I am going cold turkey myself. Been on Effexor for approximately 3 years. I was a size 0 and now I am at my highest weight ever 170lbs. I was put on this medication for my migraines, and what's worse is that it didn't ever really help. I have never felt so horrible about myself and now I am going through the withdrawls. I am not sure if these feelings will get any worse, but at this point I am willing to do what it takes to never take this medication again. I know it's dangerous, but I don't want to end up with any new health problems that go along with weight gain. I pray for everyone that is going through the same things I am.
God bless
God bless
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I've just begun stopping the Effexor after being on an off label dose (300mg+) for 3 1/2 years. I cut back the dose and then only took the 150 every other day. I originally cut back because of the fatigue; hoping that I would have enough energy to work out like a fiend. Once some of the "brain fog" began to clear I realized that it had to be the Med causing my weight plateau. It doesn't matter how I cut calories or restrict the weight stayed. After doing much research I began to see the correlation between the two. Any antidepressant can cause you to eat more. You're feeling better and not really present enough to focus on future "stuff". I've gained ~25 pounds all of which had fallen off with no effort post pregnancy. Being fat has caused a blow to my psyche which is far worse than the anxiety that caused me to start taking Effexor. So my journey begins and hopefully I see some positive results.
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Thanks for your honest post about the effects of this drug.
I too took it ffor only a few months in the lowest dose-- 37.5 -- and gained over 20 pounds which is difficult to lose. It's been 4 months since I quit and the weight is not coming off, even with diet and exercise.
I too took it ffor only a few months in the lowest dose-- 37.5 -- and gained over 20 pounds which is difficult to lose. It's been 4 months since I quit and the weight is not coming off, even with diet and exercise.
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I agree...they should be sued. I have only been off for 7 weeks but nit a pound lost. I still have nausea, bloating; and brain zaps....among ither things. I have always been a thin person with no effort....this is the first time in my life im overweight. I hate venlafaxine!
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I've taken Effexor for about 17 years now. There was a 4-5 month period where I had quit.
I too have gained weight, about 30 pounds. The weight came on within about a year of starting Effexor.
During my 4-5 month hiatus I was able to lose all 30 pounds.
Here are a few of my observations about Effexor based on personal experience:
1) It does work for anxiety and depression.
2) It does cause weight gain and bloating.
3) It is easy to get on and quickly therapeutic.
4) Causes weight gain due to cravings for carbs and sugar, increases overall appetite, disturbs normal stomach digestion, alters normal metabolism, increases bodies desire to store fat and increases water retention.
5) Effexor is almost impossible to get off of. To avoid or lessen the severity of the many side effects of withdrawal, I would do a drawdown period of at least 6 months. Cut the dose by 1/2 every 3 weeks until you get down to 2-3 balls/spheres (Effexor XR). There are two main impacts from withdrawal: a) The most obvious are the physical sensations. These include flu like symptoms, electric like shocks and headaches. b) The second impact is to your general mood. Anger and agitation are common and obviously affect everyone around you. I attribute this to a rapid drawdown of serotonin that has been provided chemically by Effexor versus by the body.
I am currently trying to get off of Effexor a second time and have been doing so for about 1 year. My hope is to do so without inducing the agitation I experienced the first time I quit. Hopefully, by dragging this out, I won't be quite the fanny I was the first time.
I too have gained weight, about 30 pounds. The weight came on within about a year of starting Effexor.
During my 4-5 month hiatus I was able to lose all 30 pounds.
Here are a few of my observations about Effexor based on personal experience:
1) It does work for anxiety and depression.
2) It does cause weight gain and bloating.
3) It is easy to get on and quickly therapeutic.
4) Causes weight gain due to cravings for carbs and sugar, increases overall appetite, disturbs normal stomach digestion, alters normal metabolism, increases bodies desire to store fat and increases water retention.
5) Effexor is almost impossible to get off of. To avoid or lessen the severity of the many side effects of withdrawal, I would do a drawdown period of at least 6 months. Cut the dose by 1/2 every 3 weeks until you get down to 2-3 balls/spheres (Effexor XR). There are two main impacts from withdrawal: a) The most obvious are the physical sensations. These include flu like symptoms, electric like shocks and headaches. b) The second impact is to your general mood. Anger and agitation are common and obviously affect everyone around you. I attribute this to a rapid drawdown of serotonin that has been provided chemically by Effexor versus by the body.
I am currently trying to get off of Effexor a second time and have been doing so for about 1 year. My hope is to do so without inducing the agitation I experienced the first time I quit. Hopefully, by dragging this out, I won't be quite the fanny I was the first time.
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You should be checked for diverticulosis. That may be what is causing the bloating. I believe the medicating caused mine.
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I've weaned myself off about 3 weeks ago. Was on 225 mg for about 4 yrs. It was tough but I feel like I've made it through the hardest part. However, I have been bloated, swelling In my feet, legs and hands. Everything I eat goes straight through me. How long until I start losing this 40 extra pounds to start falling off???
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Because of insurance costing so much for Wellbutren, I got switched to Effexor and have been on that for the past 5 months. . I have gained so much weight! I felt bloated all the time, no energy what so ever, very short of breath, and weak. Miserable in my own skin. I had swelling of the tissue on my eyelids as well. I finally this week , got switched back to Wellbutren and in just 2 days, my body felt better than I had in months.
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Hi im on day 4 off cming off the pill . Hasnt been the best 4 days . Im lucky i have a great husband that understands what the side affects are like. I put so much weight on and know off others on the pill that have is well and my doctor has always said it is the pill . I was on 300 mg a day and over the past 8 yrs my dosage was lowerd. Got down to 35mg and down down to nill. Im not giving up as it can only get better each day.
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I have been on Effexor a little over 4 months. It has absolutely helped with my depression and anxiety. However, I have gained almost 15lbs since starting. I also am recovering from an eating disorder and prior to Effexor weight gain I was maintaining my weight. While I can say my mood is better, my body image and self loathing are much worse. I spoke to my doctor and she believes it isn't from the medication but from poor eating habits :/. I couldn't disagree more especially after reading these posts.
Will anybody who has stopped the medication give updates of weight loss that was gained after stopping the med?
Will anybody who has stopped the medication give updates of weight loss that was gained after stopping the med?
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I have been on Effexor for the last years.. I had asked for a stronger dose of another antidepressant when going through the breakup of a marriage .. damn that Dr!!!
The weight gain has been horrendous 50 lbs
And the withdrawals to include horrendous brain shocks when trying to come off of it were almost unbearable ....
Dr told me it happens , and unfortunate... so finally after staying on med for another year .. took it my own hands and got dr to prescribe a tablet instead of capsule and used pull cutter to wean myself off of drug.. down to 1/16th of a pill for two weeks and this week off of it... feel the effects slightly , , but nothing like or even comparable to trying to quit cold turkey... really thought I was dying after 5 days.. enough to give it up for that year .. hoping now weight loss will start to happen this next year
The weight gain has been horrendous 50 lbs
And the withdrawals to include horrendous brain shocks when trying to come off of it were almost unbearable ....
Dr told me it happens , and unfortunate... so finally after staying on med for another year .. took it my own hands and got dr to prescribe a tablet instead of capsule and used pull cutter to wean myself off of drug.. down to 1/16th of a pill for two weeks and this week off of it... feel the effects slightly , , but nothing like or even comparable to trying to quit cold turkey... really thought I was dying after 5 days.. enough to give it up for that year .. hoping now weight loss will start to happen this next year
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Ive just came off exeffor and have gained a lot of weight . Just wondering now will it come off fast ?
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I have been on it for 4-5years. On 150mg for the last year,I just asked my doctor to lower my dose to 75mg because I am gaining weight from it. She acted as if she never heard of that side effect!! I have gained 80 lbs since starting this drug. It works well but makes me anti social, tired,and no energy. I'm slowly weening off cuz I think I can do well on a small dose. But I am glad I'm not crazy in thinking I am the only one who has had weight gain from this..
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I was on 150mg for a about five years...I've gained about 60lbs and feel horrible about myself. I've tried everything and nothing has helped me lose the weight. I regret ever starting this med in the first place. I'm off the meds about a week now. Does the weight come off?? Please I need answers
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