I'm been on it for years and the pounds never come off no matter how much I watch what I eat and exercise. Wondering if it's this medication? Anyone experienced this?
Effexor XR - Does anyone on Effexor have trouble losing weight?
Question posted by jenragan on 9 Dec 2011
Last updated on 23 March 2021
10 Answers
moimoin
6 Feb 2018
Hi Sharnie,
Firstly Effexor is NO(T used to treat hot flushes. It is a serious drug and a long standing effective anti depressant. It also deals with anxiety. Pu8tting weight on does NOT occur due to a drug. There is ONLY one way to gain or lose weight. Eating more than you use gains weight and eating less loses weight. People here, including you, who claim to have put on weight because of the drug are wrong. If your appetite is there or not, you only gain if you eat more than you use in exercise etc. I'm saying "Don't blame the drug". You can control that if you try. As you can see most here don't know what's going on. One has hot flashes, assume she means flushes. And they all blame the drug rather than themselves. Clearly people who do NOT take responsibility for their treatment will not get better at ALL. Depression does cause us to lose interest in so much.
At one stage I lost interest in eating, 5 months and lost 5 stone. But depressive lifestyles cause us to return to over eating and sloth. I plead guilty to that of course but I made a choice. Eat as I wanted or get my head right. I did the latter.
dinalorraine
12 March 2019
Moimoin-- they are called hot flashes in the U.S. Effexor is absolutely prescribed for hot flashes. I am taking 75mg (started at 35mg) daily and it helps to make my hot flashes less frequent and intense. I was prescribed this medication by my oncologist when I went through menopause from chemo for breast cancer. I also had thyroid cancer when I was 29 and was told my my endocrinologist that anti depressants can indeed change your metabolism. So before you get all judgy and say a poster is incorrect in "blaming the drug", make sure you know what you are talking about.
jobijosh
23 March 2021
This is in response to Moimon above:
I am a physician in the United States and I would like to clear a few things up. First of all, Effexor is absolutely approved to treat hot flashes. Because of the drug’s effects on norepinephrine, it’s very effective at regulating the body’s sympathetic output. Secondly, the drug CAN ABSOLUTELY cause weight gain. Moimoin is incorrect about this. Whether the weight gain is due to feeling better (and therefore eating more when negative symptoms of MDD disappear) or due to an unknown mechanism of the neurotransmitters being affected is not clear; but Effexor can cause weight gain. We have seen this empirically and in drug trials. This is why it’s important to take advice from a professional and not a random individual on the internet. There’s so much misinformation on these sites. This has nothing to do with “not taking responsibility” as the above poster stated.
There should be no shame about gaining weight on this drug. Talk with your doctor (please not a psych NP) if the weight gain is becoming worrisome and I’m sure the will strategize ways to attenuate that.
Hope that clears this issue up for anyone in the future reading this.
Sharnie
6 Feb 2018
I have been on Effexor 75mg for nearly a year for hot flushes, which it fixed straight away. I am a lot less anxious as well and like being on it, but I also have gained about 9kgs. I have been desperately trying to get rid of it via exercise and diet but haven't been able to. I am also constantly tired. I am sure it has slowed down my metabolism.
Mimi R
27 March 2017
I was on Effexor for hot flashes and only took it for 2 months. I put on 10 lbs. I got off of it because I had almost every side effect listed. I wish I had never taken this drug. It slowed my metabolism to where I can't take the weight off no matter how little I eat or how much I exercise. I'm wondering if my metabolism will ever return to normal. I've never had a weight problem and just want to get back to normal. Has anyone had success?
MaryfrancesDeangelis
4 Feb 2018
Hi, Mini R, I have been taking Effexor for my hot flashes also, about a year now, ran out and thought I would be fine for a few days, never again. It was the worst few days of my life, i am thinking about going on Hormone therapy instead. I am on WW and not losing and not cheating. I am 54 wondering if you have any issues losing weight at all. Thanks Mary
Mimi R
6 Feb 2018
Almost a year later I'm still trying to get that 10 lbs. off. Getting ready to being B-12 lipo therapy. The Effexor slowed my metabolism and it hasn't returned to normal. I'm hoping the B-12 will jump start it.
Jenna23
17 Jan 2017
I have been on Effexor 150ER for 3 months. Prior to this med I was taking Zoloft. I gained 25 pounds in less then 5 months. I decided to give Effexor a try and get off of the Zoloft. Since I've been on Effexor I find my mood has been much better, however I am having an impossible time losing weight! I am never hungry and force myself to eat small healthy meals (yogurt, vegetables, anything under 150 calories). I run 2 miles a day and do yoga. I workout approximately 40 mins everyday of the week and am not able to lose anything! I'm a healthy 34 year old woman. Prior to the meds I weighed 118 and am 69 inches tall. I am opting to change my meds now in an effort to not go crazy!
katstew
25 April 2012
I picked up weight - about 3 kilos. My doc says it is not the meds: its my appetite returning.. So, I am exercising and cutting back on chocolates and junk. All 5 other AD's I tried in the last 9 months totally took my appetite away.
The one that finally works (Effexor) just HAD to wake my appetite up!
All the best..
amcclanaghan
25 April 2012
I have been on Effexor since October. I gained 10 pounds and haven't been able to get rid of them. My doctor told me it was the medication and my choices were to stay on the medication (which is working wonders for me) or go off it and lose weight, whichever was more important to me. Since my anxiety nearly destroyed my marriage I chose the meds. Its difficult because it puts me a 30 pounds heavier than I want to be, but I look at my husband and family and know I made the right choice for me.Good luck!
RRUSSOM
9 June 2013
I am also taking Effexor and Wellbutrin with it. I have gained 40 pounds and my doctor said basically the same thing, "A little weight gain or depression... ". I can't afford the weight gain because of my job. There's got to be something that can be added or changed to help with the weight problem. Also, my husband comments constantly that since the weight gain I've quit doing everything because I'm tired all the time. 40 pounds is a lot of weight.
RRUSSOM
9 June 2013
I am also taking Effexor and Wellbutrin with it. I have gained 40 pounds and my doctor said basically the same thing, "A little weight gain or depression... ". I can't afford the weight gain because of my job. There's got to be something that can be added or changed to help with the weight problem. Also, my husband comments constantly that since the weight gain I've quit doing everything because I'm tired all the time. 40 pounds is a lot of weight.
ldwilhelm
20 Jan 2012
i have been on effexor for 2 months abd have gaines 20 lbs
terica3825
13 Dec 2011
I have been on 225mgs of this medication for about a year now and haven't gained any weight or had issues maintaining my weight. I am currently not trying to loose any either. For me this medication pulled me outta the deepest depression and sent me on my way to getting my life back! Good luck!!
Inactive
13 Dec 2011
Hello jenragan. Effexor isn't known to be a drug where people gain weight. some do of course but in general no. I was taking for about a year, and had no weight gain, or weight loss. Best wishes,pledge
nenag
9 Dec 2011
I was on effexor for about 3 years and im getting ready to get back on it now. I dont remember weight gain or loosing was one of my side effects. I can really say that i gained but thats only because i LOVE food and i dont think its fair to blame it on the pill. LOL.
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effexor, effexor xr, weight, exercise, medication
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