Weight Gain On Pristiq? (Page 28) (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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I was on Effexor and it honestly helped my anxiety and depression so much. BUT, I gained 10lbs in two weeks. After I was switched to Wellbutrin, the weight fell off but I am angry/irritable and emotional all of the time. My doctor suggested Pristiq. I know it’s similar to Effexor but any idea if I'd also gain weight on Pristiq? I read it’s the “metabolite” of Effexor. Effexor did not make me gain weight because I ate more. I actually had a decreased appetite, but it slowed my metabolism down a lot. Is it possible since Pristiq is what Effexor metabolizes into; I may not gain weight?

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Thanks Laurette was wanting to hear would be better by tomorrow. I do feel somewhat better yesterday was worst day so far. I do have to work hoping I can keep it together at work got a little emotional friday!! Thanks again

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Yep, I have gained weight, too. I've been on pristiq for a year and a half (after my Dr. switched me from Effexor XR) and I have gained over 40 pounds. I have been thin all of my life and it has been very difficult for me to handle. My Dr. swears that it's not the Pristiq, so I just keep taking it. It really does work well and it was very difficult for me to find something that actually worked for me. I am running out of options. My husband tells me not to worry about the weight gain because I am finally stable and happy. I am struggling to figure out what to do!!!

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Pristiq made me loose my entire appetite. The only thing I'd have was coffee (at least 5 cups a day) and eat dinner at night.
Did this for 3 weeks so far, I can happily suggest this to people if you want to loose weight as I have lost 5 kilos in those weeks.
:D

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Verwon...weight gain is not a normal event for most of these medications - unlike it has been proven to do with Prozac and Paxil. Please dispense accurate information.

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A rep?! I don't think so. Do represent all women on this board? I'm glad the site is of help to you. But 95% of everything I see on these sites is posted by women, and weight is mentioned in nearly every post - just read them yourself.

I've been taking or dealing with anxiety and depression for 14 years now, and I'm familiar with nearly all of the drugs out there. And being a botanist makes me aware of the influence they can have, seeing as how nearly half of our medicines originate in plants or fungi.

I know the pharm. companies want to sell their product, and I hate that mentality. I bet I've thrown away 100s of dollars of samples doctors want me to take, because, like you, I've gotten to know my body and I'm not going to be a guinea pig for them. There are a LOT MORE listed side effects with Pristiq than with others, and I've taken my share.

The whole point is that men and women will have different reactions to medications, and finding boards where men post is rare.

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Kristy, I am on day 10 of being off Pristiq and I went cold turkey. The abdominal pain I am now having is horrible. It's pain I have never experienced before. It's really, really low in the belly area and it's a stabbing pain that stops me in my tracks. I still have the bloated stomach that also really hurts. I was going to go to a health food store to see if I can find something to reduce the swelling. I wish I knew how long this is going to go on for. Just for the record and this has to do with your doctor thinking you're crazy for the weight gain. About 20 years ago I was going through a really hard time and my Dr. put me on Prozac. Never felt better in my life. In three weeks time I went from 125 lbs to 150 lbs and I was itching so bad that I scratched myself in my sleep until I was bleeding. My face swelled up like a balloon and then came the chest pains. I was having a severe allergic reaction and was rushed to the hospital. That doctor told me that only 1% of the population has that kind of reaction so at the beginning he didn't believe it was the drug. Well... lucky me. Same with this drug. It may be a small amount of people that have all these side affects, nevertheless, we became part of that statistic. The thing that really makes me angry is that the doctors don't tell you that if you do happen to fall into that group, the withdrawls are horrible. We should have been better informed. I would NEVER have put myself through this. I am wondering about long term effects after learning that is messes with your thyroid, triglyceride level and whatever else. My triglyceride level is already off the charts and no one knows why. It's in the 400's.

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I've just started with Pristiq as I have Dysthimia and recent events have triggered a downward spiral. I'm also paranoid of gaining weight but having a lot of knowledge about exercise/eating etc. I just wanted to add a few notes that you might want to consider:

1) For those of you who say you've gained weight since starting despite eating the same and continuing your exercise regimine. The body gets used to both diet and exercise.
a) If you've been limiting your food intake for a long time, your body will think it's starving and you'll gain weight. (especially if you've since started exercising because you're feeling better.) Try upping your daily caloric intake by 50 to 100 calories. Scary, I know but I've experienced this myself after months of eating a reduced caloric intake, then eating normally and suddenly dropping weight.

b) Change up your exericse routine. Like I said, the body gets used to your exercise routine and it becomes less effective. If you run, go swimming or cycling. Start weight training. Take up a new sport. I walk for at least an hour a day. All it does now is maintain my current weight and help my heart out.

2) If could be age related. For any of you under the age of 25, it's normal to put on 10-15 lbs as you grow into your full body. For ladies over 45; well you know we all have to constantly battle the weight.

3) It could be because you feel better. You're eating better and exercising. The weight could be muscle. Or you might have been at a weight unnatural to you before treatment because the depression and anxiety made you lose your appetite. So, just pay attention to how your clothes fit.

And of course, it can be the Pristiq. I'm not ruling that out, but it might be worth changing things up a bit before tossing the AD.

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

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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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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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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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I think all of ytou that say you gained the weight because of the meds, might be looking fot excuses,....Did you eat right, did you get cardiovascular excercise....Did you drink alcohol? If you did not exercise, drink and sleep all the time...chances are the pills were not the problem.

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i really don't think any of these cause or don't cause weight gain. i've remained 105 on all anti anxiety pills without changing weight. then again i don't weigh myself so who knows? i just know i'm forever a size zero. i've noticed less appetite on it.

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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!

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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.

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