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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lynn971 on May 14, 2006, at 21:33:47
The anxiety was so horrible before effexor, so if it does cause weight gain it is worth the trade off, but I am curious if it does and I also am wondering if there is anything I can do to counter act the weight gain.
I plan to start a "diet" tomorrow.
Posted by Phillipa on May 14, 2006, at 22:30:17
In reply to Does effexor cause weight gain?, posted by lynn971 on May 14, 2006, at 21:33:47
Excercise, pleanty of water, no soda or high calorie food, lots of salads. I sure someone will chime in with other things. Love Phillipa
Posted by B2chica on May 15, 2006, at 9:51:36
In reply to Does effexor cause weight gain?, posted by lynn971 on May 14, 2006, at 21:33:47
i actually lost weight on effexor.
but be careful cuz i started to crave alcohol, and i think i lost more weight because of this...drinking instead of eating...b2c.
Posted by Colleen D. on May 15, 2006, at 20:26:22
In reply to Does effexor cause weight gain?, posted by lynn971 on May 14, 2006, at 21:33:47
I lost about 30 lbs. while on Effexor with no real change in my diet. I think I was more active because I felt so much better and was very energized while on it. Weight loss slowed down a bit when I added Klonopin to take care of residual anxiety.
Good luck!
Colleen
Posted by lynn971 on May 15, 2006, at 20:56:25
In reply to Re: Does effexor cause weight gain?, posted by B2chica on May 15, 2006, at 9:51:36
OMG. I find myself cravin alcohol too. I hold back on the cravings, but I was just thinking about how weird that was. I got back from work today and craved a highball. I did not indulge, but it is scary.
My dad was an alcoholic.
Posted by Flame on May 16, 2006, at 8:33:08
In reply to Re: Does effexor cause weight gain?, posted by lynn971 on May 15, 2006, at 20:56:25
Lynn,
After being on Effexor for about six months, my husband began going to the bar (basically) every night. I am "trying" to be supportive/influential in helping him to change this, but it has been very difficult. It has now been almost two full years that he has been on Effexor. 1 1/2 years of drinking (in my opinion) excessively.
I'm not absolutely sure what it is about the Effexor that would be causing alcohol cravings .. ? I DO know that my husband has "addictive" tendencies. He has never said that he "craves" alcohol, but considering the fact that he was doing relatively well at the beginning with Effexor, I can't think that it would be anything else but feeling that "need" ...?
Be very careful, don't let those cravings rule you.
Posted by Flame on May 16, 2006, at 8:42:25
In reply to Re: Does effexor cause weight gain? » lynn971, posted by Flame on May 16, 2006, at 8:33:08
Just to add something else .. yes, my husband has gained about 35 pounds. I am not sure if it is because of the Effexor and his "need" for so much alcohol OR if it is because of the eating binges that he has every night after taking Ambien.
I'm sure it's the combo of both!
Posted by Cybele on May 18, 2006, at 14:30:24
In reply to Does effexor cause weight gain?, posted by lynn971 on May 14, 2006, at 21:33:47
> The anxiety was so horrible before effexor, so if it does cause weight gain it is worth the trade off, but I am curious if it does and I also am wondering if there is anything I can do to counter act the weight gain.
>
> I plan to start a "diet" tomorrow.My sad story is that I gained 20 pounds over the 5 months I took Effexor (75 mg/day)--i.e., about a pound a week. I was not eating enough extra food to have justified it, and I actually increased my aerobic exercise during this period and should have maintained my weight or even lost some. Without a doubt, Effexor *lowered* my metabolic rate. Once I went off of it, I stopped gaining.
Everyone reacts differently to medicines, so just keep an eye on the scale. Curiously, I had no withdrawal problems from Effexor except for a little irritability. My husband tried it (same dose) for a much shorter amount of time and suffered thru terrible "brain zaps" for 2 months while trying to get off it. (See Dr. B's withdrawal board for more discussion of Effexor withdrawal.)
This is the end of the thread.
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