Posted by Northerngal on January 20, 2004, at 22:15:45
In reply to Re: Remeron weight gain??, posted by stay at home mom on January 20, 2004, at 10:05:13
I don't know if you are asking about losing weight while on Remeron or losing it after discontinuing Remeron. My experience has been that my metabolism went back to normal as soon as I discontinued the Remeron. The first time I took Remeron, I gained 40 pounds in about 6 months and, for this reason, discontinued taking it. (I hadn't been beyond 105 lbs. at 33 years old. Talk about a change in self image!) I lost all of the weight (and then some) very rapidly without changing my exercise and eating whatever I wanted (I ate more than when I was on Remeron). My second attempt at Remeron produced 40 pounds within 4 months. With a strict, medically-supervised diet of 800 calories a day, exercise, prescription diet pills and 150 mg. of Zantac per day, I was able to lose 15 pounds while still on Remeron. I have continued the Zantac and exercise, but could not maintain such low caloric intake. I still watch what I eat, but have gained back about half of the 15 pound loss. (I am on 75 mg. of Remeron a day.) Until this Remeron weight gain, my body has been almost impervious to all antidepressant side effects, so I guess I am lucky.
You may find the following article summary interesting:
ZANTAC REDUCES WEIGHT GAIN FROM ZYPREXA
This is an open-label study finding that the H1-blocker, ranitidine, reduced weight gain associated with olanzapine. There have been a number of similar reports, but so far no randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials.The web address for the above is http://www.psychopharminfo.com/newsletter/Newsletter_20030804c.html#highlights and points to an abstract published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
FYI - Zyprexa (Olanzapine) is used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar mania. Like Remeron, the prescribing information reads that Olanzapine is a potent antagonist of histamine (H1) receptors. From what I can gather (I am a CPA, not a scientist!) the histamine receptors play a role (directly or indirectly) in weight regulation. I was shocked at the level of Zantac (Ranitidine) needed to normalize weight gain in the study - 600 mg a day!!!
poster:Northerngal
thread:1924
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040118/msgs/303495.html