I found Effexor actually made me forget about food but so hence had I taken ONLY Effexor I know for a fact I would have lost weight but because I was unable to sleep at night I resorted to taking Murelax and hence I ate like there was no tomorrow; no Murelax no insatiable appetite.

Hi sunshine,

I've been on meds that made me forget food, and I've been on meds that made me eat like there was no tomorrow, too! For the brief period I was on effexor, it seemed to curb my appetite, too.

Take care,
Dewayne

Plus 50 pounds in 12 months for me.

Been off Effexor for 3 months and haven't lost a pound.

Where does an alien go to register....?

I'm sorry that Efexor has affected you this way. Are you eating healthily and taking exercise? That may help reduce the weight. Are you on any other meds?

Eileen

I've gained weight whilst on Effexor, about 14lbs. I am eating more than I was (but not a dramatic amount- then again, I used to eat once or twice a day, and now I snack as well), but I'm also on my feet all day as I work in a shop, so had hoped it would balance out. But no such luck.
HATE putting on weight.

Tabby:

You're only eating once or twice a day? Hon, that's enough. It's better to eat more smaller meals than to eat fewer large meals.

-Bean

For the first one or two weeks, effexor made me lose almost all appetite. And I'd already lost weight when I didn't feel well.
Since then I've gained quite a lot of weight, I don't really know how much. I don't think it's because of effexor. The appetite loss at the beginning was a se, and as such disappeared after a while. But the weight gain is more because every time I feel blue, I eat... ah, the comfort of chocolate...

Ginny:

Weight gain is common with Effexor. It's important to maintain a healthy diet, especially while on any AD.

As for chocolate...I hear ya! Chocolate's my buddy, too.



-Bean

I've gained weight - about 14lb in 4 weeks. Hideous.

And I'm struggling to cut down because I feel so hungry - then about 1/2 hour after I eat, I feel ill as if I've eaten too much.

And I'm doing loads more excercise, as the Effexor seems to have given me some energy back, but that doesn't seem to be helping with the weight gain. Got to lose it tho, as ended up wearing pregnancy clothes today, as that was I had that fitted - and my little boy is 3 years old!

I gained weight on Effexor, but I can't contribute it all to the med. I let my eating habits slip, and made excuses not to exercise (I'm depressed and depression zaps my energy. Therefore I can't possibly exercise). And I had been in hospital for 6 weeks, not too much exercise there......

[I have gained 15-20 pounds in one year on effexor, but ironically enough my weight is now NORMAL for my height... I have been underweight all my life. Lol another bonus!
-WS
[/quote]

I have gained around 30 pounds ACK! on a 5' frame that is really rough. Some I attribute to the Effexor however I turned 40 and my thyroid starting having issues so some of it certainly can be that. Overall I do need to watch my diet more and exercise but Yes even my Doctor said its normal to gain weight on SSRI/SNRIs.''

We did add 100 mg of Wellbutrin though a week ago and we will see if that helps. Supposedly it does, However I also had a major Anxiety attack today so.....giving it some more time before deciding what to do.


This post has been edited by greybird2003: Oct 18 2007, 06:08 PM

I went from a normal body weight to over weight in about a year. I have never had an issue with my weight and could eat anything i wanted and never gain a pound. After being on meds for a while i could see a huge difference and eventually had to start watching what i eat. That ment to treats, sugars, etc.

I lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks on Prozac. After adding Effexor, I still have a very small appetite, and I get at least 40 mins of exercise a day, and my weight has stayed the same. I assume if I ate even 1200 cals a day EVEN WITH MY EXERCISE, I'd gain weight, and I'm not underweight. (Not overweight, but in the upper range of the healthy weight BMI)

i was loosing weight the first few weeks,not quickly though,i think it was just the post-baby weight coming off rather than anything to do with the effexor.

for the past 2 weeks my appetite has been throught the roof,and i have put on about 5lbs in that time.plus im not feeling any positive effects anymore.i feel like im going round in circles with this med.

eeeeek....I just started Effexor...haven't been hungry....but I DO NOT want to gain...the weight fluctuations that go with AD's make me crazy and make me not want to take them. Deep breath...BookEater....

not everybody gains weight. Watch what you eat and don't binge eat. Eat normally and you should be ok.

Bookeater:

Although ADs can cause weight gain, most people who maintain a normal, healthy diet do NOT gain weight. Just eat sensibly and you should be alright.



-Bean

This post has been edited by Beanchop99: Feb 17 2008, 11:22 PM

Ugh! I'm despairing after reading this thread.


My doc put me on Effexor as the weight gain I was experiencing with Mirtazapine was compounding my depression. He told me that I wouldn't gain any weight; that I'd lose weight, in fact.

I was silently yeehaa-ing that so far I have no appetite to speak of. Now I see it's just waiting to come back with a vengeance. Bummer.

dtm
not everyone will experienced weight gain, over 50% say they lost or had no difference in their weight. I hope this reassures you. Do watch your weight and what you eat. Don't overeat and eat healthily.

Eileen

I am new to this forum but wanted to say that I gained 50lbs. during the first 3 months on Effexor. THis was partially due to my diet, but now, after being on Effexor for many years, I know that my body reacted to the Effexor by storing fat. This fat has also been impossible to lose regardless of diet.

My two cents,

ObiWan

[quote name='firelizardee' date='May 22 2006, 03:24 PM' post='118720']
Some people may gain weight or lose weight or find no difference when they take efexor. What did you notice?


i lost weight so far on effexor, it think it's because i have no want to eat and i'm nauseated.

unfortunately the nausea doesn't last long and you'll start to eat again.

I lost weight, had to force myself to drink ensure during the day. Not necessarily nauseous, but I had a lot of nervous energy. I switched from lexapro to effexor, and I lost weight when I started effexor. I evened out about 6-8 months after taking effexor.

But I'm also one of the few who lost weight on the pill.

This post has been edited by crunch87: Mar 3 2008, 09:59 AM

I have gained weight approx 25/30 lbs in less than 8 months. I have OCD and Anxiety so I am now at 150 mg's since Oct/07. I had a really great weight loss lats year of 58 lbs but ow it's comming back and I still exercise and eat the same. It bothers me.

Lost quite a bit of weight on effexor...

Dont know whether its the meds or my current depression but I dont seem to have much of an appetite. Its good for me because I was (still am) overweight. I've lost about 25 lbs or so in a few months (and 6" off my waist).

I can imagine this not being too cool for people who are already underweight or have anoriexic tendancies though... :-(

So far, I've lost 6 kilos (about 13 lbs) in four weeks. I hope this keeps up. I'm VERY happy about this.

Hasn't done much for the depression as yet. In fact, some days I feel worse than I did when I first started on this.

Well, my appetite came back big time. It's not like it was when I was on the Mirtazapine, but it's certainly not suppressed anymore.

I think I've stopped losing weight. I just hope I don't gain any.

On the bright side, it does finally seem to have lifted the worst of my depression.

I put on around 12lbs but its my fault too, i have been eating more! trying to lose it now tis hard wrk

I have definitely gained weight. Probably around 14lbs in 4 months

Oh, these Efexor munchies! Especially in the evenings!

Last time I was on Efexor, I put on 10kg. I have to admit it was due to chocolate and all kinds of carby stuff. Efexor works well for my depression, so suddenly everything just tasted so nice again and had to be sampled!

This time, the Efexor is again helping for my depression and I REFUSE to put on weight, I'm exercising and really watching what I eat - I eat breakfast and lunch and it's easier during the day, as I'm not very hungry, but come evening, especially after supper.... my self-control seems to fall asleep long before I do!

I can't afford to get fatter!

i've lost weight so far on Effexor...loss of appetite..too tired...would forget...
in the past week i've started regaining my appetite and it's making me crazy.
i cannot gain weight. i really need to maintain the weight i am at and i can't even begin to think how upsetting and anxious it will make me if i do gain. after gaining so much on zoloft and lexapro, i can't go through that again.

I've lost weight on Efexor

I've lost about three kilos since I started taking it six months ago but I've toned up and slimmed down HEAPS which I'm thrilled about. I think the reason I haven't lost more weight is because I've gained lean muscle. I have a lot more motivation and energy and exercise most days (well, the days that I work, I either ride or walk to work and then I run my arse off at work for 8-10 hours). I have next to no appetite anymore either!

I only eat when I'm hungry; Then, I have a few mouthfuls of something and feel full, it's great!

I know that I'm not eating enough to sustain my lifestyle though, and that I'll get sick if I keep this up so I'm trying to just graze on energy foods like nuts and fruit and grains in small portions throughout the day. Grazing is about the only way I can eat enough at the moment, I just can't handle full meals!

I first lost a little when I started to take it many years ago, then woah gained like crazy. Now it's hard getting off of this stuff or losing the extra weight!

i gained 60 pounds went off it about a year ago and have lost 40 but back on an AD so probably going to put it back on

This time round on Efexor I seem to be gaining weight. Not a side effect I want :( Probably about 7kg since starting it again 4 months ago.

Many moons ago I was put on a course of SSRI's for Depression and OCD. I tried many SSRI's as I was allergic to them all but settled on Efexor. Unfortunately I piled on shed loads of weight due to the effects on the metabolism. My doc wouldn't believe that I had piled on 3 dress sizes due to the drug but as I hardly ate (I do the reverse to comfort eating!), I told him that there was no other reason for it. It probably didn't help that I had a huge dosage as it wouldn't "touch the sides" so to speak. The weight gain made me more depressed so I came off them due to the gain.

The worse thing to do in my opinion is to alter ones metabolism cos once its changed, its v v v v v difficult to get it back again hence why I stayed big.

To those who have gained weight, I hear ya. I stopped counting after 30lbs in under a year and I'm sure it's far past that now. I don't know if this is just from effexor though. I seem to be hungry all the time, over-eat, and hardly exercise. Exercise I just have no motivation for, if it can be called that, even though it will sometimes help my mood. Worst of all, this weight gain makes me feel so much worse and I tend to blame myself for it for not exercising or eating healthier.

I lost weight since I began taking it in February (like 10 pounds)

i put on weight very very slowly over the 8 odd years i have been of effexor. I cam off about 2 years ago and couldn't loose the weight. I eventually went back on and have again just come off. This time i feel like i have been putting of lots of weight since coming off (about 8 weeks ago) - i weighed myself yesterday and yes, i have put on 4kg. So, i wonder what would cause that - my eating habits and exercise levels haven't changed - just coming off the drug

Gained some weight b/c i was tired all the time and slept alot