Weight Gain On Pristiq? (Page 5) (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!

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Hi again group. I've tried to go off Pristiq and hate to say that no other drug that I've tried has taken care of the depression and anxiety like Pristiq. I've also gained 27lbs in the three years that I've been on the medicine. I do believe that this is caused by the Pristiq as my sister started the meds before me and has had the same issue! Working out every day does nothing! So I've recently had my thyroid checked and have found that my thyroid is hypo (slow functioning) I have started Synthroid and Cytomel 7 weeks ago, feel better but haven't seen any weight come off yet. The other thing I wanted to report is that my best friend did some research on how to lose weight on an antidepressant and found a great resource: The Serotonin Power Diet. She has lost 2.5lbs per week for three weeks in a row! She also takes Pristiq. She didn't gain the 25lbs yet but has gained 5lbs and wanted to lose it. I'm on day two of the diet and have lost 1 lbs, which is the first pound I've been able to lose in three years since I started taking Pristiq!!! Check out the book! I checked mine out of the library. Good luck!

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My doctor put me on Pristiq 50mg about 8 months ago, then my brother passed away so he up the does to 100mg. Along with 40 extra pounds. My blood pressure was going crazy too, up to 174/120. Only then did my dr. say oh Pristiq can give you high blood pressure. He told me to cont. but keep checking my blood pressure. I was (normally) depressed, and instead of dropping the does he kept the same dose. My blood pressure cont. to stay elevated even on beta blockers, I've gain more weight than I did when I was pregnant very abnormal for me. I was told what most of you heard, it can't be the pristiq. So I broke the tablets in half (not wise) now my feet and ankle are swollen. Things are finally making sense: Pristiq not only makes you gain weight, makes your stomach and your ankle and feet swell and makes your blood pressure sky rocket. It seems to me you also have to be ypour own dr. He wants me to go back on 50 mg. and I plan on taking it ever other day for a couple weeks and then drop it down to 2 times a week and ect til I am off. I also notice Pristiq makes your ADD worse.

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So...i finally bit the bullet...and stopped taking pristiq..been off 4weeks...slowly losing the extra lbs...my stomach issues are seeming to clear up..i feel more like myself..but ive noticed i cant sleep well again from my mind being permanent on now...but able to talk thru my thoughts and calm...a bit more work mentally...lol!! But worth being myself again....

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I have been on Pristiq for just over 5 weeks, and stopped taking it yesterday. The side effects, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, aggressive behavior out of no where, irritation over the smallest things, have now tripled since yesterday. I cannot drive my car, my sense of balance, and vision is so impared. i am so angry at my Dr for giving me this med, I was on Lexapro, and she convinced me that Pristiq was better. It has been my worst nightmare.

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I began taking Pristiq in May because of my irritability and the rage I would feel. Started on a 50 mg dose. It seemed to take the edge off immediately. Loved the stuff. Noticed an extra pound or two on the scale, but attributed it to my diet - even though I was exercising regulary. Then all of sudden my rage was back. So my doc upped me to 100 mg in July. By the end of August my total weight was up 20 pounds from where it had been in May - despite watching my diet and working out three to four times a week. The weight is all in my abdomen area. My stomach is so bloated much of the time that I sware I look 8 months pregnant.
Took 100 mg for one month and dropped back to 50 mg. because I was so tired and the added weight was miserable.
In the meantime had bloodwork done in August. Thyroid was great, but I learned my prolactin levels where through the roof. The doc prescribed Parlodel - which increases dopamine levels. I've been taking both Parlodel and Pristiq for a couple of weeks.
I have an appointment with my doctor next Tuesday after spending the entire Labor Day holiday in tears because of the way I look. I'm completely depressed and don't want to go anywhere or have anyone see me. I'm so enraged over this horrible bloated belly and 20 extra pounds. I intend to tell him exactly what I think of this horrible drug! I want OFF OF PRISTIQ NOW!
So, I'm quitting Pristiq starting today. Cold turkey. I'm praying that taking the Parlodel and increase in dopamine will keep the horrible withdrawl side effects at bay.
I'm seriously praying for everyone on here and that we all lose this horrid weight and begin to claim our lives back from this horrid drug.
I'll keep you posted on my progress.
This

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Oh my goodness!!! Thank God for the internet. I have been taking Pristiq for I'd say 3 months and I have gained 40 pounds!! Sleep has definitely become my bestfriend. I have completely withdrawn from life. All I do now is sleep. It is so reassuring to know that I am not alone. I have stopped taking it cold turkey for about a month now. Just like others have said, if I missed a dose or was late taking it I was extremely nauseated, dizzy and oddly enough I felt like I had been licking a battery. You know what I mean? The zinging feeling u get when u lick a battery, yea that was a constant side effect for me if I was late or missed a dose. Never again will I take this drug, I would rather be depressed ...

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I've gained about 15lbs mostly in my belly while on pristiq for 2 months.
I'm also having all of the bloating, nausea, diarrhea and constipation. I'm nausea most of he time, then when I eat I'm bloated, them have diarrhea, and then I feel like I have to "go" all day, and feel like there is obviously something that wants to come out, but won't. Hence constipation and diarrhea. Crazy but true. Trying to stop hate the withdrawals. Any other similar experience... Advice?

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I know most of you have only found this thread post only after you've taken Pristiq, so I can't warn you about not taking it. I can only tell you what I've done since then. I've now been off Pristiq for I believe almost a year. I've still not been able to lose the weight I gain (35lbs) from taking this drug. I've tried everything (diet, exercise,ect) possible to lose weight to no avail. Had a bunch of test to see if it was anywhere from my thyroid to checking my other organs and ect. The one and only thing I found that helped with the fatigue was a Vitamin B-12 shot.

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Your Dr. should prescribe you 14 days worth of prozac to get you off of pristiq, it works, and you will not get dizzy!

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I am also happy/relieved to see that many others on PRISTIQ are experiencing weight gain. I have been on it for about 3 mths and I am so uncomfortable with weight gain I can't stand it. Have gained 15 pounds and its all around my waist like a spare tire. My doc also describes Pristiq as a "smart pill" good for weight loss and menapause. Not feeling any different with meanapause symptoms and the gain is making me feel worse about myself. I came online in desperation to research side effects and found this site. I am now going to proactively reduce my dose over a month and get off of it. Also i have found when i have forgotten to take it I experience vertigo with which nausea follows and also at times have experienced a flashing split second of a feeling that I want to end my life.Well newsflash!! I don't want to end my life (!)but this feeling streaks through my psych''e like a shaft of glass and my whole body feels the enormous 'drop' and then in the split of a second it's gone. Most the time I feel like a drone. Its an effort to get motivated to do anything even my favorite gift to me of taking a walk along the beach... Thank you to all on this site. You have helped me make a decision. I am getting off this stuff. It's scary. I am going to make God my antidepressant.

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I put on a lot of weight also. Suggest you go back to Dr and change yr meds. Terrible drug to come off. Side effects from withdrawls. Do not go cold turkey must come off them very slowly under medical supervision.

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For what's it worth, I'm having the same problem on Pristiq. Gaining weight, dieting, Weight Watchers, loose a little but then comes back. Belly fat that I have never had. So I'm done. Will start tapering off. This forum is important, especially considering that weight gain is "not a significant side effect" ha! the sleepiness was also intolerable to me.

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I feel you pain, I've been on 100mg of pristiq for over a year now and I've gained about 50lbs the same weight I lost over 2 years ago it definitely sucks but I'm trying my best to get rid of it, keep on trucking and don't give up

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I am a 45 year old active female battling depression & anxiety. I have been on Pristiq for 5 wks. & have not stopped eating since. I'm not hungry or full but I feel out of control. I have always exercise but find it difficult to sleep then can't wake up. Depression is much better but feel awful about compulsive eating & lack of desire to exercise. My knees are starting to ache. Is any of this normal

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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

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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.

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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.

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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 .

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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!! :-)

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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.

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