Pristiq And Weight Gain (Page 2) (Top voted first)

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I started pristiq approx 5 weeks ago and altho my doctor assured me that it was a weight neutral drug I have easily gained 12 pounds and right exactly around the middle. I have been very careful not to consume more calories and have even been more active. I am very concerned that the weight gain will continue or will it just become a side effect that the body gets used to and eventually levels out? I do feel so much better on the drug and this has been my only side effect. I have a small frame however, and a dozen pounds all in the same spot is hard to conceal especially in the warmer weather. If anyone has any thoughts on some solutions other than discontinuing the drug I would greatly appreciate the advice. I sure wish that all these antidepressants did not come with some major trade offs.

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5

After being on pristiq for 4 months for treatment of hot flashes and gaining about 7 pounds right around my middle, I found this and other website. I have weaned myself off of it completely and am working hard to lose the weight, but it's not budging. And I am waking up several times during the night. Any ideas out there?

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6

I have been on Pristiq since 04/2010 and have actually lost weight; more than 14 lbs.I experienced tiredness, dizziness and a bit of nausea the first 3 days but no other side effects. I take my 50mg dose first thing in the morning rather than at night because it made me hyper, maybe because I feel so much better. I work out an hour every evening after work which has helped with the weight loss. I no longer crave greasy, starchy foods or caffeine-which is a HUGE departure for me. I was on amitriptyline, citalopram and fluoxetine (not at the same time) and I gained weight on each of those drugs. I hope and pray you find something that works well for you.

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8

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF DAY TO TAKE PRISTIQUE.

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9

Hi Mandy. The best time to take Pristiq depends upon you. My MD had me taking it at night but I couldn't sleep as it made me hyper. I also had this happen with my blood pressure meds. Now I take all 3 in the morning. My MD had me take half of the 50mg tablet(difficult to cut due their shape) for 2 days and on the third day I took a full 50mg dose. Hope this helps.

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10

I have been on Cipramil and now Pristiq for the last 7 years, between the two antidepressants I have gained 35kg - (70lb plus) I am now 57 and my weight only increases, never did I have a weight problem prior - in my first 50 years of life...If anyone can help, I would be so grateful.
ps...no diet suggestions please as I have tried them all to no avail :(

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12

I have gained weight too, about 7 pounds over six months. Like everyone else says, I feel better, I work out more, I eat less, but I still gain weight, and I am not amused. It's a hard price to pay, but Lexapro, which I took for years, just stopped working one day, and that was not so much fun.

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16

Pristiq causes weight gain it is the first thing the doctor told before he would prescribe it? It is a know fact everyone gains on this drug even athletes. Stay away from this drug unless you want to be fat and depressed. On the other hand Zoloft works wonders and no weight gain at all.

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17

I have gained 10 lbso n Pristiq in 9 months. I have also suffered from SEVERE constipation. I manage it somewhat with Miralax 3 times a day. However, the bloating caused by the consitpation paired with the weight gain are extremely depressing especially since I work out 4-6 times a week at high intensity and manage my diet. I also developed cholecystitis and had to have my gallbladder removed. My PCP suggests weaning off the Pristiq b/c of the severe constipation and wt gain; I was on Lexapro for several years with no side effects but the med seemed to lose its effectiveness so I switched. I started taking antidep. 12 years ago b/c of panic disorder. Now I feel dependent on them b/c whenever i have tried to wean off all sorts of depressive symptoms and anxiety comes on. Any thoughts?

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18

I've been on Pristiq for about 2 months, and although I do feel much better emotionally, I also have gained about 15 pounds! This is really upsetting me! I called my doctor and told him, and asked if I could go back on Prozac because I never had any weight problems on Prozac. Problem is, the prozac just seemed to STOP working! But I'd rather try them again than gain weight! Gaining weight will DEFINITELY make me depressed! My doctor said "No, because the prozac stopped working for me". But I've decided to STOP the pristiq and go to another doctor. I REFUSE to get FAT from a pill! If I'm going to get fat, it's going to be from good FOOD, not a pharmaceutical! My doctor insists pristiq does NOT cause weight gain. But it's the only thing I've done differently in my life since I started gaining weight! NO MORE PRISTIQ FOR ME!!

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19

I gained twenty pounds on Zoloft, twenty on Prozac and am starting to rise on Pristiq. But you can bet I'll be off it if I gain more than ten pounds. I wish they'd figure out what causes this and FIX it already. I too was told Pristiq was weight neutral.

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22

Hi. I am so relieved to read this forum. I have been on pristiq now for nearly two years. I have no criticism of the drug in terms of how my emotional state improved, especially in the early stages of my depression it truly changed my life. However I too have noticed a huge weight gain - nearly 15kg (over 30lb) in that time. Ironically, my appetite and cravings for unhealthy food DECREASED over that time! My food choices and activity levels are definitely healthier now - one of the symptoms of my depression was my desire to eat too much junk, drink too much booze and lose all interest in the physical activities I had previously enjoyed. I feel incredibly frustrated because for the past 2 years Docs have been telling me that the drug is not the cause - I must be lying about my food intake/activity levels! It's a relief to see that I'm not the only one who has experienced this. I am currently stepping down off the drug with my doc's supervision - taking one tab every second day (50mg) then I will take them every third day for a few weeks till I am ready to stop altogether. I feel that I may be in a good enough space now to cope without them, and the excess weight has certainly become a risk factor, since it is all around my abdoment and I have a family history of type 2 diabetes.

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24

I have also been on Pristiq for 4 months and have gained a little over 10lb. it makes me even more depressed to have to get up every morning and deal with it. I can't fit in any of my clothes and I can't afford to buy more. I'm going to my doctor and getting off of this pill. I can say it did help a lot with my mood, but it's not worth it to have to deal with this.

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26

I am so happy to see that it is not only I who have also gained almost 15 lbs on Pristiq and again around the middle. I am also feeling great, but the weught gain is causing me to consider going off of the medication.

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28

Interesting that so many people have written here about weight gain, especially when Pristiq is touted as weight-neutral. I was on it for only three weeks and gained 9 pounds, so I got off before it was too late and I ballooned up 50 lbs or more like some others who have contributed here. Yes, it did make me feel better mentally and emotionally, but its not worth it to me at that cost.

I really question the research on this drug. From what I've read, less than 2% of the test subjects experienced weight gain, so lootle of a sample that they didn't even break it down further. But reading here, it seems its much more prevalent of a side effect that we're led to believe. I think doctors and psychiatrists may be too easily swayed by the pharmaceutical reps that call on them and promote the new drugs.

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31

Zoloft made me fatter than all of them. I went from 109 lbs to 120-something within a couple of months. These drugs are like marriage. Different for everybody and you don't know what you're getting til you make the committment. I have been on Pristiq for about six months and have gained about five pounds. Not sure if it is the drug or a few late night Mc Donald's meals. I am going to drop down to 50 mgs and see if anything stabilizes there. all I know is I had a nice 122 pound body before I got on all these drugs ten years ago and now I'm up to 142. It is depressing. I've never found a psychiatrist who cared how fat I got.

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32

From what was told to my shrink brother by a psychopharm shrink, the companies only studied/followed these drugs for three months. Three months doesn't tell you very much of anything in terms of weight gain. The older ssri's f with your thyroid gland, hence your metabolism. The newer ones like Pristiq are supposed to circumvent this. Notice I say supposed to....

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33

I've begun weaning myself off of Pristiq with my Doctor's help. Even though mentally I was feeling great, the added weight gain was beginning to bring me down.

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35

I am on 60mg of cymbolta ,because of the weight gain I am going on Pristiq .After reading all the notes on this site I am having second thoughts about changing.
Please let me know what you think .
Thank you

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36

I have weaned myself off the Pristiq because i had gained 50 pounds over several years all in the midsection . I havent had time to really notice yet if the weight is coming off but i am losing a little now. I hope to get back to a healthy weight. I heard Wellbutrin is suppose to help you lose weight and is an antidepressant.

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37

This is my second post on Pristiq. My doctor prescribed it about 6 months ago, and I rapidly began to gain weight. I asked my Dr. if it could be from the Pristiq, he assured me it wasn't. But we all "know" our bodies, and although it did help my depression, I "knew" it was causing weight gain, no matter what the doctor said. In the middle of my body too. I work too hard to stay slim to get "fat" from a pill. I quit the Pristiq, and the weight DID come off, but I had to DIET for a month to lose it. From now on it's Prozac ONLY. I've never had problems with my weight with Prozac. Prozac seemed to stop working for awhile, but I'm OK on it now, even though I'm on the maximum dosage, 80 mg. per day. But my weight has stabilized, and I WON'T trade being FAT for ANY PILL!

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