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.

[jakeo99]

on 150 effexor  XR for several yrs.  Originally gained 2-3 lbs per day.  Went from 112 (way low for me due to anxiety) to 154!!!!  Mind was great, used to joke "I'd rather be fat than crazy" until it wasn't funny anymore.  

Talked to Dr. who added wellbutrin 300 (now Bupropion 300 XL) and have stayed around 142 (give or take 5 lbs) for 2 1/2 yrs.  

Effexor XR must have gone generic because this is what I rec. from my mail order meds a few weeks ago.  Well, I have started gaining weight again!  Been on generic effexor (venlafaxine 150 ER) aprox 3 weeks- Up 3 1/2 lbs from last week!  Feel like a blimp and not as good, can't put my finger on it.   Anyone else?

[jakeo99]

on 150 effexor  XR for several yrs.  Originally gained 2-3 lbs per day.  Went from 112 (way low for me due to anxiety) to 154!!!!  Mind was great, used to joke "I'd rather be fat than crazy" until it wasn't funny anymore.  

Talked to Dr. who added wellbutrin 300 (now Bupropion 300 XL) and have stayed around 142 (give or take 5 lbs) for 2 1/2 yrs.  

Effexor XR must have gone generic because this is what I rec. from my mail order meds a few weeks ago.  Well, I have started gaining weight again!  Been on generic effexor (venlafaxine 150 ER) aprox 3 weeks- Up 3 1/2 lbs from last week!  Feel like a blimp and not as good, can't put my finger on it.   Anyone else?

[arisa]

Quote :Also if you are trying to lose weight on Effexor, it is pretty much impossible.  If you stop using Effexor it will take about 6 months before you will see any of your weight coming off. Quoted

That is a lot of crap!!!!

Effexor is the ONLY antidepressant which i have been on that decreased me appetite, made me feel better and helped me lose weight fast
I lost over 20 kilos (38 pounds) in three years on it and have not gained it back and i have been on them for six years now.

SSRI medications are a mixed bag. I gained weight like crazy on Prozac and citalipram but on paxill my weight was the same.

The only time you will gain weight on effexor or other SNRI (not to be confused with SSRI) is if you take those horrendous antipsychotics like Quetiapine or haldol, they make you eat and sleep and eat and eat and sleep and sleep then eat again.

Stay away from them and just take effexor, you will lose weight
its actually rare for people to gain weight on it and i take 300MG per day

[CarolinAtlanta]

I have been on Effexor XR for four years and my psychiatrist keeps telling me that it is not one of the antidepressants that should make me gain weight.  HA!!!!  I have gained about 40 lbs. and nothing I do makes a difference.  I crave sweets and breads.  I'm like a crazed person for them.  I will actually eat a small portion of my food a mealtime so that I can gorge myself with sweets afterward.  I have always taken care of my body and never weighed over the charted amount for my height (5'3").  Now I am considered obese.  I have gained between  40-45 lbs.  I am so depressed about this now.  My husband was on Efffexor XR for about the same amount of time and he was the same way.  He craved meats and breads like crazy.  He had gained about 50 lbs.  His doctor changed his prescription and now he takes a smaller amout of Effexor XR and Wellbutrine.  You have to be extremely careful when doing that and I would never consider doing something without my doctors supervision.  However, my husband has lost 25 lbs. in two months.  He does not have the appetite that he had before and is not "grazing" at night to find something to eat.  I, on the otherhand, am still doing all these things.  I am going to ask my doctor to please try the combination.  I have never been able to tolerate Wellbutrine before, but possibly combining it with Effexor will make a difference.  I am so very unhappy with all this weight gain.  I have never had a big appetite before.  It really makes me feel like a fat slob.  There I said it.

Miserable in Atlanta

[BrokenDaze]

I was on efexor xr a couple of years ago and I did put on some weight, not alot as I was a little active... I took myself off them due to not needing them anymore and had no side effect at all. I think when you take yourself off and your not ready you get the side effects and crack.
It's best to buy 2 boxes so you dont run out or have to get them every month.

I just started taking them again after 8yrs of being off... I know its easier this time as I have started taking them before things hit rock bottom. I also am not afraid to talk about how I feel and how I burst into tears randomly, without knowing what set it off... It can be embarrassing, but at least we are in-touch with our feelings :)
And with the support of each other we will make it through once again.

Cheers, X

[Gleto]

My depression final went off after six months of EFFEXOR XR, now  I feel ready to start over gain as the happy man I used to be. I gained 22 pounds in two months with effexor xr and that really *****, Im still happy because m depression. Beore EFFEXOR i couldn move out of bed, at the same time I found a job uper important with me which with EFFEXOR everything went smoothy and now Im part of tje company. Las Monday I decided to get rid of it after several monts, tying to exercise as ch a possible and keep ejpyn life as its simpliest way :)