Question:

> Hello, > I’ve just started taking Celexa, and I have a question about the > potential for (unwanted) weight gain.  Is the weight gain side effect > associated with SSRIs a consequence of a change in eating habits > induced by the drug, or directly due to a change in metabolism?  In > other words, if I carefully monitor what I eat, can I avoid gaining > weight or even be able to lose weight?

 Hi Tom, Welcome to the ng. Antidepressants may increase or decrease basal metabolic rate without changing caloric intake or they may affect hormonal changes and increase appetite. The best course of action is to increase physical activity….aerobic nonstop activity daily for at least 30 min a day. Peace, Lynda I believe it alters carbohydrate metabolism

Response:

hi Tom… the SSRI (Prozac) that I was on for years caused me to have an initial weight loss, although the loss eventually evened itself out. My Pdoc says that regarding weight gain, unfortunately it is not so much eating habits changed by the drug as it is a metabolical change (I had asked him about this too). However, Prozac and Celexa do have pharmacological differences (Celexa is a newer breed of drug), so my Pdoc may have just been giving me info specific to Prozac. Regards, compucat

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello, > I’ve just started taking Celexa, and I have a question about the > potential for (unwanted) weight gain.  Is the weight gain side effect > associated with SSRIs a consequence of a change in eating habits > induced by the drug, or directly due to a change in metabolism?  In > other words, if I carefully monitor what I eat, can I avoid gaining > weight or even be able to lose weight? > Tom L.

Response:

Hello, I’ve just started taking Celexa, and I have a question about the potential for (unwanted) weight gain.  Is the weight gain side effect associated with SSRIs a consequence of a change in eating habits induced by the drug, or directly due to a change in metabolism?  In other words, if I carefully monitor what I eat, can I avoid gaining weight or even be able to lose weight? Tom L.

Response: