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losing weight after effexor
I gained 20 lbs in the last 3 years that I was taking Effexor. I have tried everything. I'm eating less & working out more. I started taking Paxil but that didn't work at all as I have anxiety issues. Anyhow Effexor did wonders for my attitude however after 3 years I am now convinced that it was the cause for all the excess weight. Anyhow I was wondering if the weight comes off after I get off the meds? or am I stuck with excess weight forever in which case I will be contacting my doctor because they lied to me.
My situation is very similar to yours. I was on the drug for approx 1 year in the beginning I didn't notice much weight change, but I worked out regularly and was always conscious of what I was putting in my mouth then in the last 4 months on it I gained about 20 lbs. I've been off it for about 3 weeks (completely off...it took about 6 weeks to ween myself off) and I have continued to gain. I also think the effexor may have caused issues with my thyroid. Please let me know if you have learned more.
3 Comments
Hello Oceangirl11, I left the comment above.. yours a while ago.. (I'm MsFitnessNY), and as more time has now passed.. I have learned more.. I went to see a Functional Medicine Doctor who is also a Chiropractic Doctor & Clinical Nutritionist. She extensively reviewed all of my medical tests for the last 5 years, pre-and post Effexor use. (Comprehensive Metabolic Panels, CBC panels, Creatine-Kinase Tests.. T3, T4 & TSH tests.. etc). She analyzed all ingredients in my vitamins & supplements, and a 10 page medical packet I filled out.
After doing all of the above, she put me on an "elimination diet" where for 2 weeks, I eliminated all of the following: all artificial sweeteners (even Stevia), all dairy, nuts, gluten, complex carbs, processed foods.. (I know what is left right? LOL) I was eating mainly fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, bacon, fish & chicken, and I was doing my best to eat 5 meals a day, every 2 hours: 200 calories of a protein & 100 calories of low glycemic carbs) 3 meals & 2 snacks, and drinking a new type of protein I bought through her which has special liver detoxing benefits: it was called NuMedica: "Total Vegan" Vanilla Protein powder. (Mostly only doctors sell this, but I have seen it on Amazon.)
Finally after almost 2 years off Effexor and with regular exercise, weightlifting, running, walking and yoga and following her elimination diet, I started losing 1-2 lbs per day for 2 weeks straight! Mind you, I have exercised and ate pretty clean all along during and after my 1 year on Effexor, but I learned through all of this and seeing her, that I had developed food intolerances to dairy products, and some types of nuts (cashews and almonds), and gluten. I lost 14lbs so far after doing the elimination diet and I am still continuing to lose as she tweaks my regimen when I hit plateaus.
I learned through the process of the elimination diet.. I had developed food intolerances to dairy, gluten and some types of nuts (almonds & cashews). (And I never had this before.) Side note: I've also read in medical journal articles how Effexor changes the way our livers metabolize fats!
When someone has food intolerances or even food sensitivities.. it can keep you from losing weight!! This was truly eye-opening for me because over a 2 week period, I subtracted things from my diet like: all artificial sweeteners, complex carbs, gluten, nuts, dairy etc.. then, over the next 2 weeks, I added one of those eliminated things back once every 3 days to see how I tolerated them. For example, if I bloated out like I was 9 months pregnant and had stomach pain after eating nuts .. so I learned I have an intolerance, and intolerances halt weightloss efforts big time!!!
During the 2 weeks, I eliminated all of the above items.. I finally started dropping 1-2 lbs per day! It was amazing!!! Nothing else before this was working until now! Currently, I now do not eat any dairy products (not even coffee creamer that was hard), no almonds or cashews, and I've kept the weight off, and I am still continuing to lose! Hope this helps if you decide to give it try.. everyone is different of course but this finally worked for me & is still continuing to work...
After doing all of the above, she put me on an "elimination diet" where for 2 weeks, I eliminated all of the following: all artificial sweeteners (even Stevia), all dairy, nuts, gluten, complex carbs, processed foods.. (I know what is left right? LOL) I was eating mainly fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, bacon, fish & chicken, and I was doing my best to eat 5 meals a day, every 2 hours: 200 calories of a protein & 100 calories of low glycemic carbs) 3 meals & 2 snacks, and drinking a new type of protein I bought through her which has special liver detoxing benefits: it was called NuMedica: "Total Vegan" Vanilla Protein powder. (Mostly only doctors sell this, but I have seen it on Amazon.)
Finally after almost 2 years off Effexor and with regular exercise, weightlifting, running, walking and yoga and following her elimination diet, I started losing 1-2 lbs per day for 2 weeks straight! Mind you, I have exercised and ate pretty clean all along during and after my 1 year on Effexor, but I learned through all of this and seeing her, that I had developed food intolerances to dairy products, and some types of nuts (cashews and almonds), and gluten. I lost 14lbs so far after doing the elimination diet and I am still continuing to lose as she tweaks my regimen when I hit plateaus.
I learned through the process of the elimination diet.. I had developed food intolerances to dairy, gluten and some types of nuts (almonds & cashews). (And I never had this before.) Side note: I've also read in medical journal articles how Effexor changes the way our livers metabolize fats!
When someone has food intolerances or even food sensitivities.. it can keep you from losing weight!! This was truly eye-opening for me because over a 2 week period, I subtracted things from my diet like: all artificial sweeteners, complex carbs, gluten, nuts, dairy etc.. then, over the next 2 weeks, I added one of those eliminated things back once every 3 days to see how I tolerated them. For example, if I bloated out like I was 9 months pregnant and had stomach pain after eating nuts .. so I learned I have an intolerance, and intolerances halt weightloss efforts big time!!!
During the 2 weeks, I eliminated all of the above items.. I finally started dropping 1-2 lbs per day! It was amazing!!! Nothing else before this was working until now! Currently, I now do not eat any dairy products (not even coffee creamer that was hard), no almonds or cashews, and I've kept the weight off, and I am still continuing to lose! Hope this helps if you decide to give it try.. everyone is different of course but this finally worked for me & is still continuing to work...
Also, my apologies if any of the above was slightly repetitive.. I was initially responding to two different posts in this thread, yours and another persons, but I just decided to combine my two responses into one.. LOL :)
One other thing I should note, in case you don't already know this.. Functional Medicine Doctors are not covered by health insurance, you have to pay out of pocket for all appointments, and tests.
However, I was very lucky that she only charged me $90 for all of the above help I received! She normally charges $250 for the initial consultation and $447 for food allergy tests, $250, $100 etc. for a bunch of other extensive medical tests they usually only cover for cancer patients she said, but instead I had asked her if she could just analyze all of the previous tests I had requested over a 5 year period from my primary care doctor to save on cost!
However, I was very lucky that she only charged me $90 for all of the above help I received! She normally charges $250 for the initial consultation and $447 for food allergy tests, $250, $100 etc. for a bunch of other extensive medical tests they usually only cover for cancer patients she said, but instead I had asked her if she could just analyze all of the previous tests I had requested over a 5 year period from my primary care doctor to save on cost!
I experienced the exact same symptoms as yours. I was on 300mg for 5 yrs and when it came to weaning myself off, I went down to 150mg and then stopped when I ran out. I suffered through the withdrawals which were absolutely horrible. When I started taking it, I only weighed 123lbs, now I weigh 212lbs. I've only been off it for a week, my withdrawals are completely gone and I have a ton of energy now. I feel like I can't stop talking, I always seem to want to dance my *** off when I hear music playing which is something I never had the energy to do before. I feel really great right now! I used Effexor in prior years but only for a year. I gained a ton of weight then too. At my highest, I weighed 187lbs. After coming off them that time, it took 3 months to get down to 123lbs. It fell off like nobody's business and I was eating all the time.
2 Comments
One other thing I should note, in case you don't already know this.. Functional Medicine Doctors are not covered by health insurance, you have to pay out of pocket for all appointments, and tests.
However, I was very lucky that she only charged me $90 for all of the above help I received! She normally charges $250 for the initial consultation and $447 for food allergy tests, $250, $100 etc. for a bunch of other extensive medical tests they usually only cover for cancer patients she said, but instead I had asked her if she could just analyze all of the previous tests I had requested over a 5 year period from my primary care doctor to save on cost!
However, I was very lucky that she only charged me $90 for all of the above help I received! She normally charges $250 for the initial consultation and $447 for food allergy tests, $250, $100 etc. for a bunch of other extensive medical tests they usually only cover for cancer patients she said, but instead I had asked her if she could just analyze all of the previous tests I had requested over a 5 year period from my primary care doctor to save on cost!
whoops.. ^ this was meant to be in response to Oceangirl11's post above your post.. I can't delete this? My apologies.. ?
Hi All,
I'm in very poor health due to an extremely painful genetic condition. I had taken effexor for years, Rx'd off-label for pain. I was never certain if it helped but all of my drs insisted it was and without it the pain would have been far worse. Around 2007 I had insurance & financial issues and simply couldn't afford to pay for all my meds. Effexor had to go. Yes. Severe vertigo and feeling horrible. But I did it. I did indeed lose weight but never put it together with cutting out the effexor. Still wasn't certain that it was a benefit at all to my pain but I will tell you one thing I did discover: While taking effexor I experienced amazing earth shattering orgasms and that was completely gone the effexor completely cleared my system. I hadn't put the connection together prior as I had assumed my better experience was due to a better partner. Sadly, not so much. I confided this to my endocrinologist who told me most experience sexual dysfunction on antidepressants but a small percentage of women will experience extra-orgasmic effects. She had me go back on 37.5 mg and yes, my amazing sex life returned! When I read people asking, "Why would anyone ever wish to take this poison?" I can tell you, I definitely know one reason why! As time passed my pain management team again wanted me to increase the dose, in distant that it would help block the pain message getting to my brain. Still never certain that's ever worked. Now it's years later, I've been single 2 years with no prospects on the horizon. I've gained 50lbs whilst on the effexor over the last, what, 6+ years. I never put it together with effexor. I have a horribly poor appetite as pain keeps me eating and can also lead to vomitting. For years I kept track of every calorie and would report to my drs something was amiss. I never ate more than 1250 calories a day, an average day for me has been 750 calories. They either haven't believed me or have been mystified. One 10 day hospitalization the facts were in their face. I entered hospital and was weighed on the hospital scale, 199lbs. After a week in bed I told my nurse I felt heavy, she brought in a scale, I kid you not, I was 247lbs. Most important factor I neglected to mention, dr increased the effexor to 225mg during my stay. One dr in particular couldn't believe it. Refused to believe it. He demanded a pair of orderlies drag up the massive scale used in admittance. True enough, on the same scale I had weighed 199lbs about a week earlier I now weighed 242lbs. First, he started to argue that I hadn't gained the 48lbs they had first thought but 43lbs! I calmly asked if that really mattered? The point was that they knew exactly what I had been eating and my weight had gone up 20% in a period of less than 10 days. Ridiculous. After release I struggled and have been able to get my weight down to 220, then I plateau. Dr tried to insist it was all water but still, I asked how could that be? I was not hooked to IF and there was no way I was drinking 40lbs+ of water! I took the diuretics he Rx'd but still only got down to 220 in the year since that happened.
So now a different dr wanted me to start a different med for my condition but it was contraindicated with effexor. Again, I told him that I never really knew if the effexor helped with the pain as the pain has only continued to worsen. Convinced him it was time to dump the effexor once and for all and try the new med he thought may benefit my genetic illness. I'm single and not getting any anyway, right? I'm at day 5 of weaning down, down to 37.5 mg. Yes, I've had some vertigo and nausea. And yes, maybe it has been helping with the pain because the pain level has definitely jumped a few notches. But sheesh, I've already lost 6lbs. Wtf? Swear to you, after all these years, today was the first day I googled, weight loss with effexor withdrawal and weight gain with effexor. I have to take so many medications I just assumed by telling my drs that I barely eat and have put on 50-60lbs over the last 6 years (90 if you count how high I went in hospital when they upped my dose) that one of them would figure out why or tell me that one of my meds was known for such weight gain. Nope. Not one.
Soon I will be completely off effexor. Fingers crossed I will lose the 50lbs or near to it! If there is another man in my life at some point, well, either I'll make him work harder or I'll investigate if there are other antidepressants out there that can offer me the same orgasmic bliss.
Good luck to us all!
I'm in very poor health due to an extremely painful genetic condition. I had taken effexor for years, Rx'd off-label for pain. I was never certain if it helped but all of my drs insisted it was and without it the pain would have been far worse. Around 2007 I had insurance & financial issues and simply couldn't afford to pay for all my meds. Effexor had to go. Yes. Severe vertigo and feeling horrible. But I did it. I did indeed lose weight but never put it together with cutting out the effexor. Still wasn't certain that it was a benefit at all to my pain but I will tell you one thing I did discover: While taking effexor I experienced amazing earth shattering orgasms and that was completely gone the effexor completely cleared my system. I hadn't put the connection together prior as I had assumed my better experience was due to a better partner. Sadly, not so much. I confided this to my endocrinologist who told me most experience sexual dysfunction on antidepressants but a small percentage of women will experience extra-orgasmic effects. She had me go back on 37.5 mg and yes, my amazing sex life returned! When I read people asking, "Why would anyone ever wish to take this poison?" I can tell you, I definitely know one reason why! As time passed my pain management team again wanted me to increase the dose, in distant that it would help block the pain message getting to my brain. Still never certain that's ever worked. Now it's years later, I've been single 2 years with no prospects on the horizon. I've gained 50lbs whilst on the effexor over the last, what, 6+ years. I never put it together with effexor. I have a horribly poor appetite as pain keeps me eating and can also lead to vomitting. For years I kept track of every calorie and would report to my drs something was amiss. I never ate more than 1250 calories a day, an average day for me has been 750 calories. They either haven't believed me or have been mystified. One 10 day hospitalization the facts were in their face. I entered hospital and was weighed on the hospital scale, 199lbs. After a week in bed I told my nurse I felt heavy, she brought in a scale, I kid you not, I was 247lbs. Most important factor I neglected to mention, dr increased the effexor to 225mg during my stay. One dr in particular couldn't believe it. Refused to believe it. He demanded a pair of orderlies drag up the massive scale used in admittance. True enough, on the same scale I had weighed 199lbs about a week earlier I now weighed 242lbs. First, he started to argue that I hadn't gained the 48lbs they had first thought but 43lbs! I calmly asked if that really mattered? The point was that they knew exactly what I had been eating and my weight had gone up 20% in a period of less than 10 days. Ridiculous. After release I struggled and have been able to get my weight down to 220, then I plateau. Dr tried to insist it was all water but still, I asked how could that be? I was not hooked to IF and there was no way I was drinking 40lbs+ of water! I took the diuretics he Rx'd but still only got down to 220 in the year since that happened.
So now a different dr wanted me to start a different med for my condition but it was contraindicated with effexor. Again, I told him that I never really knew if the effexor helped with the pain as the pain has only continued to worsen. Convinced him it was time to dump the effexor once and for all and try the new med he thought may benefit my genetic illness. I'm single and not getting any anyway, right? I'm at day 5 of weaning down, down to 37.5 mg. Yes, I've had some vertigo and nausea. And yes, maybe it has been helping with the pain because the pain level has definitely jumped a few notches. But sheesh, I've already lost 6lbs. Wtf? Swear to you, after all these years, today was the first day I googled, weight loss with effexor withdrawal and weight gain with effexor. I have to take so many medications I just assumed by telling my drs that I barely eat and have put on 50-60lbs over the last 6 years (90 if you count how high I went in hospital when they upped my dose) that one of them would figure out why or tell me that one of my meds was known for such weight gain. Nope. Not one.
Soon I will be completely off effexor. Fingers crossed I will lose the 50lbs or near to it! If there is another man in my life at some point, well, either I'll make him work harder or I'll investigate if there are other antidepressants out there that can offer me the same orgasmic bliss.
Good luck to us all!
Get off the Effexor A.S.A.P!!! I was on it for anxiety, and it made me go from super anxiety and emotional to numb! I hated it. I would rather feel something then nothing. Now...I was on 325mg for 4 months. I gained 30 pounds in that short period of time. I have been off the meds for 4 and a half months, exercise 4 to 5 times a week and on a 1200 calorie diet and can NOT seem to lose even 1 pound. Effexor was the worst mistake I even made.
Get off the Effexor A.S.A.P!!! I was on it for anxiety, and it made me go from super anxiety and emotional to numb! I hated it. I would rather feel something then nothing. Now...I was on 325mg for 4 months. I gained 30 pounds in that short period of time. I have been off the meds for 4 and a half months, exercise 4 to 5 times a week and on a 1200 calorie diet and can NOT seem to lose even 1 pound. Effexor was the worst mistake I even made.
I am so happy I found this thread. I started effexor in April 2014 and it is now almost September and I have gained 25lbs. I know everyone is different and has different side effects but this medicine is the culprit for me. I have had gastric sleeve surgery and never had the appetite I have now that I am taking this medicine. And as someone else pointed out, I rather be thin and a little miserable than fat and happy. I am not even happy at this point because one of my biggest depression triggers is when I was extremely overweight before my surgery so now that I have gained weight, all those awful feelings are coming back. I am only on 37.5mg and I am going to start weaning myself off immediately. I hope I dont' have the awful side effects everyone is talking about. I am a single parent with 2 kids and I need to be functioning 100% of the time. I also take Prozac but have been taking if for years and have never had this problem like I've had with the Effexor. I wish all of you the best of luck, hopefully we can move on and try something different or natural. These medicines cannot be good for our bodies.
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