Weight Gain On Pristiq? (Page 2)

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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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21

Do you think the weight gain is due to an increase in appetite, Or are you doomed no matter what you eat?

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22

I think there was an increase in appetite but I don't think that was all of it. Also, when I gained the most weight, I was taking a 100 mg. Now, I am only taking 50 mg and it is better. No more weight gain but can't lose it either. Side effects of dizziness when missing a dose is awful. This drug was supposed to be like Effexor but without the side effects. Definitely not true. I think it is worse and will be getting off of it when I go to the Dr next.

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23

Thanks for your input; I will be on 100mg. Effexor did not work for me. I am hoping this one does. I seem to be running out of options.

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24

I took pristiq 50 for 6 months and put on 5 kgs, eventhough my eating habits remained the same as before the medication. I have just weaned myself off the medication and hope that my weight will return back to normal. Has anyone who has stopped the medication seen their bodyweight return to normal ? Had to put up with headaches, nausea and dizziness while decreasing pristiq, but everything ok after 4 weeks (except weight)

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25

I've been on Pristiq for 6 months and it's great for my depression, anxiety and physical pain. However, I too have gained weight - about 10 lbs and I've been thin all my life. Of course the 10 lbs are all in the belly and I hate it. My sext drive is a big zero. Went to my Psych meds dr today and he prescribed aderol for as needed like men use Viagra. I really don't want to go off it because I feel so much better II also take Wellbutrin) but if the aderal doesn't work and I keep gaining, I'll have to work off it.

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26

I went off of prozac and stayed on wellbrutrin. I needed more so I am also on pritiq. I take 150 mg. I have gained about 8 pounds and don't know if it is from the pristiq or if it is from perimenopause. My gyne says I am not in any menopause but I have night sweats and wake up soaked. I recently went to another doc and she is going to do my saliva tests to see if she can help. I can't lose the weight. I exercise minimum 3 days a week for 2 hours and watch what I eat yet can't lose a pound. PLEASE help. What can I do?

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27

Not that I'm an expert, but I would bet that the Pristiq caused the weight gain, especially at 15 mg. I was on 100 mg and gained wgt. I cut back to 50 mg and stopped gaining wgt. The loser dose still helped my depression. Other things that I have read indicated that anything higher than 50mg is not any more beneficial. Do some research and consider lowering your dose. Of course, speak to your doctor about it.

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28

Not that I'm an expert, but I would bet that the Pristiq caused the weight gain, especially at 150 mg. I was on 100 mg and gained wgt. I cut back to 50 mg and stopped gaining wgt. The lower dose still helped my depression. Other things that I have read indicated that anything higher than 50mg is not any more beneficial. Do some research and consider lowering your dose. Of course, speak to your doctor about it.

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29

OMG...I kept gaining weight and I was exercising 5x a week eating healthy and I started having night sweats so bad I thought I was in perimenopause. Now, I am thinking that the pristiq 150mg is doing this to me. I cut back the last 2 days to 50mg and I am so nausaus I feel like I'm gonna throw up. I feel so sick. I need to get in touch with my doctor to get something for the nausau. I am not taking more than 50mg and weaning off of this.

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30

Pristiq has awful withdrawal symptoms. You should wean off of it very slowly to lessen the effects. Definitely contact your doctor. Maybe you can wean off of it more slowly/

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31

Once lowering pristiq from 150mg to 50mg how long will it take to lose the 8-or so pounds that I gained?10

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32

I never lost the extra weight. Just stopped gaining...

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33

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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34

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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35

I went from 150mg to 50mg for 4 days. I was very nausuas. I still take wellbrutrin but today cut that nasty pristiq to 0! I talked to my doc and he suggested to take 25mg of pristiq by cutting it in half, my 300 mg of wellbrutirn and to replace the lost pristiq with prozac. Prozac worked for me before without weight gain but I thought I could get off of antidepressants and the truth is I can't. I don't feel bad about it. I can't help that I need it. I also put a transform patch on which is for dizzy, nausea feelings so I am a bit better today. I don't know how long it will take to get this weight off but will keep my progress written here for anyone who needs info.

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36

I have been off pristiq 50 for a month now, and the headaches have finally disappeared. I weaned myself quite quickly, 3 days on, 2 days off for 2 weeks, then decided to get off tablets completely. I had nausea, headaches and lightheadedness for 4 weeks after that but was determined to get pristiq out of my system. I am taking probiotics to get my insides working properly. My weight is nearly back to normal. No more fat belly, thick waist and bloated stomach. My depression was only mild. Don't know if good to get off quickly for people with serious depression. Feel so much better now. So don't give up.

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37

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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38

I have been on Pristiq for almost 18mos and have been experiencing night sweats and have gained 30lbs! I thought my thyroid was slow or my age (35) was a factor. But I can't possibly work out more than I do. I eat very well and still can't lose an ounce! I'm currently in the process of weaning off of this drug. I hope my weight will follow suit???

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39

Hi, night sweats gone! It took about a week of withdrawal...headache, dizzy and nausua(which was horrible). I used some patches for vertigo which helps nausua and dizziness. Weight ...haven't got on scale. Will update.

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40

I have been on Pristiq for 6 months now and have gained 25lbs. I do not drink sodas or eat fast food.I do not have sleep disorder. I work out 3 -4 times a week and have only dropped 5 lbs in 3 months. I went to see my doctor today and told him what I was going tru. He took blood to do blood work. I should here back from him tomorrow. I forgot to mention to him that I was on Pristiq. This may play a big part in my weight gain issues.

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