In general, side effects are common with almost any medication. What’s less common are side effects that can complicate your recovery from the very condition you’re looking to treat. Case in point: medications that can cause weight gain.
Research suggests a growing number of people take drugs that cause weight gain — most notably, for conditions that are exacerbated by excess weight. Drawing on data from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a recent study published in Obesity found that 1 in 5 U.S. adults take at least one medication that causes weight gain.
As side effects go, weight gain may not seem like a big deal, especially if you’re treating a life-threatening condition. But in less serious scenarios, the added weight can compromise your overall health. People with obesity are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even modest weight gain — we’re talking five to 20 pounds — can have negative health effects, one study shows.
What is citalopram?
Citalopram oral tablet is a prescription drug that’s available as the brand-name drug Celexa. It’s also available as a generic drug. Generic drugs usually cost less. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name version. Citalopram is used to treat depression. It may be used as part of a combination therapy. This means you may need to take it with other medications. Citalopram is also available as an oral solution.
How citalopram works
Citalopram is part of the antidepressant drug class called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. SSRIs act in your brain to increase levels of a substance called serotonin. Having more serotonin in your brain can improve symptoms of depression.
Does citalopram cause weight gain?
Citalopram can cause weight gain and weight loss because it can affect metabolism, appetite, and other factors that can affect your weight, either in gain or loss. Citalopram can also change the way your body responds to glucose and lipid metabolism—how your body converts carbohydrates for energy, and how it uses fat for fuel. Studies have shown that medications like citalopram can cause weight gain of typically less than three pounds within the first 12 weeks of treatment. Results from the study indicate that people who were underweight gained more than people who were overweight at the time of treatment.
In a study that followed people who had been prescribed antidepressants for two years, patients taking citalopram gained an average of 5.9 pounds during that time. People who take SSRIs like citalopram and who have other unhealthy lifestyle patterns are more likely to experience weight gain. Smoking, being inactive, and eating a diet with a lot of processed foods carried the most risks for weight gain while taking antidepressants.
Will I lose weight if I stop taking citalopram?
If you decrease your daily calorie intake as a result, you could potentially lose weight by stopping citalopram. On the other hand, if you experience loss of appetite with depression, and your depression comes back after stopping citalopram, you may also lose weight.
What are the possible side effects of citalopram?
According to Mayo Clinic, call your doctor or healthcare provider if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
• Change or problem with discharge of semen
Less common
• Agitation
• blurred vision
• confusion
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• fever
• inability to have or keep an erection
• increase in the frequency of urination or amount of urine produced
• lack of emotion
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• loss of memory
• menstrual changes
• skin rash or itching
• trouble breathing
Rare
• Behavior change similar to drunkenness
• bleeding gums
• breast tenderness or enlargement or unusual secretion of milk (in females)
• chills
• delayed or inability to have an orgasm
• diarrhea
• difficulty with concentrating
• dizziness or fainting
• drowsiness
• increased hunger
• increased thirst
• irregular heartbeat
• lack of energy
• lethargy
• nosebleed
• overactive reflexes
• painful urination
• poor coordination
• purple or red spots on the skin
• rapid weight gain
• red or irritated eyes
• redness, tenderness, itching, burning, or peeling of the skin
• seizures
• shivering
• slow or irregular heartbeat (less than 50 beats per minute)
• sore throat
• stupor
• sweating
• swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
• talking or acting with excitement you cannot control
• trembling, shaking, or twitching
• trouble with holding or releasing urine
• unusual or sudden body or facial movements or postures
• unusual tiredness or weakness
Incidence not known
• Back or leg pains
• black, tarry stools
• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• bloating
• bloody stools
• chest pain or tightness
• confusion as to time, place, or person
• constipation
• cough
• darkened urine
• difficult or fast breathing
• difficulty with swallowing
• drooling
• fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
• general body swelling
• hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, or throat
• hives, itching
• holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
• impaired consciousness, ranging from confusion to coma
• indigestion
• joint or muscle pain
• large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
• loss of appetite
• loss of bladder control
• loss of consciousness
• muscle cramps, spasms, tightness, twitching, or jerking
• painful or prolonged erection of the penis
• pale skin
• penile erections, frequent or continuing
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• recurrent fainting
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• rhythmic movement of the muscles
• seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
• stomach pain
• swelling of the breasts or unusual milk production
• tenderness, pain, swelling, warmth, skin discoloration, and prominent superficial veins over the affected area
• total body jerking
• twitching, twisting, uncontrolled repetitive movements of the tongue, lips, face, arms, or legs
• uncontrolled jerking or twisting movements
• unusual excitement
• vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
• yellowing of the eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
• Decrease in sexual desire or ability
• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
Less common
• Body aches or pain
• change in sense of taste
• continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
• gas
• headache (severe and throbbing)
• hearing loss
• heartburn
• increased sweating
• increased yawning
• loss of voice
• loss or thinning of the hair
• sneezing
• stuffy or runny nose
• tingling, burning, or prickly feelings on the skin
• tooth grinding
• unusual increase or decrease in weight
• watering of the mouth
Rare
• Increased hair growth on the forehead, back, arms, and legs
• tanning or blue-gray discoloration of the skin
Incidence not known
• Bruising
• inability to sit still
• large, flat, blue, or purplish patches on the skin
• need to keep moving
• uncontrolled eye movements
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-10
