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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by karenR on February 23, 2001, at 9:18:05
I have several issues to address here. First, I was
wondering if anyone else experienced anxiety in the form
that I do. I feel it is relatively mild compared to
other's I've read about, but it's driving me crazy!
During the last 6 months I have been experiencing
anxiety in the form of tightness in my chest in feeling
like I can't breathe. It's not an acute problem, it's
constant and occupies my thoughts all day long and also
causes me to be unable to sleep at times. I have a
therapist who thinks my progess in other issues has allowed
me to slow down in my life and now the excess energy is
appearing in the form of this anxiety. I have no
obvious source of anxiety to cause this reaction.I was taking Zoloft (up to 75 mgs/day) to try to help.
This only helped with my sleep and didn't do much for
the anxiety other than allow me not to panic over the
bad feelings. I went on Buspar (5 mgs 2X/day), but
had a very bad reaction and went off after 2 weeks
from side effects. I am now on Remeron (7.5 mgs/day).
This actually seemed to help the tightness in my chest
right away and I can sleep. However, I've read so
much about weight gain and in the 6 days I've been on
it, I have gained a few pounds. I have not, however,
had any appetite increase! Does anyone know if the
weight gain is a metabolic issue, or strictly overeating?
I have definitely not increased my consumption, but
feel bigger. I have read that increasing dosage
can decease the side effects, but I don't like to
overmedicate.In short, has anyone had trouble with breathing (a
constant problem!!!)? What meds have you taken?
And finally, does remeron just cause weight gain
even withouth calorie increase?
Thanks for your help.
karenR
Posted by roo on February 23, 2001, at 9:58:05
In reply to Anxiety, Remeron and Weight Gain, posted by karenR on February 23, 2001, at 9:18:05
I can relate to what you're saying about the
anxiety. I never had big problems with anxiety
at all until the last year or so. My and my
therapist both suspected it was because of _progress_
in my emotional life. For instance, Depression has
always been my coping mechanism--sleeping and eating
a lot. Once I got to the point where I was no longer
really depressed, I no longer had a coping mechanism
(I'd lost a coping mechanism I'd used all my life),
and this caused a great deal of anxiety. Also, happiness
seemed to becoming more and more of a real possibility,
and ironically, this caused me anxiety. Because it was
unfamiliar. Saddness was familiar, and therefore somewhat of a
comfort. Anyway, to make a long story short, there
IS a drug that really helped me with no side effects,
and that is neurotin. It's helped to mellow me out
more without feeling drugged. You might want to ask your
doctor about it, or read more about it on this site.
Posted by bissie66 on February 23, 2001, at 14:45:33
In reply to Anxiety, Remeron and Weight Gain, posted by karenR on February 23, 2001, at 9:18:05
I think Remeron causes weight gain only b.c. it increases hunger and leads to overeating. I didn't gain weight when I was on it b.c. I took it right before bed and made me SO tired I didn't have the energy to go get something to eat (sometimes I did eat, but I found I could easily get past the cravings by just going to sleep). I went off it b.c. it was TOO sedating.
Like Roo, I now take Neurontin and it has helped very much with anxiety. It makes me feel calm. But there's no sedation. It's been really good for me. No side effects either. I take Celexa 30 mg. too BTW.
> I have several issues to address here. First, I was
> wondering if anyone else experienced anxiety in the form
> that I do. I feel it is relatively mild compared to
> other's I've read about, but it's driving me crazy!
> During the last 6 months I have been experiencing
> anxiety in the form of tightness in my chest in feeling
> like I can't breathe. It's not an acute problem, it's
> constant and occupies my thoughts all day long and also
> causes me to be unable to sleep at times. I have a
> therapist who thinks my progess in other issues has allowed
> me to slow down in my life and now the excess energy is
> appearing in the form of this anxiety. I have no
> obvious source of anxiety to cause this reaction.
>
> I was taking Zoloft (up to 75 mgs/day) to try to help.
> This only helped with my sleep and didn't do much for
> the anxiety other than allow me not to panic over the
> bad feelings. I went on Buspar (5 mgs 2X/day), but
> had a very bad reaction and went off after 2 weeks
> from side effects. I am now on Remeron (7.5 mgs/day).
> This actually seemed to help the tightness in my chest
> right away and I can sleep. However, I've read so
> much about weight gain and in the 6 days I've been on
> it, I have gained a few pounds. I have not, however,
> had any appetite increase! Does anyone know if the
> weight gain is a metabolic issue, or strictly overeating?
> I have definitely not increased my consumption, but
> feel bigger. I have read that increasing dosage
> can decease the side effects, but I don't like to
> overmedicate.
>
> In short, has anyone had trouble with breathing (a
> constant problem!!!)? What meds have you taken?
> And finally, does remeron just cause weight gain
> even withouth calorie increase?
>
>
> Thanks for your help.
> karenR
Posted by Greg A. on February 23, 2001, at 18:23:43
In reply to Anxiety, Remeron and Weight Gain, posted by karenR on February 23, 2001, at 9:18:05
Karen - i can also relate to your comments re: anxiety. Tightness in my chest was something I lived with for quite a number of years. I used to have difficulty in taking a deep breath and like you, was conscious of this all day long. i could do normal things like exercise and so on, but it was always there.
The relationship between anxiety and depression isn't very clear for me a lot of the time. Like a lot of people, I initially refused to believe I was depressed and sought treatment for anxiety only. I got some immediate anxiety relief from Xanax but I always felt I was treating a symptom and not the problem. The proof was when I went off Xanax and stuck strictly to AD's. I had a reduction in anxiety and improvement in my mood - which I hadn't realized had been going steadily downhill.
Long story short - I am still looking for the right combination of AD's and changes to my life so that I can function at a level where I look forward to most days. The tightness in you chest is saying something. Stick with the search and things will improve. Also never assume your symptoms are 'mild' or of little consequence compared to someone else's. It ain't so. Each of us deserves a happy existence and if you're conscious of anxiety all day long . . . it makes it tough.
By the way, i am currently taking Remeron and although I have noticed an increased appetite, my eating has not increased enough to totally account for my gain in weight. I find Remeron, otherwise, to be good for me. It is quite sedating which helps with the anxiety and so far its AD effects are pretty good.
Posted by Dolores N. on February 23, 2001, at 23:43:21
In reply to Re: Anxiety, Remeron and Weight Gain, posted by Greg A. on February 23, 2001, at 18:23:43
> Karen - i can also relate to your comments re: anxiety. Tightness in my chest was something I lived with for quite a number of years. I used to have difficulty in taking a deep breath and like you, was conscious of this all day long. i could do normal things like exercise and so on, but it was always there.
> The relationship between anxiety and depression isn't very clear for me a lot of the time. Like a lot of people, I initially refused to believe I was depressed and sought treatment for anxiety only. I got some immediate anxiety relief from Xanax but I always felt I was treating a symptom and not the problem. The proof was when I went off Xanax and stuck strictly to AD's. I had a reduction in anxiety and improvement in my mood - which I hadn't realized had been going steadily downhill.
> Long story short - I am still looking for the right combination of AD's and changes to my life so that I can function at a level where I look forward to most days. The tightness in you chest is saying something. Stick with the search and things will improve. Also never assume your symptoms are 'mild' or of little consequence compared to someone else's. It ain't so. Each of us deserves a happy existence and if you're conscious of anxiety all day long . . . it makes it tough.
> By the way, i am currently taking Remeron and although I have noticed an increased appetite, my eating has not increased enough to totally account for my gain in weight. I find Remeron, otherwise, to be good for me. It is quite sedating which helps with the anxiety and so far its AD effects are pretty good.I started taking Remeron 30 mg. in late July, it was for a very serious depression. I had been taking serezone which did not help. Remeron was wonderful it let me sleep all through the night and only for the first week or so had me groggy during the day. Did experience weight gain though not an increase in appetite. but now, am having strange dreams at night (almost nightmares) and have become anxious during the day. Psych. put me on 1/2 mg. of resperidone along with the Remeron. Has not helped with the "dreams" but has made me very sleepy and groggy. Have read on the bd. that taking higher doses of Remeron helps with the side effects. Is that true?? Help, don't want to become sucidal again
Posted by Bill L on February 24, 2001, at 11:07:34
In reply to Re: Anxiety, Remeron and Weight Gain, posted by Dolores N. on February 23, 2001, at 23:43:21
I read a medical article that scientists were not really sure if the Remeron weight effect was due to appetite or a metabolic change. It seems that a 10% weight gain is observed with a lot of patients. I think the weight gain levels out after a year. It seems that with a lot of people the weight gain is less (or none at all) when higher doses are given. Some docs start patients at 60 mg to minimize both weight gain and daytime sleepiness.
I have never tried Remeron, and am doing well on SAM-e plus Celexa. But I have read a ton of posts on different boards and Remeron seems to be one of the best antidepressants. It's also one of only 3 that doesn't cause adverse sexual sides effects (along with Wellbutrin and Serzone).
> > Karen - i can also relate to your comments re: anxiety. Tightness in my chest was something I lived with for quite a number of years. I used to have difficulty in taking a deep breath and like you, was conscious of this all day long. i could do normal things like exercise and so on, but it was always there.
> > The relationship between anxiety and depression isn't very clear for me a lot of the time. Like a lot of people, I initially refused to believe I was depressed and sought treatment for anxiety only. I got some immediate anxiety relief from Xanax but I always felt I was treating a symptom and not the problem. The proof was when I went off Xanax and stuck strictly to AD's. I had a reduction in anxiety and improvement in my mood - which I hadn't realized had been going steadily downhill.
> > Long story short - I am still looking for the right combination of AD's and changes to my life so that I can function at a level where I look forward to most days. The tightness in you chest is saying something. Stick with the search and things will improve. Also never assume your symptoms are 'mild' or of little consequence compared to someone else's. It ain't so. Each of us deserves a happy existence and if you're conscious of anxiety all day long . . . it makes it tough.
> > By the way, i am currently taking Remeron and although I have noticed an increased appetite, my eating has not increased enough to totally account for my gain in weight. I find Remeron, otherwise, to be good for me. It is quite sedating which helps with the anxiety and so far its AD effects are pretty good.
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> I started taking Remeron 30 mg. in late July, it was for a very serious depression. I had been taking serezone which did not help. Remeron was wonderful it let me sleep all through the night and only for the first week or so had me groggy during the day. Did experience weight gain though not an increase in appetite. but now, am having strange dreams at night (almost nightmares) and have become anxious during the day. Psych. put me on 1/2 mg. of resperidone along with the Remeron. Has not helped with the "dreams" but has made me very sleepy and groggy. Have read on the bd. that taking higher doses of Remeron helps with the side effects. Is that true?? Help, don't want to become sucidal again
Posted by Lorraine on February 26, 2001, at 10:02:18
In reply to Re: Anxiety, Remeron and Weight Gain, posted by Bill L on February 24, 2001, at 11:07:34
Karen: The tightness in my chest is a new symptom for me. Some sort of chemical glich. I've tried Depakote and Lomictal for it--no good. Now I'm on Effexor after first week it is helping but not enough--I still take deep sighs. So like you I am searching. It does sound like maybe an AD alone can like this because its not that intense. Also my pdoc said get on a treadmill or stairmaster for 10 minutes when the tightness happens. It works for whatever reason. Good luck
Posted by Greg A. on February 26, 2001, at 11:13:36
In reply to Anxiety, Remeron and Weight Gain, posted by karenR on February 23, 2001, at 9:18:05
Karen - in my previous post I forgot to mention, because it happened so long ago - that the tightness in my chest began and was at it's worst when I was hyperthyroid. I'm pretty sure your doc would have checked this out and in most cases the symtoms are fairly obvious - but thought I'd mention it anyways.
Posted by Cheri C. on April 17, 2001, at 7:45:14
In reply to Re: Anxiety, Remeron and Weight Gain, posted by Dolores N. on February 23, 2001, at 23:43:21
I took Remeron two years ago for about three months. Since then, I have experienced memory loss. I am not sure if it is due to the depression or due to the drug. Does anyone know anything about this?
> > Karen - i can also relate to your comments re: anxiety. Tightness in my chest was something I lived with for quite a number of years. I used to have difficulty in taking a deep breath and like you, was conscious of this all day long. i could do normal things like exercise and so on, but it was always there.
> > The relationship between anxiety and depression isn't very clear for me a lot of the time. Like a lot of people, I initially refused to believe I was depressed and sought treatment for anxiety only. I got some immediate anxiety relief from Xanax but I always felt I was treating a symptom and not the problem. The proof was when I went off Xanax and stuck strictly to AD's. I had a reduction in anxiety and improvement in my mood - which I hadn't realized had been going steadily downhill.
> > Long story short - I am still looking for the right combination of AD's and changes to my life so that I can function at a level where I look forward to most days. The tightness in you chest is saying something. Stick with the search and things will improve. Also never assume your symptoms are 'mild' or of little consequence compared to someone else's. It ain't so. Each of us deserves a happy existence and if you're conscious of anxiety all day long . . . it makes it tough.
> > By the way, i am currently taking Remeron and although I have noticed an increased appetite, my eating has not increased enough to totally account for my gain in weight. I find Remeron, otherwise, to be good for me. It is quite sedating which helps with the anxiety and so far its AD effects are pretty good.
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> I started taking Remeron 30 mg. in late July, it was for a very serious depression. I had been taking serezone which did not help. Remeron was wonderful it let me sleep all through the night and only for the first week or so had me groggy during the day. Did experience weight gain though not an increase in appetite. but now, am having strange dreams at night (almost nightmares) and have become anxious during the day. Psych. put me on 1/2 mg. of resperidone along with the Remeron. Has not helped with the "dreams" but has made me very sleepy and groggy. Have read on the bd. that taking higher doses of Remeron helps with the side effects. Is that true?? Help, don't want to become sucidal again
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 17, 2001, at 16:25:00
In reply to Re: Anxiety, Remeron and Weight Gain, posted by Cheri C. on April 17, 2001, at 7:45:14
Remeron has been in use for four years; I think if there was some memory loss associated with it use, we we have known by now--and it would have been taken off the market.
This is the end of the thread.
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