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!

i was switched to pristiq a few months ago and just recently wellbutrin was added - i take 1 of each pill per day - it has done nothing to me in gaining weight - i am continuously losing but i have some emtional things going on right now which i believe the weight loss is contributed too - unfortunately i have run into many that have caused weight gain - i weigh approximately 80 more than i did before i got sick - not fun - thank god for the pills but they can be depressing in themselves at times with the side effects

I gained 17 pounds in 5 months on cymbalta, switched to pristiq and lost 5 pounds in the first week. I have absolutely no appetite. I only eat because I know that I have to.

Weight gain is a normal side effect of these types of medications.

I would recommend Cabergoline to help you loose weight. Many of the anti-depressants can cause your anterior pituiary to release to much prolactin. Prolactin puts the breaks on your thyroid, which is responsible for metabolism. I would recommend cabergoline. It will halp you loose weight and you will have multiple orgasms (men&women). I would recommend putting both you and your partner on this medication. You will have wonderful sex.

I have maintained normal weight on Pristiq. 8 months. Given that pristiq 100mg is highest daily dose and more has no added effect,
I would educate my doc about his methods or change docs.

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

Today is my 10th day on Pristiq. I feel better than I have in years. Although I do not have a decreased appetite like others report. I am hungry most of the time. I feel like I am on a diet pill instead of a antidepressant pill. I feel very energetic. I have been having mild headaches and I have a hard time sleeping but I still feel better than I have in 2 years. I am not depressed at all. Before taking the pristiq I cried almost everyday about everything. So far it is great! I hope I don't gain alot of weight. Has anyone else been hungry?????

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

Like I said, I am hungry all the time but have not gained weight at all. I do take armour thyroid medicine daily. My thyroid was radioactivated about 11 years ago so it does not work. I was hyperthyroid but now it is the opposite without the pill. Time will tell.

I am a male in my late 40's and have been on various antidepressants for 4 years for overwhelming fatigue and irritability. Most recently was switched (for some reason, even though they are very similar) from Effexor to Pristiq which I have been on for one year. Had all kinds of blood work done and nothing shows up (although borderline iron and testosterone levels). I think the doctor is grasping at straws and has gone this easy route. What is funny is that I am still excessively tired, I just don't blow up at people now. Success? I have gained 15 lbs in those 4 years which is substantial (went from 145 to 160). Most of the weight is in my belly area which looks ridiculous--thin guy with a beer belly. I am also usually constipated and feel very bloated, like I just ate a Thanksgiving meal even though I ate very little. I tried quitting cold turkey about a month ago but was ready to bite people's heads off after only 1-1/2 weeks off of it. I had to start back up in order to keep the peace.
I am thinking this vicious cycle may be caused by an undiagnosed sleep disorder and have finally received doctor's approval for a sleep study. I almost forgot to mention loss of libido, loss of interest in most activities, inability to orgasm, back acne, drowsiness at work, getting winded with just mild activity, need for naps everyday, etc ever since being on Effexor & Pristiq. Sorry, I would not recommend these to anybody. I am going to switch docs soon as I told my doctor all these side effects and he somehow felt that this was still the best med for me. Hmm...

YES I GOT OFF PRISTIQ BEST THING I EVER DID MADE ME SO DIZZY IF LATE TAKING IT AND GAINED WEIGHT AND GOT ME SNAPPY AND IM NOT EVEN ON IT FOR MOOD JUST HEART PULPERTAIONS!!! SWITCHED TO ZOLOFT..WELL KNOWN BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS MOST PPL ON IT!

hello. i quit pristiq and now i gained weight super quick - like 20 pounds in a month! has anybody else had symptoms like this? i quit because i got even more depressed on pristiq - i was so zoned out, wanted to sleep all day, etc more withdrawn but now i hate the weight gain! help! what can i do????

I, too, have actually gained weight while on Pristiq. I don't understand because everything I read indicates that I should have a loss of appetite. That is not how it is for me. Gaining wgt and getting more depressed about it.

I'm really relieved to see that I am not the only person gaining weight on Pristiq. I've been on it for about a year now and have gained a total of 25 lbs. My doctor keeps telling me it's probably not the Pristiq that is causing the weight gain, but I feel differently. I know my body!! As for the depression, I feel better since taking it. My sex drive, however has suffered tremendously, which was great when I didn't need the temptation but now I am married and my poor husband has to deal with a newlywed with no sex drive! He's a trooper though. Although when I forget to take it, I pay for it big time. I feel extremely dizzy and lose my balance easily. I've convinced my doctor recently to let me slowly get off Pristiq and she has agreed. I really feel like the weight gain is too much of a negative side effect so we are looking to alternative treatments. Anyhow, I hope my comments help someone else. All of the comments posted that I've read have helped reassure me that weight gain on this drug is very possible despite what the experts say.

I got the worst withdrawel symptoms . ...even if a hour or so late id be so dizzy and felt nausea and could not concerntrate on aanything till i took it.....was horrible, im now on zoloft and much happier :D NO WEIGHT GAIN!!!!

I feel so much better after reading the latest comments after my comment that I gained weight from Pristiq. I gained it and I gained it quick and I hate it! Alot in my waist which sucks! And no sex drive, sleepy all the time, super high blood pressure. I had to wean off of Pristiq and it sucked - worst withdrawal symptoms but so glad to be off of it. I have to get rid of this weight the slow way of working out, I really want to take some medicine or something natural to help lose weight quicker but I'm afraid to after going thru the issues with Pristiq. My family doctor thought I was going to have a heart attack when I came in for a check up - I had to get my blood pressure checked a few times to make sure it was the right reading and I had to go back in the next day because they were scared! Pristiq is a derivative of Effexor and I gained weight on Effexor, I was promised I wouldn't on Pristiq but I did and I think it just depends on each person on how their body reacts to the medicine. But I would say, overall, I gained 60 pounds which sucks! I gained even after I quit like in 2 weeks, I did the same with Effexor. so weird how a body reacts to medicine.

I have been on Pristiq for less than a year and have gained 25 pounds - making me more depressed! The sex drive is in the toliet! I thought it was just me, I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only one. I did talk to my doctor about 2 months into this drug and he said that the weight gain of about 5lbs couldn't be the pristiq and I was still at a good BMI but NOT anymore! I'm exercising, never eat desserts and still gain weight!

I have been on Prestiq for a couple of months and have gained at least 15 lbs. After reading what others have written, I think I will slowly get off and see if I lose any weight. The extra weight is making me even more depressed!

I was on Pristiq for 4 months and I gained 20 pounds. I recently stopped taking and I'm OK. Me gaining the weight added to the depression. I just started working out and that has helped lower the anxiety.

I am going to start Pristiq in two weeks (have to get off MOAI) Now I am scared to death. I CAN NOT gain anymore weight!