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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fuji on October 4, 2003, at 17:43:13
Anyone think that high dose of effexor 300mg can cause weight gain? I don't eat more and I started to exercise but I have gained weight since increasing the dosage. Just wondering if this is true for others?
Posted by galkeepinon on October 5, 2003, at 0:44:14
In reply to weight gain effexor xr, posted by fuji on October 4, 2003, at 17:43:13
Hi fuji, I was on Effexor for a long time. I'm not a professional, I do think that higher doses can cause weight gain with some. As I increased Effexor, for me, my weight went up a few pounds each time.
This is just my experience, and I wish you the best.
Kristen
> Anyone think that high dose of effexor 300mg can cause weight gain? I don't eat more and I started to exercise but I have gained weight since increasing the dosage. Just wondering if this is true for others?
Posted by fuji on October 5, 2003, at 7:51:05
In reply to Re: weight gain effexor xr » fuji, posted by galkeepinon on October 5, 2003, at 0:44:14
Thanks. That's just about how it seems a couple of pounds here and there but consequently they have added up too much weight. I am thinking of coming off for a while just don't know what else to try at this point.
fuji
Posted by sarita0001 on October 5, 2003, at 10:08:33
In reply to weight gain effexor xr, posted by fuji on October 4, 2003, at 17:43:13
HI,
I think the higher the dose the harder it is to lose the weight. When i went down on lithium by 225mg, I was able to lose the water weight and since I had more energy could exercise.
The doctor might not suggest lowering the dose because it is not therapeutic but I think everyone is different and you can try it and see.
Sara
Posted by lioness on October 5, 2003, at 11:19:38
In reply to Re: weight gain effexor xr, posted by sarita0001 on October 5, 2003, at 10:08:33
Hi,
My understanding is that, in fact, effexor can cause weight gain due to the seratonin, and at the lower doses, one is really only getting the seratonin effect. However, I have been told by doctors, that effexor, once thought to be weight neutral, is NOT. I, too, gained weight and unfortunately started taking it after having babies and before I lost the pregnancy weight, and it made it IMPOOSSIBLE to lose any weight. My hubby could not believe that I was not losing with the exercise and small amount of food I eat.
L
Posted by galkeepinon on October 5, 2003, at 13:04:33
In reply to Re: weight gain effexor xr, posted by fuji on October 5, 2003, at 7:51:05
You're very welcome. Topamax didn't cause weight gain for me, in fact many people lose weight on it:-) But it is an AED used for bipolar among other things, it sounds if you were on Effexor you suffer from depression? I am now on Lexapro, and it works well, I have gained a little bit of weight. The only other AD I didn't gain any, if little weight on was Celexa (20mg)
I hear you, I have gained a lot of weight on and off these psych meds, it seems to be a common thing. I hope you will be ok. Talk to your doctor about the weight gain issue and maybe he/she can talk to you about alternatives.
Hang in there, I know it's hard, but you will be ok, I have faith in you.
Take care,
Kristen> Thanks. That's just about how it seems a couple of pounds here and there but consequently they have added up too much weight. I am thinking of coming off for a while just don't know what else to try at this point.
> fuji
Posted by fuji on October 6, 2003, at 12:24:33
In reply to Re: weight gain effexor xr » fuji, posted by galkeepinon on October 5, 2003, at 13:04:33
Well I have decided to cut back from 300mg daily to 150 mg daily. I am on day 2 of the decreased dosage and will see what happens from here. The other thing on the higher dosage I noticed that I have terrible restless leg stuff when I try to sleep at night. Fun, fun fun!!
Posted by galkeepinon on October 6, 2003, at 12:44:18
In reply to Re: weight gain effexor xr, posted by fuji on October 6, 2003, at 12:24:33
Good luck! I had the restless legs too when I increased my dosage of Effexor~that's why I could never go above 75mg, but 75mg helped me.
Hang in there!> Well I have decided to cut back from 300mg daily to 150 mg daily. I am on day 2 of the decreased dosage and will see what happens from here. The other thing on the higher dosage I noticed that I have terrible restless leg stuff when I try to sleep at night. Fun, fun fun!!
Posted by dessa on October 6, 2003, at 14:32:37
In reply to Re: weight gain effexor xr » fuji, posted by galkeepinon on October 5, 2003, at 0:44:14
is there any med for depression and add that does not cause wieght gain?
Posted by fuji on October 6, 2003, at 14:44:09
In reply to Re: weight gain effexor xr, posted by dessa on October 6, 2003, at 14:32:37
If there is an ad that doesn't cause weight gain I will be delighted, but if there is one that really alleviates the depression and doesn't cause weight gain, I shall jump through hoops with my cat!!
Posted by galkeepinon on October 6, 2003, at 19:48:49
In reply to Re: weight gain effexor xr » dessa, posted by fuji on October 6, 2003, at 14:44:09
I was on Effexor for a long time, and for me, it was great. It alleiviated my major depression and I was able to concentrate, go to school, deal with things better AND......
I only gained 6 LBS. Effexor isn't in the so-called class of SSRI's like Prozac, Zoploft, Paxil, etc. It works on 3 neurotransmitters, and for me, I needed that.
Remember, we all react so differently to these meds, but I wish you the best~maybe it will *work* for you...
Kristen> If there is an ad that doesn't cause weight gain I will be delighted, but if there is one that really alleviates the depression and doesn't cause weight gain, I shall jump through hoops with my cat!!
Posted by dessa on October 7, 2003, at 14:38:53
In reply to Go hug/get your cat!!!! :-) » fuji, posted by galkeepinon on October 6, 2003, at 19:48:49
i am on this effexor now for about a month. i tired a few others , but soon as i started wieght gain i stopped them . I am already have a slow matablism i dont need anything to slow it more, also most made me tired , which doesnt help anything at all , i need energy lol. in the beginning i liked the effexor , becasue i had no appitite, but that has changed a bit , i seem to be a bing eater now :( . i hav even tried going the natural way and baught different vitamines.someone needs to make a diet pill that cures depression , or visa versa. I am also ADD, the effexor is not helping that as of yet. anyone else out there ADD also? If so can u tell me what helped u ? hope to hear from u soon.....
Posted by galkeepinon on October 7, 2003, at 14:48:07
In reply to Re: Go hug/get your cat!!!! :-), posted by dessa on October 7, 2003, at 14:38:53
I have a slow metabolism also, so I hear you.
yes, you need energy lol
Effexor did that to me too, like I said, at first I had no appetite, and I was like cool, I will not gain weight, but after a while the loss of appetite disappeared, but I didn't get an increased appetite either.
I don't have ADD, but do binge eat on ocassion. The 'Substance Abuse Board' has some threads regarding feelings about food, body image, etc., maybe you can look at a few of those posts, the're really good.
I had really good effects with Topamax~have you tried that? It helped my moods and I lost 25 pounds.
Hang in there, keep posting, this forum is wonderful, you can get a lot of information, feedback, and support.
I'm happy to help if I can just let me know...
Kristen:-)
Posted by fuji on October 7, 2003, at 19:28:38
In reply to Re: Go hug/get your cat!!!! :-) » dessa, posted by galkeepinon on October 7, 2003, at 14:48:07
Did you find that the topomax made you somewhat slower cognitively? I had asked my shrink about it but he said he didn't think I would like it because it isn't energizing and it dulled cognitively. So far no withdrawal cutting back to 150mg of efxr. I am now thinking of going off of them completely and trying something new. They work but it just seems that it should be more than it is if you know what I mean. It's cat hugging time again!! If only an ad gave me even half as much energy as my Siamese cat has all the time!!
Posted by dessa on October 7, 2003, at 19:31:53
In reply to Re: Go hug/get your cat!!!! :-) » dessa, posted by galkeepinon on October 7, 2003, at 14:48:07
what is this topamax? is it for depression? or just wieght lose? I want to thank u for the emails , it sure is nice to know there is someone else out there to talk to. thankx
Posted by Camille Dumont on October 7, 2003, at 20:39:35
In reply to Re: weight gain effexor xr, posted by dessa on October 6, 2003, at 14:32:37
> is there any med for depression and add that does not cause wieght gain?
I think different medications have different effects on different people
Effexor + Seroquel made me lose about 15 pounds. Since I've quit the Seroquel but kept the Effexor my weight didn't go back up.
Posted by Kacy on October 9, 2003, at 19:11:21
In reply to Re: Go hug/get your cat!!!! :-), posted by dessa on October 7, 2003, at 14:38:53
Dessa: I have Add, inattentive type. So far, all that has really helped is Wellbutrin. I didn't take it for long since I developed an allergy to it. I don't know about the hyperactive kind of Add and Wellbutrin. If you are inattentive, you might try that.
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