EFFEXOR xr AND WEIGHT GAIN

[lostlittlelamb89]

I was recently on effexor xr, after exhausting a number of anti-depressants, and I find that it made me gain a whole lot of weight, that is why I quit taking it. has anyone ever had this effect? I noticed also that it made my depression even worse. I almost want to give up on meds altogether, bc I have tried a lot, prozac, zoloft, lepraxo, and some others. It is just so annoying, bc now my doctor thinks I am making shit up so I dont have to take meds, but to be honest I gave it the exact time she wanted me to, and most of them eithe rmade my mdd worse, or had really nasty side effects.

Any advice/experience.. please share.

[Velvet Elvis]

It can take a long time.

Are there really side effects worse than how you are feeling right now? It's a matter of priorities. Think about it this way: Would you chop your hand off to feel good again? A finger? I'd definitely chop off a finger. Have you had any side effects that compare with chopping off a finger? All meds have side effects to some degree.

The thing about effexor is that it has a really wide dose range and it works differently at higher doses. A lot of the time you have to raise then dose then give it time then raise it then give it some more time then raise it again, then give it some more time, etc. Sooner or later, the odds are in favor of it working.

[Bernard]

I agree with Velvet Elvis. It took almost a year to get my Effexor-XR dose right, and then for it to settle in. But now, I feel more "normal" and better than I have felt in SO long.

I have experienced some weight gain but I have found that is because it seems to make me hungry, and if I am careful about what I choose to eat, this isn't bad. I've managed to level it out a bit. Exercise helps too - both with my depression and weight control.

Bern