Posted by Racer on August 15, 2000, at 14:34:10
In reply to binge eating disorder- anyone?, posted by amyw on August 13, 2000, at 13:17:49
How awful!
I've had an eating disorder for about 25 years now, though it's not always expressed. I also have trouble with anti-depressants. I'll babble for a sec, then you can decide if it's helpful or not.
First of all, the placebo effect works really well for a while. When I first start a drug that improves things at all, I feel on top of the world. Yippee, skippee, it's all gonna be over soon and I can get back to my life. Then, when the effects plateau, and it's clear that it's not the answer, I crash. It sounds as though something similar may be happening to your son.
One thing to consider: if the wellbutrin helped, maybe adding another drug to amplify the effects would help? That's what I'm on now: Effexor XR which has few side effects and releives the anxiety which is always part of depression for me, but doesn't quite do enough; combined with Prozac, since I'm sensitive to SSRIs, but get too many side effects from them. Works a treat, it does...
As for the eating, is he literally 'binge eating', or is he just eating a lot more because he feels overpoweringly hungry? Two different things, you know. If it's feelings of hunger, it could be a side effect of the drugs, or it could be a weird symptom of diabetes. One of the complications associated with diabetes is a sort of paralysis of the digestive system, which will screw up your sensations of hunger. It could also be a sign that the drugs are acting on a neurotransmitter associated with hunger (I think it's dopamine, but someone will correct me), and that a drug which effects other neurotransmitters will alleviate the symptom.
Good luck.
poster:Racer
thread:42753
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000811/msgs/42978.html