Weight Gain On Pristiq? (Page 27)

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've just weaned off pristiq and am wondering if anyone has had luck with the weight loss after coming off? I put on 20 or so lbs in the 6 months I was on it. I have an excellent dr who is extremely ethical and cautious when prescribing drugs. One of his colleagues prescribed this to me when he was on vacation. He was fuming when he found out. He's not a supporter of this drug at all. He and I are working on alternatives and have ran diagnostics to see if something else could be causing the weight gain. I'm not holding my breath.

I've read on another thread that a few months after coming off the weight started to drop but others on this thread haven't had that experience. If be interested to know if there is light at the end of the tunnel. I hope this drug hasn't damaged my weight forever.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

change to wellbutrin you WILL loose weight it makes you loose weight in almost every case Ive heard. But it can make you a bit anxious so Id take a benadryl or atarax(prescription only) with it or even valium as I do its the lightest benzo has the longest half life therefore is easy to wean off of.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was on pristiq for just over 12 months and now been off it for almost 2 weeks. I have gained about 10 kgs which is also mainly around the middle. I too have never really had a weight problem so hate now being overweight and doctor has told me it will come off, I hope this is true. Weaned off it in a month and only have had some dizziness. I was on 150 ml

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I started 100mg of Pristiq about a year and a half ago. I had been on Wellbutrin before, which made me lose weight, but caused incredible anxiety. When I got off of Wellbutrin, I was immediately put on Pristiq and have gained 20 pounds since then. For a while, I attributed the weight gain to coming off of Wellbutrin which is known for weight loss, but I am the heaviest I have ever been in my life with drastic change in my diet. I think this post has helped me decided to go off of it, which really is a shame because I feel like it helped my anxiety a lot.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

is there any pill that will give you energy and help you loose weight?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

So after my dr telling me recently that it can't be pristiq preventing the weight loss given that it was out of my system for three months I lost my mind. I know my body and know my weight loss capabilities. So frustrated. How could so many of us be wrong? A friend put me in touch with a naturopath who made soooooo much sense. The naturopath had been on pristiq years ago and had experienced the weight gain that so many of us had and decided to investigate leading her to this new career. She completely understands what we've been through! Anyway I'm so excited and hopeful that there may be answers now. It seems that this drug played with my digestion in particular my spleen. So now I've got a plan to heal my spleen through a very strict diet (starting with 30 days of paleo then slowly introducing some carbs dairy etc back in to see how my digestion will react) I'm also to continue exercise and I'm on supplements / herbs I've had fantastic results with acupuncture in the past so I will also be having specific spleen healing treatment through acupuncture. After a few days and one acupuncture session I'm feeling amazing! I've promised her I won't obsess over the scales so I've had my husband hide them. I'm weighing in at the end of the 30 days. I hope this is it because I'm already feeling a little leaner. I hope it's not my imagination.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

The research shows that higher doses of pristiq are no more effective than 50mg. In fact the more I increased the dose the worse I felt, suicidal thoughts had started to creep in. I also put on about 10kg in 4 months. Get off pristiq if you can. Do it under medical supervision. Decrease a dose at a time for about a week for each level. When on the lowest dose just push each dose further out by a matter of hours to start with. Your body will tell you when it's time to take another. Eventually you will have spaced the doses out enough to go cold turkey. This medication is difficult to get off and you can't cut the tablet. When you cut the tablet the dose is delivered quicker so it is not helping you to space out the doses. Pharmaceutical companies will tell you that the medication doesn't make you put on weight etc, etc. But it's Crap. I've put weight on with most different anti depressants but pristiq made me throw it on.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Hey,
I'm having the same problem. A year on it and iv gained 15 pounds. Calorie counting and the gym and it seems I just keep gaining .
I'm also so frustrated but my doctor told me prestiq shouldn't be making me gain weight.
I have a personal trainer as well, I swim , and I got yoga. It's not comin off, and let me tell you it's not muscle .

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Thank you for posting this! I have never really had an issue with my weight before starting the Pristiq. I had three children and went right back down to my normal weight after each baby. After my third child, I had post partum depression so my doctor put me on Pristiq for it and Klonopin for anxiety I started having. Looking back I started gaining weight and having the anxiety soon after starting the Pristiq. I have been able to successfully cut my dose of Klonopin in half (for three months now). I have been sick for years. My symptoms were nausea, dizziness, insomnia, weight gain, and anxiety (which I didn't realize very well may be from the Pristiq). I do have a thyroid problem but I have had this for many years before having children and never had depression or any issues with weight. I kept thinking it was my thyroid that was making me nauseas and if I drank 1 or 2 glasses of wine forget it, I would be beyond sick. I am now putting it all together, after doing a lot of research on this drug. All of my symptoms are side effects from this drug. I am going to see my natural path in 2 days and tell her what has been going on. I am very confident that she is going have my health and weight back on track. I am also looking to go get acupuncture and head back to the gym. Thank you again, you have given me hope that I will go back to normal, hopefully soon!!! Oh by the way, my youngest is five years old now. I probably should have been off the Pristiq for about four years now. I do want to say for anyone who reads this, that it is much better going cold turkey (for me) with coming off the Pristiq. I started to titrate down by taking the Pristiq every other day. The day I wouldn't take it, I got extremely sick. After doing a lot of reading, I have found that Dramamine and Beneryl help with the withdrawal symptoms. They have worked amazing with getting rid of the nausea and dizziness. I have also called out sick and resting a lot. Good luck to anyone trying to get off this 1-800-BAD-DRUG!!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

My post was in response to Alittlechubbierthanidlike but it didn't post as a reply. It posted at the top. Thank you for giving me hope for a healthier and thinner future!! :-)

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Since writing my post I've learned so much. My problem is thyroid too. I've actually crossed paths with someone who is researching the connection between drugs like pristiq and thyroid dysfunction. Her belief is that if you have an underlying thyroid issue pristiq will bring it to the surface. I believe this is what happened to me. It's very important to have T3 T4 and reverse T3 examined as well as TSH. It was only when I got my rt3 back that i was diagnosed hypo. I've now lost 7kg of the 12kg they I put on while taking pristiq. It's taken a while but it wasn't until my thyroid treatment got close to where it finally needed to be that things really started to improve. I'd explore thyroid dysfunction further bekka I imagine this is where your issue are. Read the book stop the thyroid madness or at least refer to their website. Traditional thyroid treatment is letting people down!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Finally! Yes I was fine for a couple months after weaning myself off Pristiq, but then I gained FORTY POUNDS IN TWO MONTHS! Unfortunately, I then became the most depressed I've been in my life with no energy, libido, motivation, etc. I'm getting back on it and hope I can lose the weight and feel right again. Good luck to you.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I jus turned 23 I used to weigh 115 too MAYBE 125 since i was 16. i started pristiq october 2014. it helped me TREMEDOUSLY mentally wise and i had tried it all but i have been rapidly gaining weight. ive gained 30 pounds no matter how ive changed my dieting and excercising. Finally about 3 wks ago me n my Dr said this is ridiculous we have to take u off. So I've been on Welbutrin for about 3 weeks and today we just upped it again bc emotionally its not helpin as well as the Pristiq except sleep wise. On Pristiq i wouldnt fall asleep til the sun was comin up. BUT my question is, how long did anyone really notice you're cravings and metabolism speeding up getting off of that crap!!!!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 5

I was on Pristiq for about 2 years and gained 15 pounds even though I followed Weight Watchers maintenance program. I've been off for two months and haven't lost anything yet. So frustrating. Most of the weight is at my mid section and nothing fits!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I have been on pristiq for about 8 months. I am hungry all the time, no amount of food seems to fill me up, because of this I am gaining weight and getting more and more depressed and feel defeated. I have some good days and some bad, but its hard for me to tell if its even working for me anymore. I take pristiq for anxiety and ptsd. I have tried seroquel, Zoloft and a few others to no avail. Ive been thinking about trying ability. Anyone been on abilify?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Don't let him increase your dosage. For some reason Pristiq affects some of us the opposite way that it does everyone else. I gained 15 lbs as well after 2 years on Pristiq. I started to wean off after 1 year but after a few months had to go back to every 2nd day. I was a Weight Watch Lifetime member and know how to maintain weight but it just kept creeping up until I had to stop going to WW. When I asked the Dr about my weight gain she said it could be the Pristiq. I was down to one Pristiq every 3rd day so I just stopped. That was 3 months ago and no weight loss yet. It's like it created fat cells (all in the middle section) that won't go away. Ask your Dr to try another prescription if you still need the results from Pristiq.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

My husband gained a large amount of weight on abilify - wanted to sleep all the time, no energy and hungry all the time.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

400 mg of pristiq is unheard of..... Are you seeing a psyopharmacologist or is this tour primary care Dr prescribing this dose??

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been on Topiramate since 2012 and experienced weight loss. I started Pristiq and have gained 30 lbs all in my stomach. I'm going to wean myself off this med. I told the doctor about the bloating. After gastro testing came back negative I was given Amitiza. Just more meds same problem.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I have been taking Pristiq for about 8 years now. I have had to take antidepressants since my late 20's. Every antidepressant I have taken has caused me to gain weight. When I went off, I chose the low carb diet and dropped 35 pounds very quickly but also my depression returned. I am doing very well on the Pristiq. It has worked amazingly well for my depression for which I am so grateful. I still stay on the low carb diet; it's the only one that work for me that helps me to keep my weight maintained, yet I only lose if I exercise daily for at least 30 minutes. I'll take the weight. I'm curvy now. :) I would love to lose more weight but not sure how to do that yet. Thanks for the tip on the thyroid tests. I do believe there is an underlying issue here.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

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