Posted by laima on July 27, 2006, at 16:36:28
In reply to Re: I need advice on the best ADD TCA med., posted by Susana M on July 27, 2006, at 15:08:21
You bring up some interesting points- I also noticed some antidepressents can seem to alter metabolism, not just appetite-but no doctor ever seems to want to admit it much! Not sure if that's merely an impression I hold, or really true. I lost weight on Wellbutrin (to my enourmous delight after gaining plenty during late stages of using prozac!), but wasn't on it long. Someone I met who was on wellbutrin long-term reported that she lost considerable weight during her first 2 months, but that after that point her weight and appetite "normalized", as she put it. In case it is of interest to anyone, I heard about, and experienced, enourmous weight gain once upon a time when trying out various tricyclics. Sinequan was the absolute worst. I tried a gamut of them unsuccessfully before prozac came on to the market. The fact is, I was a very, very, very bony and skinny girl who ate like a horse and had a sugar fetish, but promptly after getting started on the antidepressents, my metabolism seemed to change forever. Not sure if that was a mere coincidence- or as result of the drugs. I was 18-19 or so-in case that is any known factor for this phenom. And by then I ...was well past puberty as I understand it. Most of the weight fell off during my early prozac use, when it felt "energizing" to put it mildly, but then really packed the weight back on after a few years, through my mid to later 20's. I lost a lot of it by 30 via heavy, heavy excercise and modest, common sense diet adjustments, after finding that the clothes I coveted no longer fit me and a doctor told me I was getting heavy. There was also a brief budget-for-beer crisis...I also around the same time went off prozac for unrelated reasons. So- not sure where the coincidences or real connections are- but I am quite seriously suspicious that some antidepressents and other medications can sneakily mess with our weight and/or metabolisms.And oh I envy you for being able to drink coffee! And all you lucky coffee drinkers out there! I used to guzzle it to stay awake, and it boosted my mood-but now the slightest sip rips up my stomache like nothing else. Way worse than hard alcohol even. Alas, it's "powers" long stopped working for me, anyway. I just still like the taste and rember fondly the days when it was an effective, easy "pick-up".
Best of luck to you, I hope the Wellbutrin you've just begun works out. I understand many people find it very effective.
Warmly,
Laima
> I also have ADD and I went through medical school without meds. however the only way I could focus was starting my studies from midnight to 7am and a LOT of cofee ( now I understand how it could calm me down and help me focus).Anyway afterhaving my first son diagnosed with ADHD I found out I had it all my life, and everything made sense,, Well I started taking Concerta like my son ( it works really good for him ) but it didn't help me, so then they switched me to Effexor and this was my magic pill, however after over a year taking it I noticed that I had gained weight and thought it might be the beers so I quit everything but water, did the Atkins diet and exerziced like crazy..4 weeks later I foun out I didn't loose 1 lb. So I found out that the Effexor made something to my metabolism. Now I take Wellbutrin but I can't really tell how its working since I've only had it for a week. If you are skinny..try it ( I had never been more than 5-7lbs over my normal weight ) so be aware of this side effect. However it might not happen with you ( the weight gain ! ) I loved how effexor made me feel...but I paid a price..now if I'm able to loose my extra 20lbs I might go back to Effexor with something else, maybe Concerta or Wellbutrin.Hope this help..Susana M
poster:laima
thread:667848
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060724/msgs/671155.html