Weight Gain On Pristiq? (Page 8) (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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Thank you everyone for your comments. I had an appointment on Monday with a new Dr. She said these drugs are supposed to be weight neutral but people all react differently to them. Pristiq works on both Seratonin and Norephinephrine, so she switched me to Celexa which is only for Seratonin. I have already lost 4 lbs! As for the withdrawals, she said that it is caused by seratonin withdrawals, so switching meds should not cause me any trouble, and so far I haven't had any withdrawal symptoms. Hopefully the trend will continue! Good luck to all of you out there! I would definitely recommend talking with your Dr (or a new one if need be) and switching to a different med so you can avoid the nasty withdrawals (I too have experienced them when I forgot to take my meds or ran out).

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I am off of the pristiq for about 4-6 weeks. I have not lost all of the weight yet but I do not have any of the side effects (like night sweats). Withdrawal was horrible but well worth it in the end. I am back on wellbrutrin and prozac and feel good. I just need to get the last bit of weight off with diet and exercise.

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I've put on huge amounts of weight rapidly on Pristiq. It's helped with the depression but now I'm depressed because I have to buy a whole new wardrobe of clothes that I can't afford. It's getting worse still after 6 months. I'm gaining 2-3 kilos every couple of weeks.

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I have been on Pristiq for about a year and a half and have had little side effects - well unless actually wanting to get to get out of bed is a side effect! =) Pristiq saved my life. I did gain a few pounds (I am 5'3 but have always had a little extra weight on me) like 5 lbs, but it was mostly because I was out actually enjoying life. I started working out and eating healthier these past 3 months and have lost 15 lbs.

I think this stuff affects everyone differently. I am only on 50 mg per day.

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Wow, I've just read all your comments on weight gain with Preistiq I've to come off Effexor slowly first. My eating habits have not changed in 15 years but I have steadly put of weight. Due to Fbromyalia I've needed medication to help symptoms. Now I'm not sure what is the best way to go. I need something to help with the pain, sleepness, anxiety, lack of memory etc etc - what is the alternative. Please.......anyone?

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I have been on Pristiq for about 6 months and gained about 25 pounds. I saw my dr today and told him I was DONE taking pristiq. I asked him if I could take cymbalta - I also have fibromyalgia, and cymbalta is supposed to help with that pain and it's supposed to help with nerve pain. So, this week I am taking the 50 mg pristiq AND 30 mg of cymbalta. After the first week, I will be on 60 mg of cymbalta. I will let you know how it goes. I have been riding my stationary bike every night ,and it hurts with the fibro and arthritis! ;-( but I've lost 15 pounds so far - it's taken me 2 months. I am determined to get back to normal! I asked my dr, and he said that if anyone has been on Pristiq for more than a few weeks, they should never go off of it cold turkey because of how awful the withdrawal feelings can be. Please be careful - he said it can actually be dangerous - to your heart or something, I can't remember. I hope everyone is feeling better. Has anyone ever taken Cymbalta?

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Hi, yes, I have been on Cymbalta before, although it was a while ago now. Unfortunately I tend to gain weight with almost everything, and Cymbalta was the same, BUT the weight gain was fairly small compared to the Lexapro I was more recently taking! Cymbalta didnt really work well for me in regards to my depression, a real positive though was there were very few side effects on me from this med which was nice, so I think it could potentially work really well for some people. Good luck , I wish you all the best!

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Phew! folk this is so scary hearing all the different stories that just happen to be the same. For whatever medical reasons we are all taking these anti-depressants I am seriously wondering if the cure is worse than the ailment. I am feeling so unsure of taking any more. Maybe the answer of the weight increase is we all have to work harder to counteract the gain. Doesn't sound like fun to me. The scientists are so clever to help us but there doesn't seem to be an answer to the side effects that we have to endure. HELP. It has to get better surely.

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I have been off of pristiq for a few months now and I still have not lost the weight. It is very upsetting. I am starting a new diet hcg tomorrow. I will update. I wish I never took pristiq.

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