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.

[barzolaman]

I have started taking Effexor a few months back and started a diet also (Weight Watchers). I have managed to loss 19 lbs but did hit a plateau for about 3 weeks.  The Effexor did wonders for me mentally  and so far I have managed to stay on the diet. I hope that I can continue.

[barzolaman]

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060315/msgs/623010.html

Here is a link that you might find useful.

[vaustin]

i have been taking effexor since May of 2003 and since then i have gained 90-95 lbs.  Diet and exercise do not work for me especially because i had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia one year prior to taking effexor.  Right now i'm on 150mg. Tomorrow i plan to talk to my doctor about being taken off of all my medication.  I've read that effexor helped deal with depression even though they had gained weight, but its just the opposite for me.  My former doctor put me on effexor, which i think was a mistake on his part.  I trusted his diagnoses when i told him that a close friend had just died when he asked if i had been feeling "sad" or "depressed" lately. but i told him that i had no prior symptoms of depression and still he wrote me a perscription.  I Regret taking this medication.  And i know that its partly my fault for listening to him.  Effexor had caused me to start cutting and i've been having intense feelings of depression.  Even when showing him the cuts on my arms and telling him that i was getting worse he kept upping the dosage.  I havent cut in a long time and thats due to my husband.  What i'm really worried about is the weight i've gained and if i'll be able to lose it even after being taken off of it.  If any one knows it would be helpful. Thanks.

[vaustin]

i have been taking effexor since May of 2003 and since then i have gained 90-95 lbs.  Diet and exercise do not work for me especially because i had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia one year prior to taking effexor.  Right now i'm on 150mg. Tomorrow i plan to talk to my doctor about being taken off of all my medication.  I've read that effexor helped deal with depression even though they had gained weight, but its just the opposite for me.  My former doctor put me on effexor, which i think was a mistake on his part.  I trusted his diagnoses when i told him that a close friend had just died when he asked if i had been feeling "sad" or "depressed" lately. but i told him that i had no prior symptoms of depression and still he wrote me a perscription.  I Regret taking this medication.  And i know that its partly my fault for listening to him.  Effexor had caused me to start cutting and i've been having intense feelings of depression.  Even when showing him the cuts on my arms and telling him that i was getting worse he kept upping the dosage.  I havent cut in a long time and thats due to my husband.  What i'm really worried about is the weight i've gained and if i'll be able to lose it even after being taken off of it.  If any one knows it would be helpful. Thanks.

[Tomjustone]

I didn't gain weight while taking ffexor but I felt so num and subdued that i stopped exercising. When it was ineffective for the depression-like symptoms I was showing my DR increased the dosage. For me, the side-effects were worse thanwhat I had been experiencing and I chose to stop taking the drug. I tapered off for a month and then stopped cold turkey. I had horrible withdrawal symptoms including seasickness-like nausea, joint and limb pain, stomach cramps and diarrhea, mood swings, insomnia and probably, worst of all, the brain zaps or shivers.

I'm going into my 6th week off the drug and while the withdrawal symptoms are not as intense, I experience some of these negatives effects every day, particularly in the sfternoon as I tire.

My DR seemed unaware of the magnitude of the effects of coming off the drug and if I had been warned, I wouldn't have taken it. He wants to prescribe another antidepressant and I prefer to face my depression with therapy and diet and exercise. I don't want to face trhis experience again.

I fear I will feel this way the rest of my life. That's depressing!

[Tomjustone]

Sorry, second post....I gained 12 pounds in a month after I stopped taking Effexor.