Posted by Racer on January 13, 2006, at 12:52:05
In reply to Re: weight gain and meds » dondon, posted by yxibow on January 13, 2006, at 2:12:25
I know -- it seems like easy math, but it's not. Especially for women, by the way, because we actually have to prime the pump, so to speak, in order to lose weight. We have to expend 4000 extra calories to lose a pound -- which is a pound of weight, not a pound of fat, by the way -- because our bodies are evolved to protect and feed fetuses. Our bodies don't want to lose weight, because we have a more active role in reproduction.
Also, these drugs, in many cases, cause weight gain pretty directly, by affecting metobolism. That means that we can't 'just eat less and exercise more' to get the weight off. When I stopped Effexor, for example, I didn't change diet or exercise -- but proceeded to lose about 30 pounds within months. NOTHING changed, except discontinuing the Effexor. And gaining weight on Effexor? I don't overeat, as a rule, and I worked outdoors, on my feet, all day. I got exercise, and a lot of it. So how could I gain weight, when I was probably eating LESS than I had been?
When I started Paxil, I was actively anorexic. Starved myself and worked out two to three hours a day, EVERY day, weights and cardio. And I started gaining way before I stopped overexercising, or started eating more. The drug itself changed something.
I'm writing all this to let other people know that it's NOT necessarily "your fault" if you gain weight on these drugs. I know how wretched I felt when my doctor was saying, "Oh, you're gaining weight because you're eating too much, and not exercising enough." The Paxil, for example, had me suicidal when I gained 10 pounds before it had any effect on my mood.
Yes, diet and exercise can help for many people, but not for everyone, and it's respectful to remember that. Sorry if I sound defensive -- I am. Even doctors are learning that it's not productive to blame the patient in this matter, and they're starting to prescribe mitigating agents, like Topomax, to help alleviate some of the metabolic changes.
poster:Racer
thread:598253
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060108/msgs/598694.html