Weight Gain On Pristiq? (Page 25)
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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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76

Reading all of your posts makes me feel a lot better. I have been on pristiq for over a year now. I was put on it after both my parents were diagnosed with cancer within a 60 day time span. I really feel that I probably would not have made it through all the chemo, surgeries and bone marrow transplant had it not been for Pristiq. Thankfully both of them are cancer free now and things are starting to get back to normal. During all of the treatments I really didn't pay much attention to myself. I know I generally have a very healthy diet so I just continued eating the way I normally eat. Well, I looked up and my weight gain is nearly 60 pounds. I have been exercising so much that I have actually injured myself. Inspite of all my efforts my weight keeps going up. Normally I lose weight with little effort. I was also beginning to think that it was because of my age (35) and having hot flashes, night sweats, and very very strange dreams thought that perhaps I was hitting menopause early.

Now I know for certain that it is definately the Prestiq. Just before finding this site I scheduled an appointment with my doctor to get me off this medication. I know it's going to be difficult. I had the experience of running out on a weekend. I had withdrawls to bad that my boss had to drive me home and take me to the pharmacy to pick up the refill on the way. I was SICK. So I am terrified of going off but I know I have to for my health. I also have the weight gain primarily in my belly (which is the one place that I never gain in). According to my trainer my belly fat is at a life threatening level.

Wish me luck....and I wish you all the best of luck as well.

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75

There are many, many options for antidepressants. I have tried several different ones and Pristiq is the only one that made me gain weight. You know yourself better than anyone including your doctor. If you think it's the Pristiq causing the weight gain, then it probably is. Insist to your doctor to change medications - there are a ton of options. If you don't exercise regularly, any exercise you add will be beneficial. I have exercised regularly for years and the Pristiq still caused weight gain. Listen to your instincts...

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74

Sheila, I am short too, and I gained weight and hated how I looked. But, on the other hand, depression is a very scary thing to work through, especially without medications.I was on Wellbutrin for awhile, and I didn't have any weight gain with that. Maybe your doctor could change your medications? By the way, I am taking pristiq, gained weight and bought an exercise bike. I've lost about 16 lbs. So, I think there is hope! Don't give up.

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73

I have gained about 40 pounds since I started Pristiq. I feel better,
but the weight gain in my belly (I am a woman looks horrible). I want off this stuff but my doc says weight gain is not the Pristiq. So glad to hear others gaining weight.
Tried to stop on my own, yuch!!!
I cannot go on gaining almost a pound a day now - speeding up weight gain. I have been tired,
nothing matters anymore. I look blown up. It is horrible. I am so sorry I started on this stuff.

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72

Hi Wendy, I am short too and had put on weight quickly when on pristiq. Went off it cold turkey and after 2 months, am back to my normal weight. My doctor said that weight increase is quite common with most anti-depressants.

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71

I've lost 25 lbs since I've been on Pristiq. I've been on it since August. I run, do P90X and eat healthy. It's not easy, but it will come off....slowly.

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70

Wendy, I am short too and I know what you're talking about. I've tried a lot of different anti depressants, and Pristiq is the only one so far that has really helped me with my depression. But I HAVE gained some weight! I am 61 and disabled, but I knew I had to do something - I can't stand being fat! So, all I could think of was to get an exercise bike, and I put it in front of my tv and I ride it every night. It's been about 5 weeks and I've lost 16 lbs so far, I have also changed some of my bad eating habits, but I am one of those people who can't lose any weight without exercise. I also have a hypoactive thyroid, which doesn't help any. Does anyone else have thyroid issues?

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69

I have been taking Pristiq for 14 months and have gained 70 lbs. I am only 5'3 so that is a lot of weight. I have been checked for everything- insulin resistance, thyroid issues, early menopause (not even 30 yet) and my doc just keeps saying I must eat too much. I haven't changed my eating habits, AT ALL, and don't eat junk food, no soda, my friends and family all tease me about eating so healthy. I'm active and excercise regularly, but keep gaining weight. I gained 20 lbs in one month on this stuff! I also have issues of hot flashes and night sweats. After reading other posts I'm starting to think it's the Pristiq and am going to talk to the Dr (a new one) next week about getting off this. The pristiq has helped my depression, but it is NOT worth gaining this much weight. For me it's gone beyond just feeling fat to becoming a health concern. Has anyone had luck losing the weight after getting off Pristiq? I am desperate to shed this weight! Also, any suggestions for an anti-depressant that doesn't cause weight gain, or better yet, helps with weight loss?

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68

I was on Pristiq for 6-8 wks and gained 10lbs. Before starting Pristiq I had lost 5. My dr told me the wt gain was because of my age & not the meds. I disagree because I was only 3 months older than when I lost wt. I took myself off Pristiq & started back on Wellbutrin. I'm eating 1,500 calorie diet and I've lost 5lbs. Oh, I've had a birthday since seeing my doctor so I'm now 50.

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67

Oh, one more thing...before getting on meds again for depression, I was taking Alli with meals containing high fat. I didn't take it as directions stated as I think it would be too much, but I did take 1 tablet 4-5 times a week. I lost 2-3 pounds a week. It's been a year since I started that and quit taking it in January. I am still losing weight without taking it...I'm almost underweight now. Perhaps a $35 investment in Alli is worth a try if weight gain is an issue, but I've heard people with thyroid issues shouldn't take it, so ask your doctor first!

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66

I've been on Pristiq for 5 weeks now. I've had every pill in the book for depression over the years. Every other anti-depressant I took made me have high blood pressure, and libido always went bye bye. Prisitq has not made my blood pressure go up nor has it killed my sex drive as I had no sex drive to begin with. I have lost about 5 pounds and have not had much of an appetite. My doctor also gave me trazadone to help me sleep at night. I feel better each day but noticed the days do seem longer and longer. I enjoyed the high I got for the first 2 1/2 weeks although that has since passed. My doc says the trazadone is used to treat depression as well. I'd recommend the combonation to anybody. I checked my BP today and it was 110/70. Sure beats the 142/104 I used to have while taking Prozac, Cymbalta, Zoloft, Effexor, Wellbutrin, and the list goes on...this is the best one for me yet!

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65

I started Pristiq 12 weeks ago and feel in complete control of my life again. Therefore i have been able to lose 13 lbs because I'm not emotionally eating anymore.

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64

thanks Auggie, because I am quite ill with Lupus hence the main reason for my depression I can't do much most days but reading about your bike the other day really inspired me and thought I would really like a treadmill just for gentle walking so I can get moving a bi.t I mentioned it to hubby and even though they are quite expensive I think we will look into it as the whole family would probably use it, so thanks so much for the inspiration

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63

Linda, I have been trying myself to live on salads! A nutritionist told me that while pristiq may not make you hungry, but what it does do is lower your metabolism so even if you eat less, your body doesn't turn the food into the energy we need to lose weight. But, I did get so mad about the weight thing, that I got an exercise bike; and after 4 weeks I've lost 9 pounds. It doesn't sound like much to me, but my dr said to lose two pounds a week. SO,, maybe it will work.....?

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62

Auggie your idea made me laugh and Shoeluvr I agree Pristiq kills any sex drive but Zoloft did as well and I don't think there is a drug on earth without side effects unfortunately. Tracy S your doc is probably right about a higher dose will cause weight gain but I have only ever been on 50mg and I am not hungry on Pristiq in fact i usually have no appetite until about 4pm but the weight gain has been huge so I know it's not what I am eating because when I do actually eat it is usually just a salad with lean meat etc etc no junk, but you might be a lucky one and not gain any, that would be cool

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61

Talk to your doctor. There are a lot of other options available. Don't give up.

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60

OK I am 35 and have been on Pristiq for about 7 months I have gained 15 ponds or so...Before Pristiq I was on welbutrin the reason for the change was constant mouth ulcers (sometime I could have 3 or 4 at a time). Very hard stool which was uncomfortable and a bother & low sex drive. Since going off welbutrin and going on Pristiq no more ulcers woohoo!! Softer stool yahoo!! But NO sex drive at all and I have gained 15 pounds. So what to do take welbutrin have ullcers or pristiq and gain weight. Is there another drug out there that could help me without the side effects???

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59

I've been using my exercise bike for 4 weeks now and have lost 9 pounds, and I'm still taking the 50mg Pristiq. I wonder if the weight will continue to go away. I guess I'll have to wait and see. OH,, Linda, I agree that alot of times the doctors think our weight gain is our fault and has nothing to do with the medication we take. We should tell all our doctors, that we get together for a huge 7 course meal every Friday. We eat everything in sight, BUT, we do not take our Pristiq, and our weight loss has been stupendous! ;-)

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58

Well i have been on pristiq for a week and i find it is helping and i am not hungrey i have to remember when i eat last, i hope i don't gain in weaight i will see. my doctor said that the higher it dose the better chance i will gain.

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57

I definitely gained weight from pristiq and had night sweats that I thought were hormonal. The night sweats were not hormonal and the weight gain is slowly coming off. It made me very depressed because I was exercising 5 days a week and eating healthy yet gaining weight.

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