[polarsmom]

Can anybody tell me......

Does the medication itself cause the weight gain? Or does it increase your appetite?

I am taking bupropion (generic wellbutrin) and effexor. Anyone else have this problem? I thought that these meds usually didn't have that side effect. It is listed as a possiblity. But my pdoc has said it's unusual. Especially since wellbutrin is also used for weight loss.

[Moreta]

Some will increase your appetite and the other ones slow your metabolism. Your problem is probably the Effexor.....booooo Effexor. (I take it too.)

Sometimes I find that anti-psychotics make me gain more weight.

You just need to really watch what you eat and get exercise every day.

Also, don't take Zyprexa. I gained 30 lbs in 4 weeks on that one.

[perpetuallysad]

Effexor is quite possibly the reason. It makes everyone I've ever known on it gain tons of weight. I gained almost 70lbs in year on it. I have never heard that wellbutrin is used for weight loss. I've been on it for 2 years and it definitely hasn't promoted any weight loss for me. (No weight gain either.)

I don't know why your doc would say that they don't cause weight gain, try googling "weight gain and antidepressants" and you will find zillions of things about how these go hand in hand.

[polarsmom]

I know that weight gain can be a problem for some on antidepressants. I didn't have that problem with Lexapro or Prozac. They just didn't work for me after awhile. So I am pretty sure it's the Effexor. I just started it a few weeks ago. And I have noticed a difference in my weight already. I just wasn't sure why. Like is it water weight, slowed metabolism, increased appetite or what. I think I am going to request a med change. That is one side effect I can't deal with. That will make my depression worse. It is already effecting me. I don't like all the stuff I've been reading about Effexor either. Plus it's so darn expensive!

[Moreta]

http://www.crazymeds.us/effexor.html

Yes, discontinue Effexor while you can.

Plus it's so darn expensive!

Yes, yes it is. My insurance always has my doctor "approve" it, because you know, she only just wrote the prescription 20 minutes ago. I'm sure she didn't mean to do it.

Every month it takes 4-6 days until insurance will "clear" it.

Which really doesn't make sense, since when I get my Seroquel filled it's about $100 more expensive. But then again, that can be prescribed for seizures. So basically, it's ok if you need a seizure medication, but if you need Effexor, which is prescribed for Depression/Fibromyalgia (which you know, is all in your head) they don't want to pay for the expensive drugs.

/End rant.

Sorry. I really hate my insurance company.

[BlueMoon6]

The only med I gained weight on was tricyclics. Prozac and lexapro did not increase my appetite. And cymbalta seems to not affect weight gain at this point.

If it is so with effexor, you would have to decide if you want to get off of it.

[Psyched]

Yes, some medications will cause weight gain, even if you starve yourself. Pdocs will tell you that you will gain weight b/c it increases your appetite (which some do, but that isn't always why you gain) & they will mitigate how much of a weight gain you can expect b/c they know that you probably won't agree to go on it if they tell you the truth. Some people think the benefits of the meds "outweigh" the side effects, but I won't stay on anything that causes me to, & haven't found any med that works well enough for me. I would give it a try to see how much it helps you. You can always stop taking it.

[polarsmom]

I think I've already made my mind up about Effexor. Sitting here thinking about the last few days...... I have been really irritable. Basically feeling like I'm PMS'ing big time. And I haven't felt like that in a long while. (since starting bupropion) Super moody. Having odd dreams. I'm dreaming and remembering them (I used to be a light sleeper and hardly ever remember my dreams) But waking up tired. And then I'm exhausted by dinner time. I'm yawning from the afternoon till I go to bed. All this plus gaining weight. I'm hungry all the time. Which is unlike me. I'm usually a light eater for most of the day, have a good dinner and snacks while watching TV. But the problem is I'm on the petite side. So anything +/- 5 lbs really shows. And without stepping on the scale I know I've gained weight.

Yeah, overall I feel worse on Effexor.

QueenA- I love the crazymeds website. I've been looking stuff up there too. As far as exercise I am naturally an active person. I clean houses for a living, I'm active with my dogs on a daily basis. Not only that, but I fidget alot, restless, busybody whatever you wanna call it.

PSad- Bupropion can be prescribed off label for weight loss. Although I haven't read much about it being successful in that area. It's listed as one of the things it can be prescribed for. But the fact that it's an AD that doesn't cause weight gain is a plus in my book.

[Pughead]

I don't know if any anti-depressant made me gain weight, but Depakote (mood stabilizer) made me balloon up like crazy. I too took Effexor and Wellbutrin at one time. I think wellbutrin is least likely to cause weight gain, but the combo made me very edgy and prone to panic attacks. I switched pdocs and when I told him I was on effexor and wellbutrin, at pretty high doses, he thought it was absolutely ridiculous. I just take lamictal now, and it's great. Except pdoc wants to add a small dose of depakote back in, just to take the hypomanic edge off. I'm a bit concerned about that. Living on the edge of hypomania is usually a good feeling, except I can become detached from reality and obsessed with knowledge attainment. And I need 3mg of xanax to knock me out, or I won't sleep. I'll just keep studying and learning...and then forget it all the next day.

But by far, Effexor is the worst anti-depressant I've ever taken. Edgy, irritable, panicky...all side effects of effexor. At least, that is my belief.

IMO, Wellbutrin is the best anti-depressent, but it has a tendency to make people more anxious. I controlled that with taking ativan as needed.

[idontknow13]

Effexor which is great for my depression and mood made me put on 25 pounds which I am now trying to lose, successfully by eating good and exercising. The doctor prescribed Wellbutrin along with Effexor because of my weight gain but I did not see much of a difference. For me Effexor has been a lifesaver, I dread ever having to go off it because of everything I have read about it but for now it is not an issue!

[nesli]

İ am on Abilify and Lamictal ..Both of them attirubute to weight gain..I am 75lb heavier than before the medication..I feel hungry all the time and I can not stop eating..
I dont know how to fight with this problem..

[polarsmom]

Originally Posted by nesli

İ am on Abilify and Lamictal ..Both of them attirubute to weight gain..I am 75lb heavier than before the medication..I feel hungry all the time and I can not stop eating..
I dont know how to fight with this problem..

How long were you on the medication before you noticed the weight gain?

[NicBetter]

Originally Posted by nesli

İ am on Abilify and Lamictal ..Both of them attirubute to weight gain..I am 75lb heavier than before the medication..I feel hungry all the time and I can not stop eating..
I dont know how to fight with this problem..

Yes - I am curious too...how long did you take Abilify before you started noticing weight gain. I am just starting Abilify today and at the 5 lb mark I will be panicing I know it. Does food taste better? Are hunger pangs more painful? What causes such a drastic gain?

Lamictal is weight neutral. It hasn't been shown to cause weight gain. AD's and antipsychotics are the usual culprits.

[Moreta]

Originally Posted by Pughead

I don't know if any anti-depressant made me gain weight, but Depakote (mood stabilizer) made me balloon up like crazy. I too took Effexor and Wellbutrin at one time. I think wellbutrin is least likely to cause weight gain, but the combo made me very edgy and prone to panic attacks. I switched pdocs and when I told him I was on effexor and wellbutrin, at pretty high doses, he thought it was absolutely ridiculous. I just take lamictal now, and it's great. Except pdoc wants to add a small dose of depakote back in, just to take the hypomanic edge off. I'm a bit concerned about that. Living on the edge of hypomania is usually a good feeling, except I can become detached from reality and obsessed with knowledge attainment. And I need 3mg of xanax to knock me out, or I won't sleep. I'll just keep studying and learning...and then forget it all the next day.

But by far, Effexor is the worst anti-depressant I've ever taken. Edgy, irritable, panicky...all side effects of effexor. At least, that is my belief.

IMO, Wellbutrin is the best anti-depressent, but it has a tendency to make people more anxious. I controlled that with taking ativan as needed.

I took Effexor and Welbutrin at the same time back in Aug. The Welbutrin only lasted a month b/c it gave me such bad head aches.

Best anti-depressant I've been on is Pristique (Effexor w/less side effects, but it is more expensive) or Cymbalta (Works like Effexor, but no weight gain).

Also, I think Seroquel is a good anti-psychotic, that doesn't effect your weight as much as say Zyprexa (gained 30 lbs in 4 wks). And now since I've been exercising and watching what I eat, I've actually begun to loose weight.