Pristiq And Weight Gain (Page 2)

Updated

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.

77 Replies (4 Pages)

Page:First Page2Next PageLast Page
Earliest Newest Votes
21

Some of these drugs, and it's Russian roulette depending on your psysiology, interfere with your thyroid function, hence your metabolism. For those whose antidepressant stopped working, my psychiatrist recently put me on a drug called Deplin, which is supposed to enhance the effictiveness of antidepressants. It's basically just a form of folic acid that is accessible to the brain. I haven't been on it very long, he said it takes about a month to notice the difference so I can't tout its effectiveness. Just passing along the info.

Was this helpful? 1
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.

Was this helpful? 0
23

I started pristiq 5 mths ago,@ first it caused sweats not only during the night but all day long @ different times,after being on it for 1 mth it started messing my periods up which really sucked,I was spotting and having my period for 3 weeks out of the mth.On the 4th mth it seemed like I woke up one morning and gained 15lbs around the middle and it is a painful gain,I feel so tight and miserable,I have quit taking the pristiq but have had a headache for about 2 weeks since coming off of it.Im hoping This weight will shed soon b-cause I am miserable.Although mentally it helped alot and I felt so calm all of the time and clear minded,Im 5'2,126lbs normally and 15 added lbs looks like 200 on me.

Was this helpful? 1
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.

Was this helpful? 0
25

I have also been on prestiq for about 6 months now & it has helped me so much, but I started taking prestiq when I had went to the doctor about being depressed, My FIRST question was " is it gonna make me gain weight" he said no I should lose weight..... It's the first depression med I have ever taken, so I decided to give it a try..... It helped my depression but I catch my self
Clampin down on my jaw for no reason & I have gained 40 lbs. I worked hard to lose 107 lbs prev to this depression & gaining 40 back & having no clothes to fit makes me sick & even more down on my self. I AM trying to come on this med this week actually. I been taking 100 mg ever 3 days, instead of daily. Whatever I have to do I will bc it's NOT worth the weight gain. If your thinking about trying prestiq, it worked wonders for me mentally but I my self can't handle NO more weight gain.

Was this helpful? 2
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.

Was this helpful? 0
27

I have been on pristiq for a couple of years now and have gained 55 pounds in the mid section, I am wanting to wean off I know I can't do cold turkey tried that before. I am also tired all the time I am tired of feeling this way I am very depressed from the weight gain it is a vicious cycle seems like. Good luck to everyone God Bless.

Was this helpful? 1
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.

Was this helpful? 0
29

This is my second reply as without these forums no one else would know the side affects of this drug. I agree that MD's tell patients that it is weight neutral....this is not true as we can see from all these posts. The doctors themselves do not known this as they only know what is told to them by these drugs companies? If they fixed the weight issue I agree it's a great drug, but as others have stated its like it happens over night and quickly...as one person said it's a painful gain like someone stuck a air hose in your body...stiff and bloated?

Was this helpful? 1
30

I was interested to read these weight gain stories, as the doctors never mention this. I was on Lexamil after a traumatic incident in my life. I was fine mostly except for the sweating to begin with, but I have always been careful with my weight and it balloned so fast that I only realised it too late. I weaned the drug with weeks of side effects, again not mentioned by the doctor. I have lost very little of the weight round my middle, despite diet and exercise. Makes you depressed, don't it?

Was this helpful? 1
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.

Was this helpful? 0
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....

Was this helpful? 0
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.

Was this helpful? 0
34

Just an update:: I took my last half a dose on Feb 8,12 & I have felt better then I have in a long time. I actually have my energy back & don't freakin starve constantly. I went to see my doctor this past week & explain to him that I couldn't continue with the weight gain, so I slowly took my self off. The first 3 days I had a headache that wouldn't go away, stomach tore up, no energy..... But A few days later I started feeling better & better. I'm just so happy to say I'm okay with out this medicine & feel like normal again. I actually get up for work & get all doll'd up again, & care to take that extra few mins for my self, I believe that med was holding me back & making me tired all the time. Good to everyOne!!

Was this helpful? 1
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

Was this helpful? 0
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.

Was this helpful? 0
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!

Was this helpful? 0
38

I personally do NOT think it's worth it to take Pristiq because of the weight gain. Pristiq seems very similar to the old tricycle antidepressants (elavil, etc.) which also help depression, but they make you gain weight. I was on "Elavil" in the 70's, and although it helped my depression enormously, I gained A LOT of weight. If you're depressed to the point that Pristiq is the ONLY antidepressant that helps you, then I think it's worth it to take it. Better to be FAT & ALIVE, rather than "thin & miserable. But Prozac works very well for me. Prozac stopped working for awhile, that's why my doctor put me on Pristiq. Pristiq helped my depression enormously, but I began to rapidly gain weight in the middle section of my body. It was so odd, because I never had gained weight in the middle of my body before, usually my thighs and butt. I went off Pristiq after about 3 months, and a 15 - 20 lb. weight gain, & switched IMMEDIATELY back to Prozac. I didn't "wean myself off the Pristiq", I just STOPPED. I started back on 80 mg. of Prozac the next day. My depression is under control again, and my weight is back to normal. But the weight didn't just "fall off", I had to really diet for a month or so to lose it. I won't/can't take any pharmaceutical that will cause weight gain. Weight gain itself causes me to become VERY DEPRESSED.

Was this helpful? 0
39

I just noticed that I wrote I went off Pristiq "cold turkey" and started back on 80 mg. of Prozac the next day. I must correct that. I did stop Pristiq "cold turkey" but I didn't start on 80 mg. of Prozac the next day. I started on 20 mg. of Prozac the next day, and over the course of 6 months, I now take 80 mg. of Prozac. I just wanted to clear that up. Starting on 80 mg. of Prozac immediately is dangerous! You have to let your body get accustomed to it, much like ANY drug.

Was this helpful? 0
40

I was just tapered off of it and my doctor added Lamictal in it's place! I also gained a lot of weight on the medication! 40 lbs in a six month timeframe. Without changing my diet, I have been off Pristiq for the last five days, tapering off of course and have lost three pounds! This medication helped the depression but did horrible things to me health wise!

Was this helpful? 0
Page:First Page2Next PageLast Page

More Discussions:

Pristiq And Weight Gain...help!

I started taking pristiq 5 months ago and since the have gained over 20 pounds! It helps to know that others have had th...

2 REPLIES
Pristiq and weight gain causing depression

I have been on Pristiq for 6 months. I have been on anti-depressants for major depression for 20 yrs. I have gained 12 p...

2 REPLIES
Weight gain and depression AFTER getting off Pristiq

I weaned myself off Pristiq over the summer and felt fine for a couple months. Then I gained 40 POUNDS in what couldn...

4 REPLIES
Weight gain on Pristiq?

I have been on Pristiq now since November of 2008...not quite 5 months...and I have put on 15 lbs since starting it. DES...

556 REPLIES
Weight gain from Pristiq?

I have had an insatiable hunger. I have gained weight and have had a lot of gas, and bloating. Went from Effexor XR to P...

2 REPLIES
pristiq and weight loss

I have recently started taking pristiq (one week ago) 50 mgs a day and am very concerned that I may gain weight through ...

1 REPLY
Weight gain and depression after stopping Chlorthalidone

I have successfully lost 100lbs over the last 2 years. I went off chlorthalidone three weeks ago and I have gained about...

4 REPLIES
Weight gain and swelling from Lyrica

I've had weight gain and swelling in my feet and hands since I've taken this drug. Is this common or a side effe...

3 REPLIES
Weight Gain and No Energy/ AXIRON

My t levels on saliva test where 23. 4 times below average. Have been on Axiron for 3 weeks at 30mg and feeling no energ...

2 REPLIES
Weight gain and nortriptyline

Hi. I've been taking nortriptyline for 3 years now. I am 18 year old female. I originally started with only 10 mg an...

1 REPLY