does effexor cause weight gain

[mary ann]

I was wondering if you take anti deppressant does it call weight gain

[train2stayfit]

My Dr. told me it does not cause weight gain.....just the opposite. I was on Lexapro and gained 20 pounds in 3 months. So he switched me to effexor. I just started it today.

[adamdupal]

A pharmacy tech friend of mine said all it does is make you retain water so drink alot of water to counter react the problem, thus causeing you to pee more. ALOT OF WATER MEANING GALLON OR MORE!!!

[Nicole]

I am 17 and since I have been on depressents I have gained about 45 pounds

[yes]

I gained 40lbs, on effxors,but then again I have had alot of side effects from the drug and was not able to get the exercise I needed due to chronic pain and MS symptoms. at first being on the drug made me feel good about life and I started exercising daily and watching what I ate ,I lost 30 lbs. then after two years I started having all kinds of ailments, Then came the weight back on slowly I gained back the 30 plus 40 more , and I am still gaining. I have been on effexors 7 yrs,But decided 2 months ago to stop , and I have had some horrible withdrawls,I now am weaned down to 1/3 of a 37.5 capsule daily. I remain hopefull that the side effects will go away so that I can become active again, haven't held down a full time job in 5 yrs now. The withdrawls are very scarey and disturbing,and after countless attempts to rid my addiction I think I might make it this time. with the help of my new med wellbutrin.

[Michelle]

I have been on Effexor (and Trazodone) for more than 6 years now, and this has worked wonders for me. I had stopped taking it at some point, because I wanted to know if I could be OK without it. I was fine for a year or so, but then the anxiety came back (with a vengeance!!!). I have been back on it these last 2 years, and intend to continue.

Now, I don't know if I'm the exception here, or if people who are satisfied with the drug just don't bother to write, but I just wanted to share that it has NOT made me gain any weight at all.:o)

[Kelly]

effexor has worked wonders with my anxiety, but I did gain a TON of weight.
I don't know what to do. The anxiety was delibitating, but so is the weight! From the surfing I have done, just getting off the stuff doesn't guarantee losing weight either.

[Brigid W]

Most people report gaining weight on these meds. I think if the med otherwie works well for you, I would try to increase your activity level and watch portion sizes to help counteract the problem. Eatig more natural foods with lots of fiber and less processed foods and simple sugars should help quite a bit.

[Hope C]

I hve been on Exxexor for three years now. I do suffer from anxiety and depression but I was given the drug to help with migraines. An anti depressiant, high blood pressure controler, and constant monitoring have helped. WEIGHT GAIN for me has been a mother. I'm 35 and went from a 6 to 10. I am hating this. I walk daily because I make myself. I am SO...... tired everyday. I refuse to get off the medications because I don't want to suffer from the migraines. Though this weight is making me more depressed. As I read more and more comments I find that everyone is having a problem with their weight. Is there any help at the end of this?

[southbelle]

Hi, are you still on effexor?

Hope C wrote:

I hve been on Exxexor for three years now. I do suffer from anxiety and depression but I was given the drug to help with migraines. An anti depressiant, high blood pressure controler, and constant monitoring have helped. WEIGHT GAIN for me has been a mother. I'm 35 and went from a 6 to 10. I am hating this. I walk daily because I make myself. I am SO...... tired everyday. I refuse to get off the medications because I don't want to suffer from the migraines. Though this weight is making me more depressed. As I read more and more comments I find that everyone is having a problem with their weight. Is there any help at the end of this?

[southbelle]

are you still taking effexor?

Kelly wrote:

effexor has worked wonders with my anxiety, but I did gain a TON of weight.
I don't know what to do. The anxiety was delibitating, but so is the weight! From the surfing I have done, just getting off the stuff doesn't guarantee losing weight either.

[mac 1]

been on effexor for 6 years now,i have went from a size 14-20, have been going to the gym and watching what i eat and have lost hardly any weight, have only just looked into this and i am really pissed that its been the drug all along have been fighting weight loss for years

[Nichole OH]

DONT take Effexor!!!!! Iv'e been on it for 6 months and gained 15 pounds.it's NOT just the weight! YOU CAN"T GET OFF Of this stuff! It has the WORST withdraw symptoms EVER! worse than street drugs! I don't know how they put this crap on the market. Either plan on taking it for life or get off of it NOW!

[lindsay2282]

i just wanted to add a little hope to this forum. i have been on effexor for 5 years now. no weight gain, no nausea when i take the pills as directed. i took the medication for 4 years and then last year decided to go off of it for a while to see what happened. i weaned myself from it very, very slowly (i would open the pills and take portions until there was just a pinch every night). i understand these side effects, because i would have them if i missed pills (and yes, they are horrible), but weaning myself off of them was no big deal. you just have to do it slowly and don't try to rush it. i have horrible anxiety and was only off of the pills for half a year before i had to go back on them, but i feel like it is something i choose to do to keep living a happy life. i had anxiety so badly that i couldn't go into a walmart without panicking. now i am a fully functional adult again. this drug has given me my life back. it affects everyone differently, i know, so i wish there were more people to write about the benefits because this can be a miracle to some people.

[StarWing]

Interesting that a lot of anti-depressants on the market cause people to gain weight and yet, it is said that severly depressed people gain weight (something that the anti-depressant should do). And yet, other people lose weight on these meds.

Actually, one of the side effects of Venlafaxine is loss of appetite, one that I have been infected with since I've been taking it - I've gone 7 hours after lunch before eating dinner, and I wasn't even hungry then.

Clifton

[cliffhanger]

i have to agree with starwing or clifton, this is a wonder working med not only for depression and anxiety but also for weight loss and loss of appettite which for me is great because i have gained weight in years past and had a big appettite, not anymore and im losing my weight and feeling great mentally and physically this has been a wonder working drug for me. you just have to remember different meds work different on different people find whats right for you.

[ethecraftlady]

Hello,
I have been on effexor 75mg for almost a year and gain thirty pounds. Just awful, the drug did wonders for my panic attacks but not my waistline. I was persistent to diet that would work for me. I came across a book called "The Serotonin Power Diet" by Judith J Wurtman, Phd and Nina Frusztajer Marquis, MD. I highly recommend this book. I have been on this diet only three weeks and have lost ten pounds so far and I have so much more energy. For breakfast you have a carb and protein , 100 calorie carb snack 1 hr before lunch, lunch you have veggies &protein, 100 calorie carb snack 1hour before dinner and for dinner you have a carb and veggie,dessert you have 100 calorie snack and plenty of water for the day.I just want to pass along a little hope. you can continue to take effexor and lose weight at the same time.

[ethecraftlady]

Hello,
I have been on effexor 75mg for almost a year and gain thirty pounds. Just awful, the drug did wonders for my panic attacks but not my waistline. I was persistent to find a diet that would work for me. I came across a book called "The Serotonin Power Diet" by Judith J Wurtman, Phd and Nina Frusztajer Marquis, MD. I highly recommend this book. I have been on this diet only three weeks and have lost ten pounds so far and I have so much more energy. For breakfast you have a carb and protein , 100 calorie carb snack 1 hr before lunch, lunch you have veggies &protein, 100 calorie carb snack 1hour before dinner and for dinner you have a carb and veggie,dessert you have 100 calorie snack and plenty of water for the day.I just want to pass along a little hope. you can continue to take effexor and lose weight at the same time.

[ethecraftlady]

suggestion for water intake-I drink almost 80 oz a day-What I have found works for me is I drink 2 20oz bottles of plain water and then the rest of the day I mix crystal light on the go into 4 16oz bottles of water so I don't get bored with taste.

[Jane]

There are some seriously wierd problems with reporting side effects of a medication to a forum, and not to your doctor, or the manufacturer.

I have been on 2 X 1 year efexor prescriptions without any ill effects apart from increased sweating, and some post urination drip.

Really, you need to eliminate any confounds : Overweight/eater, non-exerciser, smoker (triple whammy), Drinker, the list goes on.

How do you expect the pharma company to cater to your individual lifestyle???