Posted by Sad Panda on March 31, 2004, at 4:40:17
In reply to Re: Remeron, posted by PoohBear on March 30, 2004, at 10:57:48
> > Hi Marfaith and Lynda,
> >
> > I am so glad to know that both of you also seem to have experienced the weight in the middle. Like you it is also unlike me to gain weight, and I have always had a flat stomach, the few times I have gained weight it was on my thighs/hips, but I have never seen anything like this. I am also torn, like you Lynda, it has turned my life around, and I have also been on the whole list of available drugs. But I am getting depressed about the fat, particularly with summer coming, so I am not sure what I can do. I am so thin normally that I would not really have minded a bit of weight on my thighs/hips but it just looks ugly and unbecoming where it has accumulated with love handles and a belly roll on an otherwise quite fit body. I look about three months pregnant after a meal.
>
>
> Gang:
>
> I think that the weight gain on Remeron (an other AD's for that matter) may be more water retention than anything else. I say this because as a male, I tend to put weight on around my middle, but also noticed that my extremities seemed swollen (edema?) and felt sluggish in general.
>
> A drug in and of itself could NOT cause an increase in fat. That can ONLY come through eating calories in excess of what the body needs. Of course, what the body *needs* can be a moving target as metabolism slows or speeds up.
>
> What do you guys think?
>
> Tony
>
>Hi Tony,
I am not absolutely sure of your statement, but, drug induced metabolism problems causing weight gain should show up in blood tests. What I find a little worrisome is Zyperxa is being implicated with causing some people to get diabetes. With Remeron & the sedating TCA's I think if you don't get increased appetite & don't eat extra you shouldn't gain any weight except for some fluid retention(which I get -- bloaty feet if I don't walk enough). Remeron is known for initial weight gain when beginning therapy, but this is due to extra sleep. If you are an insomnic getting 4 hours sleep & suddenly start getting 12 hours sleep without reducing your calorie input you will automatically put on weight until your sleep & diet normalizes. I didn't get this weight gain probably because I had hypersomnia & was already sleeping 12 hours or more a day. After one month of Remeron at 15mg my sleep reduced to 8 hours.
Today I had blood drawn for testing. I have been taking Effexor in ever increasing dosages for about 6 months & I have been taking Remeron for about 4 months. I am getting a 12 hour fasting glucose, cholestrol, liver enzyme, thyroid & a white cell count. 7 months ago they where all OK, I'll let you all know how they turn out.
Overall my feelings are that sleep induced by the sedating TCA's, Remeron, Mianserin, most of the old AP's, some of the new AP's(Zyperxa & Seroquel) is high quality sleep due to them all being 5-HT2A blockers. It's interesting that of the 3 TCA's that are the strongest serotonin reuptake inhibitors, Clomipramine & Amitriptyline are two of the most successful AD's of all time & they feature as strong 5-HT2A blockers. The 3rd serotoninergic TCA Imipramine doesn't seem to be as successful as it's two brothers & is a very weak 5-HT2A blocker. Seems that a good nights sleep is the 1st step to improved mental health.
Cheers,
Panda.
poster:Sad Panda
thread:1924
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040329/msgs/330683.html