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Effexor and Weight Loss/Gain

by Jenlynne, Dec 01, 2005 12:00AM
Has anyone taken Effexor and, if so, did you experience any weight related side-effects.  



I am worried about gaining weight and will not take this medicine until I find out.   I'm just scared because SSRIs cause gain.  Even though this is not an SSRI, it could cause weight gain.



Member Comments (91)

by sandster, Dec 01, 2005 12:00AM
HI,



From what I am hearing , this pill called Effexor is helping a lot of people loose weight...Ive asked my doctor if it were true, He said yes ,  but being that I have no insurance, he advised me to just back aways from the table, becasue Effexor was very expensive..

I get samples of Zoloft now, he dosnt carry samples of Effexor, and I sure do wish that he did...

by Joann091, Dec 01, 2005 12:00AM
I gained 30 pounds in three months last year on Effexor. My Doctor kept trying me on several different anti-depressants. When I decided in March of last year to stop the effexor, even with tapering off of it like my Doctor told me, I still had bad withdrawal.  I ended up stopping effexor and then joining weight watchers, that seemed to help my depression more than any medications. Good luck to you.  You also have to remember that everyone reacts different to medications.  What made me gain weight may make you lose. Good luck!

by Jenlynne, Dec 01, 2005 12:00AM
I'm a little confused at to why there is weight side-effects.



Do they make me hungry therefore you eat more and gain.  Or do you just gain weight without changing any eating habits?  Same thing with losing.



I am way too scared to gain weight right now.  The pharmacist said there is no weight-gain side-effect but everywhere I look on the internet says otherwise.

by sallie1, Dec 11, 2005 12:00AM
iv been on effexor xr iv gained 50 lbs.my biggest concern for you is the withdrawl symptoms when stopping it.just 2or3 days without it is hell.moodswings ,headaces,vomiting,flu like feeling,hot flashes. please talk to your doc about that.they dont tell you when you start it.

by KathyJ2, Dec 23, 2005 12:00AM
Hi -- I have been taking Effexor for over a year -- started at 75 mg, now at 150 mg. -- works REALLY WELL for the depression -- no more problems. And, no additional weight gain, though I was overweight before.

My experience with Effexor has been better than with Prozac and Wellbutrin.

by kimmie5, Jan 08, 2006 12:00AM
Hi, I have been on Effexor XR for 3 years and I have gained about 40-50pounds, most when my dose was increased to 225, now I am on 75mg b/c I'm getting ready to wean off the medicine in a couple of weeks,and I haven't lost anything yet. My eating habits have not changed and I exercise. I have always been underweight and I could eat whatever I wanted...I'm only 26 years old...I know my metabolism has changed some, but not enough to pack on 40 pounds. Most of my weight is around my stomach and people ask if I'm pregnant because I've always been so skinny. Situps have not helped. On the positive side, Effexor is an amazing antidepressant, I tried wellbutrin first and it didn't help compared to the Effexor. Everyone is different, Effexor is know for having the worst withdrawl so you need to make sure the DR. takes you off it slowly. Good Luck!

by fitmenot, Jan 31, 2006 12:00AM
I have been on Effexor X 12 months.  gained 12 pounds without change in diet or exercise.  I work out 4-5 days a week without fail.  I eat low GI index foods, and never "pig out".  

Most of the weight is around my middle and butt.



Very depressing.

by amndnoel, Feb 01, 2006 12:00AM
I have been on Effexor XR for two years.  I went on it after my mother switched from Paxil to it and lost weight.  In the past two years, my mood has been great and my anxiety attacks have dissapeared, but I have gained 75 pounds.  My mother however has lost 40.  I honestly think the medication works differently for different people.  In my mother's case it gave her the will-power to lose, but in my case it made me so relaxed I didn't really care what I was eating or about the weight gain.  The one thing I am possitive about is how addictive it is.  My mom and I have both had periods of one or two days where we couldn't get a refill and we both suffered extreme withdrawl symptoms, including migranes, dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia, body aches, and not being able to hold down food.  And we are just on the minimum dosage.

by justagirl7777, Feb 01, 2006 12:00AM
the first time i tried effexor it was because my zoloft had stopped working after yrs.  i lost all my zoloft weight.  25 poinds!  it was a miracle.  after about four yrs. the effexor stopped working so i tried other anti depressants with no luck.  my md put me back on effexor and now i am a fat slob who can't afford to buy any more jeans!  i went from a size two to a 7/8 in 5 months.  why now?  he said it can go either way.  i am miserable about my stomach.  i'm a small girl with a huge, pregnant looking belly.  i try to joke about it, but i despise looking like this.  speaking of withdrawl... if i miss my dose of 75mg by 4 hrs, i get dizzy.  don't know what to do.  (i just turned 34)

by browneyedgrl, Feb 02, 2006 12:00AM
i think that with drugs like effexor, the only way to lose the weight you gain from them is to go off of them ( i am not suggesting that, esp if it helps you to feel better)- just saying that from what ive heard, as long as they are in your body, they alter your metabolism and make it super slow, making it nearly impossible to lose weight and a sure way to gain weight. i have heard that in some cases they alter your metabolism permanantly, but i am skeptical of that. i'm trying to figure out whether that is actually true.

by stephgt, Feb 03, 2006 12:00AM
I recognize that all people are different and that's why we respond differently to various medications, both in a positive way, or perhaps negative.  This is my experience......

I was diagnosed with depression in January 1999 and started taking Effexor XR.  Eventually my dose was increased to 225mg, and I continued on this dose until recently.  During these years my depression was under control, however my weight steadily increased and I gained about 45lbs.  While I recognize that taking any medication impacts your body, I don't believe that Effexor was to blame for my weight gain.  I have bad habits and I'm not as active as I used to be.  In addition, my metabolism has changed as I age (I'm now 34).  For me, I believe that if I'm honest with myself I attribute my weight gain to all of these things, and not medication.  In fact, last year while I was still taking 225mg I began dieting and lost 17lbs in a short time period by eating more healthfuly, controlling portions, and drinking lots of water.  Unfortunately I "fell off the wagon" and again resumed some of my bad habits which resulted in gaining some of that weight back.  Over the last year I have gradually tapered my medication (under the guidance of my physician) and very, very slowly come off the medication.  I no longer take any medications whatsoever (since Oct/05), and have not had a relapse in my depression.  At this point I am feeling ready to make a committment to my own health and do the work I need to do to lose weight.  I really do belive that it's a lifestyle change.  For those of you who are struggling with depression, don't give up.  While it can be frustrating and discouraging, it is possible to lose weight.  Weight absolutely affects self esteem but don't put pressure on yourself.....You'll get there!

Best wishes and good luck!

by chizel, Feb 08, 2006 12:00AM
Im new to this site- hopefully i will gain some insight from others. i have been sufering fom panic disorder for 10 years. Zanax use to work really well- but it stopped so i was put on klonipin- that worked for about 2 years- so i saw a psychitrist and he diagnoised me w/ social anixiety disorder. Anyway he started me on effexor w/ my klonipin and at first my anixiety was getting better- my dr. increased the effexor to 150mg a day and it helped even more w/ anixiety-but i became 2 laid back- i didnt care a/b my appearance or even getting dressed for the day. I became a couch potato and stayed tired alot. i would take a 3 hour nap and still sleep at night as well. Recently i found myself getting depressed because of how i had changed. my dr switched me to paxil and im concerned about weight gain with paxil. i hae gained about 10pds from effexor- but i was not active either while taking it. I am much more alert with