does effexor cause weight gain

[sherri]

I have been on effexor for many years and have gained alot of weight. I am getting off it now, I was taking 150mg's and went to 110 mg, now I am taking 75 for a week or so and then will go down to 35mg. My doctor told me that this drug does cause weight gain. I am going to try wellbutrin it is suppose to be one that does not aid in weight gain but is good for weight loss. Good luck everyone!

[Nicole]

I want off of Effexor. I really don't want to get started on another drug that will make me worse off than before I started taking it. I've gained about 30 pounds since I've been on this medication. I have had bowel problems and stomach bloating to the point that I look pregnant. I'm sick of it.

[athlete - no weight loss]

Sam wrote:

I have been having the exact same issues and yet doctor told me that weight gain had nothing to do with effexor! I have developed the sweating too and your story sounds exactly like mine. The weight won't go and I thought I was in early menopause as well, only being 35, people told me it wasn't possible. My question is, if we go off the medication, does the weight go away? Or am I now stuck with the extra 50lbs, yes 50lb, that I have now gained with the effexor, and only have been on it for a year!
<quoted text>

Hi, me too - have always been a top athlete training way more than the average joe, and ive competed for years. When I started Venlaflaxine i started to eat and eat and eat. One I lowered the does, it eating went to normal. However I trained for about three months like I was competing again up to three hours a day. I was eating correctly and I lost about four pounds.. Which was a joke! If I had been not on these tablets, I would have dropped a lot of weight more like 14 lbs at least however I would have seen some muscle growth.. I have just come off them about a month.. and ive not been training hard, average 8 hours a week, and ive lost four pouds! Ive not been dieting either. Therefore there is no doubt as good as they are for my anxiety and depression... its no good for my body. I will pray and hope I dont get panic attacks back which then lead onto depression so I have to start them again..
At least if I do i may have lost a few pounds!

[Jennifer]

train2stayfit wrote:

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.

I have been on Lexapro for 5 yrs. and have gained
17npounds. I want to switch to Effexor too.
Please let me know if you lose weight!

[Shel]

I suffer from bi-polar disorder and I have been put on effexor and abilify. In 2006 I had the gastric lap band and lost 120 pounds. Unfortunately, I had to have the lap band removed because of acid reflux issues. When I lost the weight I was the happiest I'd ever been. I felt extremely good about myself. Since, I lost the band I have gained 40 lbs back in one year. I am back on my medicine again and I feel down in dumps. I am praying that I don't gain anymore. Christmas 2008 I had to have emergency surgery because I had a hole in my small intestine due to lap band. I lost a great portion of my colon and small intestine and weighing again 220 pounds. I am so afraid to be fat again. The depression, panic attacks is worsening. I am trying to hang in there for my family but I am considering the gastric by-pass or the gastric sleeve along with my medication. I need support. I have been exercising a little when I can pull myself out of the bed, comb my hair and shower. I have been diagnosed bi-polar now for 10 years and its no joke for me. The only way I can live happy is to be thin and taking on weight loss surgery would probably this time kill me for sure. The phamphlet says effexor causes weight loss and loss of appetite. Is that true?

[FreeYourMind]

First, yes, it causes it weight gain. I have never had weight issues and proceeded to gain 30 lbs over the course of a year.

I got off Effexor 3 months ago. It was hell. The withdrawal symptoms are TERRIBLE but subside in about 2-3 weeks. While you are tapering off, start taking Omega-3's and Super B Complex it really helps lessen the withdrawals.

I think this company should be sued because you have no warning how hard it is to get off this drug.

I feel SO much better off Effexor, but now am having trouble dropping the weight I gained while taking the drug.

[SparkleCityQueen]

You have no idea how relieved I am to read these posts.
I started on Effexor two years ago because of increased anxiety and depression from an hormonal imbalance. It was great at first; I felt so much better and I lost 5 lbs. But then after about 9 months, my weight began to creep up. I started excercising like mad (2 kickboxing classes a week, a personal training session, and 2 mile and half runs a week) and went low carb. I lost the 5 lbs but then my weight would not budge.

After I married, the weight started piling on. I gained 30 lbs in about 8 months. I finally weaned myself off of it (75 mg to 37.5 mg, and then 37.5mg every other day.)

I've been off of Effexor for 3 months; I've lost 12 lbs (low carb diets and constant exercising) but once again I am stubbornly stuck. I've been recently diagnosed with full blown depression, so I'm about to get on anti-depressants again. But I did put my foot down and said, "No Effexor!" If my doctor allows it, I am going to try a low dose of Wellbutrin.

[concerned]

I started taking effexor in 2007 and have not changed anything in my eating or activity level and I have gained 85 pounds. The medicine has definitely helped the panic attacks. But the weight is horrible. This is the biggest I have been.

[Michelle]

ethecraftlady wrote:

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.

Thank you for the positive words. Depression is a horrible thing to deal with and I am looking for something to help but when you read all these negative comments they scare you to death. Your words are encouraging....=)

[Vivian]

I've been taking Effexor for ~5 years and I cannot take any kind of heat. I have AC on in my office/car even during the winter sometimes. I sweat profusely - especially from my face/neck area. I'm dreading my daughter's summer wedding now bec. I'm afraid I'll be so hot and uncomfortable. I also take Lipitor and was wondering if one of these drugs was the cause of my increased sweating problem....but I'm afraid to stop taking them!!!

Rebecca wrote:

I have been on Effexor for ~2 years.
I am a Dietitian and a triathlete. I have gained wt and CANNOT lose it.
I have been training for my first triathlon of the season (next week) and I have LOST ZERO wt.
And since I am a Dietitian I know what and how to eat.
I a Super frustrated.
Not to mention the sweating!!! Hate having to change my pajamas in the middile of the night. I sometimes would like/need to change my sheets, but can't wake my husband at 3am to do so.
Anyone else haveing this problem?
By the way I am 36 and WAY TOO young for menopause.

[karen]

Vivian wrote:

I've been taking Effexor for ~5 years and I cannot take any kind of heat. I have AC on in my office/car even during the winter sometimes. I sweat profusely - especially from my face/neck area. I'm dreading my daughter's summer wedding now bec. I'm afraid I'll be so hot and uncomfortable. I also take Lipitor and was wondering if one of these drugs was the cause of my increased sweating problem....but I'm afraid to stop taking them!!!
<quoted text>

Vivian-I can totally understand the sweating thing. I have taken mental health meds for some yrs. now and thought I was experiencing hot flashes. I of course would tell me doc and as I am in my 40's we thought it was definitely hot flashes. Well I went off Effexor in Oct.08 and all the sweating stopped. All of it. I thought once again it was the end of hot flashes. I was so happy. Well about one month ago I went back on a mental health med and it started again. I spoke to the pharmacist and he said I have been dealing with drug induced sweating for yrs. He said I could be certian it was that as it stopped/started with my med routine. Well I did just read more about it on the net and LOTS of people who take mental health meds have this issue. I thought it was just me. There are meds for this condition. I went through the same thing when my daughter got married. I did ask the doc for a few Lorazapam just for that day to control what I thought was hot flashes. It did help. Yes I am calling my doc tomorrow about this sweating issue as it is keeping me home bound. One med is called Robinul. Hope that helps.

[chezgreg]

after been on efexor for three months i have put on 14kilograms i train up to 6 hours a week 30 klms of running and am still putting on weight. now i am more depressed . my other mental problems are now exaggerated, no compressed by my weight issues.

[Izzyirl]

I just want to say that I have been on effexor 225mg dose a day for two years now and it I have to say without any question, saved my life. Yes I have gained weight and do not like this one bit, but I am working really hard to get rid of the excess by healthy eating, going to the gym and drinking plenty of water. It is a very slow process as aparently it is for all people that are on depression medication, but I would much rather have the quality of life I have now than be slim again and be on the verge of suicide. People should be very careful what advice they give to people on depression medication and have suffered depression for many many year (in my case 10+) as if you come off your medication, even with weaning, your next breakdown could be your last and I don't mean that in a positive manner. I was carrying 3stone excess weight and since I have commited to losing the weight I have lost 7lbs and a total of 8.5 inches of my body. Remember, doctors don't put us on this sort of medication lightly so please be sensible about coming off it.

[permanent weightgain]

THE WEIGHT GAIN IS PERMANTENT!
My story is the same as all of yours. Its been 8 months since I stopped taking efexor and Im not taking anykind of medicine. I consulted so many doctors to find the answer why I could not lose the efexor weight. Eventually, I was refered to a hospital and my doctor was really nice and understandig. He did some reports exactly on this matter actually. Unfortunately, he told me the weight gain from paxil/efexor ( these were the one he mentioned) is permantent in most cases and that there is nothing to do about it.Nothing! After saying that I didnt listen as I was so choked and miserable! So can't tell you what the exact reason is, but it was something about leptin. I will call him on monday and ask him again and I will post the answer.
I have almost been suicidal because of this weight gain. I used to be anoretic, but weight is still a huge deal for me. I tried to starve myself but nothing I did made me drop the efexor weight - on the contrary I am still gaining. Im sorry to read that so many people are affected by this problem. I feel for all of you. I know what you are going through.

[Kevin]

I have been taking effexor just over a month and I work out daily. I'm a football player and have lost 15 pounds in one month. I was 189 and now I am 174 lbs. and alot leaner.

[Sunshine]

Be careful with this one, I too lost weight during my first 6 months. I think that is when the seratonin receptor is dominant and weight loss w/ increased seratonin is known. It is known that initially Eli Lilly planned to develop the first SSRI, Prozac, as a weight loss drug. Unfortunately, it only had a short term effect in most. However, Effexor is an SNRI, meaning it impedes the uptake of seratonin and noradrenaline and thus increase their basal levels. Increased and prolonged exposure to noradrenaline leads to Cushing's disease which is associated w/ uncontrollable weight gain and obesity. Thus, on an SNRI one can expect to lose weight in the short term and gain weight after long term exposure. At least that is what physiology says will happen. Pharma drugs are only evaluated in clinical studies for 6-12 months and it is from these studies that the side effect profiles in package inserts are generated. If you are on a drug longer than 6-12 months, placebo controlled studies are not available to assess side effects. Long term side effects are determined from volunteers reporting their adverse events and it is difficult to evaluate these data since they are from volunteers reporting their side effects (how many are experiencing but not reporting the same thing, how many would report having the same side effect if they were taking a placebo). The self reported data sets are evaluated using meta-analyses which are easy to skew. With SNRIs it is expected that in short term you will get a dominant seratonin effect and weight loss but in the long term weight gain, primarily on the torso, and potentially other side effects such as heart arrhythmia, acne, increased hair growth, flushing,irregular menses... what I find interesting is that in perusing these effexor side effect sites (people attribute these secondary side effects to early menopause) but they can also be attributed to prolonged exposure to increased levels of noradrenaline, which is another name for norepinepherine.

[missoz]

Hey everybody, just wanted to share my experience with you.
I was on effexor for 3 years (I stopped 6 days ago) and before taking it I was a stable 107 lbs. I have never in my life went up or down, I guess it's in my genes. Everybody was telling me how lucky I was because I was thin and never gained weight no matter how much I ate. BUT! when I started taking effexor, I started gaining weight and within 6 months, I was a BIG 160 lbs!!! So don't go and tell me I ate too much or stuff (like my doctor) cause I literally swelled and my eating habit did not change :)) As I heard, seems like it is water retention and your fat does not multiply but the fat already present in your body just swells. I also heard you lose the weight you gained if you stop them, so now I am hoping to lose the weight because I'm not as confident as before anymore. If any of you lost the weight, can you share your experience please.
Good luck to all!:)

[jess]

i am on effexor and have gained weight but I don't think it is the drug that makes me gain weight so much as it is that I can eat more bc I am not so anxious and nauseous all the time. I try to eat small meals many times a day and workout four days a week. I will say that I tend not to care and obsess as much over what I eat so that could be the drug - such as I eat more in one sitting than I used to and I find temptation harder to fight - last night I ate a lot of chocolate and a pint of ice cream. Crazy cravings I never had before (that or I had a stronger will to be healthy) I also have found that I am less driven to workout. Pre-effexor I was 116 lbs and I am 5'7 - I couldn't eat because I would get so sick bc of the anxiety (I have a panic disorder). That was three months ago and now I am probably about 130 a good, healthy weight. I do fight the tempatations of bad food, over eatting and laziness everyday.

[Lacy]

Im 17 and started effexor just a month ago..im an anorexic and hardly eat yet since being on this ive gained over 10 pounds..im in agony.

[deb]

I have been taking efexor xr for about 4 years now, I have gained weight about 50lbs. I don't eat anywmore than I did before but I keep gaining. I tried getting off once but went back on. I am going to try again to get off. I was taking for anixety but alot of that was acaused from having a sick father and work. Now those problems are gone so I am going to try and get off and maybe I can lose some of this weight.