Weight Gain On Pristiq? (Page 2) (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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Marianne: When I started Pristiq I had no appetite, and I was delighted. I thought it would make me lose weight (and I was taking it for anxiety). It seemed like a win-win. I have been on since Nov. 2008, and I JUST in the past week finally accepted Pristiq has caused this enormous weight gain (32 lbs. in a year). I had been working out: Strength and Cardio, and I just kept packing the pounds on. I was eating less than I had been, and I just kept gaining. It's finally been through Weight Watchers that I have been working really hard, and nothing is changing, that I am realizing Pristiq has shot my metabolism. I am thankful that Pristiq helped me through a difficult and anxious time of my life, but now it's time to move on without it. I believe all SSRIs do slow the metabolism and cause weight gain. I had been to my doc numerous times, and he kept telling me Pristiq is weight neutral. I finally found this site and 1) am relieved that I am not alone and 2) glad for the support of others. Good luck to you.

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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.

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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.

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I HAD NO APPEITITE AT ALL...SO LOST WEIGHT, AND I FELT LIKE INVINSIBLE AND THE WORLD WAS AMAZING FOR THE FIRST MONTH,....UNFORTUNATELY IT WORE OF NOT A LITTLE BIT BUT COMPLETLY!!! LEAVING ME WITH WITHDRAWLS WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE OR STOP TAKING, SO JUST BE CAREFUL X JEMMA

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I have been on Pristiq for 4 months now. I gained 25 lbs during those 4 months! I excercise daily and I started eating very healthy foods, but cannot lose the weight. I am also dizzy and have extreme fatigue. I do feel a little happier, but it does not matter if all I want to do is sleep. I have also experience irregular heart beats, sweating, and anxiety while on Pristiq.

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@Marie: Congratulations. You sound like you are doing awesomely. I did every other day this past week, and this week. I just feel so relieved to know I'm not going to be this bloated looking forever.
@Anita: Good luck and do what is safe for you. I was to the point that Pristiq wasn't really helping my anxiety anymore. So I wondered what the point was when it wasn't helping and I kept gaining weight. It just seemed ridiculous. I agree with you: I was sitting in Weight Watchers, telling them that I've lost weight so much faster in the past, and this time, I was really working hard and NOTHING was happening (this is over the course of about four months). That's when it really sunk it then it wasn't me. It's Pristiq. Good luck!

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I HAVE BEEN ON PRESTIQ FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND COMING OFF OF IT IS A NIGHTMARE!!!

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Jamie, Really? Why have I never gained this type of weight before?And it was after I started taking Pristiq. Stop judging and start helping.

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Wow, Jamie: I can't speak for all of us, but I can say this: I DO exercise. I had been working with a trainer. When I noticed the weight gain, I worked out harder, but I noticed I was eating more and sleeping more. My doctor kept insisting that Pristiq was weight neutral and was not the cause of my weight gain. I believed him. At first I thought maybe it was thyroid. Then metabolism, though I had always been thing. It's only been four months since I've STOPPED Pristiq, and I find I am not as exhausted all the time, and I am not hungry all the time. I am even exercising LESS than when I was on Pristiq, and I am FINALLY losing weight. Slowly, but at least I am FINALLY losing. Hmmm. So in my case, I think it's safe to say, it was the drug and not excuses. Seriously, if you're not going to offer support, go find somewhere else to spread your negativity? Are you even on Pristiq? If you have just started, come back in a year, and let everyone know how well you're doing on it.

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Thanks for your brilliant insight Jamie.........guess reading comprehension is not your forte......dumb@ss

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Hello All,

I posted back in Feb/March, soon after I stopped taking Pristiq. Since then, I've had a host of health issues--some new, some old. I contracted with an independent lab to have a hair mineral analysis done, thinking it might help me figure out if I'm lacking in certain minerals. While some levels were off, the most disturbing finding was toxic levels of certain metals like Bismuth, Cobalt, and Thallium. These are highly toxic and not supposed to be in the body in any quantity. Mine were way out of range. Heavy metal poisoning, esp chronic, doesn't get a lot of press. Doctors don't test for it often, people don't suspect it, and hair tests are expensive and sometimes unreliable. But if you can afford one, I highly encourage having one done by a reputable lab. I'm currently awaiting results from a urinalysis/tox screen ordered by a toxicologist, who took my concerns more serious after I showed her my hair results. I'm also considering detox options--a FAR infrared sauna is supposed to be amazing at helping the body rid metal and chemical overload. These saunas are expensive and not many salons/wellness centers offer them. I had to purchase mine.

Point is, I have no idea if this medication contains trace amounts of toxic metals, but it's now worth investigating. Per my hair test results, levels would have been their highest in March/April. I officially discontinued Pristiq around Feb 1. I came off the drug after being on it 1.5 yrs with no real improvement in mood (long term) and lots of strange side effects. When I noticed my mood start to fall off late last fall, I decided to increase my dosage, thinking that would help matters. After only a few weeks on a higher dose, things got much worse and new symptoms appeared. So, I stopped early in the new year. Weight gain has also been an unwanted side effect (10-15 lbs), and I've never struggled this hard to lose medication-induced weight. A lot of it still remains, but heavy metal toxicity can make weight loss next to impossible. Metal toxicity also causes the body to break down, wearing on all major organs--especially the digestive, kidneys, bones, and brain. Central nervous system gets hit very hard, which is why mood disorders like depression and anxiety get much worse. This drug is relatively new, so very few studies have been done to test its long term efficacy. If you've developed strange, unrelated symptoms (over a year's time or more) which doctors have been unable to diagnose, or you have stopped the med without much improvement or even a worsening in symptoms, you ought to consider being tested for heavy metals. Note: doctors aren't in the habit of testing for this, so you may not get a GP to order one. Mine laughed at my hair analysis report. You may have to contract with a lab and pay for one yourself. Make sure the lab is reputable and follows appropriate guidelines. There are plenty of detox options available, but because conventional medicines and herbal remedies can be harsh, I've opted to try the sauna, which has been tested and proven effective in full body detoxification. Again, I do not know if Pristiq or other antidepressants contain trace amounts of foreign metals that are toxic to the body. But I intend to find out, and if this sauna helps me detox and get my life back, I will devote my energy to spreading awareness of this hidden disease.

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My appetite has increased since being on 50mg Pristiq for almost 10 months. I've gained about 15 lbs. I exercise as little as I did prior to Pristiq so if I exercised more I'm sure I'd be fine. I noticed that I am constantly looking forward to meal or snack time whereas before I rarely had an urge to snack.

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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!!!

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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!!

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Hi. I have been on Pristique 6 months now. Starting from 50mg I went up to 150mg. 150mg drove me insane and triggered me with myofascial pain especially TMJ. TMJ is so severe my facial structure looks different and looks double the size with fluid retention. have quit my job since and have reached a new rock bottom. I have always been a petite person weighing around 50kg all my adult life. I have two children and have never had weight issue. A have gained 15kg in less than 6 months. All the weight around my back and belly area. Never been this heavy. Pristique has given me a feel good state of mind but robbed me of my physical appearance.
I wish I could get off these meds, but I simply dont want to feel miserable and suicidal. Peace to all of us!

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I too have been put on pristiq and have noticed although exercising and trying to eat well, I am binge eating and have gained almost 30 lbs. I was on abilify before and it had me hungry all the time and I gained like I am now. Going to call my doctor tomorrow

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I'm on Pristique 100 mg and I have binge eating, I'm hungry all the time, I've gained 30 lbs total and I don't know what to do now :( I wouldn't say raising the mg is the solution. I see my psych tomorrow going to ask her opinion.

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I'VE BEEN ON THIS DRUG FOR FIVE WEEKS AND I'VE HAD THE SIDE AFFECT OF LOSS OF APPIETITE! I'VE LOST 5KG!!

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I am weaning off the pristiq. I am actually mad that I was given this drug. I have been on it for about 4 months and started having night sweats. I would wake up soaked. Plus it had a weird smell. I thought this was hormonal but now I know that it is all from pristiq. Even the weight gain is from pritiq. I was eating vegetables and lean protein and didn't lose anything after 3 weeks so I just went back to my normal eating habits. I have a headache, I am dizzy and nauseaus. I am not taking another pill. I will have to suffer with these nasty side effects. When I went off of prozac I had headaches for 10 days. This pristiq is horrible. Yes, I felt good but was depressed because of the weight gain. I can't take an antidepressant if I am going to gain weight. I can'[t believe it took me so long to find out that the night sweats are due to this drug. I thought the smell was from all of the greens I was eating. I feel sick and feel like this drug is evil. It doesn't want you to get off. I put a transform patch on and it did help a bit but symptoms are still here. I want these withdrawal symptoms to end.

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I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has put on the pounds. I was on Pristiq about 2 wks when things started to happen. Emotionally I felt much better but I had an episode with an ear problem for the first time in 3 yrs. I had lost 5lbs before starting Pristiq which I quickly gained back plus 5 more lbs. From November to February I've gained 10lbs. I realize that covers the hollidays but I don't have a large family and did not do the normal Thanksgiving & Christmas all-day dinners. I eat healthy and exercise but can not drop the wt. My doctor told me it's not the Pristiq that it's my age. But I refuse to believe it because in Oct. & Nov. I lost weight. As I said emotionally I feel better but I'm becoming very depressed about the weight gain.

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