Weight Gain On Pristiq? (Page 12)

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!

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I'm so glad I found this website! It never dawned on me my recent weight gain may be from the Pristiq. I was so sure it was something else, as the side effect was weight LOSS, not weight GAIN. I've gained 20 pounds in 3 months and I'm only 5'2". I feel and look horrible, and it's all in the belly, just like what everyone else has been stating. I'm only 38, and I have to admit, I don't excerise regularly, but I've never gained weight this quickly, even with my sedentary lifestyle. I'e had my thyroid tested, so I know it's not that. Reading everyone's posts, I don't feel like a crazy person now! I really haven't been eating any more than normal - if anything, I'm eating less!
I was on Wellbutrin for over 2 years, no weight gain, but my body became almost immune to it and it quit working. My doctor then placed me on Celexa - again, no weight gain, but after awhile it quit working as well. We then moved to Pristiq because my doctor told me it helped with anxiety as well. I had a rough time adjusting to it - I had severe headaches for 3 weeks before my body got used to it. I've never had the night sweats like other people have. It's too bad because Pristiq has really been working for me, but I just don't think I can handle being overweight any more. I'm getting frustrated because I'm running out of options for medication, and I can't seem to manage my depression and anxiety at all without meds.
I unfortunately have a new doctor now, and if he tells me my weight gain is my age, I'm going to scream! After reading all these posts, I'm calling him first thing in the morning! Hopefully when I wean off the Pristiq, I don't feel as horrible as everyone else has.
Good luck to all you who've gained weight too - I hope we can all get that weight off and feel better!

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Kristy:
Good luck with finding something new and with weight loss. I was 38 when I went on as Pristiq as well. It took me forever to find this web site and confirm what I felt all along, that Pristiq at least contributed in a large way, to my weight gain. My doctor kept telling me it was "weight neutral." I was also relatively sedentary, but when I started gaining weight, I found a personal trainer who told me that I should have no trouble getting rid of the weight. Well I just kept packing it on. I had my thyroid tested also. My doctor called and said, "The good news is that your thyroid is normal." I said to him, "The bad news is I'm just fat." I seriously had hoped I DID have a thyroid issue, which at least would have explained my weight gain to myself. I was on Pristiq as I turned 40, and thought, again, the issue wasn't the drug, but that my metabolism must have started to slow down. That was with watching food intake and exercise at that point that I kept putting the pounds on. I finally became so disgusted and depressed with how I looked and felt (I was ALWAYS exhausted and always taking an afternoon nap for two hours, after which I was NEVER refreshed). I feel like Pristiq took two years of my life that I will never get back. I've been off since May, and I'm now exercising (using a pedometer to make sure I take at least 10k steps a day AND I do make sure to do the treadmill for 30 minutes for aerobic exercise), and I have finally with watching my diet have been able to lose 7 lbs. (I gained 32!). It may not seem like such a big deal, but the fact that I had finally STOPPED gaining, and now am on the road to losing is all I need to keep the motiviation. Life is too short for crappy anything. Don't get me wrong. I'm still anxious, but as I told my doctor, "I'm not a wreck 24/7. I don't need something 24/7 like pristiq ever again." I'm now on Xanex (spelling?) generic brand "as needed." I may go days without taking one, and then I may take two on a really stressful day. I've been exercising and living my life. It's nice to have gained control and live it instead of having it live me. Good luck to you.

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Shea:
Thanks for the response! The more I'm reading, the more scared I am to wean myself off the Pristiq - I'm so sensitive to medication, and I know I'll need to do it slowly, but still worrying about what I'm going to go through. Funny how everyone is talking about fatigue - I've had serious fatigue for years, and finding an anti-depressant that doesn't make you MORE tired is difficult. I've been experiencing tiredness as well - I usually have to down some 5-hour energy every day, and when the weekends come, I sleep them all away and still feel tired.
What medication are you taking now? I may go back to Wellbutrin, even though it didn't work as well as Pristiq, at least it didn't cause weight gain!

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I've been on Pristiq for at least 1 1/2 - 2 yrs. I was put on this medicine after cancer & a stroke, which happened because of a negligent biopsy. Since being on Pristiq, I have absolutely no sex drive, have gained 10 pounds, and if I miss one dose, I have the most severe withdrawl effects possible! My head spins, I am off balance, I actually hear loud buzzing in my head. When I take my Pritiq again, it finally subsides. On the positive side? I don't cry all day long and my night sweats have pretty much subsided. Sometimes I think of going back on Wellbutrin. I lost weight and had a sex drive, but I felt anxious and wasn't sure how well it worked for my depression. I guess you just wegh out the options. No miracle cure.

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Effexor and Pristiq are pretty much the same thing. I am on my 8th day of Pristiq. Terrible night sweats- no libido. I take ADHD medication and am very concious about what I eat and my weight- I notice my clothes are fighting tighter and feel bloated- hungry all the time! I am getting off of this before it gets worse I would have an emotional break down if I gained 40 pounds. I was only able to lose weight when I was on wellbutrin.

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I have been on pristiq for 4 months and have gained weight also in the belly region. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one, but sorry others are having same problem. The only med I don't gain on that I've tried is zoloft. It doesn't work as well on the depression, but I can't stand the weight gain.

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Pristiq---weight gain lethargic, slept all the time -- no desire to do anything--became very antisocial. The alternative without it ?? out of control anxiety--so relieved to have it when I did and now have taken myself off of it. Just hope excess stress doesn't push me into needing it again.

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I have read the post and I have to say I think pristiq works different for everyone. I took calexa a first and I was hungier than a hostage. I also felt my lower part was disconnected from my brain..I whiched to pristiq and I feel GREAT!!!! Not hungery and all is well down there.LOL. On the down size I realized after reading the post I was getting alittle dizzy sometimes and sweaty.

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I am going through the same thing you are! I've gained 30 pounds - I'm 160 and I'm only 5'1 - I go to the gym three times a week, watch every calorie and I can't stand this weight anymore!! I've been on Pristiq for 2 years.

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I have been on Pristiq for 3 1/2 months and have gained 8 lbs. I was assured that it would cause a decrease in appetite. I'm not positive if the weight gain is the Pristiq or the fact that it's winter. I always have a bit of trouble at this time of year. I've been overweight before; I refuse to go back there again. I'm at the smallest dose. Does anyone know if increasing the dose might decrease appetite more?
Except for the weight gain, I feel fabulous, but my weight has a huge impact on how I feel.

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Daisy:
If your weight has a huge impact on how you feel, then you need to get off of Pristiq. I gained 32 lbs over 1 1/2. My appetite was decreased in the first week, but the weird thing is, I was never eating crazy more, I think it just really screwed badly with my metabolism. After the year and the half, I was more disgusted with myself 32 lbs. heavier (I was doing weight watchers and working out with a trainer during this time). My doctor insisted Pristiq was weight neutral. It might be for most people, but for me it's not. I've been off since May and it's taken me THAT LONG to lose 10 lbs. I refuse to give up. I have 22 more to go, and I will do it. No thanks to Pristiq though.

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Don't worry you will lose the weight. It took me about 10 months to a year to lose 25 pounds that I gained from antidepressants. Once it starts coming off it comes off really fast. It just takes awhile for your metabolism to go back to normal. good luck

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I definitely have an increased appetite on Pristiq. I have gained 10 pounds in the 6 months since switching from Effexor.

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Did you go off antidepressants before you started losing weight? I talked to my pharmacist yesterday about the weight gain with Pristiq. She said some people have decreased appetite, some have increased. I asked if taking a higher dose of Pristiq would increase appetite more or decrease it. She was not sure. She suggested I ask my dr. about Wellbutrin. Has anyone switched from Pristiq to Wellbutrin?

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I went off the antidepressants and lost weight but it took almost a year. At first I thought maybe it wasn't the meds but at about 10 months it just started falling off and I got back to my normal size. I started this pristiq but it made me super hungry all the time so I stopped taking it. I didn't want to gain what I lost right back. I am now trying effexor but think it will be the same thing. If I gain with this one I will quit and go to St Johns Wort and try a bunch of natural stuff. Who wants to put on 30 pounds and more. That is a bad side effect with these meds. I tried Wellbutrin and it isnt suppose to cause weight gain. It made me very sick for three weeks and have terrible side effects but If it wouldnt of been for that I would of stayed with it. good luck

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I was put on Prestiq for depression and anxiety, after a few days I felt like a new person. Happy, cheerful and energetic. Within the month I noticed I had gained a little weight but thought nothing of it as I was happy for the first time in ages. It's been 6 months now an I have gone from 60 kg to 80 kg. If I don't take my 100mg pill every day at same time I start to become so emotional and cry. Im glad this medicine took away my anxiety and depression but hey I want my body back! If anything it made me more hungry more often. Advice please...

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ive been on pristiq for over a year, after trying other meds but getting nowhere. I havent gained weight since switching and i'm on 150mg a day, (2 tablets; 50mg and 100mg) because of anxiety problems and depression. Feel better then i have in ages.

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I took myself off Pristiq because I was extremely depressed about the weight gain. I'm seeing a psychiatrist on Monday. I'll ask her about Wellbutrin. I'm getting to the point where I'll take something else for the weight gain if I have to, even though I don't like to take too many meds, so I'll just not take antidepressants at all.

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I feel your frustration. I have been on a diet for over a year. Before I was on Pristiq I lost weight, since being on it, I cannot even lose an ounce. I am going back to my old medication. I also don't think I feel as good on Pristiq as my other medication. And, I am only on 50 mg.

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It has now been six months since I have been off Pristiq. I have lost about six lbs. of the 20 or so that I put on. It is taking forever, but I do have hope. I think Pristiq completely messes up your metabolism and it probably takes up to a year to get it back to normal. I will never take that drug again. If I can ever fit into all of my clothes again, I will jump for joy. That drug is the worst! It's not worth it, because it makes you even more depressed from all of the weight gain.

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