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.

[vickie439]

I cant believe people are gaining weight!! Effexor has changed my life! I have lost 30lbs. in 3 months! I feel great..I do agree the withdrawal symptoms are a bit much...after goin 24hrs without my medicine I felt bad. However..as long as I take it as prescribed..I have less anxiety, more energy, and continue to lose weight!

[sweetpea377]

Hello all,
I have been on Effexor for about 1 month now.  I was worried about wieght gain but I have lost 8 lbs so far.  I find that Effexor has given me a loss of appitite.  I had been on 3 other meds and was gaining wieght little by little.  So glad this one is different. I feel great.  Good luck to all.  
East Coast Girl

[lorelei_7]

I started taking Effexor when I was 20 and at the time I only weighed about 130 pounds.  The 75 mg dose worked pretty well for me over the next few years, but I am now 28 and weigh over 170 pounds.  I am not a couch potato and I try to avoid processed foods and fast food as much as possible, and I don't binge on anything.  I go to the gym at least once a week, and I've been taking a martial arts class once a week too for the last year.  The weight just won't come off.  And my depression and anxiety came back, so my doctor added 150 mg of wellbutrin to my regimen.   I am thinking of stopping the Effexor completely because I suspect it is making my heart race.

[reenie7306]

After reading through all of your comments I felt like I had to tell you my story about Effexor. After years of dealing with the effects of depression on my own, I got to a very scary point of just not caring about anything. Not my kids, not my husband, not myself. My Dr. kept telling me I was just stressed and to eat healthy, exercise and take time for myself. None of this worked and it wasn't until there was a death in my family due to severe depression that she finally realized I may need some help. She prescribed Mirtazipine, and I was determined that although one of the side effects was weight gain, it wasn't going to be a side effect for me. I had started running, I was working out, my diet was ok and yet in about 9 months I had gained 40 lbs. It wasn't long before my knees and ankles began to ache whenever I ran, so I had to stop as not to injure myself. This made my depression worse, my self-esteem was nonexistant , and I was emotional and raging all the time. I looked into hormone imbalance, but my Dr. didn't buy it and insisted I see the psychiatrist. All of this after being medicated AND having weekly therapy sessions for a year. Finally, when I saw the psychiatrist and he switched me to Effexor. Within a couple of weeks, I started to see the weight loss. Yes it suppressed my appetite, but it actually brought it back to a normal level. For me it was the Mirtazipine that that gave me increased appetite and cravings. In the 11/2 I've been on it, I've lost 40lbs, and I feel like I'm more me than I have been in a very long time. I'm a happier person all around. However, I can't attribute all of my success to the Effexor. I have surrounded myself with a loving, supportive group of women with whom I can share those moments of despair and frustration. My friends have been a huge part of my recovery from depression. They have helped me much more than any therapist. As with anything, what works for one doesn't always work another. I can only tell you my experience with Effexor so far, and so far it's been a godsend.

[nclui01]

Effexor WILL make you gain weight....it's just a matter of time.  I'd say, after reading almost everyone's comments on here, that 98% or so have experienced weight GAIN, and 75% a decreased sex drive...what a BUMMER!  This drug is SO not worth it!  I've been on it for about 4 years now and have gained about 45 lbs.!!  And yes, it's in my stomach area mainly, like I've heard a lot of people say, and I've also developed a horrible double chin.  I hate the way I look now and can't even hardly look at myself in the mirror without getting depressed.  I don't even look the same anymore.  And when people (family, mostly) comment on my weight, they don't believe that it's because of the medication I'm on.  But it is..I've NEVER weighed this much before in my life!!! I started out weighing around 175, and at my heaviest, I weigh 210...but I am 5'7, so you can't really tell by looking at me that I weigh that much.  Anyhow, I am going to try really hard to get off this awful drug, but it's going to be extremely hard.  Don't even know how long it will take to lose all this weight, and hopefully, it hasn't permanently altered my metabolism, which I read it can do.  PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG...my suggestion is to try NATURAL alternatives!!

[shelley850]

This site does not make me feel like I am not the only one having trouble losing weight while on this drug. I am taking 75 mg of the generic version of effexor. I started taking it 2yrs ago for axity. It seemed like it helped alot. But it really is a weird drug. When I first took it, for a week I felt dizzy. But it felt neat. It was like a really cool buzz. It suck when it went away and I was started to feel normal. I really miss those head rushes. I like the drug because I feel like I am able to handle stress better. But I do not like the weight gain. I am 5'5 and weigh 150lbs. I eat lots of fruits, veggies, excercise half hr 5 to 6 times a wk. But I am unable to shed at least a pound. It is actually making me feel crappy. So I decided to quit taking it. I been off it for 2 days. I feel like I am coming off of heroin. It feels horrible. I don't like the brain zaps.