I gained alot of weight on effexor. Anyone else?

[Kelly]

I am on effexor XR, and have been for several years. It has worked incredibly well for my anxiety and worry, but I gained a ton of weight. I am just putting it together with the drugs, I began gaining rapidly the first winter. I have finially plateaued ..I hope. I don't want to stay fat, but I fear getting off the drug, and having my anxiety return and possibly starting effexor again with MORE weight gain. Has anyone else had these problems?

[Tommy Watts]

Kelly wrote:

I am on effexor XR, and have been for several years. It has worked incredibly well for my anxiety and worry, but I gained a ton of weight. I am just putting it together with the drugs, I began gaining rapidly the first winter. I have finially plateaued ..I hope. I don't want to stay fat, but I fear getting off the drug, and having my anxiety return and possibly starting effexor again with MORE weight gain. Has anyone else had these problems?

Hi Kelly, I started on Effexor-XR 150 mg max dosage in 1997 along with Depakote 500 mg max dosage.I have since put on 85 lbs. At first it sucked but eventually I learned to accept myself just as I am.

[Heidi]

Really, that's weird. I have no appetite. And know others that are rail thin from this drug. I guess it just depends on the person.

[Beth]

I was on effexor for 2 years and have weaned off of it, it's now been over a week and during the time I was on it I did gain quite a bit of weight. When I was first on it I lost a little and my appetite was low, but then it increased and on came the pounds!

[Tim]

I have been on most of the SSRI's on the market for the last fifteen years. I gained 30lbs with Prozac although it managed my symptoms the best. Then I had a heart attack in 2001 and started working out. I am taking 150mg of Effexor XR and have not gained significant weight.

[kym]

I have been on Effexor XR for 9mths.225mg
And now I am just done with this, I was told no side efects...don't get me wronge it was great in the beginng.I have anxiety and worry,I was told there is a chance of weight lose. But i have gained 50 lbs.
It has been 3 full days ( cold turkey)yuck but I have to tough it out .My head will not stop spinning...lol I can't even clean my house ....oh boy does any one have any Ideas ?

[Dee54]

I did lose 10 ibs Ibs the first month, but now I crave sugar and have put on 30 Ibs. I am not hungry most of the time. It is not worth it to me. I was put on it to help me with all the stress in my life.

[pahunt]

I've gained 7. I don't seem to be eating differently either.

[Beth]

I have gained 10 pounds in a little over 2 months. Because of that, I stopped taking it cold turkey. Today is my 2nd day effexor free - it's not easy - but i refuse to take something that is going to make me pack on the pounds b/c all that is doing is making me MORE depressed and MORE anxious

[Jim]

Antidepressants may cause both increased appetite and alteration in metabolic rate. The exact mechanism of how antidepressants cause
weight gain is not known.

Exercise with slight calorie restriction (e.g. elimination fat foods) probably would be good idea. Decreasing calorie intake alone may slow down metabolism.

You can use this tool http://www.healthassist.net/nutrients/ to check calories and amounts of other nutrients of different foods.

[Tommy Watts]

Hi Gang!

My puter was down for quite a while. I didn't think this site still even existed. Imagine my joy when I ran across it just now.

So the topic is Effexor. I call it a necessary evil. I'm on max dosage and I'm also on max dosage of Depakote. Talk about weight gain! Like someone else earlier mentioned I crave sweets now and have put on 75 lbs. My Dr.s are on me all the time about it.

Do you know what works for me? Mind over matter. I've always been a happy-go-lucky kind of guy any way except when I was trying to commit suicide! So I've just learned to accept myself. The important people in my life love me just the way I am! After all, it's vital we bi-polars don't let anything stress us out. Anything!

I sure hope to revive this old forum. Now, can anybody tell me how to update my bio?

C'ya!

[Tommy Watts]

Okay...Figured out how to up date the bio. Now I would like to delete those earlier Condi post. How do I do that?

I would also like to send a message to the Forum Master. I believe we are going backwards here. New entries should be at the beginning of the forum and work their way on down as newer ones arrive. People are going to log on and see that old Condi stuff and not know this site has changed.

Ciao'

[Steve]

EFFEXOR:
What I want to know is does a person's weight go back to normal after ceasing effexor? My life has improved dramatically (in my opinion) in the 15 months I have been on the drug and I am slowly weaning off of it now. I went from 225 mg a day to my current 75 mg a day with no withdrawl symptoms to record. My only concern is that the 50 pounds of blubber I gained while on the medication is showing no signs of going away.

Do people lose their effexor gained weight, once they get off the medication?

[Cathy]

I have been trying to wean off Effexor for 4 1/2 weeks now after taking it for 4-5 years....I have gained 100 1bs on anti-depresants....I am trying to switch to Wellbutrin and am having a terrible time with dizziness and wierd brain sensations . I have to lie down most of the day and shut my eyes...I have zero energy ,,,,I am taking about 1/3 of a 37.5 mg capsule for the last week and can't seem to go lower.....Any suggestions or comments....Thanks

[Cathy]

I am from Red Deer, NOT Grande Prairie, ALberta

[MEME]

hi, i suffer anixiety and depression. I worry alot and get some panic attacks when around people sometimes. I talked with my doctor and she described me Effexor. I started with low dose then reached up to 225 mlg . I stayed on it in total of six months. During those six months i was eating like crazy and gained about 30 pounds. I felt like my mind was numb the whole day. The only thing i wanted to do was sleeping and eating. I stopped working out and didn't have interest in anything but sleeping and ordering pizza!! After that i decided to stop it and after the consultation with my doctor i started taking lower dozes for a month untill i got completly off it. I forgot to mention that when i was taking it, i use to have night sweets that were very annoying . I would wake up in the middle of the night soaked in my sweat !

Now I am struggeling with taking off the weight i gained ! I really recommend anyone who is thinking about taking it or as matter of fact taking any other anti depresant to do extensive research and not just depend on the doctor's openion.

i hope this help !

[Laura]

I gained 20 pounds right away after getting on Effexor without changing one thing in my eating habits. I am trying to get off of it now. I have been reading all day and night about effexor and withdrawals and have found A BIG LOT of people that gained a lot of weight on Effexor.

[Gen]

I dont know if it was the drug itself that put the weight on me more that I just didnt give a shit anymore. Effexor made me numb and I stopeed taking care of myself and didnt care about my appearance. Ive ruined my body and its only now that Ive been off effexor for a week do i realise what ive done. iv put on 55kg which is say 121pounds (yes i know another person!!!) i dont know how the hell im going to fix this! it kind of makes me depressed all over again but i know ive got to fight that!!!

[Lisa]

I've been on Effexor, since Jan.'07.

I've gained 20 lbs. since starting. I take 150mg. daily. It works for my GAD, but this weight gain is bad! I am nearly 240lbs. now.:/ I have NO energy at all. It is a task to do anything. I generally sleep the day away.

I'm really considering weaning off of it.