To ask about citalopram and weight loss?

[ChangeIsHappening]

Posting here mainly for traffic.

I started taking citalopram just under 4 weeks ago, increased from 10 to 20mg and have lost 16 pounds since then. I did have some weight to lose so it's partly a blessing but I'm worried it will continue to far. My appetite has reduced quite a lot but I'm still managing 3 meals a day. Has anyone experienced this? Googling says weight gain is more common so I'm surprised

TIA

Bloody hell, you lucky thing. It certainly doesn't have that effect on me (wish it did, I definitely have it to lose).
Keep an eye on it, I suppose, and see a doctor if it goes on too much.
How are your moods? Do you feel better?

Yes, from googling it does seem more people experience weight gain. Perhaps my weight will start piling back on...

I would say I feel calmer, I was incredibly angry all the time and crying every day. I have more head space but I don't feel 'normal' yet either. Early days I suppose.

I lost initially and then gained weight quite quickly.
I'm a good 1-2 stone heavier now x

I initially lost about a stone and a half on Sertraline.
Then I put on many stones 😁

I started 2 weeks ago and have lost about 4lbs. I am now just over 8 stone (only 5'2"). I don't mind if I lose another couple of lbs, but under 8 stone would be pushing it.

I have dreadful insomnia though. It was bad before I started and is even worse now.

I had already lost a lot of weight and kept losing I when I started on citalopram. I went down to a bmi of about 18. Way too thin. But my mood stabilised after a while, my appetite came back and I regained it all and then some, eventually.

My Dh has lost lots of weight on it - probably over a stone. He's got bags of energy and is feeling really well mentally and physically (although it took a while for this to happen) so do persevere.

Ah so gaining again is highly likely then. So is it that the medication itself tends to cause weight gain, metabolism related or does the appetite just increase again causing weight gain? Id be happy to lose a few more pounds and then stay there!

Lost weight on it too - it made me a bit hyper and I felt sick for a few weeks. Since then it's been business as usual and I haven't noticed any difference in weight loss / gain.
16lbs in 4 weeks is a bit extreme though I think I lost a stone over 3 months

First 6 weeks weight fell off. After 3 months it piled on and I couldn't lose it till I came off them.

Onthehighseas

I hope lots of energy comes to me, at the moment I'm permenantly exhausted, I perk up in the evenings but from waking until around 6 pm if I bend over to pick something up I sit down! Kind of tired. I hope that passes.

I think it can affect appetite rather than metabolism. So if you're careful with what you eat you should be able to maintain. I had got to the stage of having to make myself eat, and getting no pleasure in food at all. And I really like food! So when my appetite began to come back, and then after a while enjoyment, I didn't hold back!

No, I gained weight.

I lost two stone before that though which is part of the reason my GP told me to take them. That kind of weight loss is apparently a sign of being seriously ill.