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Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
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Effexor
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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MedHelp Member's Question

Effexor

by detcharlielucy, Nov 18, 2005 12:00AM
I have been on Effexor for about 5 years now.  Over this time I have gained about 20 pounds - which is a lot for my small frame.  I'd always been very thin.  I've also been having a real lack of sex drive for the past year or two, which has gotten even worse over the past 6-9 months.  



I decided to go off the Effexor about 2 weeks ago when my prescription had run out and I was already into slight withdrawal(the withdrawal symptoms have since stopped except for slight depression and weepiness).  My husband and I are trying to have a baby, so I know I'd have to go off as soon as I concieve anyway, so it seemed worth trying to go without it.



My question is:  Can I expect my weight to start going back down now that I am off the medication (as long as I don't eat more or exercise less than while I was on it, of course)?  And will my sex drive improve?  How quickly should  I see improvement in these areas?



Thanks...
Doctor's Answer

by Roger Gould, M.D., Nov 28, 2005 12:00AM
yes to both, sex and weight, assuming you feel your life is moving well on course...all of this should start happening within a few weeks....
Member Comments (41)

by Aruba417, Nov 18, 2005 12:00AM
I've been on Effexor for about 6 months now, and I've been able to lose weight, as well as gain weight. I was very concerned about taking it because I did not want to gain any more weight (I'm about 16 lbs overweight). My doctor told me that Effexor is the one drug that does not make you gain weight. In fact, she told me it's an appetite supressor. I've been able to lose weight. But I don't have a sex drive, either. And like I said, I've only been on it for 6 months, so I'm not sure if that would make a difference since you've been on it much longer. Good luck!

by detcharlielucy, Nov 20, 2005 12:00AM
I didn't notice any problems at first either with the weight (like for the first year or two).  I think it was maybe only a few pounds a year, so it wasn't that noticable then.  I also was told by my doctor that this was one of the medications not likely to make you gain weight, but.....



I had mentioned that the withdrawal symptoms were gone except a slight depression and weepiness.  Well the physical symptoms are gone, but the depression and weepiness has been really bad this weekend.  My mom passed away this summer and I know I still have not dealt with all he pain of that.  I don't know if it's the holidays coming (this will be the first time my mom is not a big part of them), or going off the medication, or both, but this weekend I've probably cried at least 10 times.  I'm not sure if I should try to tough it out and hope it gets better on its own, or if I need to go back on the medicine.

by liftingdiva, Nov 20, 2005 12:00AM
I would NEVER ever recommend Effexor of any dose.  The withdrawal from Effexor is way worse than anything I've experienced.  Even when you want to stop the Effexor, you continue to take it to stop the brain zaps, the eye rolling, the nauseau, the diarreha, it is an awful evil drug.  Why they say it's not addictive when it is so hard to get off of it is a mystery to me.

by Aruba417, Nov 21, 2005 12:00AM
To: detcharlielucy
I am so sorry you're going through this. I have not had to experience the pain of losing a parent yet, and God willing, it won't be fore a long, long time. I'm no doctor, but I would say that the depression/weepiness is most likely more because of the fact that you're missing your mom. And you're right, the holidays are what is making it worse. I would talk to your doctor, and see what she says about it. With the pain of losing your mom, I'm not at all surprised that you'd be extra weepy. Good luck with everything, and good luck trying to get pregnant. I hope all goes well for you, and if you need to talk, you know where to find support!

by jr978, Nov 21, 2005 12:00AM
I also was on effexor for a while, and trying to come off of it was terrible, it took me two months to slowly taper off of it.  I had a lot of headaches and pain behind the eyeballs...also I swear my memory was affected.

by tierdmom, Nov 21, 2005 12:00AM
i was on it for two weeks and had to stop  because it made me a zombie

by Katiedarlin, Nov 22, 2005 12:00AM
To: detcharlielucy
Hi Detcharlielucy,



I'm really sorry to hear about the death of your mom. I too am grieving the loss of mine who died in August.



I've been taking Effexor since my love died of prostate cancer five years ago. I'd been taking care of my mom in home for 7 of the 10 years she endured a rare neuro-degerative disease. At the moment I'm making baby steps at putting a life back together. Enough about me.



Mom's Are Eternal. I should think that now you are not taking Effexor that you are experiencing symptoms of grief that may have been masked by the medication. Grief is pain. Grief is legitimate suffering, as is illness, death and birth. Be kind to yourself.



Just a thought, do you have access to a bereavement support group in your community? I've been seeing a grief counselor who has helped me more than I could have imagined.



I'll begin tapering off the Effexor after the holidays. My dose is pretty high. I'm not looking forward to the "brain shivers." However, I have never liked the 'feel' of the med.



FYI, no weight gain on this end.





And Mom's are eternal,

Go forth!

Katie











by helperk, Nov 22, 2005 12:00AM
hey everyone,

I have a good tip to get through the withdrawal pains of effexor. First off I have been on effexor for 1 1/2 years. At first it was great and only up until this fall it was starting to be clear to me that it was not helping with my depression anymore. I was told by my doc never to go cold turkey with this med that I was to tapper it. I was told if I went off cold turkey I was risking brain siezures. I am tappering off now from 75mg a day to 37.5 a day and then 37.5 everyother day then I will be off.



My tip for getting rid of the body pains, brain shivers, nausea,

anxiety and flu like symptoms is a tincture of flower essence.

you can buy this at any natural food store. 10 drops or whatever the given dose is 4 times a day has helped.

Also for women any strong tea for menstuel cramps such as rosehips and hibiscus, chamomile tea is great. Valarian root can be added to your tea at bedtime to help you sleep or you can buy it already made. It is good to go to a store that has bulk herbs and also get a detox tea for after you get off effexor to help clean it out of your body.



I hope that some of you find these items to help yo uas much as they have helped me.



always consult with your doctor before you take homeopathic medications to make sure as well that you have no allergies to these items.

by parisrae, Dec 02, 2005 12:00AM
I have stumbled on this site by accident while looking for something else for someone else. I came across the effexor threads and decided to read all the info from those who have shared.



I am 53 years old and have been on effexor for years. I feel it is not working anymore and have tried to quit several times without luck. I tried the weaning thing and it didn't work for me either.  I consoled my health provider and she simply said   I may be on it the rest of my life. I think this to be very true for me because If I miss one dose of effexor I will go into withdrawls within an hour.



I won't comment on the side effects or the symptoms of withdrawls from effexor because it has all been said in this forum. The only comment that puzzled me was about the withdrawl symptom of the person who described a "zipping" sensation in his brain. I have experienced this before on L-Tryptamine. I was taking this while going through another phase of my life. Drug companies eventually took it off the market.



The "zipping" was a strange feeling. Very Scary. It is hard to describe. Most un-natural.



Anyway, my point to this post is to thank those who have shared all the emotional and physical experiences of this drug called effexor. At least when I go down I will have company.



Gotta go post some more health related issues on other forums :)

by Ms Parker, Dec 05, 2005 12:00AM
I am just wondering how long it is until the brain zaps go away. I really l