effexor gain?
 

Hi all. I used to post on this site when I tried to lose weight earlier this year. I'm back (20 pounds heavier than my last post) and need to update my profile. I've been very frustrated at my rapid weight gain and having to buy a new wardrobe every 6 months. In fact, I've donated my size 6s and am now squeezing into a 14. I thought it was just middle age spread at first but realize (duh!) that it has coincided with my taking antidepressants, this past year being effexor. I was told that it doesn't cause weight gain but...

My questions are: anyone else experience weight gain with effexor? If so, what percentage of your weight? For example, I've added 40 pounds to my 130. Okay, I'm not good at math but I know it's more than 25% and less than 30%, I think... Final question, if you quit effexor, what has been your weight experience?

Thanks for all your informed comments ladies!

Hi Sarah
I probably won't be of much help, but in going over my previous weight loss journals in the past year + I noticed that from April 05 to March 06 I gained almost 30lbs. I do not remember WHEN I went on Effexor, but I know it was somewhere during this period. Previously I was on Seroxat (Europe's version of Paxil) and I probably gained 20 -30 lbs during that period as well, though I know for a fact that food and alcohol had A LOT to do with the gain.

Since March until August I stayed around 101KG (222 lbs). Since August I've lost almost 6KG and I've been following WW at about an 80% committed rate.

Whomever told you that you can not gain weight while on Effexor is just plain lying to you. It's definitely one of the side-effects.

I have been on Effexor XR for 2 months and have gained 20 lbs since starting to take it. Previously I was on Prozac. When I started Prozac I weighed about 145 during the course of the next 3 years I gained 85lbs. Whenever I stopped taking the medicine for extended periods of time I lost weight very rapidly, but my severe panic disorder would return even worse than before. My weight has leveled for the last 5 years until I started the Effexor.

Anti Ds are really funny. There will be just as many people saying they lost on the drug as have gained. I personally gained a lot on the drug, but I blame my food intake. The drug didn't make me gain, IMHO, but while taking it I didn't notice I was gaining or seem to care. It was a contributing factor but the food consumption was what really did it.

Have you tracked your intake in someplace like Fitday.com or something as well as charted your exercise just to see where the problem is?

And once I got off the Effexor and on to another med, I did start losing, but that was because the new drug helped me focus more I think. But it did take tracking my intake honestly and exercising a LOT!.

Oh great! This is what my doc just swithced me to. I was on Lexipro and it didn't help with my depression when we moved so I gained pretty fast. Of course the holidays just passed so I ate and drank too much. I think the Effexor is helping me keep my head clear and I am not thinking about food right now. I am thinking about hitting the gym or other things.

I gained about 50 lbs on Effexor and when I stopped taking it the weight just hung around. One thing I did notice (as did my daughter when she was on it for a short time) is that my appitite increased--I seemed to be famished all the time. It really helped with the depression but I'm not so sure it was worth the weight gain. Dr. also told me that weight gain was NOT a side effect--but that was in 2000.

i've been on effexor for several years now. Although I have gained during that period I have also lost (the whole yo-yo thing). I've never really associated the two. Remeron on the other hand totally made me gain. The cravings...

OK, I need to change my post. After I posted I started to notice that all I did was think about food, even when I was not hungry. So, last night I tried to take it b4 bed and I coulnd't belive it. I woke up thinking I was hungry. I never do that. So, I am making an appointment for some time this week to see what they can do.

Good think you made this thread b/c now I have noticed what I thought would never happen.

ive been on a few different anti's over the years.. prozac.. lexapro.. welbutrin.. im now im on zoloft... i know other people who are on one or the other of these and every single one including myself gained on average 30 pounds while takin it... my cousin actually called me askin me if it could make you gain.. she had gained 30 lbs in a year .. i think it causes alot of fluid retention

I've been on several different meds throughout the depression years. Certain ones work for me; certain ones don't. Certain ones had side effects that I just couldn't deal with. Certain ones really did make me gain weight.

Right now I am on Celexa. Yes, I've gained. And I know it's due to the Celexa. But the medicine is working SO WELL for what it's meant for (keeping me sane - HAH!) that I'm not willing to stop it.

I hate being fat! I hate it more than anything in the world. Except being insane.

it's not necessarily the effexor...
 

Hey, I'm new! I have been on effexor for a couple of years, and have noticed some weight gain, but ultimately, it is not the meds. When I mass a dose, or get out of whack, it is then that I plummet into eating binges. I don't know if any of you have researched Effexor much, but it is the most effective antidepressant used in addition to therapy for persons suffering with bulimia. One of the most prevalent symptoms of bulimics is the urge to over indulge, which results in guilt, which results in a purge. For some, I don't doubt that they fear the weight gain from something like Effexor, but ultimately, it is the lack of exercise among Americans that accounts for weight gain, etc. If you are less depressed, you are likely to gain the motivation to get out and exercise at least 4 times per week. Exercise and diet go together. If you notice you're eating more, you must exercise to account for all of the potential energy. The exercise will, in turn, make your body more efficient, so you will desire to eat less.

kwen I do exercise. Infact I do 45 mins on the elliptical at a ver good pace and I lift weights. I am not a couch potato so I know that the effexor for me was what the problem was. I have been in the fitness industry for a long time and I know what exercise can do and how it will help with the desire to eat but this was more than the exercise could cover.

I just signed up and have the same as most of you. I been on lexapro and did not have any weight gain. in fact lost some weight. But now the anxiety come again worse then ever and dr said Effexor ..Now reading all this weight gain with it not sure if I want to go that route.

Any one have any good idea's????

Effexor
 

I also took Effexor a few years ago and gained 45lbs. There was a lot of things I did not like about Effexor it also made me feel like I was drunk when i missed a dose and literaly had to stay in my bedroom because I felt as if I could kill someone So I no longer take any anti depressant Im afraid to death of them My Dr told me he had known women who gained over 50lbs in spite of what the studies say. I know when I used to go and work out 5 times a week I felt so much better with no anti depressants Take care VIcky

Wow! I must be a freak case,

I took lexapro for a year and I lost sixty pounds...I stopped taking it because I lost my insurance. It made me not hungry....ever.

after going off of it I have gained most of it back, I don't want to take any drugs though so I won't be taking it even if I could, But I just started losing weight again and my depression is a lot better now thanks to prayer.
I hope you get this issue worked out.

Sarah girl friend email me. While we were doing ETL we were both going through the same thing. I satarted taking zoloft in Sptember or october and I've lost weight. Lets get back in contact we can do this together.

GGGBDOMIno Maureen:hug:

Effexor and gaining/ losing weight
 

Hi,

I have been on the generic for Effexor for one month. I must say I was excited to see one of the side effects was "anorexia" as sick as that sounds. For the first week and a half I was really nautious and couldn't eat very much and never happier. Then of course, that wore off and I was back to my old eating habits. I was sticking to a good healthy eating plan, and up to about 45 minutes on the treadmill per day. I was down about 14 lbs and feeling great. I felt like if anything, the venlafexine (sp?) was just kind of evening out my highs and lows, and I felt better and was more motivated, thus being able to finally stick with an exercise progam and feel better and determined to keep it going. However, during the last 2 weeks, I just somehow lost track, stopped exercising, and so far have gained 5 lbs back. To make it worse, my car broke down on Friday, but I didn't realize until Friday NIGHT that I was totally out of my prescription. So this is the third day with no car and no prescription. I ate enough for 12 people, then finally had to call a friend to go pick the pills up for me before I went and committed myself!

After freaking out, I got on the internet and found postings about how bad the withdrawals off this drug can be, and now I beleive it. It scares me, but yet this seems to be the only antidepressant that has ever worked for me. I have tried them all. So just to let you know, I DID in fact lose weight while on the effexor, but my hope for the side effect of anorexia did not happen. The key to weight loss is exercise, unfortunately, whether on effexor or not for me! So I hope that my little spell of insanity has taught me that all it's about jumping back on track after I get off....Whenever I "blow it" I seem to give up--the old, "What's the use, why bother, I am so fat it won't make a difference anyway." Now I want it to be different, and where there is a will there is a way!

Cathy

i'm also on effexor and have experienced alot of yo yo ing. I am currently weening off the drug and i will let you know how i feel when done...could be awhile as the process seems slow being taken off.

Hi:
New to the site and noticed this forum and this thread.
I have been on Effexor for about 6 months now - it has made a huge difference in my ability to function, to clear my head so I could deal with the real issues that are causing me to gain weight or stay stuck at same weight.
I don't think the drug itself is the issue for me as it relates to weight gain.

Rather, I still have the problems in my life that were triggering my depression in the first place. I need to do the work it takes to get to the root of those issues so I can replace binge eating with other coping mechanisms.

That's what I hope the medication will give me - the focus to be able to do this work. And the ability to keep myself from spinning out of control when I hit a reality I don't want to face.

I'm new here too. I began taking Effexor about a month and a half ago and noticed in the beginning that I couldn't eat anything. (loved that!) It made me feel nauseous all the time (hated that) but that did wear off. Now I'm going to start weaning off the drug because I don't like the side effects I'm having with it and will probably switch to something else. I've lost and gained on all antidepressants so I'm not sure if its me or the drug that is causing the problem with weight. I do know I started taking antidepressants for post partum depression after I had my daughter in 2000 and then ended up needing them after my son in 2004 and the death of my mom in 2004, so I didn't mind the weight issues so much - until now. Now I'm ready to get the weight off but am afraid to stop taking the antidepressants! I'm willing to switch one more time to something else and we'll see where that goes. Good luck with the Effexor! Let us know what happens!

I started taking Lexapro about 2 1/2 years ago, after having been off antidepressants for 2 years prior. I put 20 pounds on in about 3 weeks taking this drug, but it sure beats not wanting to get out of bed every morning and wanting to drive my car into a tree. And it beats Prozac and Wellbutrin, which I was taking prior and wound up having hallucinations and feeling like I was being poisoned.
I'm not sure if the problem with this drug, or similar ones, increase my carb cravings or lower my metabolism. It could be a combination of both. Of course, the pharmaceutical companies deny weight gain is a side effect of long term use, but I know too many people that it happened to for it to be coincidence.

I am currently going off of Effexor (whoo this has been a nightmare) but YESSSS you are right. It makes you gain weight. I went from 135 to 171. Im 5'7. The weight gain was fairly consistant the whole time. I walked, dieted, the whole nine yards. My weight wouldnt budge. So my doc said yes its def the Effexor. I agree its a great med. But if I can get a similar result with another one and lose some weight then I am going to try. Im weaning onto Wellbutrin xl. Ive heard it really helps to lose weight. You can even add it to your Effexor depending on your doses of each one. I have also read that Wellbutrin has caused some to gain weight as well. So I will have to see. Im hoping for the best. Sheesh I just want to be sane and not fat. Does that sound like too much to ask?!?! haha[/B][/B]

Try asking your doc to add Wellbutrin to your effexor to counteract the weight gain. Im going off of effexor too and its a nightmare. You can PM me anytime if you want to talk about whats working for me as far as going off.

Okay, me too. I gained on Effexor, about 25 lbs in 2 years, POST PREGNANCY! Prior to that I had lost 15lbs in 6 months on Prozac, which I quit when I got pregnant. I am now on Wellbutrin, 3 months. It took me three total months to wean off of Effexor, and it wasn't pretty. Now, another three months I am into Wellbutrin I am very pleased with the drug, but have gained 10 lbs. I was promised that Effexor was a far better medicine than Prozac, and to tell the truth I don't remember how well Prozac worked...I did get pregnant which means I was having sex, which is more than I can say for the last year!!
I think all of these medicines have quirks that need to mesh with a person's individual makeup. Some work with just Seratonin level, some Seratonin and Dopamine, some with Norepinephrin...you really need to try them out to know what is going to work for you. I know people who have had GREAT success with drugs that weren't right for me...so here's hoping you find your match sooner rather than later.

In it together...
karwie

Add me to the list. I was on it for about 3 years before I went totally nuts when i tried to get off of it... (intense anger, paranoia, i just felt like i was going to crawl out of my skin). i ended up on zoloft for a few months until the effexor was out of my system, and now that i'm off everything i'm losing much easier.... but i'm also pretty depressed and withdrawn so who knows if the tradeoff is worth it?

Right back at you, djs06...what a roller coaster! I'm not sure of your personal situation, but I have 2 young ones and a hubby that I have to be 'here' for. I swear, if it was just me I would choose to be off of everything. I always thought that if only I was thin, I would be happy. I thought that way when I was 130 lbs. Obviously the meds are keeping me alive and present (...a little too present!), but I found great comfort in a counsellor who 'gets' me, as well. I think this blog is a form of therapy, too. Anyhow, blah, blah, blah...it was **** for me too, but we gotta do what we feel is right!

karwie

Karwie, I completely agree- I'm not married and no kids, so I don't really have to be 'here' for anyone but myself... I know it would be a LOT different if I had to care for anyone else... wow, that's a scary thought! :lol:

I agree about blogging and counseling! :)

I was on it to wohooooo and i gained alot from it. but i have been on a few over a period of 6 years unfortunatley! But i do remember I gained alot of my weight on it but was aslo told that you should gain that much ha ! that was a lie!!
I finished taking cetalopram 40mg in the summer last year as my weight had gone up to 15stone from 10 when i was first diagnosed. I think that with any anti depressant weight gain is going to happen. Lets face it, its just another thing to make us feel just peachy hehe!!

Just thought Id tell you about me lol hope you all dont mind.

I gained 20 pounds the first 3 weeks I was taking Lexapro, and 2 years later it's still hanging around.

I feel your pain (and gain)
 

I just started seroquel and have gained 10 pounds in three weeks. The important thing is that my doc and I really are trying to address my depression AND my eating disorders together. It is HARD because so many of the meds cause me to binge.

One thing he told me last week was that if I start late-night bingeing or constant eating that I should go on Phase I of South Beach for two weeks. He said that it was the best he found as a quick fix to knock me out of the craving cycle. After that, he says that any diet that works for me and is healthy (Weight Watchers, Sonoma, South Beach, etc.) is allright with him. I'm on day two and me craving for bread is already gone!

Hope that helps.

So glad I saw the heading. I had no idea the Effexor might be contributing to weight gain. Cr*p! And I'm also taking Arimidex (post chemo & radiation) which I know contributes to weight gain. But there must be SOME way to combat it.... any successes? Please feel free to reply by PM.

I was on Effexor XR about 4 to 5 years ago....I did notice that I had no appetite while on it & lost about 27 lbs.
Then I went to a new doctor....he put me on a different antidepressant.

Last spring I went on Zoloft....since then I have gained about 20 lbs.....couldn't seem to stop eating on the zoloft....also since being on the zoloft have trouble going to sleep at night.

I went back on the Effexor 3 weeks ago....so hope I will be able to go to sleep at night again & to lose my appetite.

Bobbie

Hello,
I have been on Effexor XR for 3+ years now. I hate/love it! I have gained weight which I feel has contributed to the weight gain or ability to not take it off. I have tried several times to wean off it with horrible effects. My dose is less but I would like to try to get off it completly. My doc also said it does not cause weight gain and you can not become addicted to it! Ha! Then why the horrible effects when you are weaning off it??? I have even cut the dose in 1/2 advised by doc and then in 1/2 again etc. But the feeling is horrible!!
I would love to be med free someday!
I am glad to hear that there are others with weight gain and withdrawl symptoms too!
I thought it was just me!
I would like to hear how people do trying to wean off Effexor. How long do you feel so bad??
I hope this link keeps going,
Lisa

Hi lisa,

I'm sorry you're going through the nightmare of effexor withdrawal. Sometimes I get really irked with the psychiatric profession in general because it seems that they are either completely ignorant, or they are deliberately misleading people.

Here's an overview of Effexor from the most reliable source I have ever found (crazymeds.org). I've been using this site as a medication resource ever since it came online in 2003, and it has always given the most thorough and ACCURATE info of any sources, including my doctors! Here is the truth about Effexor, both the good and bad:

Pros: There are two last resorts among the modern meds to cure the deepest, blackest depression when your doctor is just switching you from one horsie to another on the med-go-round: Effexor (venlafaxine hydrochloride) and Remeron (mirtazapine). Either in combination with an antipsychotic would really get you out of that hole of despair, but first you should throw away every mirror and scale in your house and buy expandable clothing. But for deep, despairing clinical depression that needs to respond to the standard tweaking of the three most popular neurotransmitters, Effexor (venlafaxine hydrochloride) often pulls people out of the abyss.

Cons: For many people Effexor has the absolute worst discontinuation syndrome of an antidepressant. Effexor (venlafaxine hydrochloride) is a medication people utterly loathe to have taken. It is not uncommon for someone to fire doctors during or immediately after they quit taking Effexor (venlafaxine hydrochloride). (so no, lisa, it isn't just you!)

I don't know how long it takes for the withdrawal effects to subside, but you may want to see if your doc can give you something to lessen the effects. I've read that some people have had luck with Cymbalta making Effexor withdrawal a bit easier. I don't know if this is an option for you, but it might be worth discussing with your doc. YMMV, of course.

Good luck, and I hope things improve soon!

I gained 36 lbs in a year on effexor. I'm on Welbutrin XL now and have still been able to lose.

I was switched from Effexor to Wellbutrin today. I told the doctor that I felt that the Effexor was making me gain weight, and I felt sluggish and distorted a lot. She said that wellburtrin may help me loose the weight. But, I feel like, yeah right. Nothing helps. I just have to get control of my eating.

any happy stories?
 

has anyone lost weight while on effexor?

I had to add to this thread. I was on Effexor for about 2 weeks and i thought i had something seriously wrong with me. I was dizzy and totally out of it. It was awful! I coulnt make my hands do what i wanted them to. I was on lexapro and had absolutly no problem. I am now on Welbutrin and its wonderful! I think everyone is differant when it comes to this stuff. I work in a mental institution and i see it all the time.

Hi There,

I took Effexor for 2 years. Personally, I always felt hungry on it and gained around 20kg /44lbs.

Yes, it was effective, but this lessened as my body adjusted to it. I was put on Fluoxetine (which I'm still on) and that doesn't have the same effect.

Rachel.

withdrawl
 

I have tried to get of of effexor several times,the withdrawls are nasty,I have been on for 2 years gained 25 lbs,how long do the withdrawls last?
anyone had sucess going off permanently using diet and exercise?
anyone lost the weight after?currently doing LAWL and exercise as a last resort any info would be appreciated.