Check this out - a link that Dr. Grohol posted on this very site:

http://carlatpsychiatry.blogspot.com...t-pristiq.html

The above link is essentially saying that Pristiq is to keep making money for the drug company Wyeth, as the Effexor patent is going to run out. Pristiq is nothing but a metabolite of Effexor.

Do a web search on effexor and weight gain---especially after taking the drug for 4-5 months; almost everyone on it gains weight. Sorry. I hope you are not one of them!