Can you lose weight on Effexor?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Can you lose weight on Effexor?
Yes, Effexor can cause weight loss. A number of people have reported weight loss on this antidepressant. Some have lost just a negligible amount of weight, whereas others have lost a significant amount of weight while being treated with Effexor.
Research studies on Effexor and weight loss
There are a number of research studies that have revealed how Effexor can help people lose weight. This antidepressant is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. It works by inhibiting the reuptake of two excitatory monoamine neurotransmitters; serotonin and norepinephrine (1).
This way it works to counteract the symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and several other mental health conditions. This drug activity can help people with eating disorders who tend to crave sugary foods.
A research study stated that people who suffer from depression comorbid with an eating disorder or obesity can respond well to Effexor (2). The drug can help reduce their appetite and regulate their eating patterns.
When they begin to eat just as much as their body needs, they start to lose weight. This can be beneficial for some people, especially those who are overweight, but underweight people can suffer from undesirable consequences.
This is because Effexor will also reduce their appetite as a side effect and it can result in malnourishment. Effexor can also trigger weight gain in some people. Some case studies show weight loss followed by weight gain during treatment with this antidepressant.
Antidepressants can affect people differently, which is why it’s important to keep discussing the side effects with your healthcare provider. Effexor is generally a well-tolerated antidepressant and can be taken with or without food.
What to do if you suffer from Effexor-induced unexplained weight loss?
There are a few important tips that can help you out if you’re losing too much weight on Effexor. Some of these include:
Inform your doctor
It is important to talk to your doctor if you begin to lose a tremendous amount of weight on Effexor. Effexor is not a weight loss pill. It can help you lose some of the pounds but it should not be more than a few pounds.
If you’re losing a significant amount of weight in a short span of time, you need to discuss this with your doctor. Your dose may be too high or Effexor may be causing some harmful metabolic changes in your body. If that’s the case, your doctor may switch you to another antidepressant.
Make sure you’re eating enough
It is extremely important to make sure that you are eating enough and consuming enough calories that are essential for the normal physiological composition of your body.
If you’re eating less than your body needs, you will not be able to perform all of the metabolic functions properly. Insufficient calorie intake can not only make you lose weight but can also slow down your metabolism.
Drink liquid calories
If you don’t feel hungry while you’re being treated with Effexor and that’s the main cause of your weight loss, you can try taking liquid calories. Studies suggest that drinking instead of eating when you don’t really feel hungry is easier than consuming solid foods.
This way you will drink your calories and your body won’t be malnourished. You can try making milkshakes of calorie-dense fruits like bananas, dates, or nuts, which can pack you up with a lot of nutrition.
Do some exercise
Try to add exercise to your daily routine, especially if you continue to not feel hungry (3). This is because working out burns your existing calories.
This speeds up your metabolism and you start to feel hungry naturally. Even if your loss of appetite is a medication-induced side effect, I’m sure you will feel hungry after a good workout session.
Never skip your breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and you should never, ever skip it (4). Taking a good amount of protein can help you jump-start your day and you will feel energetic almost the entire day. Do not deprive your body of such morning calories. A good breakfast routine can literally change your life.
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References
1.-
PubChem [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; 2004-. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 62923, Venlafaxine hydrochloride; [cited 2023 Apr. 27]. Available from: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Venlafaxine-hydrochloride
2.-
Malhotra S, King KH, Welge JA, Brusman-Lovins L, McElroy SL. Venlafaxine treatment of binge-eating disorder associated with obesity: a series of 35 patients. J Clin Psychiatry. 2002 Sep;63(9):802-6. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v63n0909. PMID: 12363121. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12363121/
3.-
Clayton DJ, James LJ. The effect of breakfast on appetite regulation, energy balance and exercise performance. Proc Nutr Soc. 2016 Aug;75(3):319-27. doi: 10.1017/S0029665115004243. Epub 2015 Dec 14. PMID: 26653842. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26653842/
4.-
Clayton DJ, James LJ. The effect of breakfast on appetite regulation, energy balance and exercise performance. Proc Nutr Soc. 2016 Aug;75(3):319-27. doi: 10.1017/S0029665115004243. Epub 2015 Dec 14. PMID: 26653842. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26653842/
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