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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by LILIAN on April 4, 2001, at 19:44:28
Does anyone have any suggestions how to counteract a weight gain of 24lbs?
I have been taking efexor xr for 7months and I can not deal with this weight any longer!
None of my clothes fit and this is very depressing in itself.
I really do not have any other bad side effects but if I can not resolve this issue I will have to discontinue the meds, which I really do not want to do.
I take it for major depression and anxiety/social phobia.
ANY SUGGESTIONS ANYONE!
Thanks, Lilian
Posted by Janice1 on April 4, 2001, at 20:06:27
In reply to Does anyone have any advice?, posted by LILIAN on April 4, 2001, at 19:44:28
exercise?
rabbit food?Not nice, I know. What about Wellbutrin, it can curb appetite and get rid of depression. You're right though, extra weight is the last thing a depressed person needs.
Good luck,
Janice
Posted by loosmrbls on April 5, 2001, at 7:45:56
In reply to Does anyone have any advice?, posted by LILIAN on April 4, 2001, at 19:44:28
I'm sorry you are having problems with weight gain. I know the feeling. I do have some questions, though.
Are you sure it is the effexor causing the weight gain? An increase in appetite and weight gain can be caused by depression itself, if it is not adequately treated. Are you still having other symptoms of depression?
What dose of Effexor are you on? At 150-225mg/day Effexor can be actually pretty stimulating and I find it surprising your appetite is going up on this particular drug -- of course, it is not impossible.
I think the most important question is: is this from your depression?
loosmrbls
Posted by Christina on April 5, 2001, at 8:52:02
In reply to Does anyone have any advice?, posted by LILIAN on April 4, 2001, at 19:44:28
This is just a thought.. but have you read the book "Potatoes Not Prozac"?
Before anyone shoots me for recommending this book on this site, I have to say.. I DO NOT recommend you discontinue your meds,
But this book does have useful information about how eating certain foods can help with mood and help with the weight gain of ADs.
I found the guidelines to be very helpful in helping to eliminate cravings.
If you don't have time to get to the book store, check out Amazon.com for helpful book reviews.
Good luck.
> Does anyone have any suggestions how to counteract a weight gain of 24lbs?
> I have been taking efexor xr for 7months and I can not deal with this weight any longer!
> None of my clothes fit and this is very depressing in itself.
> I really do not have any other bad side effects but if I can not resolve this issue I will have to discontinue the meds, which I really do not want to do.
> I take it for major depression and anxiety/social phobia.
> ANY SUGGESTIONS ANYONE!
> Thanks, Lilian
Posted by LILIAN on April 5, 2001, at 11:27:32
In reply to Re: Does anyone have any advice?, posted by Christina on April 5, 2001, at 8:52:02
> Thanks for the feed back!
This is what I DO NOT UNDERSTAND!
I drink at least 64oz of water a day, walk or excercise daily and I eat 3 meals with very little snacking!
Looking back, in the first 2 months of taking the meds I did have an increase in my appetite and all I was doing is sleeping but, at the time I guess I did not recognize it, what with Xmas and all and I was really depressed!
The meds seem to be helping the depression I now take 75mg compared to the 225mg I was taking.
I have either a shake or cereal for breakfast
a shake or salad for lunch and a piece of fruit
and for dinner at about 6pm I have chicken /fish veg and half baked potato.(or the equivelent)
I don't consider this eating too much! if I do snack its carrots or an apple.
AND I AM STILL GAINING!
Lilian
This is just a thought.. but have you read the book "Potatoes Not Prozac"?
> Before anyone shoots me for recommending this book on this site, I have to say.. I DO NOT recommend you discontinue your meds,
> But this book does have useful information about how eating certain foods can help with mood and help with the weight gain of ADs.
> I found the guidelines to be very helpful in helping to eliminate cravings.
> If you don't have time to get to the book store, check out Amazon.com for helpful book reviews.
>
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> > Does anyone have any suggestions how to counteract a weight gain of 24lbs?
> > I have been taking efexor xr for 7months and I can not deal with this weight any longer!
> > None of my clothes fit and this is very depressing in itself.
> > I really do not have any other bad side effects but if I can not resolve this issue I will have to discontinue the meds, which I really do not want to do.
> > I take it for major depression and anxiety/social phobia.
> > ANY SUGGESTIONS ANYONE!
> > Thanks, Lilian
Posted by Kingfish on April 5, 2001, at 17:19:44
In reply to Re: Does anyone have any advice? ( follow up, posted by LILIAN on April 5, 2001, at 11:27:32
> That's how I felt when I was on Zyprexa - I just couldn't see how I was eating anymore, yet the weight gain continued. It also took me a very long time to get it off. I only gained about 10 - 15 pounds (because I got off the drug quickly) but that was enough to upset me.
I'm not sure if I was somehow eating larger portions and not noticing it, or grabbing carbs more (that's usually what people crave, I think).
I have also wondered if the meds can affect your metabolism but my pdoc just laughed at that idea.
I don't know anything about Effexor, but I would discuss it with your Dr. and consider another med. Celexa did not cause any weight gain for me. Please don't consider this an all or nothing situation. There are many alternatives.
The old "Everyone reacts differently" phrase is so very true...
Good luck.
Posted by Kyle on April 5, 2001, at 20:03:22
In reply to Does anyone have any advice?, posted by LILIAN on April 4, 2001, at 19:44:28
Has anyone heard about a relationship between carbs and seratonin? I have no idea if its true, but I've heard that eating complex carbs at each meal helps to keep emotions more stable. Simple carbs (sugar, etc.) spike seratonin up, then dramatically down which messes with your depression. The recommendation was to add whole grains to each meal - brown rice, oatmeal, bulghar, etc.
Is any of this true?
Lillian - You might try seeing a nutritionist. Its helpful to keep a food/exercise journal for a few weeks before your appt.
Posted by Amy Blue on April 5, 2001, at 20:24:51
In reply to Re: Does anyone have any advice? ( follow up, posted by LILIAN on April 5, 2001, at 11:27:32
I lost a lot of weight on prozac. But it might not do the same for you, in terms of anxiety/depression (not sure what you're on FXR for ...). I've gained weight on both zoloft and celexa.
Wellbutrin is known for causing weight loss. Give that a try?
Posted by Dubya on April 6, 2001, at 1:00:46
In reply to Re: Lilian, posted by Kingfish on April 5, 2001, at 17:19:44
ARgh, why am I (a guy) so obssessed w/looks? I don't really want to be totally muscular but, I just don't want to be (feel) fat. I am 20, last I checked (1 month ago) I weighed 154lbs. Now, I look at myself in the mirror and see an even bigger gut, I am just getting fatter. I wish I was a stick like a 'nerd' than fat (I perceive this as problem b/c, I don't eat much during the day and I end up binge eating around 4pm, especially carbohydrates like chocolate, cookies, brownies/pastries), and I am ugly. I've never had a girlfriend (a relationship) nor have I ever had a date (not even for prom),
Posted by Dubya on April 6, 2001, at 1:03:15
In reply to Re: Lilian, posted by Kingfish on April 5, 2001, at 17:19:44
I am a loser b/c, I can never perceive myself now having a girlfriend. Forgive my saying this but, I am not an total egotistical being, I am modest and perhaps realistic. I don't want to sound or be a philosopher so my complaining is real pain. I am so able to cry, only of course when I feel remorse for myself otherwise, I am supposedly supressed to crying in public. B/c of all of this, I sometimes feel that I'd be happier if I wasn't alive. Sorry to ramble but I thought I'd mention how I feel right now. Someone please please do input on this. Either I am a big LOSER or I am not doing something right at all. BAsically, I can't do well socially, academically or even routinely. So, what am I good at? Well, people in authority (high school) perceive me as a 'play-boy', aimless and purposeless. Now I am in comm. college and am a flop, I try too hard to make friends and I just suck, right everyone?
Posted by Amy Blue on April 6, 2001, at 13:40:47
In reply to Seratonin and Carbs?, posted by Kyle on April 5, 2001, at 20:03:22
I have read several places that this is true, what you've written here. Unfortunately I have a MAJOR sweet tooth and I'm trying to be better but it's hard. I think this is very, very true. I try not to drink any soda, etc. But it's the chocolate that gets me...
> Has anyone heard about a relationship between carbs and seratonin? I have no idea if its true, but I've heard that eating complex carbs at each meal helps to keep emotions more stable. Simple carbs (sugar, etc.) spike seratonin up, then dramatically down which messes with your depression. The recommendation was to add whole grains to each meal - brown rice, oatmeal, bulghar, etc.
>
> Is any of this true?
>
> Lillian - You might try seeing a nutritionist. Its helpful to keep a food/exercise journal for a few weeks before your appt.
Posted by Lorraine on April 7, 2001, at 18:25:14
In reply to Re: Seratonin and Carbs? YES, posted by Amy Blue on April 6, 2001, at 13:40:47
> > Has anyone heard about a relationship between carbs and seratonin?I think there is a big difference between the relationships of carbs and depression when you are taking an anti-depressant and when you are not taking one. My experience with carbs while taking anti-depressants has been that some of them cause carb cravings so that all I want to do --particularly after dinner-- is eat carbs, that, in turn, led to weight gain--40 lbs. So then I got off my anti-depressant and went on a low carb diet, off came the pounds, and the cravings went away completely. I am now back on ADs, but I have my eyes open to this carb craving thing and I am now low carb as a way of life. I have actually read about (no I don't have the cites) this carb craving as a recognized side effect of some ADs. Funny thing when it happened was my husband saying "you are gaining weight because you are eating to much". Well, yeah, duh? But why was I eating too much? So the question is quite interesting. My pdoc at the time would say "well, are you eating too much"? As though that was the answer to "why". Anyway, my 2c
Posted by Michele on April 7, 2001, at 19:18:12
In reply to Re: Seratonin and Carbs? YES, posted by Lorraine on April 7, 2001, at 18:25:14
Hi..... I just thought I'd put my 2 cents in. I'm on 150mg of effexor xr... for about 7 and half weeks... so I don't know if this time frame really judges what you are talking about. Little backround.... all through high school and college I was very overweight. I was a size 13.. which might not be big to some.... but coming from a very thin family was HUGE. I made it a goal... I even switched my academic curriculum to fitness and nutrition. I lost the weight slowly and effectively.. very good exercise plan and diet. I actually was a fitness trainer for a little while... but wasn't my can of worms. Anyway, I have been a size 3 for about 10 years.. never changing... never dieting... just came accustomed to the food I trained on... and they were always the foods I craved after that. Back to the point.. I have had these recent carb cravings... snack cravings..... a lot since taking the drug... but to me... I was brought up with the "will power" thing. When I start craving things I load up on a TON of water and a nutri-grain bar.... it takes care of my cravings anyway. Water is a big key in decreasing hunger. I have to be careful tho.... besides those cravings I don't have much of an appetite and have to remind myself to eat. I don't want to gain weight.. but I don't want to loose either. Good luck to you all... and if I start gaining weight I'll post about it... then that will really show it's the AD. :-)
Posted by Dubya on April 7, 2001, at 21:38:18
In reply to Re: Seratonin and Carbs? YES, posted by Michele on April 7, 2001, at 19:18:12
Here I go complaining again but, I've been what should be just overweight for most of my life. I consider myself doomed because, I see myself as a lump of concrete, what's there is there and cannot be reversed. So first I go closer to anorexic diet than normal diet. I ate nothing at all around classmates, peers and most friends. I am for some reason extremely self-conscious,(I am not a model)I guess because I got picked on too many times. In my whole life, I've only been poked at racially about 3x, the rest that happened to be appearance or self. Now on anti-depressants, and possibly due to depression, I crave carbs like anything. I crave ice cream, cookies, Pilsbury strudels and pasta/bread. FYI, my BMI is 27.4-27.5, body fat is 18.8%. Any muscle I have (my arms, etc), I don't perceive them as muscle but rather, fat.
Posted by Michele on April 7, 2001, at 21:49:23
In reply to MY diet should be 90% O2, nutrigrains?, posted by Dubya on April 7, 2001, at 21:38:18
I know way implied that's what your diet should consist of..... that is just how I handle my nightly cravings. Sorry if I gave you the wrong impression or offended you. Obviously I need to keep my mouth shut.
Posted by Dubya on April 7, 2001, at 22:05:00
In reply to Re: MY diet should be 90% O2, nutrigrains? » Dubya, posted by Michele on April 7, 2001, at 21:49:23
I meant, I'd liketo have that kind of diet. The reason is b/c, in life, I really want to be honestly good in everything I do. I am the type of person who really has no jealousy, who has little envy, etc. I only get really really hurt when someone manages to rub in something about body weight. For example, I have a prof. who's 40+ yrs old, she's in very good physical shape and brags to the class about going to the gym. She's has children and yet, is in shape. She told us about one instance where she could do 3hrs of exercise. I would not only die to have no gut/belly but, I would die to get 3hrs of exercise out of myself. I am extremely hurt to hear that b/c, she's older than me and, if a mother can be in good shape, well, I am just a waste of space.
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