5 Celexa weight loss stories
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Does Celexa cause weight loss?
Yes, Celexa (Citalopram) may cause weight loss as a side effect in some people. Although Celexa is an SSRI – a class of antidepressants which is generally associated with weight gain, it may cause some side effects that could lead to weight loss.
If you are currently taking Celexa and are losing weight, reach out to your healthcare provider. If your depression made you gain some pounds by changing your eating patterns, Celexa might help normalise them and bring you back to your healthy body weight (1).
It is important to note that each individual is unique and suffers from different types of symptoms, which can make them respond to medications like Celexa differently. Just make sure you discuss your side effects with your healthcare provider.
What have people experienced so far?
Several people have experienced weight-related side effects while being treated with Celexa. A 53-year-old Celexa user stated:
“I started taking Celexa almost a year ago. I was mentally prepared for the two most common side effects of SSRIs; weight gain and sexual issues, but to my surprise, I did not experience either of them. Instead, Celexa made me lose some weight. It wasn’t a lot, but it did make me lose weight every two weeks. Sometimes a pound, sometimes a pound and a half.”
The user further stated:
“What troubled me the most was early anxiety. I did not expect it to hit me so hard. It almost made me suicidal, but my doctor guided me and asked me to give my body some time to adjust. He was right. My anxiety did go away within a few weeks and I couldn’t be happier about it.”
Another Celexa user, a 24-year-old Martha stated:
“I have been on Celexa for 6 months now. I was too scared to take antidepressants as I was too young for that but my messed up mental health did not leave me much choice. The first side effect that I noticed was the loss of appetite. I just HATED food, even pizza (my fav). It made me lose 5 lbs in two weeks, which was a lot of weight for me as I’m already lean.”
Martha continued:
“This troubled me a little and this weight loss continued for a few more weeks. I talked to my doctor about it and he reduced my dose a little. Since then I’m on a low dose of Celexa and I have not lost much weight after that. I’m glad I did not experience any unbearable side effects that people usually talk about on the internet.”
Another 37-year-old Frank shared his story. He stated:
“My journey with Celexa was a bit difficult and I did not spend much time with that antidepressant. My doc told me it is one of the safest antidepressants, but it wasn’t so safe for me. I suffered from terrible side effects from day 1 of taking Celexa and I can’t forget how it made me miserable.”
Frank continued:
“It made me restless, nervous, and sexually inactive. It started messing with my head and I lost my appetite. I literally lost 10 lbs in the span of 11 days. I reported back to my doctor and literally begged him to give me something else. My doc then shifted me to Remeron which helped me with both insomnia and depression.”
What does research suggest?
Research studies show a possible link between Celexa and weight loss. Although research leans a bit more towards weight gain as a commonly expected side effect of Celexa, some case studies do indicate weight loss as well (2).
Researchers have indicated that Celexa can cause side effects like loss of appetite, nausea, acid reflux, abdominal pain, etc – all of which can lead to lesser calorie consumption. This can lead to weight loss in some people.
However, most cases do not report statistically significant weight loss. Some case studies show weight loss as an early side effect, followed by weight gain. This indicates that Celexa can cause both weight gain and weight loss.
This is why there’s no way to be sure whether Celexa will make you lose weight or not as it is not a weight loss pill and it should never be considered as one.
Make sure you stick to your doctor’s prescribed antidepressant and take your medication on time. If you suffer from any sort of side effect, talk to your doctor. It is not recommended to stop Celexa without your doctor’s approval.
Tips to help you return to your healthy weight
There are a few tips that can help you get back to a healthier body weight while being treated with Celexa. These include:
- Consume liquid calories. They are the best ways to provide your body with nutrients when you don’t find yourself hungry.
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
- Do not drink water when you’re eating. It can fill up your stomach and make you consume a lesser amount of calories.
- Do not eat foods low in nutrients and high in calories.
- Eat wholesome foods, including good fats, lean protein, lighter carbs, high-fibre foods, and whole grains.
- Always pay extra attention to your breakfast. It’s the most important meal of the day.
Was this helpful?
References
1.-
McElroy SL, Hudson JI, Malhotra S, Welge JA, Nelson EB, Keck PE Jr. Citalopram in the treatment of binge-eating disorder: a placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2003 Jul;64(7):807-13. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v64n0711. PMID: 12934982. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12934982/
2.-
Uher R, Mors O, Hauser J, Rietschel M, Maier W, Kozel D, Henigsberg N, Souery D, Placentino A, Keers R, Gray JM, Dernovsek MZ, Strohmaier J, Larsen ER, Zobel A, Szczepankiewicz A, Kalember P, Mendlewicz J, Aitchison KJ, McGuffin P, Farmer A. Changes in body weight during pharmacological treatment of depression. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2011 Apr;14(3):367-75. doi: 10.1017/S1461145710000933. Epub 2010 Aug 18. PMID: 20716398. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20716398/
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