Question:
Prozac vs. Lexapro weight gain

Has anyone found they gained a large amount of weight on Prozac accompanied with severe cravings for carbs but did not gain weight taking Lexapro?    — Karen Renee (posted on June 2, 2007)

June 2, 2007
I think you will certainly find that to be the case. I was on Lexapro at one point in time and was told that it is in the same drug family as Meridia (the weight loss drug), so you will probably find your cravings and hunger curbed on Lexapro.
   — fluphystuph

June 2, 2007
Just a FYI for you. They have used Prozac in the past to curb your appetite. I have been on it for a long time and I do not have any problems taking it and saw any difference in my appetite. The WLS alone has killed that.
   — Diane C.

June 3, 2007
Yes, they both have made me gain weight, and i haven't had the surgery yet, and they are from the same "catagory" of medicines, but when they put me on cymbalta i have lost 30 lbs since then and it is also in the same medicine catagory.. I just finished my Family to Family class through NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness and depression) and when i was reading the information on that celexa is the 2nd gereration of lexipro, so it is in the same area but will help you gain weight too.. I have found for my own personal thing that Cymbalta is the only one that actually helps with the depression and anxiety and weight loss.. so im not sure if you have tried the cymbalta yet, but you may want to ask.. I hope that helps a bit, if you need more information don't hesitate to email me.. its [email protected] on my profile it still has my old email. Take care God bless and hope that helped you Paula
   — japaad

June 3, 2007
Not everyone on Prozac experiences weight... and some people on Lexapro gain weight. It's really hard to know how a person will react to a certain med--whether or not it will be effective, what side effects it is likely to cause. My suggestion... if you are on Prozac and gaining weight, then try the Lexapro... if you continue to gain on Lexapro, you might want to investigate if the weight gain is actually being caused by the med or if it could possibley be triggered by something else. If the Lexapro doesn't work or you continue to gain weight (that you think is caused by the medication), then try a different med. Even tho these meds are all in the same class and chemically related, you may find that some meds are much better tolerated than others. Hope this was helpful---I am currently taking Wellbutrin and it works great for my depression with little to no side effects. Best wishes.
   — mrsidknee

June 3, 2007
Lexapro is one of the reasons i qualified for surgery. I gained 50 pouns during the 8 months i was on it! Wellbutrin XL is the best. No weight gain.
   — kittyluver77

June 4, 2007
I was on prozac for about 1o years an never had a problem with gaing weight. I gained weight on my own. But every medication be it fior depression or whatever works differently in people bodies. you shuld talk to you Doc. and ask to change you to something else. I have been taking zoloft and it has been great. good luck
   — marygriego