does effexor cause weight gain

[upstateNY]

I was on Paxil for about three years for panic attacks and depression. I also gained an enormous amount of weight when I began taking the medication. That was offset by the fact that I didn't have the debiitating panic attacks any longer. Over time, I became more and more lethargic which was also debilitating. My doctor decided I should take a break. I gained more weight when I stopped and also suffered from extreme dizziness.

I'm in a position in which I need to go back on something, but I don't want to gain more weight. Has this book "The Serotonin Power Diet" continued to work for you? Are you still getting results with effexor?

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 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.

[fmcelligott]

I gained 40 pounds. I am an ex-athlete. Powerlifter, bodybuilder, and in my younger days baseball and football player. I am 25 and extremely obese now.

I got hypothyroidism in the past few months because of effexor. I went from eating a healthy diet of 1500-1800 calories and running everyday, to actually gaining another 15 pounts. My metabolism is gone.

I believe if you read the effexor instructions it can be different from person to person. Some gain, some lose.

I hate effexor.

[crystal]

Ok lady I have gained 26 lbs and I run 2.5 miles a day eat only good things If I can gain weight on this drug anyone can!!!!!!!!!

[crystal]

Should I go off and feel like shit and hate everyone even my kids or be fat and ugly?

[dawn428]

Once I get to sleep it seems I could keep on sleeping for much more than 8-9 hrs. Taking Effexor for a couple of years anyway. It helps vs. anxiety and anxiety attacks. So I have been chicken to go off it...even gradually. This drug seems to make it difficult for me to function at an earlier hour of the day and sometimes I am awake at night. Maybe there is something else I can try..I put off taking a oresc. drug for years...it is wonderful not feeling like I did. Also I am having a real hard time loosing any weight and have gained back atleast 20 lbs. Not positive that is related. I am also interested in holistic remedies and drs. but hasven't located any in the area as of yet. I don't want to feel the anxiety...or attacks so I have continued with the effexor. Am coming to a point where it would be good not to sleep so deeply for so long. I feel drugged in the morning...like it is almost impossible to make myself get up. Any help out there???

[kjd]

mary ann wrote:

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

I gained 70 pounds on effexor over the course of 2 years. Also experienced lots and lots of other side effects.

I am effexor free for 2 weeks now. Already feel'n better, and not look'n back.

Some people may do ok on this drug, but I'd never recommend it to anyone.

[Lisa Coon]

Ok people the truth about EFFEXOR.... HORRIBLE it has taken me 5 months to try to overcome the withdraw symptoms. Be careful with this one. I gained alot of weight also.

[Grassy]

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.

I've been on Effexor for 2 1/2 years. I worked out a lot, am very physically active, followed Weight Watchers for years and I initially lost a little weight. Then, after about 4 months, I gained about 20 lbs and now I'm up to about 25 lbs. I watch everything I eat and yet I cannot lose weight. I also have the nights sweats (I am male and 37 years old.) I am now starting to get off of effexor due to the these, and other, side effects. So, no, its not you.

[jbray610]

mary ann wrote:

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

Yes it does! I have spent the last seven months losing weight. I have actually lost 60 lbs. by eating healthy and exercising. My doc recently put me on Paxil, not because I suffer from depression, but she calls it anxiety. I have trouble sleeping.
My mind is constantly thinking. Within 8 days, I had gained 10 lbs.!!!!! It took me several days to figure out what was causing the weight gain. Personally, I'd rather take an over the counter sleep aid rather than a prescription that messes with you metabolism. Good luck!

[Laura]

I am 21 years old and have been effexor for 3 years. I use to be active and athletic. Yes I know I have gotten older and my metabolism isnt the same but I am 21 I shoudlnt feel like im 90. I am always tired now. I have gained 25 pounds and I dont even eat that much. I was 115 now pushing 140. My clothes dont fit, I cant hold down a job. I always feel like im sick or im dizzy there is always something wrong.Some days I think maybe its just choices that I have made been then I read all these comments and think maybe its not just the choices I have made maybe this medicine is destroying me. At my highest dose it was 150mg now I have tapered down in the last year to 37.5mg. The big jump was to the 37.5mg and this is where I have put on the weight. I know there is hope. I am trying to do the bead counting.I want to be the old me and work on things with a therapist or with my family not with a drug.

[Travelynne]

You're young and healthy, and if you taper off Effexor slowly, you'll eventually get to where you want to me. Try to avoid stress as much as you can. I found it to be a trigger for me. I was uncontrollably angry. Luckily, I live alone and am retired, so going off Effexor was relatively easy for me.

I have a lot of hope for you, since you're so young and have your whole life ahead of you.

I wish you the very best.

[Travelynne]

...want to be...

[missmyeffexor]

I took it (150 mg) for seven years and felt better mentally than ever in my life. Due to finances, had to swap back to prozac. it's so disappointing to go back to just existing after such a level peaceful life. I lost 100 lbs taking it, once they found the thyroid deficiency.

When is the generic coming out for effexor? The FDA already approved it.

[Bethany]

I really think it depends the persons body chemistry... but I can definitely say I gained weight while taking effexor... I exercise frequently and eat well... I cant imagine how much I would've gained if I didn't work out and watch my food intake. I gained approximately 25lbs in 6 months and no matter how hard I pushed myself while exercising it wouldn't budge. I ended up spending 9k to have lipo. There are alot of meds out there... the key is getting a good doctor that will work with you!

[Dave Vancouver]

NO YOU DO NOT GAIN WEIGHT ON EFFEXOR
My experience with anxiety is that I was severly stressed all the time which gave my body signals that I was in danger and to conserve energy. This created me to gain weight when I was OFF effexor once I started re-taking Effexor I started to lose weight.

[kate]

i was on effexor for 6 months. And during that 6 months and the 6 months following i gained 35 lbs. Ive never been this big in my entire life. My doctor says one doesnt have to do with the other- but nothing i do shakes the pounds. and beleive me i have willpower! My cholesterol wskyrocketed as well. And my doctor said thats not effexor either, but on web MD there is it listed as a side effect!
Time for a new doctor? Yes- Am I glad I took effexor yes! I wouldnt have been able to get thru living, therapy and my PTSD without it-
But i gotta tell ya this extra 30-35 lbs weighs me down and is a bit discouraging-
And weaning yourself off of it is insane- the side effects and feelings are like someone said on here crazier than street drugs. It was dangerous when these blitzes would come cause your whole body goes numb and you zone out and lose control of all movment for about 10 seconds. I fell quite a bit. Scary- Scary and scary-
but yes to the weight gain-

[michelle]

I have been on effexor for about a year and have gained about 15 pounds and i hate it.

[Moody]

Hi,
I have just been prescribed Efexor after being on Zoloft for about 6 months. I decided to go off Zoloft because of terrible dreams and inability to orgasm. has anybody else had similar symptoms?
Any information on Efexor?
Thanks a heap
Moody.

[mary]

Was put on effexor one year ago...I was 125 lbs...now i am over 150...i was a size 4 now i barely fit in a 10. i was told that i will not gain weight also, but now i am struggling very hard to get this weight off, i quit taking it about 4 or 5 months ago...

[calgarygirl]

I disagree with you Jane. I am a very active person and I eat well yet both times I have been on effexor I gained a significant amount of weight and was unable to get it off until I was off the drug. Both times I was on the drug I gained more than 20 pounds and was Not successful at getting rid of it until I was off the drug for a few months. My lifestyle has been the same throughout!