Losing the weight I gained on Effexor

Hi,

I just joined the site a few days ago and this is my first entry into the community features of the site. As a whole, love the site so far!

I am a 28 year old female from Chicago. About 4-5 years ago I went on Effexor XR for my OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) which became our of control when I moved to a new city after college where I knew no one. At the time I was unfunctional and I definitely needed it and it helped me greatly.

However, to say I needed to stay on it as long as I did (around 4 to 4.5 years total) and at such a high dosage (300mg) was not the case. I felt a prisoner of it, knowing full well after reading the stories online of how horrible it was going to be to get off of it with the withdrawl I would experience. I would honestly say, I was well enough and wanted to be off of it as early as 2 years into treatment, but scared of not being able to function in my job and life, I continued to stay on it years without need.

About 3 months ago I finally decided to get off. I have done it on my own by breaking open the capsules and dosing out smaller and smaller amounts every two weeks. I am proud to say that today marks officially one week at no Effexor in my system for the first time in probably 5 years. I am still going through the dizzyness, anger fits, crying spells and such but each day is a little better than the one before so I don't think too much about it. I know in another week or two I will feel the best I have in years.

Sorry to be long-winded, I really just wanted to explain the backstory for anyone reading. While on the Effexor I gained what seems to be from my research a not-unheard of amount, especically considering how long I was on it for. I'm 5'8 and when I started treatment weighed around 150lbs. which I was fine and happy with. Now after treatment I weigh around 195lbs and every day am disgusted by this. 

The irony of it all is that I'm super active and while I look overweight, no one I know would EVER guess I weigh THAT much. It is my shameful secret. Most of the time I was on the Effexor I worked two jobs, one of which I was on my feet the whole time. I bike to and from work daily except in winter and have for years now. I walk everywhere I go and try and jog as I have time. At one point during my treatment last year, I even joined a military style fitness bootcamp for 6 months wherein I went from being able to only run a block to 2.5 miles straight. During that entire process however I still only managed to lose 5 lbs.

So finally the question part of my post. Has anyone had similar effects while on Effexor with being absolutely unable to lose the weight you gained no matter how hard you worked out etc. And the second part of my question, can I expect, finally after 4 long years, a change now that I'm off the medicine in being able to lose this weight?

...or is it possible at not even 30 years old I've completely ruined my body's ability to lose weight normally and I will never be able to lose the weight gained on the Effexor since I was on it for so long. I just don't know what I'll do if this is the case.

I have never been on that medication, but years ago I was fit and trim when I was put on steroids.  I gained 60 pounds almost immediately.  So I know kinda how you must feel.  Now at 28, I am still trying to lose the weight, but I think that it is more because I am older now than I was then.  I hope someone who knows about your medication posts to this! 

i had no idea that it makes u gai weight, i've been on it for 2 years and i noticed my binging has increased.  is it because of effexor?

i had no idea that it makes u gai weight, i've been on it for 2 years and i noticed my binging has increased.  is it because of effexor?

Oh crap!  I just started Effexor for OCD, depression and anxiety.  I was on Lexapro for a couple years and really put on some major pounds....then Zoloft for about a year.

Like you I can't lose any weight either.  I even had a tummy tuck.  I still didn't lose any weight and though my tummy is flat, I still look overweight.  And like you, none of my friends or family would ever guess my true weight....THANK GOODNESS!!!

I can't afford to gain any more weight though!!!  This scares me!

Four years ago when I was age 52, I tried anti-depressants to relieve internal anger.  I stayed on them for about two years.  During the two years, I switched from one to the other because I kept feeling that none were doing me good.  I was extremently tired constantly even after long nights of sleep, night after night.  I know that Efflexor was one that I used but I don't remember the others.  I was extremely fit when I went on the drugs even though my exercise routine had dwindled from 3 times per week routinely in my 20's and 30's to almost none in my late 40's to age 52.  My metabolism just seemed to burn up the food I ate, regardless of type and quantity.  During the two years of being on the anti-depressants and very little aerobic exercise, my weight went up about 15 pounds.

Immediately after getting off the drugs, I found that I could not control my internal stress levels.  They would build up during the work week.  I found that I was not internally angry or upset otherwise.  I soon started drinking on weekend nights and found that it relieved the built up stress.  At least that is what my mind has told me and is continuing to tell me.  To my chagrin, my weight went up another 10 pounds over a 3 month period and before I knew what was happening.  Now I have realized that my metabolism rate is down.  I can not seem to do anything about it.  I am exercising more but do not have the motivation to exercise.  Exercise just isn't as easy as it was in my 20's and 30's.  The drugs made me gain weight and I don't know how to reverse the situation.  I wouldn't recommend anti-depressants to anyone.  Being internally angry was much better than being overweight by 25 pounds and desiring to drink every weekend. 

I know this doesn't really address your question, but I just had to ask, does your doctor think you are still on 300 mg/d of the medicine? 'Cause the whole "by breaking open the capsules and dosing out smaller and smaller amounts every two weeks" doesn't exactly sound like a doctor prescribed option.

According to the PDR, an average dose is 75 mg/d and a high dose would be 225 mg/d... so 300 mg/d is really high. Dropping from really high dosage of medicine to nothing in 3 months can be very dangerous, especially for anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medicines.

I just had to raise a "holy crap make sure you don't die" medical flag on this play.