Efexor-xr and weight

[Mcfly64]

Hi. I have been taking Efexor-xr for over four years. I have put on between 12 to 15 kilos and find it so hard to shed this weight even though I have a reasonably healthy diet and walk for about 45 minutes every day. It’s so frustrating. Has anyone else had the same issue taking Efexor-xr ? I’ve been told by my doctor and psychiatrist it’s one of the side effects of the medication.

[Sallyskins]

I've just had a quick google for Effexor, and apparently it isn't currently on the US FDA list of approved medications for OCD, but can be prescribed for it, particularly if other treatments haven't been effective.

It's so annoying and dispiriting to do all the right things and still put on weight. I put on about 35 pounds as a result of taking sulpiride alongside my usual prescription of sertraline. I came off it, and the sulpiride wasn't making any difference to my OCD anyway.

Is this the only medication that has worked for you? It might be worth asking if other medications might be as effective for you without the weight gain.

There are other treatments that haven't had robust clinical trials, but have had some promising results in what trials have been conducted. They include inositol, a natural substance that can be bought over the counter in some health food shops and drug stores - large doses (18 g a day) are needed, but side effects are few, rare, and manageable, as far as reports go. It has been helpful in some cases of very hard-to-treat OCD.

Prebiotics and probiotics have also been trialled, though the jury is still out on their effectiveness with OCD.

Most psychiatrists are resistant to 'alternative' therapies, and you may have trouble persuading them to let you try them. I share their scepticism, on the whole, but some of these treatments may be a way forward for OCD.

This is what the IOCDF has to say about some of them:

iocdf.org/expert-opinions/o...

[Mcfly64 in reply to Sallyskins]

Thank you so much for your advice. Very much appreciated 🙏