Posted by Buckeye Fan on July 1, 2004, at 7:16:52
In reply to Re: In process of tapering off Effexor, posted by KaraS on June 30, 2004, at 23:22:51
I too experienced weight GAIN with Effexor...but not with Zoloft. I am not sure if that is significant or not...since the I took Zoloft for several years( with no real weight gain) and yet after less than one year with Effexor...my weight
went up 20 pounds.I am beginning my 2nd month of being Effexor Free
and I have gained no more weight...but I have also not LOSS any of the weight I gained!!!!! Guess I am going to half to "work it off" through exercise and diet.I have noticed an increasing return of the Anxiety that prompted me to go on Anti-Depressants in the first place...I would not be honest if I said otherwise. I stated a month ago that I would keep anyone interested, of my progress.
To date ( I hope this helps you jjamus) I went through the withdrawl stage( about a month in my case) and have survivied it..and really am beginning to feel more like my "old self" in regards to emotions,clarity of thought, motivation, drive and enthusiasm. ( all area's that were affected adversely for me while on AD's)The downside so far, is, a one PDoc put it..."our
emotions are a mixed bad"... The very same energy and animation that makes us, US....causes Anxiety and Depression also, if it is too much, wrongly harnessed, or if we suffer from a genetic predisposition to Aniety and/or Depression.
That appears to be where I am slowly headed...back
to the Original overly anxious mind set that started me on the AD path several years ago.
Alprazolem( Xanax) is great for handeling this anxiety..for the short term.
The trouble I am beginning to notice is that the
longer I am "off" Effexor...slowly, I seem to be returning to the overly anxious person I was before. I thought I had learned better ways to handle anxiety on a daily basis..but obvioulsy I have more work to do!!Anyways...I will continue to seek relief through exercise, multivitamin suppliments, more concious attempts at "relaxing", letting go, and realizing that anxious thoughts are just that..thoughts, not real life threats.
I will keep you posted..and good luck with your weening off Effexor. Keep in mind that the hard part of withdrawl WILL pass...but the condition which brough about the diagnosis and prescribing of and AD.. will still be present in some cases, so hopefully you have dealt with the "root" cause of your problems, as you discontinue your Effexor
God bless
Buckeye Fan
poster:Buckeye Fan
thread:361344
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040627/msgs/362215.html