Wednesday, April 22, 2009 Brandi asks

Q: effexor causing severe weight gain. any suggestions

I'm living the same thing with effexor xr right now. I've been taken it off and on trying other meds. instead of effexor for the last 4 years because of the weight gain. I was actually a little under weight at 115 when I started taking effexor xr instead of wellbutrin. 4 years ago i was taking 75 mg. effexor xr 1 day and 37.5mg the next so it swapped everyday because it was either to much or not enough..and the weight started coming on.

and i would stop taking it and try a different med. but because effexor was the only thing giving me half a normal life i would go back to it. now it's been 4 years and i've gained 90 pounds and now weigh 205 and i'm only 21 years old at 5"4. and it's the most miserable i've ever been in my life. all i want to do is sleep. I have terrible anxiety so I hate to get in the car, I haven't been in a restaurant to sit down and eat in over a year. I'm not even able to work a job or go anywhere.

And the worst part is I even tried watching what i eat and how much and gave up cokes completely and drank water like a mad woman all day everyday and the weight still came on. Now i hate myself more than ever and wonder if i'm ever going to have a normal life. And i've tried over 10 meds. or more and I feel like i'm not even living. The best years of my life are passing me by everday. Anyone have any suggestions?

Answers (2)

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Merely Me

4/22/09 9:46pm

Hi Brandi

This is a hard thing to deal with no doubt. If the medication is helping you to feel less depressed then this is a good thing. But if you suspect that it has also caused you to gain a considerable amount of weight then this in itself can make you feel down about yourself.

What does your doctor say? Does your doctor feel that Effexor is the cause of your weight gain?

Did the Wellbutrin not work out for you? In my research on this topic, it seems that Wellbutrin is one of the antidepressants which is the least likely to cause weight gain.

Here is some information about Effexor and weight gain and what you can do.

And here is a lengthy forum about this very topic and what other patients had to say about their weight gain from taking Effexor. You may get some ideas there.

I would definitely suggest talking to your doctor about the alternatives and stress that you wish to find an antidepressant which works for you and also is less likely to make you gain weight.

I know a lot of people do well with joining a weight loss support program like weight watchers. Would something like that be of help to you?

I wish you the best of luck. Please let us know what happens. Thank you for your question.

Debbie

9/26/09 1:15pm

I was on Effexor xr 75mg for the last 3 years after a full hyster. I am 48 , and also should be experiencing the best of my life right now. My decision was to go and get my hormones checked,and go on Wiley Protocal bio identicals. At first when I went on the effexor, my weight had dropped 20 lbs, I believe due to the fact, I felt so much better about myself, self esteem, etc.. body looked like a knock out at this great age of 45, but as time went on, depression came back. Maybe if I was to increase my mg's, I may not have gained all this weight plus back. I've not been off the effexor for 3 weeks, feel great, assuming due to the help of the hrt. I havent lost weight yet, but my attitude to get my but out and do something about it,has. I have put a goal I WILL be in the best shape of my life when I'm 50, and I will achieve this.

I would suggest to get your hormones checked, adn your thyroid . I wish you luck, cause I know exactly how you feel. My weight gain has gone up 28 lbs since March of this year, and my goal will be for the next 2.

Q: effexor causing severe weight gain. any suggestions

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