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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maisy on August 23, 2001, at 6:22:23
Hi Everyone - I am trying hard to fight the Effexor weight gain I have been experiencing and have started not so much dieting but eating better. I have Dr. Weil's book "Eating better for optimal health" and have been following that food pyramid eating lots of low-glycemic index foods. Problem though, whenever I don't eat for a while I get a weird feeling like I'm shaking but not on the outside, just inside and I start feeling anxious. I'm not talking about going a long time without food, but for goodness sake I think I should be able to go 3-4 hours without eating!! I get plenty of exercise by walking between 2 and 5 miles a day. Don't know what to make of this. All advice welcome!!
Posted by SalArmy4me on August 23, 2001, at 6:50:06
In reply to Effexor and Dieting, posted by Maisy on August 23, 2001, at 6:22:23
Here is something to consider as far as psychopharmacological treatment of Effexor side-effects:
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
Volume 20(6) December 2000 pp 716-717
"Orlistat in the Treatment of Psychopharmacologically Induced Weight Gain
[Letters to the Editors]""Discussion
These are the first reports of orlistat administration in obese patients receiving psychopharmacologic medication with psychiatric axis I comorbidity. This medication was very well tolerated by both patients. Although the patient in the first case was prone to obesity before medication, her body weight increased significantly during amitriptyline and lithium treatment (on admission, grade 1 obesity; after 2 years as an outpatient, grade 2); in the second case, the patient also showed a substantial weight gain and even new obesity occurred (grade 0 on admission, grade 1 after 2.5 years). In both patients there seemed to be a relationship to the psychotropic medication that could not be easily changed because of the course and severity of the underlying psychiatric disorder. Orlistat had the advantage not to be centrally active, so it did not interfere with the psychiatric disorder as one might have expected in the case of the new serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor and appetite-suppressive drug sibutramine.9 Nevertheless, orlistat led only to a mild additional decrease in weight, but it was comparable to that achieved in former studies in patients without psychiatric disorders.10 In summary, orlistat might be a tool to help control weight in selected patients with psychotropic drug-associated obesity."Ion Anghelescu, MD
Posted by Poppy on August 23, 2001, at 11:25:28
In reply to Re: Effexor and Dieting » Maisy, posted by SalArmy4me on August 23, 2001, at 6:50:06
I get the same thing, i used to think that it was because i hadnt eaten, but like you said i would still get it after i had eaten not long before.
goodluck with finding something to stop it, im going to see my doc tomorrow now and figure it out or someway to stop me from getting even bigger.
Posted by Maisy on August 23, 2001, at 12:35:48
In reply to Re: Effexor and Dieting, posted by Poppy on August 23, 2001, at 11:25:28
Thank you for the reply, let me know what your doc says tomorrow.
Posted by girlie on August 24, 2001, at 15:11:31
In reply to Re: Effexor and Dieting » Maisy, posted by SalArmy4me on August 23, 2001, at 6:50:06
You have such great information! Is there any info regarding statistics/other info about Effexor/vexaphenaline(sp)and weight gain/loss?
Posted by Jane D on August 24, 2001, at 15:34:03
In reply to Effexor and Dieting, posted by Maisy on August 23, 2001, at 6:22:23
> Hi Everyone - I am trying hard to fight the Effexor weight gain I have been experiencing and have started not so much dieting but eating better. I have Dr. Weil's book "Eating better for optimal health" and have been following that food pyramid eating lots of low-glycemic index foods. Problem though, whenever I don't eat for a while I get a weird feeling like I'm shaking but not on the outside, just inside and I start feeling anxious. I'm not talking about going a long time without food, but for goodness sake I think I should be able to go 3-4 hours without eating!! I get plenty of exercise by walking between 2 and 5 miles a day. Don't know what to make of this. All advice welcome!!
Maisy,
It sounds like this is a likely to be the diet as the effexor, especially if you are losing weight. Low glycemic can become too low calorie very easily if you're not careful.
Just something to consider.
Jane
Posted by Jane D on August 24, 2001, at 15:38:46
In reply to Re: Effexor and Dieting » Maisy, posted by SalArmy4me on August 23, 2001, at 6:50:06
Sal,
It is indeed interesting even thought it involves only 2 patients and the weight loss is described as mild.What do you think it means?
Jane
Posted by Andre Allard on August 24, 2001, at 19:04:29
In reply to Effexor and Dieting, posted by Maisy on August 23, 2001, at 6:22:23
Effexor is not similiar to amitriptyline and lithium - both which are known for weight gain.
When people say that they have gained weight since taking a perticuliar AD (to the exclusion of remeron, paxil, MAOIs and the TCAs) many are forgetting that weight gain is supposed to occur when an AD is working. Remeber that a symptom of depression is weight loss and that a sign of getting better is weight gain because cortisol levels and normal eating habits have returned.
If anything, effexor would help someone loose weight. If the average person who did not have any depressive symptoms began taking effexor they would loose weight because of two reasons. Effexor diminishes appetite and stops carbohydrate cravings. So, if anything, effexor should help you be at a lower weight than before you became depressed.
I am a personal trainer and have helped 100's of people shed unwanted pounds. There is a lot more involved in loosing fat than just eating low glycemic carbs. If you have any questions regarding your diet or exercise I would be more than happy to help you out.
Good luck!
Posted by Jane D on August 24, 2001, at 19:22:10
In reply to Re: Effexor and Dieting, posted by Andre Allard on August 24, 2001, at 19:04:29
> Effexor is not similiar to amitriptyline and lithium - both which are known for weight gain.
>
> When people say that they have gained weight since taking a perticuliar AD (to the exclusion of remeron, paxil, MAOIs and the TCAs) many are forgetting that weight gain is supposed to occur when an AD is working. Remeber that a symptom of depression is weight loss and that a sign of getting better is weight gain because cortisol levels and normal eating habits have returned.
>
> If anything, effexor would help someone loose weight. If the average person who did not have any depressive symptoms began taking effexor they would loose weight because of two reasons. Effexor diminishes appetite and stops carbohydrate cravings. So, if anything, effexor should help you be at a lower weight than before you became depressed.
>Andre,
Not everyone loses weight while depressed. And Paxil is not the only SSRI that causes weight gain. Effexor is related to the SSRI's and it is quite reasonable to think that it may also cause weight gain.
Jane
Posted by longsfrng on August 24, 2001, at 20:13:10
In reply to Re: Effexor and Dieting » Andre Allard, posted by Jane D on August 24, 2001, at 19:22:10
Effexor caused me to gain 30 pounds and had been thin all of my life.
Effexor is not similiar to amitriptyline and lithium - both which are known for weight gain.
> >
> > When people say that they have gained weight since taking a perticuliar AD (to the exclusion of remeron, paxil, MAOIs and the TCAs) many are forgetting that weight gain is supposed to occur when an AD is working. Remeber that a symptom of depression is weight loss and that a sign of getting better is weight gain because cortisol levels and normal eating habits have returned.
> >
> > If anything, effexor would help someone loose weight. If the average person who did not have any depressive symptoms began taking effexor they would loose weight because of two reasons. Effexor diminishes appetite and stops carbohydrate cravings. So, if anything, effexor should help you be at a lower weight than before you became depressed.
> >
>
> Andre,
> Not everyone loses weight while depressed. And Paxil is not the only SSRI that causes weight gain. Effexor is related to the SSRI's and it is quite reasonable to think that it may also cause weight gain.
> Jane
Posted by SalArmy4me on August 24, 2001, at 20:28:11
In reply to Re: Effexor and Dieting, posted by longsfrng on August 24, 2001, at 20:13:10
Stick with it, and you may experience weight loss, according to the most recent study which was not sponsored by a drug company. T
AKE ALL of the XR Version AT BEDTIME, since the drug's half-life is longer than 24 hours in some people.
Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Volume 21(2) April 2001 pp 185-189. Sustained Response to Open-Label Venlafaxine in Drug-Resistant Major Depression." Schweitzer, Isaac MB BS, MD:
"...In only 32 patients (12%), study events resulted in cessation of venlafaxine... The most common study events were somnolence (21%), headache (18%), insomnia (16%), sweating (16%), constipation (14%), dry mouth (11%), nausea (10%), and dizziness (10%). There were no statistically significant changes in mean systolic or diastolic blood pressure or pulse during the extension phase. However, a slight but significant decrease (1.4 kg in weight) was noted in weight at month 4 (p = 0.007)..."
Posted by Cam W. on August 24, 2001, at 20:46:14
In reply to Re: Effexor and Dieting » longsfrng, posted by SalArmy4me on August 24, 2001, at 20:28:11
>TAKE ALL of the XR Version AT BEDTIME, since the drug's half-life is longer than 24 hours in some people.
>
• I find that Effexor XR, at doses of more than 75mg is too activating (after the first hour), so I take my entire dose in the morning. The average half-life of Effexor XR (which is due to delayed excretion), in a cohort of over 2000 people, is approximately 15 to 16 hours. This is another reason to take the dose in the morning; you will be asleep if the drug starts to wear off (it usually doesn't though, once the drug has reached steady state, in the body).> However, a slight but significant decrease (1.4 kg in weight) was noted in weight at month 4 (p = 0.007)..."
• Weight gain or loss is highly variable with Effexor and SSRIs. As with Paxil, most weight gain with Effexor occurs in the 4 to 8 month period after initiating treatment with these medications.
My 2¢ - Cam
Posted by girlie on August 25, 2001, at 11:53:11
In reply to Re: Effexor and Dieting » SalArmy4me, posted by Cam W. on August 24, 2001, at 20:46:14
>
> • Weight gain or loss is highly variable with Effexor and SSRIs. As with Paxil, most weight gain with Effexor occurs in the 4 to 8 month period after initiating treatment with these medications.
>
> My 2¢ - CamWhen I first started Effexor (years ago) I lost a lot of weight in the first few months. I didn't really question it because I was losing it without trying, and I'll take that any day! : )
After that tho, I put about 15-20 pounds on and have not been able to get rid of it.Recently I really put my mind to it and started getting 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 5-6 times a week, and I cut out all of the things I love....ice cream, cookies, M&M's! I started eating a lot better...well, after a month of that I've GAINED 5 pounds and, NO, it's NOT muscle weight! Starting today I'm going down another 75mg/day to 150. I'm not going to totally fall back on the Effexor for my weight problem, but I'm going to try to eliminate the possibility!
girlie
Posted by Lorraine on August 25, 2001, at 17:40:01
In reply to Effexor and Dieting, posted by Maisy on August 23, 2001, at 6:22:23
Hi Maisy:
I gained 45 lbs on Effexor. At the time I was exercising 5-7 days a week; walking uphill (and back down of course) 2.5 miles a day; playing tennis and doing pilates 2 days a week. Nothing worked. Got off Effexor, when low carb lost the weight and have stayed low carb as a way of life (although I'm much more lax of course). I always wondered if being low carb would have worked while I was on Effexor. You are not having much luck with it? Has the weight gain at least stopped?
Lorraine
Posted by Joy on August 26, 2001, at 20:23:43
In reply to Effexor and Dieting, posted by Maisy on August 23, 2001, at 6:22:23
Maisy,
Don't give up hope. My bf lost 20 lbs while on Effexor XR by doing Sugarbusters [similar to Atkins]. He ate mostly proteins [chicken, beef,fish]with salad [not high cal salad dressing]and the weight came off. Mornings he would have a couple of slices of bacon and eggs, or a cheese omlette, or blueberries with protein such as a piece of cheese with the berries, or some nuts as a fast snack. He would like to take off weight again [he is heavy by nature] and will repeat the same diet. If he stays on this type of 'diet', but modified a little so he takes a little bread or have some rice or pasta once in a while, the weight stays off. BTW his Effexor XR dose is 262.5 once a day [morning]. He's done very well on it. It's the XR version. Best wishes.
Joy
> Hi Everyone - I am trying hard to fight the Effexor weight gain I have been experiencing and have started not so much dieting but eating better. I have Dr. Weil's book "Eating better for optimal health" and have been following that food pyramid eating lots of low-glycemic index foods. Problem though, whenever I don't eat for a while I get a weird feeling like I'm shaking but not on the outside, just inside and I start feeling anxious. I'm not talking about going a long time without food, but for goodness sake I think I should be able to go 3-4 hours without eating!! I get plenty of exercise by walking between 2 and 5 miles a day. Don't know what to make of this. All advice welcome!!
Posted by Maisy on August 27, 2001, at 16:29:59
In reply to Re: Effexor and Dieting » Maisy, posted by Lorraine on August 25, 2001, at 17:40:01
Thanks to everyone for all the replies. I have managed to take off two pounds in the last three and a half weeks, and it was VERY difficult. I am going to the doc tomorrow and will see what she thinks. PS- I was on Effexor last year and had no weight gain at all, this year when I started again I had a whole new range of side effects and I put on 12 pounds since June. I am wondering if some of it is fluid retention. I think I will stick to the Mediterranean diet for now since I am not one for meats of any kind. Thanks again to all!!!
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