Belviq and Brain Fog: What Users Say

• Ran...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Not sure if anyone actually reads these but here is a follow-up to my post last month. Today is day 48 and I am down 23 pounds. All side effects except my back pain are all but gone. The back pain is still bad at times. I still feel a little foggy but not so much that it affects me. I started intermittent fasting on 4/29/2019 so we will see how that works along with the medication. I make good food choices with more fruits and veggies and no fast foods. I still have no desire for sweets, which was my biggest issue."

• Fre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Belviq was a dream come true as far as weight loss. Initially, I had no side effects; no insomnia, no headaches - nothing. In about 4 months, I had lost 30 pounds, with no change in eating habits - other than I wasn't hungry. I was ecstatic! Around that time, though, I did start noticing real mental fogginess. My memory was really affected - and it affected me at work. After stopping it for approx. 2 weeks, I began again - and that side effect appeared to be gone. However, when I had annual blood work done, my liver enzymes were extremely high, so I stopped it altogether. My blood work is back to normal now. For weight loss, it was awesome, but the eventual side effects were serious enough to make me quit taking it."

• cmp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2013

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "The good: I've been taking Belviq for two weeks. I have had a significant decrease in appetite and desire to eat. Even when I am hungry, I'm really not interested in food. I get up to find something to snack on, but find myself walking away because nothing looks good to eat. I've had a 7-pound weight loss, so I would call this a success. The bad: I have definitely noticed the fatigue, all day long. My mood is pretty flat all of the time. Not happy, not sad, just flat. I have been dizzy, at times to the point of needing to sit down. I also notice difficulty keeping my eyes focused on the screen. Like my eyes are drifting without my being able to control it. I'm thinking about stopping or lowering the dose."

• pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2014

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I mostly decided to try this med because of all the positive reviews on this site. I'm sorry to say it isn't working for me. I thought it was for a few days, but then it just kinda stopped. I had NO side effects save for a foggy brain/slight headache for 2 days. I wanted so badly for this to work. I'm going to take the rest of my 15-day supply, but at $200 per refill, I don't know that I'll continue. It either works and works really well or it doesn't work at all or the side effects are too much to continue. Good luck to everyone out there."

• Ran...
• July 11, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "This has been good for losing weight. I was skeptical at first because of all of the reported side effects and the costs. I checked with my pharmacy and found that my insurance paid all but $50 for it, and the manufacturer will send you a card to cover the rest. There was ZERO cost for me to try this. First, the side effects. I had them all. Tired, joint pains, back pain, feeling foggy... It was bad. Everything subsided within the first 2 weeks. The back pain still remains, but not as bad. Now results. I started the drug on 4/9/2017 at 306 pounds. As of 7/10/2017, I am down to 278 pounds. I walk daily and don't feel like eating too much. My cravings for sugar, soda, and fast food are all but gone. My weight loss is slowing now though."

• CLa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Belviq for 1 week and 1 day. Day 1 was just awful. I felt 'stoned', dizzy, brain fog, tight chest, extremely tired. The positive: virtually instantaneous appetite suppression, and more than that - a feeling of satisfaction after eating only a fraction of what I normally ate. So I decided to play out the side effects and see if they went away. Each day was a little better than the last. By day 4, I was feeling mostly normal - more like a Benadryl fog than a stoned feeling now. Other side effects were a mild cough, some ear/jaw pain, sneezing fits, and general weirdness. It is mostly gone now, and I am down 3 lbs. Glad I stuck with it. I am in it for the long haul. I desperately want to be one of those before-and-after people!"

• Pat...
• August 5, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Belviq on May 10th. I have lost 20 lbs since, today being 8/5. I wanted something to aid in my weight loss, being 200 lbs, 5'2", 52 yrs old. I asked about Contrave, but my doc suggested Belviq because of patient success. I had nausea and a headache for 3 days, but that went away. I also had a nagging cough for a couple of months, but that went away, also. The only other notable symptoms are occasional sluggishness and brain fog. I take two 10 mg pills a day. I know when the first one's wearing off because I do get hungry. It does curb my appetite really well, and I have to force myself to eat. I have the most success when I work out, too, and cut down on sugar and food intake, which Belviq aids in. I love it!"

• Aus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started taking Belviq about 6 weeks ago. When I visited with my doctor to ask about Belviq, he was very apprehensive, as he'd had a few traumatic experiences related to Phen-Phen. We discussed it at length, and he reluctantly agreed to provide me with a prescription, with the caveat that I check in with him once a month. Well, in my first month, I lost 12 lbs! Side effects - initial, some constipation and dry mouth - increased fluid intake and both disappeared. I do feel 'foggy' at times, sleep deeply, and find it hard to wake up. Otherwise, all is well, and I'm finding the side effects decreasing with time. Looking forward to continuing the positive trajectory and getting back to pre-preggo weight!"

• Don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've been taking Belviq, 20 mg, for 10 days. I'm the type that wants to see immediate results, so I was getting frustrated because I wasn't seeing any. Well, that all changed when the medication kicked in. 10 days in, and I've now lost 6 pounds! I'm so happy to finally have found something that works. My side effects are being extremely tired all of the time, but that seems to be just about gone. Still having a little brain fog, but I do believe it will clear up the longer I'm on it. If you decide to take it, just be patient the first week because you will start seeing results after a week. I was lucky my insurance paid the majority of it. I'm paying only $53 for a 90-day supply!"

• Ech...
• August 25, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Well... I read the bad reviews but decided to take it anyway. BIG MISTAKE! I realize not everyone has had these effects, but I’m sharing what I went through. Day one: very foggy-headed, dizziness, and nausea. Day two: I was overwhelmed with extreme fatigue and still dizzy, foggy-headed, nausea, plus a really bad headache. Day three: took Advil with it and no headache, not as foggy, still a little dizzy and nauseous, but no more than if I had a mild ear infection. Manageable. Day four: I noticed hot flashes and chills... weird. But I’ve not been hungry at all, and the previous symptoms are now quite manageable. I feel like I’ve got a grip on things now. I’m ok. Day five: I start feeling agitated. I feel extremely insecure. Day six: I can’t stop crying, why am I crying so much? Still extremely agitated and so incredibly insecure. Still not hungry. Day seven: Depressive dark thoughts. I’m done!"

• Mea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 18, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I took Belviq for over 6 months, and it worked for a while. I lost 60 pounds. However, when I stopped taking it, not only did I gain the pounds right back (even working out 5 days a week), but withdrawals from this drug are very harsh and debilitating. I was so nauseous and vomiting every time I tried to move. Lingering effects: brain fog still happens. NOT WORTH IT!!!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was prescribed Belviq because I have multiple health issues rooted in obesity. The first couple of weeks were dramatic, lost about ten pounds, which I presume must have been water weight, as it does eliminate excess sugar through urine excretion. I was still drinking adequate water (1-2 quarts/day) to stay hydrated, but nighttime leg cramps interrupted my sleep up to 3x per night. Also, I was eating less, but weight loss plateaued after the first month. Another side effect that forced me to stop Belviq was the brain fog after taking a couple of weeks. I could not complete a thought, much less stay organized like I needed to be for work. I was also pretty tired most of the time. Not worth it."

• Esk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 5, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've been on Belviq for 6 weeks now. I wanted so much for this to work, so I endured the dizziness, extreme fatigue, foggy brain, memory problems, and even an increase in my irregular heartbeat, hoping they would decrease and the Belviq would work. They did not, and I've experienced no improvement in appetite control. The worst part is I've been treated for clinical depression and had to go off the meds that had been helping me in order to take Belviq. The antidepressant effects of Belviq never kicked in for me, and I've been miserable. I'm glad it helps some people, but I wanted to write this review for people who are being treated for depression before trying the Belviq. Proceed cautiously. It may not be for you."

• HRa...
• November 1, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Belviq has been a huge disappointment. I have suffered from the following symptoms: exhaustion, constipation, and brain fog. I not only didn't lose a pound in 1 1/2 months, I gained 5 pounds. The fine print, which I hadn't read, says that you can lose 5% of your body weight. Who in their right mind would pay this kind of money for a 5% loss? $313.00 in my area, not covered by insurance, with the Belviq coupon, it drops to $113.00. I have colitis and am an insomniac, so I didn't have to deal with constant diarrhea (only went every 3 days) and slept through the night without medication (but wanted to sleep all day, hence too tired to move and maybe the weight gain). I wish I had read reviews like this before I wasted my time and money. I would like to say that I work out 4 times a week at the gym, walk over 6 miles 4 times a week, eat well, and don't drink, so this was a last hope for me to try to get rid of the fat around my middle from the Cushing's syndrome I was diagnosed with 4 years ago."

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have gained weight after a total hysterectomy. I could no longer exercise the way I used to before the surgery. I tend to overeat because I LOVE food and actually am always hungry. I am 5'5" and am 205 lb. I took Belviq XR 20 mg for 5 days only. I HAVE NEVER been so tired in my life!! I was uncoordinated, slept like a rock (probably only benefit), and still needed to nap during the day, which is not compatible with staying employed. Also, I had really bad brain fog, urinary incontinence (who would've thought this?!!), and absolutely no motivation to get up, let alone exercise. The biggest kicker is that I WAS SOOOOO HUNGRY!! I had huge cravings for sweets, chips, and ice cream-things I don't love on the regular! Like all the time. I had paid $107 for it with the use of a coupon, and I am just going to swallow that. I so wished it had worked, but I like being employed and being alert and oriented during the daytime."

• Kyl...
• November 19, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Was extremely optimistic in the beginning, had great success in losing weight, I'd taken off 26 lbs in 4 months, 155 down to 129! One thing I’d always noticed was the euphoric sensation. Also led me to have serious brain fog and slow thinking processes. I literally felt my mind was stuck in a damn cloud most of the time. Felt a few times a month like itching inside my chest, then heart palpitations, like my heart was starting to go offbeat. I never had a single day in my life before it. It’s psychologically addictive. The longer I took, the less it helped me stick to diets - I gained back all. Had to have knee surgery after I was told Belviq was safe to continue with pain meds. First time I took the pain med in conjunction with the Belviq, my chest got very tight and felt not enough air in my lungs. I almost called an ambulance. This was the last day I consumed Belviq. Not pleasant to be addicted to a drug that only is effective for a small duration - you gain the weight back after going off."