Effexor and Weight Loss/Gain

[Jenlynne]

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.

[feelinggoodnow]

I have been on Effexor, low dose (75 mg), for almost a year. I have lost about 15 lb. - 20 lb., now weighing in at 110 lb. I am 55 years old, 5'5" and I exercise regularly (2X a week at the gym and 3X a week at yoga, which helps immeasurably with my lupus and fibromyalgia). I love food, and enjoy eating, but now find myself much better at stopping when I've had enough. I don't know if this is the Effexor. I think I am not eating for emotional reasons anymore, at least most of the time. I have always battled with my weight, tending to be on the heavier side. Right now, I feel I am exactly where I should be, weight-wise, even if my BMI is a little on the low side. I plan to ease off Effexor this spring, and to continue with the wonderful counselling that has helped me understand and find ways to deal with the life/health issues that drove my long-term depression. I am grateful for where I am now, and have deep sympathy for those who have experienced weight gain as a result of a drug that was necessary for their well-being. We -- me included -- are so focused on how people look on the outside. Really, what matters is the beauty inside. And being healthy. Best wishes to all.

[CropCircle]

Phew, I am glad I found others that have experienced the same phenomenon.  

I train fairly consistently with heavy weights (strength focused).  I have been on Effexor for well over 5 years and have been at the  dosage of 150mg for at least 4 of them. I am not sure if this is relevant to the discussion but I was put on Effexor initially because of being diagnosed suicidal, uni-polar, and having low-grade depression.  I have gained at least 20 Kg while I started my prescription but I can't quote exact numbers.

About a month ago, I started missing days of taking the medication due to a change in my daily procedure.  If I accidently missed 2 days in a row, my body would remind me at work where I became disoriented, dizzy, and develop a pulsing head ache but I didn't notice any mood alterations so I decided that I wouldn't stress about it too much.  (my job is within software development so I wasn't putting others at risk)

I then started 'digging' the withdrawal symptoms (besides the headaches) as being disoriented and dizzy makes your day kind of interesting so I stretched out the days I wasn't taking the medication.  

Now I have been off the medication for at least 1 week, and although I am still experiencing dizziness, the headaches are gone and the effects are diminishing steadily.  I also noticed an increase in focus at work (even better than when I was on the medication)

What I did notice however is that I am dropping weight at an expedited rate and my strength is for the most part maintained.  I.E.  the strength loss is not proportional to the weight loss.

Please note that I see my doctor so infrequently that I didn't bother notifying her.  (I only see her yearly where I get renewed for 4x90 days of 150mg).  

I DO NOT recommend what I am currently doing to anybody and you SHOULD NOT follow what I have done without consulting a medical professional well versed in anti-depressants.  I just wanted to read about other's experiences and relate my own.  Please note that my knowledge in anti-depressants is next to nothing and all I did was pop the pill to get me through the day

Currently 43, overweight at 110kg.  My comfortable weight is 90kg (muscled from natural strength training for at least the last 20 years)

[Mrsfings]

Hi Joscie,

Please be really careful with tapering off Effexor. The withdrawal effects can be really ghastly. Apparently it can be helpful to take Fluoxetine to ease the side effects, and then stop the Fluoxetine (which doesn't have such bad side effects). Anyway, check with your Doc about this.

I was up to 150mg and then down to 75 for about a year and a half all up, I tapered off before I knew about using Fluoxetine to help, and it took me months, and I still really suffered for a couple of months at the end. Brain 'zaps', dizziness, bloating etc. I've been off them for a few weeks now but strangely (and I've been eating less, not more), my belly is all swollen and it's soooo uncomfortable in my clothes! Don't know if there's a connection, but hoping it will go away!

Get off Effexor if you can, it's a nasty drug.

[sickofmeds76]

Hi there, I know this question was asked a few years ago, not sure if people are still active on here?  I did want to chime in on my experience so far on Effexor and losing weight.
I've been on Effexor for 2 months and have lost 20 pounds.  Part of it is loss of appetite, it feels like an appetite suppressant to me.  And I'm also wired and awake most of the time, so I am in constant motion, I go to the gym 4 times a week, walk 1 hour a day just to burn off some pent up energy!.  BUTTTTTTTT, there is a HUGE BUT here, I haven't had a solid sleep since I started.  I'm suffering insomnia big time.  A good night is 4 hours sleep with 2 different prescription sleeping pills :(  A bad night sleep is NO sleep.  I take Effexor mainly for anxiety, so my anxiety is the absolute worst at night with tossing and turning and my eyes wide open.  For example it's 7:30am and I have not slept in 24 hours......sooo, weight loss or sleep?  So tired of all these meds.  Dunno if this post helped anyone or made it worse.    PS.  I am 41 and was in need of a 40 pound weight loss, so I haven't hit the underweight categorie, luckily I have plenty of extra padding to part with :) I would be terrified of this weight loss if i was of a healthy weight to begin with.  I'm also on Effexor for mild depression and the depression is gone, but anxiety is upped at night.  
I think different people just respond differently to different meds.  I was on Seroquel and gained 20 pounds in one month.  Horrible drug.

[AnnieEnglish]

I have been on 250 mg of Effexor for a year with no weight side effects. Everyone is different, but you should give it a try if you are depressed. It started working within a week for me.  English

[Adeats]

I was on Effexor and I gained about 5 lb. then I went got the depo shot shortly after due to the server birth defects Effexor can cause. I have now put on around a totally if 18lbs. I am in fitness and eat health a vegetarian diets with some shrimp for protuberance when I go into heavy weight training. I have been off the depo now for 16. 16 weeks after my last shot. I do not know if the Effexor had a larger part in contributing to the weight other than the 5 lbs or how much depo did. But I dislike them both and would never ever take either again. I have been off the Effexor for two days. I also had sever admins rectal bleeding. Which can be a side effect of Effexor. I am pretty miserable right now fighting to get my fit body back and the serve depression that has come along with the gaining of so much weight so uncontrollably.