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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
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.
Posted by Buckeye Fan on May 13, 2004, at 8:36:06
In reply to Comment about weight gain and Effexor, posted by nannygoat on May 13, 2004, at 8:19:28
I too experienced a 25 pound weight gain on Effexor, while my eating habits did not change..and in fact I have INCREASED my exercise
routine..and yet STILL gained weight.And also my blood pressure has gone up.
I need no furher proof. It is a fact with me, that another Effexor side effect is weight gain and blood pressure increase.
Thanks for confirming yet again , what others like us have discovered.
Buckeye Fan
Posted by Maximus on May 13, 2004, at 9:12:24
In reply to Re: Comment about weight gain and Effexor, posted by Buckeye Fan on May 13, 2004, at 8:36:06
Hi,
I gained weight too on Effexor. I'm still on it. A mini diet keeps me from gaining and a very severe diet with exercices allow me to lose weight, very slowly.
Talking about SSRI/SNRI, here's a list of magnitude related to the weight thing.
1- Prozac (the least)
2- Zoloft
3- Luvox (on par with Celexa)
4- Effexor (can even lose at the begining of treatment)
5- Paxil (the worst)Good luck!
Posted by nannygoat on May 13, 2004, at 12:50:22
In reply to Re: Comment about weight gain and Effexor » Buckeye Fan, posted by Maximus on May 13, 2004, at 9:12:24
The problem I have is that I have fibromyalgia as well as chronic fatigue.
I am 55, work full-time, and go to school part-time. I couldn't exercise if someone paid me to. I do force myself to walk more at work, but it is hard with my condition.
I hope that my energy level will go up once I'm off the Effexor, and can resume exercising then.
In the meantime, I don't plan to go back on any anti-depressants, because I think they all carry the same basic side effects, but the worst is the weight gain.
Because of the way I gained immensely from the use of Effexor, it would have to be on the top of your list for me.
Thanks,
Nancy
> Hi,
>
> I gained weight too on Effexor. I'm still on it. A mini diet keeps me from gaining and a very severe diet with exercices allow me to lose weight, very slowly.
>
> Talking about SSRI/SNRI, here's a list of magnitude related to the weight thing.
>
> 1- Prozac (the least)
> 2- Zoloft
> 3- Luvox (on par with Celexa)
> 4- Effexor (can even lose at the begining of treatment)
> 5- Paxil (the worst)
>
> Good luck!
Posted by Maximus on May 13, 2004, at 14:06:10
In reply to Re: Comment about weight gain and Effexor » Maximus, posted by nannygoat on May 13, 2004, at 12:50:22
> The problem I have is that I have fibromyalgia as well as chronic fatigue.
>
> I am 55, work full-time, and go to school part-time. I couldn't exercise if someone paid me to. I do force myself to walk more at work, but it is hard with my condition.Okay Nancy, we are in the same boat concerning the chronic fatigue. I found that an increase in Effexor dosage didn't help at all. I even bumped it up at 300 mg with no result. In fact, SSRIs tend to worsen us.
But first of all, did you try Lamictal? It has a very very good track record for the treatment of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, depression and as mood stabilizer.
My pdoc added a stimulant (Ritalin SR). It helps me immensely. It might be the trick for you.
Also, if you don't want to take the stimulant route, you can try these following meds. Prozac and Zoloft have been found more helpful than Effexor for the treatment of chronic fatigue. They are more stimulating. Although they are called SSRIs, Prozac and Zoloft (especially) are more specifics (potent) than Effexor in targeting the dopaminergic subsystem.
A fourth solution would be to take a TCA (tricyclic antidepressants) like the Desipramine, alone or a small dose with Effexor.
N.B. You can also try some more *exotic cocktails*. But i strongly suggest you to try first the above solutions.
Hope this helps.
Bye!
Posted by nannygoat on May 14, 2004, at 7:23:37
In reply to Re: Comment about weight gain and Effexor » nannygoat, posted by Maximus on May 13, 2004, at 14:06:10
Hi and thanks for your response.
I will look up the meds you are describing and see what I can find on those. I have co-pays for prescriptions that are $50 each, so my monthly bill for medications alone is $200! I am trying to take as little as possible due to the cost factor involved.I have also been thinking of buying a book written by a doctor called "The Metabolic Treatment of Fibromyalgia", which appears as though it is based on sound research by the doctor. He has a website, it is http://www.drlowe.com - so check it out if you get some time. I like the way he answers questions, he doesn't come off as his way is the only way, but explains in a logical tone that is backed up by his findings.
Although I knew there was something wrong with me all along, I was not officially diagnosed with the Fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue until a few months ago. So I was given Effexor before the actual diagnosis of the fibromyalgia, not because of the fibromyalgia.
I diagnosed myself by bringing a book to my doctor at that time, with all the symptoms and signs I had noted with post it notes - I simply handed him the book and told him I had everything in the book that was marked with a post-it note! He couldn't dispute that.
I have been doing all my own research on my medical issues because doctors don't seem to have the time or patience anymore. It's almost like you have to be dying before they will consider anything you say as valid or a real medical issue.
Not to get off the subject, but here's the kind of thing I'm talking about. . .I went to a gastro specialist and told him I had such bad bloating and gas that it was affecting me in an extremely adverse way, especially at work - and that it was affecting my entire life negatively.
I explained to him how I had to get to the bathroom at work while trying not to let any gas out by accident. It was uncontrollable. He just laughed! I was so angry that my problem was seen as funny and not a medical issue that I had come to him for. It ended up that I found I have irritible bowel syndrome which is quite common with fibromyalgia, and can be helped by diet. You wonder what these doctors are getting paid for, ya know?I wish doctors would give patients the benefit of the doubt when they come to them with problems, and take their concerns seriously until disproved. I'm finding more and more we are all unique individuals, and we know our bodies better than anyone else. Different things affect different people - differently!
Anyway, enough of my stuff, thanks for letting me vent, and I'll take a look at the meds you have suggested.
Nancy
___________________________________________________________
> > The problem I have is that I have fibromyalgia as well as chronic fatigue.
> >
> > I am 55, work full-time, and go to school part-time. I couldn't exercise if someone paid me to. I do force myself to walk more at work, but it is hard with my condition.
>
> Okay Nancy, we are in the same boat concerning the chronic fatigue. I found that an increase in Effexor dosage didn't help at all. I even bumped it up at 300 mg with no result. In fact, SSRIs tend to worsen us.
>
> But first of all, did you try Lamictal? It has a very very good track record for the treatment of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, depression and as mood stabilizer.
>
> My pdoc added a stimulant (Ritalin SR). It helps me immensely. It might be the trick for you.
>
> Also, if you don't want to take the stimulant route, you can try these following meds. Prozac and Zoloft have been found more helpful than Effexor for the treatment of chronic fatigue. They are more stimulating. Although they are called SSRIs, Prozac and Zoloft (especially) are more specifics (potent) than Effexor in targeting the dopaminergic subsystem.
>
> A fourth solution would be to take a TCA (tricyclic antidepressants) like the Desipramine, alone or a small dose with Effexor.
>
> N.B. You can also try some more *exotic cocktails*. But i strongly suggest you to try first the above solutions.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Bye!
This is the end of the thread.
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