Posted by Noa on January 17, 2003, at 6:07:05
In reply to Great article about hormones and mood disorders, posted by Jumpy on January 16, 2003, at 22:22:16
Interesting article.
I take glucophage xr for insulin resistance. When I went to the endo for my thyroid problem, he subsequently worked me up for a number of endocrine disorders that I was at risk for, had signs of etc. Thankfully, the more serious genetic disorders turned out negative (they might have required surgery, etc.), but my glucose tolerance test was indicative of insulin resistance. This means I am at risk for diabetes, but do not have diabetes now. My blood sugar is normal most of the time, but after eating, it goes up too high and then comes down low.
Apparently insulin resistance is very common in this country--I read one article estimating about 20% of adults. Insulin resistance can be dangerous in that it is sometimes the precursor to diabetes type II, but also because of the risks to the cirulatory system.
The glucophage helps to regulate this. But I did not see any antidepressant effects from the glucophage, which I began taking about a year after my hypothyroidism was addressed, which made me feel much much better, moodwise and otherwise. But no noticeable AD effects from the glucophage.
What I have seen with glucophage is that as long as I exercise regularly, I lose weight--I think of this as the "normal" process--exercise, lose weight, as opposed to how my metabolism became from being on effexor for years. I have struggled with weight issues for a long time, but it was only after being on antidepressants that I started gaining weight drastically in the waist area, which is supposedly where the fat cells store a lot of hormones, which somehow makes the body's cells unresponsive to insulin. Then what happens is that pancreas puts out more and more insulin. Too much insulin in your system can cause all kinds of havoc, apparently, including blood vessel damage. If this continues for a long time, apparently the insulin production can be depleted, ie, diabetes type II.
So, anyway, if I don't exercise, but I eat healthfully, I stay about the same weight. If I don't exercise, and eat too much sugar, etc. and just eat too much, I do gain weight (this is what has happened recently). But if I eat healthfully (normally, not necessarily dieting) and exercise regularly, it seems the glucophage helps my body and I lose weight--not real fast, but reliably. I imagine this effect would start leveling off after a while, as I have a lot of excess weight to lose). I do need to get back to the gym!
In some women, apparently glucophage can also lead to better regulation of hormones, as in PCOS. I have signs of PCOS, but the tests were inconclusive. I have not really noticed that the glucophage changed my hormonal issues. My gyno told me that she sometimes refers to an endo for PCOS and they are treated with glucophage. The gyno put me on alesse (birth control pills) to regulate the hormones. She said she had also read a study saying that birth control pills (low estrogen) can help women with insulin resistance and depression.
poster:Noa
thread:136193
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030113/msgs/136237.html