Off Effexor and experiencing major Metabolism Slow-Down?

Has anyone experienced a metabolism slow-down when they got off Effexor? After I weened off of it, I got more constipated, was dizzy, craving sugar, my skin became so dry, and I quickly gained 25 lbs. Also experienced low blood pressure and low body temperature, and was sleeping 12 hrs a day. This has persisted for a yr now.

Basically ALL symptoms of hypothyroidism, but with normal thyroid tests.

Are you experiencing this issue? If so, I have info to share with you!

I've gained 30 lbs since coming off Cymbalta 2 years ago. It coinsided with low thyroid function too though. Well, actually my TSH has gone up and down since coming off meds but the weight just continues to go up, despite no longer eating fast food or drinking soda.

Withdrawal No. 1 (unplanned) afterwards no weight
change maintained the 35 lbs. that I had gained but never related it to the chemical.

Withdrawal No.2 (really unplanned did not really know I was having it until well into it) lost 35 lbs.

After hospital trip (First one) I thought the Brain "Zaps" were from the MRI thingee.

I knew nothing about all this stuff.

I weaned (too fast - 4 wks, thanx to psychiatrist) off Effexor, and after the last 1/4 pill, the shit hit the fan. I was practically psychotic: rage attacks, tearfulness, suicidal desires. After being off it for 3 months is when the suicidal desires came on, about once a week. I'd had suicidal desires before I went on Effexor, but more like once every 5+ years. Anyway, to keep from killing myself, I started back on half the original dose (original was 75mg) but that didn't help. So I increased that by 50%(to 56.25 mg/day) and all the withdrawal effects stopped, except now I want to sleep all the time. I also have low thyroid & am taking synthroid but that doesn't help.

JJJ wrote:

Has anyone experienced a metabolism slow-down when they got off Effexor? After I weened off of it, I got more constipated, was dizzy, craving sugar, my skin became so dry, and I quickly gained 25 lbs. Also experienced low blood pressure and low body temperature, and was sleeping 12 hrs a day. This has persisted for a yr now.
Basically ALL symptoms of hypothyroidism, but with normal thyroid tests.
Are you experiencing this issue? If so, I have info to share with you!

I have recently been weaning myself and have been experiencing constipation and higher than normal (for me) blood pressure. This can be a result of the weaning?

JJJ wrote:

Has anyone experienced a metabolism slow-down when they got off Effexor? After I weened off of it, I got more constipated, was dizzy, craving sugar, my skin became so dry, and I quickly gained 25 lbs. Also experienced low blood pressure and low body temperature, and was sleeping 12 hrs a day. This has persisted for a yr now.
Basically ALL symptoms of hypothyroidism, but with normal thyroid tests.
Are you experiencing this issue? If so, I have info to share with you!

Yes! I am having the exact problem.(except for the dry skin) I had my thyroid checked and it's normal. I take probiotics and drink tons of water so, constipation shouldn't be a problem, but it is. I've been off Effexor one year now and can not lose the weight despite working out 3-5 days a week and completely changing my diet....what's the problem??

Hey all,
I know everybody's body seems to respond differently, but in my experience, my metabolism slowed RIGHT down - weight gain, low body temp, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, lethargy - it's all related to a slow metabolism.

every doc told me it was 'stress' or 'in my head' but i started taking my temp, and we run at around 98.6, and my temp has consistently been around 94, 95, 96 - so i knew that there was no way it was in my head. think about it - at 100, it's a fever, so why wouldn't 2 degrees lower than normal also cause you to be ill? not everybody that has impaired metabolism will run low temp, but it is the top sign of it.

i found that the best thing to do is go somewhere, where they will look at every single thing. a regular doc won't do this. In Canada, I went to a Functional Medicine clinic, where they have MDs and integrative medicine. They test your hormones, vitamin/mineral profile, test for heavy metal toxicity, do a slew of blood tests, everything possible to see where the problem is coming from.

In my case, this is what happened. Effexor can cause cortisol levels to rise; a disturbance in cortisol can interfere with thyroid function (producing reverse T3, instead of real T3, the thyroid hormone) and even after cortisol levels fall back down, the body can be stuck in this mode (making Reverse T3).

In Canada, RT3 is no longer tested, but it can still done in the U.S. I would recommend having thyroid antibodies tested, along with RT3 if you still feel you might have a thyroid problem. Doctors will tell you that you are crazy, but the 2 things that they are not informed about are:
1) Adrenal fatigue, and
2) Low thyroid function/slowed metabolism

In my case, I had an Adrenal Stress Index done, to test my insulin, cortisol, DHEA and immune function (24 hr saliva test). it's said to be more accurate than a blood test. My cortisol level was found to be too low, along with low insulin and low immune function (secretory igA), but low cortisol causes these other two things to be low.

Adrenal fatigue (low cortisol) causes similar symptoms to low thyroid, and often people will have both- an adrenal fatigue AND low thyroid function. Adrenal fatigue seems to be common experience by people after they have been on meds like Effexor and go off of them.

Impaired metabolism also seems to be another thing experienced by alot of people on these meds. It may have something to do with the stimulating effect of the meds - its ability to raise cortisol levels.

If you're unsure about this stuff, think about this. High level of cortisol causes blood pressure to rise. What's the #1 side effect of Effexor? Hypertension (high blood pressure).
If you think this might be you, I suggest that you look into it. I spent over a yr feeling like total crap. It turns out I needed some adrenal help and some thyroid help, too after all this.

And low metabolism causes depression and lack of motivation..so fix one problem.. might be able to also fix the other! In my case, it did.

Ann from WA wrote:

I weaned (too fast - 4 wks, thanx to psychiatrist) off Effexor, and after the last 1/4 pill, the shit hit the fan. I was practically psychotic: rage attacks, tearfulness, suicidal desires. After being off it for 3 months is when the suicidal desires came on, about once a week. I'd had suicidal desires before I went on Effexor, but more like once every 5+ years. Anyway, to keep from killing myself, I started back on half the original dose (original was 75mg) but that didn't help. So I increased that by 50%(to 56.25 mg/day) and all the withdrawal effects stopped, except now I want to sleep all the time. I also have low thyroid & am taking synthroid but that doesn't help.

ANN from WA:

if you're taking synthroid and feeling like crap, FIND FIND FIND a doc who can put you on natural dessicated thyroid. You're probably not converting enough T3. I think in the US it's called "Armour" and another one called "Naturethroid".

Have you tried? Had any success with it?(The natural one has T4, T3, T1, T2 and calcitonin in it. But most importantly it has T3 in it.)

Damaged wrote:

I've gained 30 lbs since coming off Cymbalta 2 years ago. It coinsided with low thyroid function too though. Well, actually my TSH has gone up and down since coming off meds but the weight just continues to go up, despite no longer eating fast food or drinking soda.

Hi "Damaged":

What thyroid meds are you on?

i was on effexor 70 mg for two years. Been off it for around 3 mths. during that 2 years i gained 2 dress sizes. im eating well and doing the work to get the weight off but its just not coming off. I am always tired also. im hoping my metabolism and body bounces back. it sucks. good luck all and dont give up.

I'm reading everyone's stories and sighing bc I am having the same problems. Went off effexor in July 2011 with help from my Dr. After being on it for about a year. The weight gain was why I went off. Now its been 3 months and I'm tired all the time. The weight is not coming off even though I don't eat as much. My hair is also brittle and breaking at the ends. I'm trying to be hopeful that my metabolism is going to correct itself over time. Reading that one of you has been off for a year with no improvement is crushing.

JJJ wrote:

Hey all,
I know everybody's body seems to respond differently, but in my experience, my metabolism slowed RIGHT down - weight gain, low body temp, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, lethargy - it's all related to a slow metabolism.
every doc told me it was 'stress' or 'in my head' but i started taking my temp, and we run at around 98.6, and my temp has consistently been around 94, 95, 96 - so i knew that there was no way it was in my head. think about it - at 100, it's a fever, so why wouldn't 2 degrees lower than normal also cause you to be ill? not everybody that has impaired metabolism will run low temp, but it is the top sign of it.
i found that the best thing to do is go somewhere, where they will look at every single thing. a regular doc won't do this. In Canada, I went to a Functional Medicine clinic, where they have MDs and integrative medicine. They test your hormones, vitamin/mineral profile, test for heavy metal toxicity, do a slew of blood tests, everything possible to see where the problem is coming from.
In my case, this is what happened. Effexor can cause cortisol levels to rise; a disturbance in cortisol can interfere with thyroid function (producing reverse T3, instead of real T3, the thyroid hormone) and even after cortisol levels fall back down, the body can be stuck in this mode (making Reverse T3).
In Canada, RT3 is no longer tested, but it can still done in the U.S. I would recommend having thyroid antibodies tested, along with RT3 if you still feel you might have a thyroid problem. Doctors will tell you that you are crazy, but the 2 things that they are not informed about are:
1) Adrenal fatigue, and
2) Low thyroid function/slowed metabolism
In my case, I had an Adrenal Stress Index done, to test my insulin, cortisol, DHEA and immune function (24 hr saliva test). it's said to be more accurate than a blood test. My cortisol level was found to be too low, along with low insulin and low immune function (secretory igA), but low cortisol causes these other two things to be low.
Adrenal fatigue (low cortisol) causes similar symptoms to low thyroid, and often people will have both- an adrenal fatigue AND low thyroid function. Adrenal fatigue seems to be common experience by people after they have been on meds like Effexor and go off of them.
Impaired metabolism also seems to be another thing experienced by alot of people on these meds. It may have something to do with the stimulating effect of the meds - its ability to raise cortisol levels.
If you're unsure about this stuff, think about this. High level of cortisol causes blood pressure to rise. What's the #1 side effect of Effexor? Hypertension (high blood pressure).
If you think this might be you, I suggest that you look into it. I spent over a yr feeling like total crap. It turns out I needed some adrenal help and some thyroid help, too after all this.
And low metabolism causes depression and lack of motivation..so fix one problem.. might be able to also fix the other! In my case, it did.

So are you all fixed now? How did you do it?
I have low IGg too... having some better testing done soon... TSH is a bit high but not high enough for the doc to test T3 and T4...have all the metabolic issues mentioned above... as well as high cholesterol and very fat liver getting worse all the time. This one scares me as liver cancer runs in my family.
Scare to death of statins will not take them and trying to deal with this thur diet.

I attempted to wean myself off effexor with the help of my physician. Tired, crazy thought patterns, high anxiety and weight gain followed me. Eventually I conceded that maybe I really need the drug and went back to full dosage. The adrenal fatigue info is very interesting. I still feel tired even though I am back up to full dosage. I am exercising and following a weight loss program to help shed the extra 20lbs I have gained. One week in and I have lost .7 lbs with lots of effort. I am also taking silica supplements to help with the dry skin, and dry hair - and I have been on it for almost a year and I think it's helping. I am hopeful to come off effexor - or try something else to see if it makes a difference.

Could this study give us a clue about metabolic changes?

Venlafaxine was still strongly associated with hyponatraemia after also controlling for age, sex, and depression status, consumption of other drugs potentially causative of hyponatraemia and medical illness severity (Odds Ratio (OR) 3.5, p = 0.008). SSRI and venlafaxine use is strongly associated with the presence of hyponatraemia.[Kirby D et al; Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 17(3): p.231-237 (2002)]**PEER REVIEWED** Hyponatremia is a metabolic condition in which there is not enough sodium (salt) in the body fluids outside the cells. Symptoms: Common symptoms include: Abnormal mental status Confusion; Decreased consciousness; Hallucinations

Melody wrote:

Could this study give us a clue about metabolic changes?
Venlafaxine was still strongly associated with hyponatraemia after also controlling for age, sex, and depression status, consumption of other drugs potentially causative of hyponatraemia and medical illness severity (Odds Ratio (OR) 3.5, p = 0.008). SSRI and venlafaxine use is strongly associated with the presence of hyponatraemia.[Kirby D et al; Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 17(3): p.231-237 (2002)]**PEER REVIEWED** Hyponatremia is a metabolic condition in which there is not enough sodium (salt) in the body fluids outside the cells. Symptoms: Common symptoms include: Abnormal mental status Confusion; Decreased consciousness; Hallucinations

This is for sure part of it especially in the first 6 or so months maybe even a year but there is more to it then that withdrawal is an amazing beast just when you thinnnnnk you have it figured out or can live with some symptom the symptoms change it is an evolving monster...
Always keep one off base and beaten time time time is the only thing that may work.
I am talking years not months. Tapering is suppose to relieve the worst of it I don't know as I went cold turkey 4+ years still not right.
The weight the cold the thyroid the multiple symptoms they change as withdrawal goes along rather like a progressive illness or that is how it has been for me... the symptoms hit hard reduce in time than a new set of symptoms come same way... repeat repeat repeat... they can be psych mental emotional physical or any combination of these.
It comes in waves you may feel well for a bit then bam it is back.... hyper some days can't get up others.... can't sleep to can't wake up... around and around
like the hotel california you can check out anytime you want but you can never leave that is how I feel after four years.... post cold turkey

The only thing I can think of that could cause all these things is the brain something is off in the brain it is trying to heal itself but this new attack by drugs has not been built into our DNA and our bodies do not know how to beat it so it makes serial adjustments always a little bit off. I hear it gets better in time I just wonder how much longer or if everybody does get better maybe some of us will not have a complete recovery or if we at do it takes so many years we forget what it feel like to be "normal" as in the state before drugs.

Here from the effexor activist a list of withdrawal symptoms:

ANTIDEPRESSANT WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS.

1. Crying spells
2. Worsened mood
3. Low energy (fatigue, lethargy, malaise)
4. Trouble concentrating
5. Insomnia or trouble sleeping
6. Change in appetite
7. Suicidal thoughts
8. Suicide attempts
9. Anxious, nervous, tense
10. Panic attacks (racing heart, breathless)
11. Chest pain
12. Trembling, jittery,or shaking
13. Irritability
14. Agitation (restlessness, hyperactivity)
15. Impulsivity
16. Aggressiveness
17. Self-harm
18. Homicidal thoughts or urges
19. Confusion or cognitive difficulties
20. Memory problems or forgetfulness
21. Elevated mood (feeling high)
22. Mood swings
23. Manic-like reactions
24. Auditory hallucinations
25. Visual hallucinations
26. Feeling detached or unreal
27. Excessive or intense dreaming
28. Nightmares
29. Flu-like aches and pains
30. Fever
31. Sweats
32. Chills
33. Runny nose
34. Sore eyes
35. Nausea
36. Vomiting
37. Diarrhea
38. Abdominal pain or cramps
39. Stomach bloating
40. Disequilibrium
41. Spinning, swaying, lightheaded
42. Hung over or waterlogged feeling
43. Unsteady gait, poor coordination
44. Motion sickness
45. Headache
46. Tremor
47. Numbness, burning, or tingling
48. Electric zap-like sensations in the brain
49. Electric shock-like sensations in the body
50. Abnormal visual sensations
51. Ringing or other noises in the ears
52. Abnormal smells or tastes
53. Drooling or excessive saliva
54. Slurred speech
55. Blurred vision
56. Muscle cramps, stiffness, twitches
57. Feeling of restless legs
58. Uncontrollable twitching of mouth
Up to 78% of effexor users will experience withdrawal.
This can happen with one missed dose. paxil 66% zoloft 60%
Reference:“The Antidepressant Solution”
by Joseph Glenmullen, M.D.
We have no connection with Dr. Glenmullen

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During the four years since I went cold turkey from 150mg of Effexor I have honestly had every symptom on the list plus many that are not there. I have this fleeting thought to add all the other things that are missing I could do that a second thought however says to me I am a bit wiser than that. Even though 4 long hard years have passed I can still be brought crashing down by reliving the horror of withdrawal and in order to list them I have to think about them long enough to type them out believe me thoughts are a powerful thing and I know from experience that if I were to do that I would fall again and I am not putting myself through that for the sake of a list. If you have something not on the list post if you want somebody to confirm it is indeed withdrawal.

I regret the day I ever took this drug. I stopped March 11, never Ever had a weight issue till taking it. Its making me so depressed, I cant seem to lose it, normally I battle to other extreme. Help/advice would be appreciated, thanks :-(

Help and advice sarah?, would you like to join me in a UK class action lawsuit against a particular pharma company whom I suspect you may not hold in very high regard. I appear to be the exact same as btdt, 3 and half yrs off it, put on a lot of weight for a marathon runner last 2 months I was on it, it fell off quite quickly and for the first year I was a bit underweight, then about a year ago it changed to being overweight, just like btdt, when one symptom disappears it just seam to be replaced by another one, big sleeping problems and on the bad nights I know when I'll sleep as my body noticeablely cools down, when I cant sleep at night( which is most of the time to some degree or other) theres quite noticeable heat coming out my muscles and when this heat disappears I fall asleep, just been tested for thyroid, they say not showing anything, I've came across this thing that they call lymphotic thyroiditis, which can quite often be drug induced and my symptoms appear to fit it quite well. Slowing of the metabolsim would fit with me, performance as a runner badly affected so if my metabolism has been slowed I'm not going to go as quick and just like everything else it changes every month or so and something changing shape every month or so suggests to me the bodies natural cycles being messed up in some way and thats what a friend of mine who has a Biochemistry Phd and was a world mountain running champion thinks also, pleasantly suprised by it today was expecting to be quite slow today given how disturbed my sleep is at present and wasnt really. I'm pretty certain its done something to my natural biological balance