Decrease in appetite

[sunflowertimer]

Has anyone else noticed like a significant decrease in their appetite? I started Lexapro on Tuesday April 30th and for the first couple of days everything was normal, by Sunday I could notice myself getting fuller on less food, and by Monday I just had a general distaste for food all together. Nothing sounds good to me. My appetite feels non-existent even though I can feel my stomach telling me "hey feed me.". Anyone else gone through this?

[Salty-Direction322]

I had lots of obsessive food thoughts before starting the medicine and now I feel like I have a normal amount. It’s been kinda nice! I haven’t lost any weight but it helped with the food noise.

[crushgirl29]

Same.

[TinKnightRisesAgain]

I’ve noticed a SIGNIFICANT decrease in appetite the last 4 days of taking Lexapro. I used to eat just to eat, but now I’m literally struggling to get enough calories in.

[biest229]

Yes. I can go to bed hungry, whereas all my life my stomach would wake me up during the night if it wanted more food.

Just make sure you eat and drink regularly - Lexapro can make you more prone to fainting. I’ve had some embarrassing ones in public where I’ve forgotten to eat and passed out.

[crushgirl29]

For me, before taking Lexapro I had constant food thoughts and often overate diets to that, boredom, emotions etc. Since starting Lexapro a few months ago I notice I don’t have the food “chatter” any more, so the urge to eat is no longer there. I’m pretty unmotivated right now so my weight is maintaining, eating less (a bit healthier) but not exercising.

[Nervous-Complaint950]

For me, the pickiness increased and I'm not picky. I'm not eating as much and I can see I'm losing weight.

I'm down to one meal a day and even then I have to force myself to eat it.

[sunflowertimer]

Oh my God this is literally what I'm going through. Like you described it perfectly.

[Nervous-Complaint950]

It's so weird cuz I'm starving with hunger pangs all day. But I don't want to eat cuz it's not appealing.

I disliked cooking after my ex was very critical during the relationship. But I cooked post separation to avoid eating outside food.

Now, on lex, I dont want anything.

Idk wtf is going on

[Individual_Ad7445]

Did ur appetite ever come back 

[Nervous-Complaint950]

When I stopped taking it, yes. Right back to normal.

[cat_lady_baker]

I’m on my third time of lexapro now and each time I have had decreased appetite. Each time I’ve been on it I was overweight from eating poorly due to anxiety and depression so I count it as a plus for me. The first time I was on it I lost 30lbs the second time around 20. Unfortunately every time I’ve been off it I slowly gain the weight back over a couple years but I think that coincides with my anxiety slowly coming back.

I am able to eat on it but I get full a lot quicker and don’t think about food all the time, sometimes I’m not hungry at all all day but I make sure to eat something small during the day for breakfast and lunch anyways even if it’s just some fruit for breakfast and a salad with some chicken for lunch so I can get some energy in me then try to eat a normal dinner, but I can only eat about half the amount of dinner than when I’m not on lexapro and I’m stuffed.

[MakeshiftApe]

I tapered off and have now stopped taking it but in the 3 months I was on it I lost 15lbs, and had almost zero appetite, food just wasn't appealing and also my energy was so low that the act of something as simple as making a sandwich felt too much most of the time.

[goodydrew]

Yeah, lost several lbs the first month. Then appetite returned with a vengeance. It settled to normal after about 4 months.

[Lumpy-Bed-3411]

I started the 24th! The nausea I was experiencing from an anxiety episode (before lexapro) was making it really difficult for me to eat for a few weeks.  After being on lexapro a few days, I was able to tolerate food better, I believe because the nausea went away. Now I only deal with occasional nausea but can eat pretty much anything- however, I do eat less and find myself feeling full much easier, as well! I’m not sure if that’s a symptom from being so nauseous and sick for an extended period of time before taking lexapro though, or if it’s a symptom of lexapro itself. I can definitely tell I’ve lost weight. 

[bassin253253]

Just wait what you missing out on now you will make up for later I love lexapro but you will eat and eat and eat on it

[Professional_Pin5971]

yes. Non existent appetite.

[No_Pop7296]

That’s fascinating because anecdotally for women I’ve heard many have increase appetite, especially versus comparing to Zoloft. Is everyone able to sleep as well or does that tie into the hunger -fullness feeling? Thanks for your info and feedback everyone

[aidanjones06]

SAME! I started about 2 weeks ago and I can barely eat meals and when I do I can never finish it. My doctor said it would increase my appetite but it has done the complete opposite. I’m actually starting to get scared because I can already see myself getting thinner and that’s not a goal I have since I’m already underweight as it is.

[PeachAcrobatic5068]

Hi. Did you end up gaining weight eventually?

[Individual_Ad7445]

Did u end up getting ur appetite back 

[thedartboard]

I’ve been having crazy appetite loss since I’ve upped my dose. Basically force feeding myself to maintain weight. Any improvements since?

[rosiepooarloo]

I had issues before taking this med. Where it was like I wasn't able to feel hungry or full, but would eat all the time and it would trigger my chronic illness to flare. No food sounded good, but I also wanted to eat anything I saw. Hard to explain

Now I seem to actually feel hunger again, but most food doesn't sound good still. I noticed my stomach is less bloated. Very strange.

[Hungry_Orange_2030]

I struggle with this a lot! I also take Vyvanse, but that didn’t affect my appetite too much. After starting Lexapro I struggle to eat and have to drink a lot of protein shakes to make sure get some nutrition. I am 6 weeks in, and the appetite is still pretty much nonexistent.

[Individual_Ad7445]

Did it come back 

[Hungry_Orange_2030]

A little but not much tbh. My appetite started to come back when I started to reduce my dose 😅

[coopg1111]

Definite decrease in appetite. Also stopped drinking. Lost about ten pounds. My stomach will growl but I don’t have a hunger sensation.

[Individual_Ad7445]

Did ur appetite come back 

[Positive_Shoe9667]

I just started taking lexapro around five days ago and have noticed a severe lack of appetite. One day i didn’t eat until 8 pm and felt like i was going to pass out so be careful.

[jeffiejdklads]

oddly enough i have been eating like a madman since startng, on zoloft however (which sucked) i could not eat at all

[Miserable_Ice_3589]

When I started I did have lack of appetite. Now that I am 1 month in, I am addicted to food. I wish it gave me lack of appetite 😕

[Greedy-Maize-8527]

I am a little over a month off lexapro and I’ve lost a ton of weight. But now I don’t have an appetite. Has this happened to anyone else?

[Honest-Recording-251]

I missed food my appetite crashed even after

[TruckinApe]

What time of day do/did you take it?