Me too. I eat a healthy diet and run every day. I gained 20 lbs on 37.5 since the end of May 2017. It is around my middle and on the tops of my legs.
What do you mean lawsuit? I have gained aproximatly 50 pound since starting effexor..I could not afford the weight gain ...as I was already 50 pounds overweight...so it went from a problem that could be taken care of by me pretty easily....as I have lost and gained weight since puberty. Now 100 overweight...all the things I used to do to loose weight...don't even budge my weight!!!! I always reacted very well to exercise... now ...nothing.... even Zenecal. (Weight loss prescription) didn't work this time...which really surprised me. Effexor as far as helping depression....doesn't really work I find.. so why the he'll. Am I on it? The doctor won't even acknowledge that effexor makes you gain weight and doesn't discuss helping me get off it. He puts me up up up. So I am going to take it into my own hands and get off it. I've been on and off it for years. I want everyone to know...if your a woman and your depressed ...the last damn thing you need is a solution that makes you gain massive amounts of weight!!! There are so many other medication and such that will help you a lot more AND won't make you feel like dying because you look so fat and ugly!!! Good luck ladies!!
Just wondering if you were ever able to drop the Effexor weight? If so, how long did it take?
Hey! I don't know if you're still trying to get off of Effexor, but a big reason you feel so ill coming off of it is because you're tapering way too fast. I made a taper plan with my psychiatrist, a slow one because I get bad withdrawal, and I'm doing it right now, going down 25 milligrams and staying there for two weeks before going down again. I'm at 275 right now, from 300, and the worst I've gotten is a headache for two days. It's going really well for me. When you go down fast, not only do you get bad withdrawal, but you get it worse and worse as you go down. You want to go slow, slow, slow, and make a formal, conservative withdrawal plan with your doctor.
WOW! My heart is beating so fast reading through all these comments!
So January 2017 my therapist suggested I try Effexor. She had put a few of her other patients on it and felt they were improving with their depression. I wasn't keen on the idea of taking medication. But, she told me that at any time I wanted off, I could. So, I said ok, I'll give it one year. I went to my MD who filled the Rx and was familiar with my history of trauma and depression, as well. The first month was torture! I was exhausted, but couldn't sleep! I was going insane. I just wanted off! But after the first month, my sleep patterns normalized again. I was like "oh great, the worst is over!"
Boy was I wrong!
As the months progressed, so did my weight! So...In my late 20s I was engaged, and he was diagnosed with cancer. I focused so much on his health that I gained over 40lbs. Then in 2010, at the age of 29, I decided enough was enough and I was going to take control of my weight. I joined Weight Watchers and lost over 70lbs in less than one year. I maintained my weight loss up until I started taking Effexor in 2017. I gained almost 50lbs! I was still eating right, working out...but the weight kept piling on. Then over the late summer, like August...my body went into fatigue mode. I barely had the energy to get up...I'd have to sneak away for naps at work...obviously I couldn't go to the gym...I would sleep straight through the night and still felt like I need hours of sleep upon waking up. I felt horrible. My knees were hurting. I could barely walk up the 4 flights of stairs to my apartment, which was never an issue. So in October, I went to see my doctor. She looked at my charts and saw that my weight gain started after starting Effexor. She also saw my cholesterol levels were through the roof, when they were always normal. My blood pressure was consistently high. I told her I wanted off. She said discuss with my therapist and then we can work on tapering me off the meds. She put me on cholesterol meds.
I know I took a risk, but I just stopped taking it cold turkey. I had no types of withdrawals. It was like...nothing. Then I realized that while I was on the meds, I just felt...like I was on neutral all the time. I felt happy or upset inside...but I wasn't showing it! Like I was a zombie. But I did suffer that bloat...gained 5lbs of bloat on top of the 45lbs I had piled on! Ugh! But then by the end of November I started to see some weight come off. By January, my cholesterol was back to normal from the huge and dangerous numbers. I lost about 10-12lbs...but I've plateaud. I re-joined weight watchers (I Initially thought the weight plan changes they made was making me gain weight, so I came off the program.) so that has been a big help. But I don't feel like the weight is coming off fast enough. Last few weeks have been a little tough and I don't see weight coming off. So. I really want to find something to help kick start my metabolism again. This is crazy.
I honestly don't think I needed those pills to begin with. My therapist feels awful because she knows that the weight loss from my past was a HUGE accomplishment for me. And she had no idea this was going to happen, or else she'd never suggested it. She didn't want me to become depressed over it. Well, I am depressed over it. I need my body back! My health!
Is there a class action lawsuit against Effexor? I would love to join it if there is.
So January 2017 my therapist suggested I try Effexor. She had put a few of her other patients on it and felt they were improving with their depression. I wasn't keen on the idea of taking medication. But, she told me that at any time I wanted off, I could. So, I said ok, I'll give it one year. I went to my MD who filled the Rx and was familiar with my history of trauma and depression, as well. The first month was torture! I was exhausted, but couldn't sleep! I was going insane. I just wanted off! But after the first month, my sleep patterns normalized again. I was like "oh great, the worst is over!"
Boy was I wrong!
As the months progressed, so did my weight! So...In my late 20s I was engaged, and he was diagnosed with cancer. I focused so much on his health that I gained over 40lbs. Then in 2010, at the age of 29, I decided enough was enough and I was going to take control of my weight. I joined Weight Watchers and lost over 70lbs in less than one year. I maintained my weight loss up until I started taking Effexor in 2017. I gained almost 50lbs! I was still eating right, working out...but the weight kept piling on. Then over the late summer, like August...my body went into fatigue mode. I barely had the energy to get up...I'd have to sneak away for naps at work...obviously I couldn't go to the gym...I would sleep straight through the night and still felt like I need hours of sleep upon waking up. I felt horrible. My knees were hurting. I could barely walk up the 4 flights of stairs to my apartment, which was never an issue. So in October, I went to see my doctor. She looked at my charts and saw that my weight gain started after starting Effexor. She also saw my cholesterol levels were through the roof, when they were always normal. My blood pressure was consistently high. I told her I wanted off. She said discuss with my therapist and then we can work on tapering me off the meds. She put me on cholesterol meds.
I know I took a risk, but I just stopped taking it cold turkey. I had no types of withdrawals. It was like...nothing. Then I realized that while I was on the meds, I just felt...like I was on neutral all the time. I felt happy or upset inside...but I wasn't showing it! Like I was a zombie. But I did suffer that bloat...gained 5lbs of bloat on top of the 45lbs I had piled on! Ugh! But then by the end of November I started to see some weight come off. By January, my cholesterol was back to normal from the huge and dangerous numbers. I lost about 10-12lbs...but I've plateaud. I re-joined weight watchers (I Initially thought the weight plan changes they made was making me gain weight, so I came off the program.) so that has been a big help. But I don't feel like the weight is coming off fast enough. Last few weeks have been a little tough and I don't see weight coming off. So. I really want to find something to help kick start my metabolism again. This is crazy.
I honestly don't think I needed those pills to begin with. My therapist feels awful because she knows that the weight loss from my past was a HUGE accomplishment for me. And she had no idea this was going to happen, or else she'd never suggested it. She didn't want me to become depressed over it. Well, I am depressed over it. I need my body back! My health!
Is there a class action lawsuit against Effexor? I would love to join it if there is.
I have been on effexor er 75mg for about a year. I have gained 25lbs in ONE year. I am very petite, so, going from 125 to 152 was a BIG increase in body weight. My stomach looks bloated, it starts pushing out right under my breasts. I am tired, out of breath. To add 1/5th of your body weight in one year is horrible. I went from a size 6 to a size 12 in one year. I have tried strict dieting, working out, and even fasting for a day here or there. NOTHING brings my weight down. So, I quit taking it about a week ago. Really, it hasn't been bad at ALL. I am hoping to lose this weight. I am 5'3 and 152 lbs. The weight gain has made it hard to move around, hard to breathe, especially at night. It sucks.I would not recommend this medicine personally. The weight gain and depression caused by all that it entails, totally offset ANY good that came from this medicine. My doctor told me it would help with hot flashes as well. It didn't. Maybe SOME, but not enough to stay on it. (not any more than foot out of the covers and a little powder or cornstarch behind the neck at bedtime). Hope this helps!
ps. I am one of those people who have always been able to lose weight easily, but not while taking this. After stopping this drug for a week and walking every day. I do see an improvement. Not in the bloating so much, but on the sides. I am hoping the bloating goes down soon.
ps. I am one of those people who have always been able to lose weight easily, but not while taking this. After stopping this drug for a week and walking every day. I do see an improvement. Not in the bloating so much, but on the sides. I am hoping the bloating goes down soon.
I’m interested
wow! Im in the same boat as you and i feel so good to be reading this. Im not alone. Thank You!
Not sure if you’re even following this anymore, but I’m now 14 days off Effexor and extremely bloated. I actually went to the ER last night because it felt like my belly was going to explode.
If you see this, I’d love to know if this went away for you.
If you see this, I’d love to know if this went away for you.
Allstar574178676
I am definitely interested but I’m sure it’s in the disclosures
I am definitely interested but I’m sure it’s in the disclosures
I also gained a significant amount of weight (100 lbs) after the military prescribed Effexor for PTSD— despite being very physically active. I’ve tapered down from 225 to 37.5 over the past 10 weeks and am now on day 3 of no Effexor at all. Other than dizziness, headache and an incredible increase in energy, the withdrawal isn’t as horrible as I thought it would be. I’ve started working with a personal trainer and watching my diet. Fingers crossed the Effexor Extras will come off
You're absolutely correct about judging ourselves and the lawsuit. Be well.
There's a lawsuit? Same here, on it for 6 months and gained 20lbs after being in 120's all my life. Because i am 52 it's now because of menopause....right. The weight is very different. I feel bloated too and sometimes feel like my middle is going to explode or at least get stretch marks! I also have terrible heart flutters, swelling in my legs and skyrocketing cholesterol . WTH. All in 6 months. Previously healthy with no issues other than low iron . No meds, no disease...nothing. UK has limited its use due cardiovascular issues. Guess I have it all. I am weaning off now. Appt with cardiologist next week.
I am so angry to fin out that effexor is the medication that has cause me to gain weight. At first I thought it was my remeron and/or seroquel but I got off both those medications months ago. Since being off the seroquel I barely eat anything. I also tried to diet and exercise. I've always been very thin and I am only 28 years old, the most I would weight would be 130lbs but I usually average about 125lbs. Since being on effexor for about 10 months now, I weight 160 lbs. I eat healthy and I try and exercise but nothing changes. And after coming off the other medications that are known to cause weight gain, I'm convinced that effexor has something to do with it. The withdrawals aren't fun but I am a recovering heroin addict so I've dealt with worse. I was able to ween myself off the past 5 days pretty quickly. I hope I start seeing that I can drop some weight soon, but after ready all these comment about you guys saying you've stopped the medication and you still haven't lost weight, I am very concerned. Fingers crossed. Has anyways stopped effexor and actually lost the weight?
Health Hero
1626 posts
Hello, guest.
While individual experiences can vary, some people have reported losing weight after stopping Effexor (venlafaxine). However, it's important to note that weight loss is not guaranteed, and it may vary from person to person. Here are some general tips that may help with weight management:
Focus on a healthy diet: Eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Portion control and mindful eating can also be helpful. Consider consulting a registered dietitian who can provide personalized dietary guidance.
Regular exercise: Engage in regular physical activity that you enjoy. Incorporate both cardiovascular exercises (such as walking, jogging, or cycling) and strength training exercises into your routine. Exercise can help with weight management, improve mood, and boost overall well-being.
Practice mindful eating: Pay attention to your body's hunger and fullness cues. Avoid emotional eating and mindless snacking. Eat slowly, savoring each bite, and listen to your body's signals of satisfaction.
Seek support: Consider joining a support group or seeking counseling to help manage your emotions, cope with stress, and address any underlying issues related to your weight or mental health. Support from others who have gone through similar experiences can be valuable.
Remember that weight loss should be approached in a healthy and sustainable way. It's important to be patient with yourself and set realistic goals.
Hope this helps.
While individual experiences can vary, some people have reported losing weight after stopping Effexor (venlafaxine). However, it's important to note that weight loss is not guaranteed, and it may vary from person to person. Here are some general tips that may help with weight management:
Focus on a healthy diet: Eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Portion control and mindful eating can also be helpful. Consider consulting a registered dietitian who can provide personalized dietary guidance.
Regular exercise: Engage in regular physical activity that you enjoy. Incorporate both cardiovascular exercises (such as walking, jogging, or cycling) and strength training exercises into your routine. Exercise can help with weight management, improve mood, and boost overall well-being.
Practice mindful eating: Pay attention to your body's hunger and fullness cues. Avoid emotional eating and mindless snacking. Eat slowly, savoring each bite, and listen to your body's signals of satisfaction.
Seek support: Consider joining a support group or seeking counseling to help manage your emotions, cope with stress, and address any underlying issues related to your weight or mental health. Support from others who have gone through similar experiences can be valuable.
Remember that weight loss should be approached in a healthy and sustainable way. It's important to be patient with yourself and set realistic goals.
Hope this helps.