Citalopram / Celexa is one of the topics that I consistently get emails about. Not surprising as it is one of the most commonly prescribed SSRI’s for anxiety and depression in both Europe and the USA. I can speak both personally and for many other people when I say that Celexa is a drug that has helped many people and can really help turn a life around. It is also of course not a cure-all and not a drug which everyone gets on with.
Many of the people who email me comment about weight gain issues associated with Celexa (follow the previous link for my article on that). One new question I had recently was this:
"Can Celexa actually change your metabolic rate"?
The writer went on to say that it seemed that weight-loss had become all but impossible and her appetite had gone through the roof, even though she had been off the medication for some time.
The official answer to that question is a firm "no". The manufacturers and the licensing authorities do not list permanent metabolic changes as a potential side effect. The unofficial answer is that it is unlikely and impossible to prove that such metabolic change occurred because of Celexa. I have certainly never heard of such a thing happening.
What is quite common, however, is that weight gained while on Celexa does not disappear quickly of its own accord. When you taper of the drug your metabolic rate should increase. But the differentiation in metabolic rate that we are talking about in the use of SSRI’s is generally not great. You probably put that weight on over several months and even years of using Celexa, and gradually you will lose it all else being equal. But often all is not equal and you will have to work it off or diet it off.
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I recommend speaking to your doctor about starting a progressive exercise regime (which is in itself great for both anxiety and depression).
I would also try to fill up on healthy food and avoid as much bad food as you can. But try to do this as small lifestyle changes that you intend to be permanent, not big diet plans that are impossible to stick to. Crash diets have a habit of lowering your metabolic rate and working against you anyway.
There are other ways of raising your metabolism that might be worth a look. Eating spicy food and turning the heating down are two common ones. Also eating little and often.
The bottom line is that the extra weight you got from Celexa will come off, but only if you work at it. If you are working and it hasn’t started to come off, see if anything you are doing is actually working against you by lowering your metabolism. Crash dieting and over-training are two common culprits! If you are convinced you are doing everything right but are still not getting results, speak to a doctor about it – maybe there is some other reason beyond anxiety and SSRI’s.
Hello!
I have suffered depression for 4 years and want to share my experience with anyone who needs help. I created a blog:
http://cure-depression-now.blogspot.com/
Would you please consider link exchange?
I would like to create a network which will be useful for those who search for information or tips on how to fight depression.
Thank you and best regards,
Alexandra Cohen.