Weight Gain On Pristiq? (Page 11) (Top voted first)

I have been on Pristiq now since November of 2008...not quite 5 months...and I have put on 15 lbs since starting it. DESPITE working out with a trainer at the gym twice a week weight training, 3 days a week of cardio AND counting calories. My doc assured me that I would also have a decreased appetite on Pristiq, which I have yet to find true...so he has now increased my dosage to 400 mg. Does anyone have anything to add to this?? I'm just frustrated!

REPLY

REPORT

I am on Pristiq. I haven't necessarily gained weight, but I can not for the life of me LOSE weight. I go to the gym, I count calories, I walk my dogs every night..... The weight just won't come off.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Woah. This is all pretty dramatic! Don't worry too much about weight gain on Pristiq. Initially, it tends to cause weight loss, but people generally gain all the weight back. It isn't a magic bullet but it helps.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I'm looking for an anti-depressent that doesn't give me weight gain. It's like be depressed, anxious and thin, or be happy but fat. And being fat causes depression. If you gain weight on your meds, I think you should switch out

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I agree, Chris. That's why I stopped using this Antidepressant. I'm happy now & do not plan on taking another new one until I have to. My depression comes in cycles/ recurrent episodes.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Wow, I am so happy I stumbled on this discussion today. I take 100mg of Pristiq and am seeing my doc tomorrow. I know I am going to be in trouble for added weight gain. I have to wonder if this is part of the problem. I may overeat once in a while or have a snack but not so much as all the weight I have gained. I walk the dogs 3 times a day, work out, etc. She told me in the beginning this should cause me to lose weight and that doesn't seem to have worked for me. I'll let you know if we try another combo. I have also had the trouble sleeping, wild dreams, but I figured it was just coming before menopause - maybe not!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was on effexor for about 5 years, when I was feeling good, I just stopped taking it, but every time I took myself off of it, I had a depression relapse, big time....so, my Dr would put me back on it....he increasead the dose each time until I got to the point were I was taking 225 mg daily, until finaly it was not enough....so, my Dr added abilify 2 mg, the conbination of the two meds was working wanderful for my depression, but, I gained 22 pounds in 6 months since abilify was added to it. Then I was put on welbuterin...lost 20 pounds in 2 months....but it did not work for my depression, I had to be hospitalized for major depression while on it, then I was put on cymbalta....that did not make any changes, I ended up in the hospital for the second time in threee months, well...I returned to see my former Dr ( I had fired him because he had put me on abilify and made me gain 22 pounds) He put me on prestiq 50 mg. Thank God...! made me feel back on my shoes....have energy and enjoy life now....a little hyper....but I like it because I have energy to work out, go to work, just enjoy things.....

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Ann M:
That's really EXACTLY how I felt and the reason I went off. I had been on almost a year and a half. I HAD to nap daily, and I was getting decent sleep at night. I put on 32 lbs. In the beginning, I could totally tell and feel the difference in me. By the end, I felt like it was just a bad relationship: I was more depresssed and disgusted with myself. The Pristiq magic just seemed to be gone. I was on 50 mg. a day (I think.) I went off it. Sadly, the 32 lbs haven't fallen off me as I thought they would. That bums me out even more. But now I'm going to Weight Watchers, exercising and moving more. I still take a rest period sometimes a nap from anywhere to 1/2 hour to 1 hour. On Pristiq, a 2 hour nap wasn't unusual. And it never really helped. I almost felt like life was just passing me by.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been taking Pristiq since January 2010. I have gained at least 20 lbs. It is awful. I gained weight in my stomach, legs, and arms. I feel like a body builder or something. Since, I can't stop the weight gain, I am weaning myself off of this drug. I am more depressed now, since gaining so much weight that this drug is useless. I can't weight to get back to the weight before I was on this horrible medication. It sucks! Beware!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I went off Effexor after 10+ yrs because I felt that it was no longer working so I switched to Pristiq 50mg. I felt better again but was so hungry all the time and could never seem to feel full, I gained weight but did not connect it to the drug because I had had surgery on my broken ankle around the same time and attributed the weight gain to the inactivity, still the huge increase in appetite didn't make much sense. When I realized that it was probably the change in meds I decided to try the Effexor again since I had some left over from last rx, I noticed from the very first day that my appetite was normal again.This will be my 4th day and no side effects from switching back (same class of drugs I guess) I am positive that the Pristiq was responsible for the insatiable appetite!!!! BEWARE!!!!!!!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Well, saw my doc and decided to really try to keep a log of everything I was eating and my exercise to determine if it's just me eating too much or the pristiq. She also gave me something else at nite, can't remember what it is at the moment but supposed to help me sleep better. It's a vicious circle, you are depressed and you eat more and you get more depressed etc. I do think the pristiq has helped with my depression but has it added to weight gain? not sure. I am over 50 and have really hard periods so it could be hormones too - there are just so many factors - ugh! So, I will keep you all up to date with my weight loss experiment - I really do hope it's just me eating too much and not the meds. I eat pretty healthy - I think it's just portion size - we shall see!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Day 3 of Pristiq withdrawal and other than the dizziness which is worse when I turn my head too fast, my symptoms are manageable. Nausea was awful yesterda (day 2) but today not so much. NO signs of depressive thinking, energy seems increased already. This is a cold turkey withdrawal, I know it's not recommended but as much as I love my PC, I think she doesn't know as much as a shrink would know about ADs. I think Wyeth gave her lots of samples and kind of encouraged her to prescribe this wonder drug. She MAY know a lot more than I'm giving her credit for, to be fair. However, as difficult as withdrawal is, I think that it needs to be looked into as far as real drug safety goes. I'm glad to be getting off it!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I just recently got off Pristiq and glad for it. I was on it for almost one year and I'm convinced that it is the cause for my extreme weight gain and more importantly, inability to lose weight. I was only prescribed Pristiq for chronic pain for which I couldn't hold a full time job nor work out like I wanted to. When I started feeling better, I finally started working and doing Pilates all the time. Did I lose weight? No! I gained it. I was way more active then I was before taking Pristiq. Does that make sense? Not only did I gain unsightly weight in my belly I was hungry all the time and all I wanted to eat was dessert. I'm a nutritionist and Pilates instructor. Come on folks! Now that I'm off it, my appetite has become normal again and the sugar cravings are subsiding.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on Pristiq for about 4-5 months. I have lost 20 pounds and have lost my appetite.

I was on Paxil for 5ish years and feel better on Pristiq.

My doctor put me on 100 mg(2pills a day). Is anyone else on 100mg?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on Lexapro for 8 months. My doctor increased my dose from 5 mg to 20 mg when I wasn't showing improvement. When the does was increased, I gained 25 pounds in 2 months. I was horrified. My doctor said that it was a lot of weight gain. I've now been on Prisiq for only a few days. I've taken naps every day, don't sleep as long at night, have very vivid dreams, and nauseous. I'm hoping that some of the weight will come off. Very nervous about gaining more weight, I'm not sure which is worse-being overweight, being stress about it and cuasing anxiety or getting off the meds and being depressed, anxious, suicidal and maybe losing the weight? I'm getting impatient.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

These comments have been helpful. I have been on a major diet since open heart surgery and lost about 50 pounds. Started taking Pristiq 2 weeks ago and have gained 5 of it back while on the same diet and exercise regime.
Will chat with the Dr this week about it.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Day 11 of withdrawal from Pristiq and I feel fabulous! More energy than I know what to do with (you should see my spotless house!), creativity at maximum, and good sleep, not too much, not too little. God, I'm glad to be off it! Maybe I simply didn't need it anymore, I have no idea. But I'm so grateful to have my personality back! Thanks for the support. It's amazing how everyone has a different reaction to meds. I wouldn't dream of giving anyone advice but I went off it cold turkey and have only now a residual and intermittant balance issue, can't even be considered dizziness.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I gained at least 15 lbs. on Pristiq. I am huge. I gained weight in my legs, arms, and stomach. It has been very awful for me, becasue I have always been very petite. I weaned myself off of it, because I was even more depressed with the massive weight gain. Never again... Now, it will take months to lose this awful weight.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Shea, thank you for your supportive e-mail. It makes me know that I am not alone.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Lizard: You are NOT alone. It is very frustrating. I've never been petite, but I've been thin. And even though after the birth of my third child, I had a harder time losing weight, I was still able to lose it within six months. The weight gain from Pristiq sort of blind-sided me because I was told it was weight neutral. Then I thought I wasn't doing enough exercise, and I wasn't eating well enough. I had even been going to Weight Watchers (still am) and for months I didn't lose .2 of a lb. About three months after going off Pristiq, I am now finally starting to lose the weight. People who haven't seen me since before I went off have commented, You lost so much weight. Really I hadn't lost more than five lbs. but one thing my Weight Watcher attendees can notice is that I no longer have the bloated puffy face that I had on Pristiq. I actually searched and googled for months looking to see a tie between Pristiq and weight gain before -- thank God -- I found this board.
Methinks Jamie is a pharmaceutical rep for Pristiq. Clearly Jamie has never been on it or at least not longer than a few months.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I guess after only 17 days off Pristiq I shouldn't be expecting the 13 pounds to melt away?!?!? I so appreciate the support and sharing of this site. All I knew what what the doc told me, too, and she had never experienced taking it but only believed the information given out by the drug company. Amazing that the stuff takes so long to stop its effects. I still feel great not taking it, appetite decreased and energy increased. Would love to report weight normal by month's end but will be realistic :). Thank you again for the support!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on Pristiq for 6 months. I have been on anti-depressants for major depression for 20 yrs. I have gained 12 p...

2 REPLIES

I weaned myself off Pristiq over the summer and felt fine for a couple months. Then I gained 40 POUNDS in what couldn...

4 REPLIES

I have had an insatiable hunger. I have gained weight and have had a lot of gas, and bloating. Went from Effexor XR to P...

2 REPLIES

I started pristiq approx 5 weeks ago and altho my doctor assured me that it was a weight neutral drug I have easily gain...

77 REPLIES

I started taking pristiq 5 months ago and since the have gained over 20 pounds! It helps to know that others have had th...

2 REPLIES

how long to lose weight after withdrawing from pristiq. I cut sugar and trying to eat less. ## Sugar alone usually isn&#...

1 REPLY

Can u loose weight on prisiq ## Hello, Eve! How are you? It isn't a weight loss medication, but yes, it has caused w...

1 REPLY

I have recently started taking pristiq (one week ago) 50 mgs a day and am very concerned that I may gain weight through ...

1 REPLY

I HAVE BEEN ON PRISTIQ FOR 2 MONTHS AND I HAVE LOSS 20 POUNDS. MAYBE WEIGHT LOSS OR WEIGHT GAIN DEPENDS ON HOW YOU DEAL ...

4 REPLIES

How long has it taken 4 anyone 2 lose the weight after going off of the pristiq?It has been over 1 mth since I have quit...

1 REPLY