I have been taking Lexipro for a year now and although it has helped with my anxiety it has also caused me to gain 10 pounds. I’ve asked my doctor if there’s a medicine that doesn’t cause weight gain and she recommended Pristiq, and mentioned that it might cause weight loss. As a slim guy I can’t afford to lose too much weight, but at that the same time I certainly don’t want to gain any more weight.
Pristiq - Has this caused weight gain or loss in you, and if so how much?
Question posted by TE Desire on 2 May 2013
Last updated on 21 February 2023
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
38 Answers Page 3
sweetann0617
24 May 2015
I am currently in the process of weaning off Pristiq. I have gained over 20lbs. I can not sleep, sex life shot. I have a husband that have needs. This regimen is not working for me. I've lost my job and about to lose my husband. This never help my anxiety. Tried Zoloft, Cymbalta, now this. Back to the MD
Rob Johnson
20 Oct 2015
How slowly did you wean yourself off and by what incriminate? My weigh gain has been huge and I was on Pristiq for four years...
Jenlady
4 Jan 2016
Have you tried Effoxor ER??? I lost 60 pounds on it, It worked wonders for me, until they made the generic, my depression does not respond to generic medication for some reason. Talk to your dr about Effoxor
Jade12329
27 March 2017
I was on pristiq since 2012 i had alot of fluid and weight gain!! It took me 6 months to wean my self off!! I started taking every other day 50mg then cutting them in half with taking half everyday to every other day then i got down to a crumb and the side effects were still bad but taking 50mg tramadol helped me come completely down to now my legs doesnt swell im actually losing weight!! Good luck bc pristiq is very hard to come off!! Now i don't crave sweets or no fluid or weight gain
dmos1128
14 Oct 2014
nope it does not cause weight gain, I lost 8 to 12 pounds first few weeks. Lost libido first week, then everything was fine. Dont know about the problem of having orgasms, it has always taken me a long time which I learned how to do on purpose at a young age. After two weeks, I was fine having an orgasm when I was ready.
Newyorkgal35
20 July 2014
I have been on Pristiq for a couple of years it hasn't caused any weight gain. I don't find it very effective as an antidepressant 100 mg.
BeckyKS4
16 June 2013
Pristiq caused weight gain for me. I was on Pristiq for almost one year, I gained a little over 22 lbs. It effected my appetite to the point all I wanted to eat were carbs and sweets. I had no control over my appetite at all, it felt like my brain was telling my body to eat, comparable to an addiction problem. It also caused me to have terrible TMJ, the pain was unbearable and I also got hot flashes. The longer I was on Pristiq, the greater my cravings became and also the greater the pain of my TMJ. However, on Pristiq, I felt wonderful (beside the side effects), it did exactly what it is was supposed to do for depression. The side effects for me were not tolerable, so I decided to discontinue using it.
Jaylouie
21 Oct 2014
Curious to know if the weight dropped after coming off pristiq. If so how long did it take?
BeckyKS4
21 Oct 2014
No, it did not. I was put on Viibryd and the weight gain continues. It is so frustrating!
Jaylouie
21 Oct 2014
I'm going to get my Serotonin levels checked now. Both pristiq and viibryd play with serotonin and this can be linked to obesity. I'm hopeful there's an answer not too far away that's drug free. I'm off medication now and haven't felt better.
Rob Johnson
20 Oct 2015
I have been on Pristiq for four years, against my wishes and gained 17kg!!! I feel huge now!!!
They have now put me on Esitalo and my weight continues to increase. Now another 9kg in three weeks - will it never end???
pi_girl
2 Oct 2017
I am trying to get off Pristiq now. I have gained a lot. I have found a good diet that has helped me called Isagenix. I have lost 7.5 pounds on it. I’m now down to 250, but am trying to lose more. It is a nightmare of withdrawal symptoms coming off Pristiq!!!
LadiLori
5 Feb 2018
I've been on Pristiq for about 4 months now and I am having the same issue with weight gain. I have was always been very slim (averaging 105-108 lbs.). When I was full term pregnant I weighed 132 lbs. In the short time I've been on Pristiq, I have gained 20 pounds (3 lbs. just last week!). I have the same issue where my brain tells me to eat even when I'm not hungry. I have INTENSE cravings for sweets as well, and I even have the overwhelming desire to eat when my body is physically full. I've had to consciously skip meals to allow my body time to digest what I've eaten as I sometimes even have physical discomfort due to the amount of food I've eaten. I thought I was the only one and that I was crazy or something. I'm also on Gabapentin for my fibro which I've read has caused weight gain for some, but I have been on Gabapentin since September 2016 and weight gain was never an issue until Pristiq was added. I'm seriously bothered by it and contemplating switching.
kbf0702
12 Sep 2018
I'm curious as to your age. I take pritique 100mg for several years and have found that as I have gotten older I have gained a lot of weight (60 lbs. in past three years). My activity level has decreased due to the weight gain, but my appetite and food consumption hasn't changed. My psychiatrist insists that pristiq doesn't cause weight gain. I realize that weight gain is to be expected as one gets older but this is crazy. It's so bad that I totally isolate myself out of embarrassment and physical discomfort because of my weight. I'm honestly getting tired of my psychiatrist insisting that my meds have nothing to do with weight gain (also prescribed 4.5mg of Vraylar (even though I'm not bipolar but only depressed) which psychiatrist also denies is cause of weight gain but I rarely take it). My primary care doctor agrees with me and says psychiatrists just "don't care." why don't they get that weight gain only contributes to feeling lousy?
Canuckgal
27 May 2013
Neither. I was on PRISTIQ for seven months for circumstantial depression. It had no effect on my weight, was easily tolerated, and the only side effect I noticed (not reported elsewhere, that I have seen) was canker sores on my tongue. These diminished as the dosage decreased to wean off the drug. No loss of libido, either.
Alrett
6 May 2013
I have been taking the generic version of Lexapro since December 14th, 2012 when my anxiety levels reached unmanageable levels. Since then I have put on 10 pounds and I am not eating anything different. I only take 5 mg daily. I will begin to taper off as the excess weight gain in my stomach, legs and hips is causing additional stress. I am also chronically lethargic and nearly impossible to wake up on time in the mornings and I take it at approximately 8 pm every night.
Margaret Lewellyn
26 Aug 2018
I have pain and chronic fatigue. Just read where ADD meds are helping. Research is being done because of the similar problems of both. They have found people with ADHD untreated for years end up with Chronic Fatigue. ADD meds help CFS and pain. Very interesting
briards
2 May 2013
i gained 15 pounds in one year from pristiq.
Piece of Cake
13 Sep 2018
Same here. From 155 to 170 the first year.
Heaviest I ever got was 178 (+23 over start weight about 4 years on), but I managed to get it back down and hold steady at 170 after that.
Inactive
2 May 2013
Less serious side effects of desvenlafaxine may include:
increased sweating;
dizziness, drowsiness;
**loss of appetite;**
tightness in your jaw;
mild nausea, constipation;
sleep problems (insomnia); or
decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.
Gastrointestinal side effects including nausea (up to 41%), dry mouth (up to 25%), diarrhea (up to 11%), constipation (up to 14%), and vomiting (up to 9%) have been reported. Postmarketing reports have included decreased appetite.
Related topics
lexapro, pristiq, weight loss (obesity/overweight), anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, weight, doctor, medicine
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