Effexor and tho

i was on effexor,4 about 9mths,ive never known anything like it...at first it made me feel rather alert,which i liked,then i started 2 feel puffy all over,speially my stomach....iv always kept my figure,even tho iv had 4 children,,and always regained a pretty good stomach,,but this drug ruined me,,,i could never understand why i was gaining weight,when i was eatting next to nothing,,my wilpower 2 diet has always been good,but using this drug made me fat without eattin....i came of the drug ,6months ago now,im slowly losing the weight again,iv lost all my confident,self esteem,the lot...im tired and depressed over th weight gain by this drug,,it will b along time 2 get bak to the normal me,,but i,ll get there...my advice...dont touch th drug