Posted by JohnB on April 8, 1999, at 23:58:23
In reply to the weight gain issue, posted by saintjames on March 26, 1999, at 1:46:56
Exercise and balanced nutrition are important to anyone's overall well-being. But keep in mind: most anti-d's in use now target neurotransmitter systems generally, which can mean many different parts of the brain, not all of which are necessarily implicated in depressive symptoms. An increase or decrease of, say, serotonin in certain parts of the brain my help mood symptoms but my play havoc with sites involved with appetitive or metabolic management. In most cases, weight gain is not caused by anything the patient can control completely; having an obscene sweet-tooth or overwhelming craving while on an MAOI or TRICYCLIC is as intense and all-consuming as the depressive symptoms being treated. This pharmacologically-triggered command to eat becomes real to many patients, and the literal slowing of metabolic processes make weight gain almost inevitable. Weight gain and its impact on health is not some frivolous concern. It's a genuine threat to human health that contributes to the chaos of a biological system out of balance, just as the torment of depression does.
poster:JohnB
thread:4030
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990401/msgs/4590.html