i have just been prescribed ven. but i am terrified of gaining weight as i have lost a lot of weight in the past i would appreciate your experiences regarding this topic thanks
Hi,thanks however I am currently on 150 venlafaxine...due to suffering severe panic disorder for over a year. I was prescribed diazapam before and became adaddicted which was also a nightmare to come off from but trough determination managed it as although they helped at first I got far worse as you can imagine. I feel the venlafaxine are working for my anxiety to some degree but I get angry very quickly and it's affected relationships. Don't know what to do as I'm scared coming off them will make my condition bad again and I simply could not cope with that again it makes me think about doing myself in..I hate it because I've always been happy in the past.it all started after a bad flight and a 2hr panic attack. I had had them before but this was different and left me a nervous wreck. ??? This post is only the tip of the iceberg as far as my confusion and feelings are concerned
Effexor does NOT make u gain weight
I'm on these for same reason as u and they are helping me so much 
how are u getting on??
Hi jim early stages then with ven. It really works differently with the individual as I was and low doses for 20 years. I gained weight but not sure if it was down to the meds or just comfort eating!!!!!! However the doc did warn me that I may gain some weight. I would suggest just keep talking to your GP but make sure it's one who is knowledgeable and understanding as some (especially young) seem to do the easy option with out the impact. I would also suggest that you ask the doc for counselling if it works for you as that's what got me over my issues and in a place to come off ven finally. It's been a struggle coming off but nothing like the struggle I have heard people have had on here.
I have been on Venlafixine since April/May last year, due to a relationship break-up and post trauma ! I built up dosage gradually - now on slow release 150mg or is it 160mg, get mixed up between these and the propranalol ! I must say that both have been a God-send and helped me get through awful panic/anxiety attacks ! Pre taking these I could barely function, I had trialled others before these two and was all over the place emotionally ! Now though, almost a year later - I feel I want to come off, don't like being drug dependent to make me function " normally ", yeah- whatever normal is huh ? Anyway, I am worried about withdrawal and panic/anxiety coming back but hopefully they can phase in some lesser medication that will make the transition a good one ?
Hi, well I must say that I have noticed a lot of weight gain around my normally comfortable middle ! I now have excess flesh where once was quite flat, I can only attribute it to the meds, as I am a very disciplined eater !! Going to see about coming off these and my other med soon, as have been on both almost a year ! My weight has not gone up at all but shifted to my waist area, and it is horrible !
Hiya all. I ve just stubbled across this site for information and reassurance. I too have been on venafaxine 150. i have put on 2 stone. I have been withdrawing for the last 3 weeks. The withdrawal has been awfull but hopefully nearly there. I have come off them as I was sweating terribly and am full of boils and spots in sweaty places. Been on fluoxetine for many years but this withdrawal from the venlafaxine has been the worst. Vomiting, dizziness, vertigo. glad its nearly over and hope you are all managing ok. Definatley worked for the depression and anxiety but woud not use it again. The withdrawal was awfull and got no help as doctors said it was just a bug. After researching on the internet, i realised the withdrawal sypmtons are very common. x
hi to everyone on here,
just wanted to tell my story of how venlafaxine has affected me. iv been on it for little over a year, a lot has changer from when i started on it. i went to see my mental health doctor because i was an emotional wreak, i cried all the time felt depressed ,wanted to kill myself. i have small children and i knew i had to do something. they put me on venlafaxine. right from the first week i could feel a difference . i was able to think, control my emotions i felt great. now that i have been on it for over a yesr i think i have more control of my self and life as well. so im taking my self off of it and havent taken them for a week now. i did feel a little emotional and also felt a little panic but nothing i wasent able to correct and control myself. the reason i want to get off the meds is because in that little time of taking them i gained 50 pounds! and now that is more of an issue then my mental health. one affects the other...and i would recommend venlafaxine but keep in mind you will gain weight and it is best used as a short term fix for your emotional health.
I've put on around 2 stone in a year of being on venlafaxine. It is a horrible drug, try and avoid it if at all possible. It's a nightmare to get off of and the side effects are unbelievable!!!! Trust me, I've been weaning myself down for a few months now and now I'm down to only 37.5mg but my head is thumping so bad, that and the brain zaps are just awful.
I have been on venlafaxine for some years but just for my hot flashes when I went though menapause and they kept up. I was taking just 35 mg and now do 150 mg. I was blaming all my weight gain on getting steroid injections for my lower back and now I am thinking I have 2 things working against me. I have always kept myself in shape and exercised and ate right and have gained 25 LB over the past couple of years. I wonder if its both or moret he antidepressant .
Hi guest,I have been on venlafaxine for bout 6mths but am in the midst of going cold turkey coming off of them,anyway my weight always remained the same as before I took them so all I can say is take one step at a time,sort your problem first then sort your weight out after,its far better to be in a good state of mind first, does that make any sense to you?good luck and keep us all posted....
Hi, Thanks for that info and I should of known better and now am cut down to half the dose for a week and then going 1 every other day. The weight seemed so important and yet like you said it has to be done the right way.
Hi Leanne you are going to get through it,you just have to believe in your self...take care....
Icant say for everyone but I sure did. I was 130 Lbs forever with eating right and exercise. After getting on this drug, I have put on about 30 LBs. It seems to also be mostly in the stomach area which is always unbecoming in clothes. Now I was getting the steroid shots every 4 months for my lower back and that also caused weight gain. I'm afraid that being a woman has this issue with many of the drugs out there.
Thanks for that and I do work hard on staying in shape and this is why it was so difficult for me to gain all this extra weight. I'm weaning myself off that drug now and hopefully can lose the weight.
Stay well leanne★
Yes, it most certainly does make you gain weight!
I've been on Ven for 6 months now after being on Duloxetine for many years. Dose is currently 150mg a day but am tapering down to nothing under medical guidance after I realised it truly was a horrible, horrible drug.
I've put on a huge amount of weight in this time although I eat healthily and never exceed around 1,500 cals. a day. And I exercise regulalrly to the full extent my calorie intake will allow.
Side effects for me have been depression (go figure!), memory loss, poor concentration, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, chronic fatigue, insomia, visual disturbance, aching joints and muscles, and of course weight again.
Withdrawal symptons added to the above now include brain zaps and really weird dreams (not all unpleasant!) but I also take Diphenhydramine HCl (Nytol or Boots Sleepeze in the UK) which I read online helps alleviate some of the withdrawal symptoms, which it does.
I really don't understand how drug companies are allowed to sell drugs like these, and how doctors can continue to prescribe them although a raft of 'incentives' probably helps!
And what's worse is that most doctors are also clueless as to how to come off them!
So let's try and get this poison banned!
Yes, it most certainly does make you gain weight!
I've been on Ven for 6 months now after being on Duloxetine for many years. Dose is currently 150mg a day but am tapering down to nothing under medical guidance after I realised it truly was a horrible, horrible drug.
I've put on a huge amount of weight in this time although I eat healthily and never exceed around 1,500 cals. a day. And I exercise regulalrly to the full extent my calorie intake will allow.
Side effects for me have been depression (go figure!), memory loss, poor concentration, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, chronic fatigue, insomia, visual disturbance, aching joints and muscles, and of course weight again.
Withdrawal symptons added to the above now include brain zaps and really weird dreams (not all unpleasant!) but I also take Diphenhydramine HCl (Nytol or Boots Sleepeze in the UK) which I read online helps alleviate some of the withdrawal symptoms, which it does.
I really don't understand how drug companies are allowed to sell drugs like these, and how doctors can continue to prescribe them although a raft of 'incentives' probably helps!
And what's worse is that most doctors are also clueless as to how to come off them!
So let's try and get this poison banned!
I've been on venlafaxine Xl 375mg for 5years, I have put on about 5stone in this time!! I never had any trouble with my weight before. I'm having alot of side effects and am scared of coming off them to go on new medication. For one reason that I become very suicidal again, and secondly the effects of coming off this drug 😪