Citalopram

Posted , 8 users are following.

I have been on citalopram for about... nearly 3 years now I think, and through that time I seem to have gained a fair bit of weight. Before going on medication I was a size 10 and now I'm about a 14, sometimes dropping back to a 12 a bit. I get very self conscious and unhappy about my weight and appearance and while I don't want to be unhealthily thin but I would like to be back to the size I was. I eat pretty healthily and while it doesn't happen every week I do exercise quite a lot as well when I'm not too worn out from my problems with insomnia. Thing is I can't quite work out if it's possible that the weight gain is caused by my medication (citalopram) or losing control of looking after myself with depression. I've started to be more careful about my eating and exercise routines but it doesn't seem to have helped an awful lot which is what is making me think it might be the medication. In turn the weight gain makes my depression worse.

I haven't brought this up with my doctor. I worry that because I'm 21 and the jump in weight gain isn't as extreme as some people have it that I won't be taken seriously, as that seems to be the way with a lot the problems I go to the doctors about. Or that I'll be told I'm just not trying hard enough. I don't feel like I can talk to anyone else about it because they won't take it seriously either as weight concerns can be taken as just fishing for compliments but it's something that genuinely bothers me quite a lot.

I've posted this really because I'm curious as to what other people's experiences are? And if anyone has any advice on how to deal with this situation?

2 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi,

    I can sympathise with you regarding weight gain. I have been taking Citalopram for some years now and I

    have put on a lot of weight. I know my diet hasn't always been healthy so I'm not going to completely blame

    the tablets. It might be worth going to the doctors and seeing if it is a side affect and maybe you could

    switch to a different medication. I wish you all the best try not to worry.

  • Posted

    Hi, I took citalopram for about a year, and i noticed a gain in weight as well, i wanted to speak to my doctor about it but was a pit nervous that i would sound a bit pathetic as I know there are much more severe side affects.

    however i got a new doctor and on my first appointment with her, she straight away brought up that because of my age (19 at the time) she thought it was ridiculous that i had been put on citalopram as weight gain is an extremely common side affect and she was sure this wouldn't be good for my confidence at all.

    anyway, long story short, she put me on fluoxetine (prozac). it was amazing, some days i almost forgot to eat and i started loosing the wait i had gained with the citalopram almost immediately. I strongly recommend you speak to your doctor about changing your medication, as at the end of the day its your life and if you suffer from deppression or anything similar then you should be on a medication that you are happy taking.

    I hope this helps.

    ps: for insomnia i've found that the occasional short term use of zopiclone helps a lot. but it is addictive so doctors may be a bit dismissive on the subject. but if it is a real problem and effecting your life then i see no reason for them not to prescribe it to help you.

  • Posted

    Thanks, yeah I might try. I don't know if I should change practices, I'm just at my university doctor's so they don't have many appointments and I feel like it's always just a case of getting me out as quick as they can and onto the next person. It helps to know that it is a common side effect though because it does seem to have come from nowhere.

    As for zopiclone I think I actually got prescribed that last week but I've had trouble getting it at the pharmacy! Been waiting for them to get it in since last Thursday. Good to know it's helpful though. I hope it does help because I feel like I've tried everything else.

  • Posted

    I have been on cit for 2 years & have gained 3 stone. I now hate my body so much that I am starting to wean off the cit. I am also on trazodone whuch also causes weight gain, but cant come off them both together.

    I'm just hoping that I feel ok without the cit & that the weight comes off.

  • Posted

    I only actually weighed myself last week despite having posted this a while ago, I knew I'd definitely gained weight but was too scared to look before and I've put on about 2-3 stone over the time I've been on it as well... I also feel like I'm more unhappy because of the weight I've put on but I'm a bit stuck now because I came off citalopram and while I was okay for a bit I'm starting to feel really low again.

    I'm going to go back to the doctors though and back to try counselling again. I'm also hoping that I might feel a bit better once I've lost the weight that I've gained? I'm just also worried that it won't come off =[ but I'm hoping for the best at the moment.

    I hope it works out okay for you, if you start to feel bad make sure you see someone straight away. I'm always really bad for dragging things out because I don't want to face up or I feel stupid going to someone about it but it doesn't help really and at the end of the day they'll have helped plenty of other people with the same problem in the past.

  • Posted

    I only actually weighed myself last week despite having posted this a while ago, I knew I'd definitely gained weight but was too scared to look before and I've put on about 2-3 stone over the time I've been on it as well... I also feel like I'm more unhappy because of the weight I've put on but I'm a bit stuck now because I came off citalopram and while I was okay for a bit I'm starting to feel really low again.

    I'm going to go back to the doctors though and back to try counselling again. I'm also hoping that I might feel a bit better once I've lost the weight that I've gained? I'm just also worried that it won't come off =[ but I'm hoping for the best at the moment.

    I hope it works out okay for you, if you start to feel bad make sure you see someone straight away. I'm always really bad for dragging things out because I don't want to face up or I feel stupid going to someone about it but it doesn't help really and at the end of the day they'll have helped plenty of other people with the same problem in the past.

  • Posted

    I only actually weighed myself last week despite having posted this a while ago, I knew I'd definitely gained weight but was too scared to look before and I've put on about 2-3 stone over the time I've been on it as well... I also feel like I'm more unhappy because of the weight I've put on but I'm a bit stuck now because I came off citalopram and while I was okay for a bit I'm starting to feel really low again.

    I'm going to go back to the doctors though and back to try counselling again. I'm also hoping that I might feel a bit better once I've lost the weight that I've gained? I'm just also worried that it won't come off =[ but I'm hoping for the best at the moment.

    I hope it works out okay for you, if you start to feel bad make sure you see someone straight away. I'm always really bad for dragging things out because I don't want to face up or I feel stupid going to someone about it but it doesn't help really and at the end of the day they'll have helped plenty of other people with the same problem in the past.

  • Posted

    I have been on a lower dose for 2 weeks now & feel really wound up. I keep snapping at people & feel very short tempered. Hope it settles down as I want to drop again in a couple of weeks.

    I have lost 5 lbs in the last week so thats a good thing at least.

    I too always delay going to the drs, dont like admitting that I need help.

    Hope you manage to get some counselling. Take care

  • Posted

    That sounds frustrating but hopefully it will settle down, if not maybe your doctor can put you on something else?

    I haven't managed to weigh myself as I don't have scales at uni but I'm noticing a difference at least I think.

    Hope you manage to sort out your medication, don't delay it too much! I've been putting it off again and it's making me worse.

    You take care too =]

  • Posted

    Hi, I've recently started citalopram for the second time. The first time was 4 years ago after losing a family member, but within 5 monthes i was feelimg myself again and came off them. the last few monthes have been terrible for myself and family between one thing and another so Initially I was prescribed 10mg, but then was advised to up my dose to 20mg. I'm on day 11 now and feel absolutely awful. The anxiety is continuous and I feel there's no break. Sweating hands, tingling in my face and arms, bounding heart etc. I physically can't sit still and trying to sleep in impossible. I have no interest in anything and feel numb. Everyday I'm waking up praying it'll be a better day.
  • Posted

    I was prescribed Cit last September due to a panic attack at Amsterdam airport which I thought at the time was a pre-cursor to a heart attack or a stroke. I think it's working but I don't know as I don't know how I would h,ave felt if I wasn't on it, but I still feel unwell. I'd like to get off it, but not if I have to return to the episode in Amsterdam I just want to take some of the stress out of my life. I'm nearly 63 and I have worked continuously since I was 15 but instead of getting easier, things are getting harder. I'm tired.
  • Posted

    Hello, I've very recently been prescribed Citalopram, and it's the first AD I've ever tried. I'm 3 tablets in (10mg) and notice that my sleep pattern is horrendous, I wake in the early hours of the morning and am unable to fall back to sleep. My mind does overtime during these hours and I seem to be suffering with headaches, dry mouth and nausea which I know are common.

    I just wondered if anyone had experienced the sleep problems, and if it passed. It's my first time of ever using a forum so any help would be greatly appreciated thank you.

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.