[OnEdge]

Has anyone experienced weight gain while being on Effexor XR? Just preparing myself for the possibility.....

is THAT why I've gained like thirty pounds since last year :S

I really never thought about it, I guess that could be why Ive gotten bigger

[lenjan]

I've been on Effexor XR for 6 years and have not gained any weight.

Candy

[Sabrina]

I gained weight rapidly on Effexor. I have not lost the weight despite healthy lifestyle changes. I no longer take it.

[Genevieve]

I took a combination of Effexor and Prozac for a couple of years, and yes -- gained weight. Dunno which drug did it, but for what it's worth, I have gained weight on EVERY AD I've taken, so it may just be me...

[Twisted_Soul]

Effexor is said to have the symptom of loss of appetite. I have been on it for 2 months and haven't gained weight.
However, I was wondering if any one has the shakes, loss of short time memory and consitpation? I am now taking 225 mg

[OnEdge]

I'm on such an incredibly low dose but I am already having some side effects - the one big one is bloating! I even feel a bit shaky.

Does anyone know why some AD's cause weight gain? Is it the drug itself or does it make you want to eat more???

[Twisted_Soul]

I've always wondered if in fact it was due to our depression and low energy that weight is gained and not really from any AD meds.
I am shaky when it comes to fine motor skills on this Effexor XR. And, I would kill to take a s*hit. Been 4 days now. I have dry mouth too. And I feel lethargic a lot now.
Do you have any of these from being on Effexor?

[OnEdge]

I wondered that as well....

Yes, constipation is a problem. I take Metamucil and it really works for me. Mouth and eyes are really dry. I drink a zillion cups of herbal tea all day long.

I feel lethargic yet can't sleep at night. Have you had any problems getting to sleep and staying asleep while getting used to the meds?

at first when i began taking it I was getting continuous yawning, with a shaky jaw,or trembley i guess.

I also was tired but could not sleep.

the symptoms go away though, well they did for me after about three months

[Sabrina]

I did not eat any more than usual and gained weight at an alarming rate anyway.

I experienced the yawning and trembling, clenching jaw for the entire time I was on the drug (150mg).

My sleeping problems became much worse. If I managed to actually fall asleep I would have night terrors and nightmares.

I also experienced a loss of short term memory, appearing confused and "dilly" a lot of the time.

I always feel relieved when I read of this drug helping someone as my quality of life and depression became worse as it has with many other AD's.

now that you mention it, I have been able to easily lucid dream on this drug since about three months in.

I think it gave me slight partial seizures however at night, at first I would wake up with one limb spasming. Doctor said it was harmles though

honestly. Effexor XR is the only thing that has worked for my anxiety.

[OnEdge]

I'm also glad to hear and some have had success with this drug but I'm also a bit leery when I hear that some haven't been helped. I know it's different for everyone but for those of you who have had success, at what point did you start to notice a difference? And at what dose were you on? I'm so early in my treatment - I wish I could fast forward and feel better now. Because I don't sleep that well, some days I wake up feeling worse. Is this common?

heck yes.

For the first month I went back to the doctors about ten times and told him that this drug was useless, he didnt know what he was talking about, That it WASNT anxiety attacks, and that I had a heart condition AND I DIDNT CARE WHAT HE THOUGHT lol.

I was CONVINCED.

And he kept telling me if I would just wait it out that I would see the difference.

I started out at 37.5 for one week, then 75 for about three months, then increased to 75 + 37.5 for a few more months, then increased to 150. I noticed very little improvement in the first month. I noticed a slight improvement with the increase to 75 however. The increase to 75 +37.5 helped alot more, but not completely. Increasing to 150 since then has pretty much eliminated the issue with the anxiety attacks. I would say side symptoms started to go away for me around 2-3 months mark. Ive been on for about a year now.

So I know it sucks, but try and give it some time barring any major symptoms. The doctor kept me on clonazepam until I got steady on the Effexor xr. And I swore I would never be able to stop taking the clonaze too lol, but around two and a half months I just sort of stopped taking it, because I forgot I had to, because of the lessened anxiety.

So I have good faith in it for me.

[OnEdge]

Thanks, Rainbowzz: That gives me some hope. I'm ONLY on week one at a very low dose so I will have to be VERY patient. The doctor is going very slow with me because I'm so sensitive to drugs. Especially this type.

[lenjan]

I started at 37.5 mg for a week, then up to 75 mg, and up over the years eventually to 450 mg -- I am back down to 375 now.

I noticed it made me hyper for the first little bit. I didn't gain any weight, and I noticed it working within the 2-3 weeks.

Good luck with it. Everybody is different.

C.

[Twisted_Soul]

Effexor actually has dual effects. However, it doesn't start on the one till you are at 225mg.
I started on 37.5, 3 weeks later went to 75mg, 3 weeks later 150 and another 3 weeks and I am up to 225. Pdoc says will most likely go to 300mg.
Hopefully it will not start petering out...ya know what I mean.

[OnEdge]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Twisted_Soul said:
Effexor actually has dual effects. However, it doesn't start on the one till you are at 225mg.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

I understand it's an AD and anti-anxiety drug. What does it affect at 225 mg?

[Twisted_Soul]

All I know is Doctor said that it will work in two areas of my brain but I have to be on at least 225mg to have it work in the second part.
Now I am starting to wonder if that was just a story to get me to take it...hmmmm

[OnEdge]

Well, I'm visiting my doc on Friday so I'm going to check that out with her then. Thanks a lot for the info.

P.S. Does it make you gassy and/or belchy?

dont think so, my doctor said the same thing to me, that it has to effect curves.

Im assuming the lower one is for anxiety and the upper is for depression, since 150 has cured my anxiety attacks pretty much

[OnEdge]

More questions for the doc...thank you again.

[Blackshadow]

I'm taking 350mg a day ,my doc. gradually put me on higher dose , but I started to have tremors ( shaking ) end memory loss earlier , probably around your dose. For the memory loss he said it's " part of the depression ". I haven't gained weight in the beginning , end actually I felt great , because I didn't had constipation , which I had with other pills , I had a bit of loss of appetite also ...........but now..........I don't want to weigh myself , I'm so upset , and down about my weightgain. I guess now I'll be depressed about gaining weight and than I have to take more pills to feel better. Is this what they call a vicious circle ? Is this what the pharmacutical companies want us to do ?

[Blackshadow]

Have you tried taking the Effexor first thing in the morning ? Maybe that would help.

[OnEdge]

Yes, I take it first thing in the morning. My doctor is not convinced that it's the medication that is making me stay awake. She thinks it's me THINKING about falling asleep and then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and I don't sleep! I am battling anxiety as well so she could be right on that one!

BTW, my doc did tell me that it's at the higher doses that the drug starts to deal with anxiety. Depression is handled first. Interesting.