Stress Center Peer Support

hello all,
I 've just started the program less than a week ago. I would like to know if anyone else out there who has been on paxil (i was on 20 milligrams a day) has experienced very rapid and seemingly uncontrollable weight gain. I gained about 50 pounds in about 1 year's time. I asked several doctors if they thought the paxil could be the cause and not one of them could say for sure. In fact all of them said that they had not heard of weight gain as being a side effect. Not only did I gain weight, but I got this real puffy look about my face, neck, arms, hands, feet,...
I eventually weaned myself off of Paxil because the weight gain/puffiness had gotten to me, but after 6 months of being paxil-free, I began to feel my anxiety/panic disorder symptons return. SO, i tried something different: EFFEXOR. I've been on effexor for several months now, and I'm not sure, but i think i'm gaining again. I would like to know if anyone out there has experienced weight gain with either of these medications. The doctors I've talked to don't seem to recognize weight gain as being a side effect of either of the two medications.
Thank you in advance, Dini

The same thing happened to me, except that I was on paxil for a very long time, since the age of 8 in fact. I was once a skinny and reletively active boy, but I found that the paxil reduced my metabolism by quite a large margin. It's true that weight gain is not a known side-effect, but a decrease in energy (and in turn, metabolism) is a known side effect, and has probably caused your weight-gain. When I went off paxil and switched to zoloft (I am on prozac now), I have found that I have actually lost weight and have increased my energy. I'm not so sure about effexor, because I've never been on it, but heed my warning: if a medicine says "may cause drowsiness," be prepared for weight gain.

GAARDEN wrote>>>>I'm not so sure about effexor, because I've never been on it, but heed my warning: if a medicine says "may cause drowsiness," be prepared for weight gain

Oh, that's a very, very good point. Don't think I ever put 'drowsiness' and weight gain together in spite of the obvious relationship between the two. duh!
My intentions are too ween off Effexor as well now. The weight gain issue is causing additional stress in my life, and I'd also like the chance to see how well I do unmedicated during and after the StressCenter.com program.
Thank you Gaarden!
dini

I gained a lot of weight. Been on Paxil for 5 years. I know I can lose it because I lost 50 lbs in 5 months on Atkins but I think Paxil makes you crave more of the "bad" foods to eat. I always thought it was my eating habit, but I think my eating habit is caused by the paxil

Christina

Hey there,

I was on Paxil for 5 years and gained 40 pounds on it. As soon as I went off it, I lost all that weight. My doctor said that the medication caused my weight gain.

Hi I was on Paxil for 6-8 months and I gained 30 lbs. I also had a puffy look about me. I switched to Prozac and found no weight gain. I weaned myself off and had a bout of anxiety about 2 months ago. I have been on prozac and have not gained any weight. I hope this helps.

Thank you all so much for your quick responses. My family kept on telling me it was the paxil, but I had been defending it because I'd been told by 3 doctors that they hadn't heard of weight gain as being a side effect. In any case, I think Gaardan makes a good point: if one of the side effects reads "drowsiness" and you are a person with the propensity to gain, well.... the end result is pretty obvious.
thank you all so much.
dini

I also gained about 40 pounds on Paxil almost instantly that I can't seem to shake. I also lost hair which is a sign of reduced thyroid activity. It's been 8 months, and I'm starting to wonder how/when this will get better.

I've been on Paxil for a while. No weight gain whatsoever.

Try wellbutrin if you are concerened about the weight gain. It is an SNII type drug which from what I have been told actually increases metabolism. I am not sure if that is medical fact but I know a few people who are taking and and sy they feel more energetic. Good luck