I'm so relieved to know im not alone! My doctor made me feel like im crazy, wanting to come off efexor because of my weight gain (6kgs in 3 months). She assured me the drug wasn't the cause of this, stating she had NEVER come across anyone that gained weight on it. I'm very in tune with my body and have always managed to maintain a healthy weight, however now i constantly feel bloated and full even when im starving hungry. I'm scared of coming off this drug because of the side effects (i have tried several times), but after reading all your posts ive decided im going to the health shop today to get something natural
I was on Effexor for a year or so. Initially I lost my appetite and lost a few pounds. Then eating what I normally eat, the weight packed on. I'm only 5ft. 1 so I can't afford to be heavy. That was my main reason for going off. I don't want the weight gain to lead to diabetes which runs in my family. I am hoping that after being off of Effexor since July 2011, I will only have to wait a few more months until I begin to see the pounds I gained while on it come off. I don't even step on the scale anymore because it is too depressing! I weaned off with help from my doctor so the withdrawal symptoms I'm reading that others experience were not that bad. I just want my body to get back to normal.
if you can, get VYVANSE at least 40 mg. really works for depression. (shire doing trials now for fda additional use, but lots of research already out. ONLY DRUG TO HELP ME with depression. you might have to inform doc about it;s other uses.do research on it take it in to docs. it is worth pushing for it. it really works the best of all that type of drug
I too have gained a crazy amt of weight in a short period of time. Went on this c**p in dec, was 20 lbs heavier by April. Let me be clear: fitness is what I do for a living. I am a group fitness director and personal trainer for a large chain of private health clubs. I work out for a living. I also know more than the average person about nutrition and have access to testing, tools and resources that most people don't have such as heart rate monitors, metabolic testing, nutritionists and the best team of fitness professionals around. What I didn't have, was a primary care doctor who really gave a hoot about me and who would take the time to RESEARCH this drug before giving it to his patients. This drug DOES cause weight gain, in my case so much so that it has negatively impacted my career, my well being and has seriously messed with my identity. I was better off without this drug, no question. Missing one dose caused major side effects and I felt like total c**p. It took me 8 weeks to get it out of my system, it was not easy. I literally extended the length of time between doses by 2 hrs every two days. Imagine trying to teach an intense fitness class when you are hung over. That is what it's like to get off this terrible drug. Meanwhile the weight keeps coming and faster than before. 8 pounds gained in THREE WEEKS! While working with a trainer, and ON NUTRISYSTEM!!!! I'm more depressed now than I've ever been, and NOT because I'm off the drug. All my docs regurgitate what the pharmaceutical companies tell them to say. This drug doesn't cause weight gain. You are just getting older. You're not a spring chicken anymore. You must be eating too much. You must be lazy. Sorry if being fit and feeling strong is a big part of who you are. I guess you are just gonna have to deal with the new you. All this from a morbidly obese gynocoligist and a country doc who doesn't work out at all. So not only am I now doubting everything I thought I knew about myself, I am questioning whether I'm being shallow or I'm just not accepting my age. Well metabolic test results say different. My metabolism was found to be SLOW despite all the weight training I do and all the cardio. SLOW. Test results 8 months ago prove that it wasn't slow BEFORE Effexor. But it was AFTER. That's as black and white as it gets. Btw I've also been tested extensively for thyroid and my cortisol levels were found to be normal. Blood sugar, normal. Think about it, if everyone knew they would gain weight on this drug, how much money would the pharmaceutical companies lose? A LOT. I'd be willing to bet that the few posts we see in these forums by people who adamantly say that this drug "does not cause weight gain" and state claims that weight was LOST are posted my pharmaceutical company reps. I'm living proof that this drug is dangerous, it's hard to get off of, it DOES cause weight gain and it has seriously injured me physically, mentally and emotionally. I am a wreck over this. I don't feel strong. I feel old. I feel useless and frustrated. I feel like ill never be the same. THAT'S a side effect you will never see listed in those stupid pamphlets. Its been 2 weeks since I've taken my last pill. I'm so glad I'm off it but I have no idea if ill ever get my mind or my body back. Btw, guess who called me today asking if I wanted them to call my doc for a refill for Effexor? CVS! (Just as a courtesy, how nice!) of course i told them to pound sand but make no mistake. those jerks would be THRILLED if I said, why yes, thank you. by all means keep poisoning me with your c**p; keep lying to me. That's what they're banking on. Your health is not important to these companies, but your money is!!SAY NO TO EFFEXOR!!!!
I am suffering the same type of weight gain and am about to try to go off effexor. Reading your note is scarey. I sure hope it will be easier than you had it . Sorry you had it so bad, but I can sympathize. My doctor says it does cause weight gain, If I miss a pill, I get dizzy, Just know that you are right. Good Luck.
Consider very carefully before taking this medication. Unfortunately we're not usually capable of this as we're usually very depressed and are willing to accept any help that's offered at such a low time. I was prescribed this medication and when the first dose had no effect it was promptly increased. No improvement, another increase and another. This went on for nearly 10 YEARS, when another GP asked me why????
After a Q&A session I was sent for blood tests, abdominal scans and my Effexor was reduced immediately.
RESULT...Thyroid condition was diagnosed (all the symptoms similar to depression) and the phantom pains, bloating, back pain, nausia turned out to be a gallstone the size of a golf ball. As for the vision problems (supposedly a side effect of Effexor) that turned out to be 'Graves Desease'
Whilst GP's do all they can in the 10mins they can give you, I urge anyone suffering from ANY kind of depression TAKE SOMEONE WITH YOU who will ask all the right questions and not be fobbed off with a prescription and be told to come back in two weeks
It's taken me nearly 3yrs, to get off the b****y stuff and on the last leg now. Then I start my surgery
My heart goes out to those of you who are having such difficulties but it's not always depression so many other conditions present themselves as such, please, please explore them first before taking these drugs
I have also been struggling to stop effexor and am thoroughly frustrated with the weight I've gained. Over about a 2 year period I have gained 30 lbs. I just won't I knew when it would start coming off. I have been off effexor for about 10 days. My dr prescribed Prozac as a bridge and it helped tremendously.
Hi! I am also very into fitness and health (although I do not do it for a career). I went to SO MANY visits to my doctor trying to figure out what was causing my 20 lb weight gain and they had no idea. I had every test known to man run on me. I finally quit taking Effexor after reading hundreds of similar posts. I have been weaning off effexor for the past 5 or 6 weeks and have been completely effexor free for 4 days. I am getting married in Janauary 2015 and do not want to be fat in my photos. Have you had any success in taking the weight off after quitting the medicine?
L tyrosine and iodine are very important in maintaining a healthy thyroid. I believe effexor is known too cause hypothyroidism, so ask your doctor about taking l tyrosine and a multivitamin with iodine (obviously) (; so that your meeting your daily requirements. L tyrosine is just an amino acid that we get from food. Mainly meats and dairy products contain higher amounts of tyrosine, but now that everything is so processed who really knows what the hell is in there anymore.
Hope this is a little helpful! (:
This post makes me want to scream! Both for the insensitivity of it and because, in the end, Effexor will turn on you. I hope when it does, there is someone compassionate available to help you. Someone who doesn't make excuses for those who manufacture evil (yes, I said evil) drugs and heap judgment on those who suffer.
Yes! I'm so bloated I feel like I will pop! Took one of my mothers Lasix, cause I'm afraid this fluid build up could affect my heart! How long does the bloat last! . I'm 15 days off now
I have been on Effexor for about 12 years...about four years ago, I went to my Dr with complaints of headaches, mood swings, anger and weight gain....He increased my dosage from 75 mg to 150mg...never meantionning the side effects of this drug...so over the last four years, as these symptoms got worse, I started researching and found that this blasted drug, meant to help these symptoms, was actually causing them...I have a constant low grade headace, always bloated, pin pricks in the brain (zaps) and have gained 15-20 lb s while eating pretty much a vegan diet and exercising. I am now on week five of weaning myself off, dropping 25 mg every two weeks...today was the worst...how long after my last dose..probably the first week in May...will I lose thse symptoms? Gotta get some relief...don't wont to see anyone just hide..
I started taking Effexor and the doctor said it would not make me gain weight. I was on s 1200 calorie diet and gained 30 pounds very quickly. It wasn't until my twin sister said she was taking this drug when she gained over 30 pounds that I immediately decided to get off it. She used the Jillian michaels cook book and diet master your metabolism to lose all 30 pounds. Now I'm in the process and have lost 3 pound my first week. Had a weekend in bed dealing with zaps but I'm ready to be myself again.
I was on Effexor for a year and gained 28 lbs. Beacuse of the weight gain I started with a personal trainer and only ate 1200 calories a day and never lost anything in 5 months. I have been off for 6 weeks now and have lost very little but its better than nothing, I decided to get off of it because I didn't feel I needed it any longer. My doctor dropped me from 150 mg to 75 mg. I took 2 weeks of the 75 mg and went cold turkey. Head zaps were crazy and I was extremely tired but after 8 days those were gone. The only thing now is I cry very easy but I feel as though I was more depressed on the medicine. Anyone who is thinking about getting off needs too....its so worth it!!!
I highly recommend anyone that wants to wean off of Effexor to do the "Prozac bridge". This is coming from someone with panic disorder and 15 years on Effexor. It took me 4 days on Prozac to never feel the withdrawal symptoms from Effexor. Amazing.