Exploring the balance between mental health and physical well-being, the question of whether Celexa causes weight gain often sparks curiosity and concern among individuals navigating their treatment options. As one of the widely prescribed medications for managing depression and anxiety, Celexa’s potential impact on body weight is a topic of significant interest. Delving into this issue requires understanding both the scientific insights and personal experiences that shape the discussion.
What Is Celexa?
Celexa is the brand name of a prescription medication that is used to treat depression in adults. The generic name of this drug is citalopram hydrobromide. It is commonly referred to simply as citalopram.
Celexa earned approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998. It is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
As described in a December 2021 StatPearls article, Celexa is also sometimes prescribed on an off-label basis to treat people who have developed a variety of other mental and behavioral health concerns, including the following:
- Alcohol use disorder (alcoholism)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
- Separation anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Does Celexa Cause Weight Gain?
According to a July 2003 article in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, the answer to this question is “probably not.”
This article acknowledges that potential weight gain is a primary reason why many patients discontinue their use of antidepressant medications. However, the authors of this article cited several studies indicating that SSRIs do not lead to weight gain, especially if they are used for less than six months. Among people who used SSRIs for more than a year, research has revealed mixed results related to weight changes.
In the case of Celexa specifically, the July 2003 article referred to an eight-week study that found that the medication was not associated with an increased risk of weight gain:
- 0.5% of study subjects who were taking citalopram reported gaining weight.
- 0.9% of study subjects who received a placebo gained weight.
Paroxetine (which is the generic version of the brand name antidepressant Paxil), appears to be the SSRI that is most likely to lead to weight gain during either short- or long-term use.
Among all types of commonly prescribed antidepressants, tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors seem most likely to cause weight gain, the Cleveland Clinic article reported.
Does Celexa Cause Other Side Effects?
Now that we know the answer to the question, “Does Celexa cause weight gain?” let’s move on to the risk that this drug poses for other side effects.
Remember: Virtually every prescription medication has been associated with some side effects. This is true of antidepressants in general, including SSRIs such as Celexa.
Whenever you are about to start taking a new prescription medication, it is important to evaluate your risk for side effects, discuss the potential severity of these effects with your physician, and determine if the possible benefits of the drug outweigh the likely negative impact.
Side effects that have been documented in more than 1% of people who take Celexa include the following:
- Dry mouth
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Excessive perspiration
- Disrupted sleep (including insomnia)
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Weakness
More: The Effects of Taking Antidepressants When Not Depressed
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