as well as the weaning off headaches). Crossing my fingers it works a second time!"

• anx...
• July 21, 2011

For Panic Disorder "I was on Lexapro for 6 years before it started to poop out. Besides panic disorder, I have some OCD, and I am scared of taking medicine. So, when the doctor wanted me to try Celexa, it took three months of therapy and hitting rock bottom before I took it. Well, 5 weeks later, things are great. Virtually no panic attacks, and it has reduced obsessive-compulsive disorder habits to a minimum. I did have loss of sex drive for the first three weeks, but I am back to normal now, and my husband is happy. I was also very scared of gaining more weight. I gained 45 lbs on Lexapro, but so far on Celexa, I have lost 8 lbs. I hope this medicine never poops out on me."

• cry...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "This medication is truly a double-edged sword. This is only my personal experience with this drug. I liked it but won't be recommending it due to sexual and other side effects. The positive: It works like a dream...as far as mood, it will make you extremely mellow and easygoing. The negative: It will make you shake-tremors. You will still have somewhat of a sex drive but it's impossible to achieve an orgasm. Weight gain, stomach cramps, restless, and trouble sleeping."

• bac...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 26, 2022

For Depression "I’ve been on Celexa 40 mg for about a year and a half now, I probably will stay on it forever. This is the only medication that has truly helped me feel “normal.” I only gained 10 lbs or so, but honestly, I needed to gain a little more anyway, so it is fine. I feel like I can function and have a normal life again. That feeling of dread and hopelessness is gone."

• Bk4...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 17, 2014

For Depression "Helped with anxiety but not as much for depression. I had to get off this medicine because it caused me to put on 100 lbs in 2 years. I've been off for a year and lost 80 lbs. Kind of defeats the purpose of medicine if it causes such weight gain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 21, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "I started on Celexa in May 2011 after already trying Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac, and Xanax. It worked great for the panic attacks and anxiety, but I gained 40 lbs in less than a year. I never craved sweets before I started Celexa. Now I can't get enough, and I am always hungry. I struggled with staying on it because it worked so well or continuing gaining weight. I finally decided to try something else. My Dr. suggested Buspar since it is not known to cause weight gain. I just started Buspar today. Hope it helps. I had bad side effects from Zoloft and Prozac, but Lexapro and Celexa were great. It's different for everyone, so don't get freaked out by other people's comments."

• Bea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 21, 2016

For Anxiety and Stress "I lived with anxiety/depression for years. Every day felt like a struggle. I experienced a period of intense stress during grad school in my early 30s and decided to seek help. If I only did this in my 20s, I could have accomplished so much more. Celexa took away my anxiety and depression, but it took a couple of months to work on 20 mg. I felt like myself, I felt happy. I had no side effects, no weight gain, nothing. Since I felt so great, I attempted to taper down and had bad withdrawal. I decided to stay on it. My 20 mg stopped working after two years, so I got up to 30 mg... I think it 'pooped out.' I have bad depression now-sleeping all the time and anxious. I was switched to an SNRI, but Celexa changed my life, and I'm glad I tried it first."

• bea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I was prescribed Celexa for anxiety. I had previously tried Prozac, which made things even worse. Celexa (10 mg) was great. I felt better, just a bit more evened out, and less anxious. It's definitely not a Xanax, but it helped me to feel more like myself. However, it also made me gain about 15 pounds in only 3 months. During this time, I was exercising, eating healthfully, and still gaining. I eventually weaned myself off it. Weaning myself off was terrible. Nausea, inability to concentrate, etc."

• gue...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 12, 2013

For Depression "I started taking Celexa because I told my doctor my mood swings were crazy. It was depression. Well, it helped big time! I've been on it for over a year, 10 mg, but sometimes I take 20 mg. I am starting to feel more sad now, though, but it's my living situation that is making me sad. Celexa is a great medicine, although I never thought I would take anti-depressants. Anyhow, I was super skinny, it helped me gain weight and keep it on. So yes, you will gain weight on it, but other than that, it has worked for me until now. Now I don't feel happy, but I did when I started taking it."

• Ser...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 12, 2015

For Anxiety and Stress "I was on this for a little over a year, and all it did was make me gain 30 pounds. I started taking it for anxiety, and it helped, but then I became very depressed. It also made me crave carbs, hence the 30 lb weight gain. I'm on Cymbalta now and doing so much better."

• cur...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 22, 2012

For Anxiety and Stress "Took this for social anxiety. After about a month on the pill, my anxiety was gone. However, there were some side effects that I didn't like. My sexual functions (male) were completely gone, which scared me. But after a couple of months on the pill, I could get by... but it's never as good on the pill as it is off the pill. Also, I ground my teeth at night a LOT. I gained weight too... but that could be because I ate terribly, so we'll call that my fault. After a year on this pill, I stopped taking it. Having my social anxiety gone while on the pill built up my confidence a lot, and now I do fine in social situations with no pill needed. I recommend this pill for social anxiety."

• rop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2015

For Depression "I have been on Celexa for about two months now, and the first two days I had insomnia really bad, but then it got better as time went on. My depression is somewhat balanced, but I do have continued anxiety and stress. I went to my doctor's today and had my weight checked, and in less than a month, I have gained 12 lbs; I was shocked! I was told it could be from the Celexa, so now I'm slowly weaning myself off of that as I try my new medication, Wellbutrin. All in all, Celexa is good, and if it weren't for the weight gain, I would have stayed on it. Everybody's body is different, and it just wasn't the right medication for me."

• Anonymous
• July 23, 2009

For Panic Disorder "Celexa worked great to curb my anxiety. No longer use Xanax at all. However, side effects are getting to me, and I am thinking of switching. I am experiencing: extreme fatigue and yawning, weight gain, blurred vision. Doctor is talking about switching me to Effexor. I recommend Celexa highly to anyone."