A study from a Harvard-based team shows that the amount gained is usually small, and that it differs little from one antidepressant to another. Earlier studies linking antidepressant use to weight gain were usually small and short.
Using electronic health records, the researchers identified men and women who took an antidepressant for at least three months. Medications used included amitriptyline Elavil , bupropion Wellbutrin , citalopram Celexa , duloxetine Cymbalta , escitalopram Lexapro , fluoxetine Prozac , mirtazapine Remeron , nortriptyline Pamelor , paroxetine Paxil , venlafaxine Effexor , or sertraline Zoloft. They also identified another 3, people who took some other type of medication for a non-depression ailment.
In this study, the weight gain experienced by people taking citalopram averaged one to two pounds. Compared to citalopram, the weight gain linked to other antidepressants was small. Bupropion was associated with the least amount of weight gain, close to none.
Two others that also appeared to have less weight gain were amitriptyline and nortriptyline. Amitriptyline and nortriptyline are older drugs. At the other end of the spectrum, citalopram caused the most weight gain. Even so, the differences between the drugs were small. One antidepressant is generally as effective as another. If you need to choose an antidepressant, let cost and potential side effects be your guide.
Many antidepressants are available as generics. Generics work as well as brand name drugs, but cost less. It often takes 6 to 8 weeks to see a response to an antidepressant. Trying a different one may do the trick. People who do not respond to the first antidepressant can often do as well with talk therapy as they would with another drug. Keep in mind that a small number of people have a condition called atypical major depression.
Instead of the more usual problems of decreased appetite and difficulty sleeping, their depression causes an increased appetite and sleeping too much. They are not as commonly prescribed as more modern forms of antidepressants, as they can cause more side effects, including weight gain. Older research suggests that excessive weight gain caused many users to quit TCA treatment. However, cyclic antidepressants can be effective, especially for some people who do not respond to other treatments.
MAOIs are another early class of antidepressants and have generally been replaced by newer antidepressant drugs. Although effective, they tend to cause weight gain and several other adverse reactions.
In addition, people who take MAOIs may need to restrict their diets, as these drugs can cause elevated blood pressure levels when taken with some foods and medications. However, MAOIs help relieve depression in some people who do not see improvements with other drugs. One type of MAOI called selegiline Emsam , a topical treatment that is applied to the skin as a patch, has been associated with weight loss in some users. The most commonly prescribed form of antidepressant medication, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs have been associated with weight loss in short-term use, but may cause weight gain when used long term.
However, weight gain associated with SSRIs depends on the length of time they are taken, as well as the type. For example, paroxetine is the most likely to lead to weight gain, while sertraline is least likely. One type of atypical antidepressant called mirtazapine Remeron has been linked to both increased appetite and weight gain. It is less likely, however, than TCAs to cause weight gain. Not all antidepressants cause weight gain, and some cause less weight gain than other commonly prescribed medications.
If used on a short-term basis of fewer than 6 months, the following SSRIs are unlikely to cause weight gain:. In fact, some drugs used to treat depression have been associated with weight loss, including:. It is important to seek help for depression, and antidepressants are a highly effective treatment for many people. However, people should discuss the side effects of antidepressant medications with their doctor before beginning treatment so they know what to expect.
People already taking antidepressants should let a doctor know if they experience any adverse reactions, including weight gain. If a person feels that the benefits of the medication, such as being able to manage the depression, outweigh the side effects, a doctor may advise them to address any weight gain by dietary changes and more physical activity.
Research suggests that exercise can improve mood and reduce depression. A person may also talk to their doctor about adjusting the dose, or switching to another antidepressant to reduce side effects and manage weight. Sometimes, even switching to another antidepressant within the same class of drugs can reduce symptoms. Celexa may be prescribed off-label for symptoms of menopause , usually at doses smaller than those used for depression.
Your doctor may prescribe 10 mg to 30 mg of Celexa to help treat menopause symptoms. Celexa may be used off-label to treat irritable bowel syndrome IBS , a condition that affects your intestines. Celexa studies of people with IBS have shown mixed results. IBS symptoms may ease in some people when taking Celexa.
Your doctor may prescribe Celexa as part of your treatment plan. Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD is a mental health condition that can occur after going through or witnessing a traumatic event. Celexa may be used off-label for the treatment of PTSD, although other antidepressants and medications are often chosen over Celexa.
The drug may not fully help treat your symptoms. Also, nondrug treatments such as counseling are generally tried before medication. Celexa may be used off-label to treat depression in children. Other antidepressant medications have FDA-approval for the treatment of major depressive disorder in children and are preferred over Celexa. Examples of these medications include fluoxetine Prozac and escitalopram Lexapro. Celexa may be used off-label to treat agitation caused by dementia.
Dementia is a group of symptoms that mark a decline in how you communicate, think, and remember things. The people were treated with counseling and either citalopram the active drug in Celexa or a placebo. Researchers found that symptoms eased more in the people who took citalopram than in those who took a placebo. Among the different scales researchers used to evaluate people in the study was the modified Alzheimer Disease Cooperative Study — Clinical Global Impression of Change.
These conditions affect how well you sleep on a regular basis. Other drugs are available that can treat depression. Some may be better suited for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. You may wonder how Celexa compares to other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Celexa and Lexapro are alike and different. Celexa contains the active drug citalopram.
Lexapro contains the active drug escitalopram. Lexapro is FDA-approved to treat depression in adults as well as children ages 12 to 17 years. Lexapro is also FDA-approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder in adults.
Celexa and Lexapro are both available as tablets that you swallow. Lexapro is also available as an oral liquid solution. Both Celexa and Lexapro are generally taken once a day. Celexa and Lexapro belong to the same class of drugs. Therefore, both medications can cause very similar side effects. Below are examples of these side effects.
These lists contain examples of more common side effects that can occur with Celexa, with Lexapro, or with both drugs when taken individually. These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Celexa, with Lexapro, or with both drugs when taken individually. Separate studies of the two drugs were compared in a larger review of studies.
People who took Lexapro were more likely to have their symptoms ease than those who took Celexa. Celexa and Lexapro are both brand-name drugs.
Both drugs are also available in generic forms. The generic form of Celexa is called citalopram, and the generic form of Lexapro is called escitalopram. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics.
According to estimates on GoodRx. Generic Celexa tablets generally cost about the same as generic Lexapro tablets. Like Lexapro above , the drug Zoloft has uses similar to those of Celexa. Zoloft is also FDA-approved to treat the following:. Celexa is used off-label to treat most of these conditions. Celexa and Zoloft are both available as tablets that you swallow. Zoloft is also available as an oral liquid solution.
Both Celexa and Zoloft are usually taken once a day. Celexa and Zoloft belong to the same class of drugs. These lists contain examples of more common side effects that can occur with Celexa, with Zoloft, or with both drugs when taken individually.
These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Celexa, with Zoloft, or with both drugs when taken individually. Celexa and Zoloft are both brand-name drugs. The generic form of Celexa is called citalopram, and the generic form of Zoloft is called sertraline. Generic Celexa tablets generally cost about the same as generic Zoloft tablets.
Stopping Celexa too quickly can make you feel ill. You may have withdrawal symptoms that last days to weeks, which is known as discontinuation syndrome. Symptoms can include:. If you need to stop taking Celexa, your doctor will help you decrease your dose slowly to help avoid these symptoms. The medication works in part through its activity in the brain and nervous system.
Alcohol can also affect the brain and nervous system and make you tired. In addition, drinking alcohol may cloud thinking and impair your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
So drinking alcohol while taking Celexa may put you at risk for harm. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about the possible risks and whether Celexa is right for you. Celexa can interact with several other medications.
It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase the number of side effects or make them more severe. Below is a list of medications that can interact with Celexa. Before taking Celexa, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take.
Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Taking Celexa and the pain medication tramadol may increase your risk for serotonin syndrome high levels of the chemical serotonin.
They may monitor your side effects during treatment or suggest different medications. The CNS includes your brain and spinal cord. They may need to monitor your side effects or suggest a different combination of medications.
Using Celexa with certain other antidepressants may increase your risk for serotonin syndrome. Other types of these antidepressants include serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIs , selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs, and tricyclic antidepressants.
Taking more than one antidepressant at a time can increase your risk of bleeding. They can review your medications and recommend the right treatment for you. Celexa can increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you take it with other drugs that can also increase bleeding risk.
Drugs known as triptans can be used to treat migraine. Taking a triptan with Celexa can increase the risk of developing serotonin syndrome. The medication carbamazepine Tegretol may speed up the breakdown of Celexa in the body. So in theory, taking carbamazepine with Celexa could cause Celexa to not work correctly. Taking Celexa and lithium Lithobid together may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. They may monitor you more closely during treatment or suggest different medications.
One study showed that taking Celexa and pimozide can increase the risk of a type of heart rhythm problem called QT prolongation. Your doctor should monitor you for changes in heart rhythm if you have to take these drugs together. Be sure to tell them if you have any dizziness or heart palpitations feeling of skipped or extra heartbeats. If you take Celexa and ketoconazole together, it may decrease the amount of ketoconazole in your body.
They may monitor your level of ketoconazole or recommend a different medication for you. They may decrease your dose of Celexa or suggest a different medication for you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any herbal or supplement products while taking Celexa.
Taking St. Serotonin syndrome is a potentially serious condition that requires treatment. If you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, tell your doctor right away. If you take St. They may have you pause your use of the supplement during your Celexa treatment.
Studies looked at babies born to pregnant women who were given Celexa during their last trimester 3 months. The babies were more likely to be hospitalized, be fed through a tube, or need breathing support. Withdrawal syndrome can occur after babies are born and all of a sudden they no longer have Celexa in their system. Some studies have shown that Celexa and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs may increase the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn PPHN.
In addition, research has shown that women who stop taking antidepressants during pregnancy were more likely to have their depression return. This is compared with women who continued to take antidepressants while pregnant.
They can discuss the pros of Celexa treatment as well as the possible side effects with you. For some people, the benefits are very clear, and taking the medication makes sense.
But for others, a different medication may be a better option. Celexa is present in the breast milk of nursing mothers. Two infants who were breastfed by mothers taking Celexa were reported to have drowsiness, decreased appetite, and weight loss. If you plan to breastfeed while taking Celexa, first talk with your doctor.
They can help you consider the benefits of taking Celexa, other treatment options, and potential side effects to watch for in your child. As with all medications, the cost of Celexa can vary. To find current prices for Celexa in your area, check out GoodRx. The cost you find on GoodRx.
Your insurance plan may require you to get prior authorization before approving coverage for Celexa. This means that your doctor will need to send a request to your insurance company asking them to cover the drug. The insurance company will review the request and let you and your doctor know if your plan will cover Celexa.
If you need financial support to pay for Celexa, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help may be available through your local pharmacy.
Talk with your pharmacist about ways to save on your prescription. You can take it in the morning or evening. In some situations, your doctor may adjust your dose, requiring you to split tablets. A pill cutter can make splitting tablets easier. The mg and mg Celexa tablets have score lines to help you split them evenly. If you have trouble swallowing tablets, talk with your doctor.
They may recommend generic forms of Celexa that are available as an oral liquid solution and a tablet that dissolves on your tongue. Celexa is used to treat depression in adults. Depression is caused by certain chemicals being out of balance in the body and brain. These chemicals include serotonin and dopamine. Major depressive disorder MDD is a type of long-term depression in which you often have feelings of depression that last for long periods of time.
Celexa works by increasing the level of serotonin in the central nervous system CNS and creating a better balance of the chemicals in your body and brain. If you have MDD, Celexa may help improve your mood, sleep, feelings, and enjoyment of daily activities. You may notice your symptoms of depression ease after taking Celexa for a couple of weeks.
In some cases, it may be closer to a month to see changes in how you feel. Celexa is usually taken long term months to years.
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