[nirmal]

Hi everybody,

I have been on effexor for 6mo. at a high dose of it, 450mg per day and have been experiencing wt. gain. I have done research, but no answer.

Question is, will going down on the dosage, will I LOSE weight? I have lowered the dosage to 300mg, and don´t know when or if I can have weight loss. I have read that effexor causes wt loss, and higher dose is weight gain.

Will it do the same for me at decreasing from higher to more normal dose?

I want to lose weight, as my weight continues to rise.

Help!!!

Thanks,
nirmal

[perpetuallysad]

Um, well, I was on a bunch of doses of effexor, but started at 75mg (ended at 450mg) and I gained weight dramatically the entire time even though NOTHING about my eating habits had changed. Its 3 years after I QUIT taking it and I still have serious issues trying to lose weight. Exercise and healthy eating do nothing to help me lose this weight. My pdoc said that some people just continuously gain weight when on psychotropic meds. I hate it. HATE HATE HATE IT! Its to the point that I eat less than my 8 year old and lose zero weight.
As far as I've read about effexor (and I've read a lot because of all the problems I had on it) it always is a weight gain drug. I've never read where anyone lost weight on it. That's just my experience. But I wanted to share it at least.
I hope you find a solution. If you do, please share.

Unfortunately, most AD's (except wellbutrin I think) have the side effect of weight gain. It seems to be the price we pay for our mental health.

[Anneinside]

The short answer is no, reducing the mg you take will not cause weight loss. The only things that can do that is diet and exercise. When I took Effexor, it was weight neutral for me but then during that time I remained depressed most of the time and stopped eating much. Now, after many different psychotrophic drugs, I weight about 40 pounds more than I should. I am currently changing my eating habits and "thinking" about exercise... LOL

[nirmal]

Thanks for your replies. I have done research, like Wikipedia and other sites on effexor causes wt. loss. I use google. It´s in the same class of drugs as amphetamines, a highly anorexia drug that definitely causes wt. loss!

I am still waiting on other replies, too.

Thanks,
nirmal

[lonegael]

Wierd, because I am on the minimal dose and gained weight drmatically. I am constantly having to watch it.

[perpetuallysad]

I think whatever source said it will make you lose weight, especially if it was wikipedia, was just wrong. Like I said, I've never heard of it helping with weight loss, EVERYTHING even the little sheet that comes with it, says it causes weight gain.