Effexor XR and IMPOSSIBLE Weight-loss

[fattygurl]

I've been on 75 mg. of Effexor XR for about 4 years now. I do realize that this is a very small dose to be on in comparison to some people. A year before that (when I was first diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety/Panic Attacks), my dr. prescribed me Paxil. While on that, I gained upwards of 30 lbs. in only 1 year!? It worked for my attacks, but after a while, it's effectiveness wore off and my body seemed to have plateaued. The weight-gain was out of control, so I asked my dr. what I should do. She switched me to Effexor XR from that point on. Since that time, I have had excellent success with this med. in the respects of controlling my anxiety (almost to a fault). But since starting all of my drug therapies (in total), I have gained 75+ pounds!!?!?!?? Being that I am barely 5'2", you can imagine how awful I look. I have tried every avenue of removing this weight (from the most basic & strict diet you could imagine, to the South Beach-esque diets) to no avail. I would love to get off this type of med. altogether, but if that is not an option, I am desperately seeking some advice on any other meds that may allow my body's natural metabolism to correct itself and return to what it used to be before I started any meds. Just for a visual, before I started I weighed 114 lbs., now I weigh 200 +. Please help me.

[Carrie0987]

I have been on Effexor for about 2 months now. I am 16 years old. I have had great success with Effexor! When I was diagnosed with depression, I was using food as comfort. I was 131 pounds and very self conscious about my body. When I went on Effexor, I started to noticed right away that I was beginning to loose weight. After about 1 week, I have already lost 4 pounds. At the end of the month, I lost a total of 10 pounds. My eating habits were slitely affected. I lost my appetite, and I usually went the morning and afternoon without eating and still didn't feel hungry. After the medication got adjusted to being in my body, then I gained some of my appetite back and so far I have only gained 3 pounds back. I am very pleased about Effexor. :)

[nclui01]

I have tried almost every antidepressant out there, and nothing worked for me like Effexor has.  I started on a dosage of 75mg once/day, then went down to THE lowest dosage possible, 37.5 mg...have been on this medication for I think 3 or 4 years now, and I have gained A LOT of weight.  I used to weigh around 170, and now I am up to 205.  What ***** is that the Effexor for me has killed my appetite, but it seems that even if I look at food I gain weight.  I have been to the doctor, had my thyroid checked, had all kinds of blood work done, but everything turned up normal.  I would love to get off of Effexor, but the side effects ARE horrible.  Even at the low dose I'm on, if I don't take it for even ONE day, I experience side effects.  If I could give any advice on this drug--DON'T take it...it's not worth the weight gain, withdrawal symptoms, and not to mention the horribly low libido and inability to climax...I was in a relationship, and this made sex very frustrating for me and my partner.  I think these drugs Pharmaceutical companies are pushing are WORSE than crack cocaine or heroin!!!  They mess up your body and are almost Impossible to get off of!  I've been searching for alternatives, but there really is nothing 'natural' or equivalent that I've found comparable to Effexor so far.  It's awful..like a "catch-22."  Good luck.

[3honeybee]

nclui01, your story sounds so much like what I have been experiencing for years. No one told me this medication was ruining my life!!! I can't even get off of it because the side effects are so horrible. Well, finally due to a prescription mix-up I have been off of Effexor ER for 5 days and guess what!!! I have lost 5 pounds!!! I hope the panic attacks stay away, but I am going to do my best to go holistic this time. I am 100+ pounds over weight with spinal stenosis, and several other health issues. This medication is killing me! The Pharmaceutical companies are just like street dealers, all they care about is getting their money.

[3honeybee]

nclui01, your story sounds so much like what I have been experiencing for years. No one told me this medication was ruining my life!!! I can't even get off of it because the side effects are so horrible. Well, finally due to a prescription mix-up I have been off of Effexor ER for 5 days and guess what!!! I have lost 5 pounds!!! I hope the panic attacks stay away, but I am going to do my best to go holistic this time. I am 100+ pounds over weight with spinal stenosis, and several other health issues. This medication is killing me! The Pharmaceutical companies are just like street dealers, all they care about is getting their money.

[needstrength]

Please update! While our stories are Not identical you describe what I am dealing with. Hope you are doing well!!
Thanks!

[missypp]

I have been on effexor for five months now. I started having extreme panic attacks and my Doctor thought it might help my anxiety, it did but I have gained twenty pounds I never had a problem with weight before no matter what I ate or how much I would never gain a pound untill now I want to stop taking this drug but I get sick if I miss a dose I wish I would have never started.

[arbasrfprb]

Hey, i'm on the same thing. Just eat right, drink lots of water and be active. Eat the recommended calorie intake, 1200-1500. Find a workout regimen that works for you and you'll lose it :) This is coming from a girl with the same experience.I just made sure to cut down on how much I ate, watched what I ate, etc.

[Effxfat]

And how long did it take? In 8 mos gained 20lbs!
Never been this heavy in my life! Tried everything. I know my body n when the weight started to creep and the usual things I do to get it back didn't work, I knew something was up. I tapered off from 150 mg the past  6 weeks and now 11 days effexor free now. Weight not moving much. Please tell me my weight will go back to normal and about how long. And please- I don't need a condescending tip to diet and exercise. Tried everything you can possibly imagine and more to lose this weight.  Thanks!