Hello Ladies!!
I have been on a lot of medications and Effexor is the one that takes the nightly "gasping for air" panic away. I am a big girl, but I honestly believe that it's because I eat when I'm upset (Oh, and I discovered chocolate martinis - Yummmm). Even though I'm on Effexor, I still have down days and times when I feel like I'm the only one who ever felt lonely, put upon, disrespected, used, ect... Then DH and I go out to dinner and I eat like it's my job.
I would rather stay on this drug than wake up feeling like I am going to choke to death because I forgot to breathe. That is the worst. Right now I've begun watching my diet and exercising like crazy. I've lost 4.5 pounds in just over 2 weeks (I wanted wayyyyy more). However, I had a fat/water/muscle weigh in and found that I actually lost 10.5 pounds in fat and gained 7 pounds in muscle. I am constantly amazed at what we have to consider when we talk about weight loss.
If I miss a dose my hands itch. I've missed a day or two and felt sicker than a dog. We're talking staying in bed with a puke bucket while moaning for death. Nevertheless, Effexor works and I love my life, even as an addicted fatty.