Doc switched me to Lexapro, any input on this med?

So, after a 40 pound weight gain from the Zoloft, I weaned myself off of it and have been taking nothing but Xanax for a few months.

Doc just prescribed Lexapro because I knew I needed something more than that for all of my issues. The xanax helps, but it doesn't help with everything, especially the depression. He told me that Paxil and Zoloft are notorious for weight gain, and that Lexapro is very weight neutral and might actually help me lose some. I'm very "iffy" about this at this point.

My question is.....

Is anyone currently taking, or has at one time taken, Lexapro? Can you give me some input on this med. Did it make you feel better? Did it make you gain or lose weight? Did you have bad start up side effects from it?

These are all concerns I have about taking another SSRI, because I had nothing but trouble on Paxil and Zoloft with gaining weight. I really don't want to be on another med that's gonna pack on the pounds, and I told him that at the first sign of weight gain, I would stop taking it immediately!

ANY info you can give me would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much!
(((hugs))) Fox

Thanks for your post Shadawn! I'm so happy to hear it helped you for that long. I know exactly how you feel about the whole scared of meds thing. If it was up to my doctors, I would be on like 7 different types of medications right now! NO WAY! I take TWO! Xanax, and now Lexapro. LOL!

They tried to put me on Cymbalta, because of my anxiety and fibromyalgia, but the commercials said something about fatal liver damage has occured, and THAT right there blew that for me. I said "NO WAY DOC, I'm not taking that!" He says back to me "I've been taking it for years and I'm fine", and I said Good for you, but I'm not you and I'm not taking it!" LOL!

I am scared to death to try this new med, but I know I HAVE TO, and since it's an SSRI, and I'm familiar with them, it's not TOO bad. I actually did take the first 5 mg pill tonight, about an hour and a half ago, and so far I feel fine.

Did you have any problems with gaining weight while you were on it? Just curious....

Thanks again! Fox

I tried to do the whole Prozac, and even Wellbutrin, thing with no success there. They were WAY too stimulating for me, and caused a HUGE increase in my anxiety and panic. I have more anxiety and panic issues than depression, so I really have to watch what type of medicine I take.

So far, so good. I decided to cut the pill in half and start out small instead of taking the full 10 mg tablet right away. He told me to start at 10 mgs a day for a week then go up to 20 mgs after that. I'm not so sure of that, so I'm gonna start low and see how I progress through the dose increase. I read a lot of people only take 10 mgs a day, and that's good enough for them, so we'll see.

I'm hoping to get on a medication that will work to the point of me being able to wean totally off of the xanax. Hopefully this one will work.

I can't take Xanax which I know is best for you but I am severely allergic. I am actually going back to dr Friday to get put on something different while I am trying the cbt approach. My life is about 20% right now so I have to find something that works.


I never had any weight issues with lexapro at all. I have been on steroids off and on for about 2 years and have gained 30 pounds. I needed the weight though. I only weighed 102 pounds so the weight was not un welcomed

Yeah I used to take lexapro years back and it worked great. I only what took 10 mgs a night. I remember it worked great. Issues resolved for me so I weaned Off.
I do remember the first couple nights were rough. But it was good after that