Antidepressants & weight gain

[JLB3713]

I've been on just about every antidepressant on the market for the past 20 years and miraculously none of them made me gain weight...until Pristiq. I gained 10 pounds on it—not a ton of weight but I'm short so it really shows. I'm now in the process of going off it. My question is this: Have people been able to lose weight after discontinuing an antidepressant that made them gain? I'm worried this drug has permanently messed with my metabolism. I always keep a food and exercise diary so I know that Pristiq didn't change my habits (it didn't make me hungrier or anything like that...I'm the same health nut I've always been!), so it seems to have slowed my metabolism. Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

[4Maddie44]

Hello there.  Thanks for replying, as I do worry about people.  I do hope things work out for you, and you lose the weight.  I am sure everything will be fine for you.  I am still losing weight after stopping Effexor 6 months ago.  

Seems you were OK stopping the Pristiq, which is good news.

Take care, and keep in touch.

[JLB3713]

It's a bit too soon to tell but I'm hopeful. I stopped taking Pristiq last week and went on Cymbalta instead; I've taken that before and it never affected my weight. I also went on Topamax as a mood stabilizer and to help get the extra weight off. So...fingers crossed!

[4Maddie44]

How are things going for you?

[JLB3713]

Thank you both for responding. It's such a relief to know there's hope!

[4Maddie44]

When I came off Effexor a few years ago I lost all the weight I gained quite quickly.  This time, since stopping a few months ago, the weight is going, but slower this time.  I don't think you will have problems losing the weight.

Please take note of what Paxiled has said above about withdrawing slowly.  

[Paxiled]

Be careful how you come off Pristiq -- packs a wallop of a withdrawal, so go it nice and slow and safe so you'll avoid that.  After I came off Paxil, I did lose almost all the weight I gained on it, so the answer is probably yes, the weight will come off as mysteriously as it came on.