Posted by nannygoat on May 13, 2004, at 8:19:28
Regarding comment on number 5, (see end of message below). . .
I was put on Effexor,(first 37.5 and then increased to 2-37.5 per day), in December of 2001, and my weight steadily increased over the past year and a half. I have gained approximately 50 pounds, and have done nothing differently than before I began the Effexor. Most of the weight is located around my 'middle' and it looks as though I have an innertube around my waist. It is huge and aweful! I have never been this heavy in my life even after having 3 children during or after my pregnancies.
The Effexor has also made my blood pressure elevate from 90 over 60 to 140 over 90 now. My blood pressure has always been so low that they can hardly hear it in the doctors office.
My doctor has decided to take me off the Effexor because he just discovered I am on HRT as well, and he says that's not a good combination. I am slowly decreasing my dosages until I am off completely.
The drug helped me a great deal with anxiety and depression, but I want to see what happens when I am completely off of it.
I have lessened my dose over the last week, and have already dropped 3.5 pounds doing nothing differently than when I was on my regular dose, so I would assume there is a correlation between taking Effexor and gaining weight for some people.
I also experienced huge sugar and carb cravings as well on Effexor, and extremely tired.
I was unaware of any weight gain issues regarding this or any other anti-depressant before I started it, but I have learned the hard way that I need to ask questions about side-effects in the future - and I will.
Thanks for listening,
Nancy
This is the comment I am writing about above. . .
5. It appears from data collected from clinical trials that weight gain from Effexor may not be particularly a big issue. Effexor, at least in the short-term, is not associated with weight gain. On the other hand, very little is known about the effect of Effexor on weight in the long-term. It is interesting to note that Effexor and Meridia (sibutramine), a weight-loss drug, have somewhat similar effects on norepinephrine and serotonin. Both drugs have been reported to increase blood pressure in some patients.
poster:nannygoat
thread:346394
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040510/msgs/346394.html