Posted by Cam W. on August 22, 2001, at 9:25:58
In reply to Re: COLETTE/others: ZYPREXA + Weight gain:, posted by cb on August 22, 2001, at 9:06:54
Janelle - Actually, the Axid™ (nizatidine) is supposed to be taken at the start of Zyprexa™ (olanzapine) therapy, and is supposed to prevent the weight gain caused by the Zyprexa. We have had several people try it and have not had any success. Still, approximately 70% of people taking the Zyprexa (with or without taking Axid) gain weight.
A few years ago, on this site, Dr.Stephen Stahl (editor of The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry) was misquoted as saying he backed the use of H2-antagonists (like Axid, Zantac, Tagamet, etc.) for mirtazapine weight gain. Stahl sent a note to Dr.Bob stating that he did not think that H2-antagonists would prevent weight gain.
I have been hearing the H2-antagonist for the prevention of weight gain story for a couple of years now. It came out of the Eli Lilly head office in the U.S. and first pertained to Tagamet™ (cimetidine). I corralled the speaker who said it, after the presentation, and asked where he got his information. He said that he got it from Eli Lilly. When I asked about a possible mechanism of action, he said that cimetidine was a very "dirty" drug ie. attaches to many different receptors) and it was probably not the involvement H2-receptor.
I know of several psychiatrists who have tried cimetidine, ranitidine (Zantac™) and nizatidine (Axid™) with no more than the 30% of Zyprexa consumers not gaining weight (and they wouldn't have gained weight, anyway).
BTW - Axid is also made by Eli Lilly. - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:75857
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010822/msgs/75921.html