Posted by JohnL on October 2, 2000, at 3:03:45
In reply to HELP! My meds are making me FAT!!!!, posted by Kyla on September 30, 2000, at 22:16:15
> I have been on Depakote and Zoloft for about 5 1/2 months for depression and bipolar disorder. I have gained about 40lbs. in that time. Since I started out fairly small, this is quit a significant increase for me. Has anyone found a med out there that does not have this side effect? Please help me! I can't take the weight gain anymore and am considering quitting cold turkey if I don't find an alternative quick!
Kyla,
The weight gain is probably most likely a result of the Depakote, more than the Zoloft. I wonder if you could do fine without Depakote? Only you would know, so I'm just wondering. An alternative might be to either stop it, or replace it with Lamictal. Lamictal can accomplish the same thing, except without the weight gain.Another possibility might be to switch to Prozac from Zoloft. There could still be weight gain, as with any psychiatric med, but the odds are in your favor with Prozac. It is more common to actually lose weight on Prozac, though sometimes we do hear just the opposite. At least you could put the odds in your favor.
Another alternative would be Wellbutrin. But if you are responding well to an SSRI like Zoloft, Wellbutrin is completely different and may not work for you. It is an option you could try however. But it is a completely different ballgame than the SSRIs, and its reputation is a little more spotty.
Another alternative might be to add either an appetite suppressing stimulant (not usually favored by most docs though), or add Meridia. Good stimulants for weight loss are Ionamin or Tenuate. Take them in addition to the Zoloft, not as replacements. Meridia is for weight loss, but is also similar to Effexor. It could be tried in combination with Zoloft, at low doses, or tried by itself at higher doses. Just an idea. Weight gain is all too common, and alternatives are not easy to come by. In your shoes, I think it would be better to experiment with medications not known for weight gain, rather than quitting completely. I don't think stopping the Zoloft and Depakote outright without replacements would be a wise move.
There aren't too many people comfortable with using medications available from other countries. But if you were comfortable with that, Amisulpride and/or Adrafinil are certainly qualified candidates for you.
John
poster:JohnL
thread:45564
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