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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pretty_paints on August 17, 2004, at 11:20:21
I know remeron causes weight gain. It's everywhere you look on the internet. And everyone's always like "oh yes I gained weight on Remeron".
But I was wondering if there are any people out there brave enough to actually be more specific? Are we talking a few pounds, or much more? If you don't want to tell me your actual weight, maybe you could just say how much you increased by?
I'm naturally very skinny (about 105 lbs). I do love food, but my appetite has never been huge and even when I do binge out, I just don't seem to put on weight. Maybe its my metabolism. Anyway, when my pdoc said about this side effect I was like "wooh, super"! Its not that I'm trying to rub it in the faces of people who are trying to loose weight. Its just I used to really hate it when I was younger. People are usually quite sensitive and PC about larger people, but thought nothing of coming up to me and being like "geez, you're so skinny! Are you, like, anorexic??" (which I never was). And even people who arent quite so blunt, girlfriends and the like, still manage to deal you these insults disguised as compliments. Its considered rude the other way round, but a compliment this way. Grr!
Oh look at me, I'm blabbing! Anyway, I'm fine with my weight now and just tried to accept myself. But still I was interested about remeron, now that I'm going to be starting it, and how much weight it actually makes people gain.
Thanks dudes
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 17, 2004, at 11:31:36
In reply to Brave enough to talk about weight gain?! ;), posted by pretty_paints on August 17, 2004, at 11:20:21
> I know remeron causes weight gain. It's everywhere you look on the internet. And everyone's always like "oh yes I gained weight on Remeron".
>
> But I was wondering if there are any people out there brave enough to actually be more specific? Are we talking a few pounds, or much more? If you don't want to tell me your actual weight, maybe you could just say how much you increased by?Brave? It's just what happened. I gained about 32 pounds in six weeks. My doctor had the temerity to say I must have been eating more. Fact is, I am in complete control of my diet, cooking and feeding myself, and the portion size had not changed, and the snacking level was perhaps slightly enhanced, but not sufficient to cause more that a couple of those pounds.
Over a year later, I'm still trying to get that weight back off.
Lar
Posted by pretty_paints on August 17, 2004, at 11:40:09
In reply to Re: Brave enough to talk about weight gain?! ;) » pretty_paints, posted by Larry Hoover on August 17, 2004, at 11:31:36
Wow, okay. I only said about being brave, coz I know that - even with it only being due to drugs - some people have major issues with telling people how much weight they gained or just generally how much they weigh.
But anyway, thats not the case with you :)
I read somewhere that Remeron was initally designed to help depressed people, who have poor sleep and a poor appetite, to regain both of these. And that it actually affectsd something in your stomach (eek, don't press me to be more specific, I don't know the details) so that you get hunger pangs even when you are not techincally "hungry". Hmm. But did you not feel more hungry than usual?
If you dont mind me asking, how much did you weigh before starting remeron? Were you naturally slim or bigger?
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 17, 2004, at 11:48:37
In reply to Re: Brave enough to talk about weight gain?! ;), posted by pretty_paints on August 17, 2004, at 11:40:09
> Wow, okay. I only said about being brave, coz I know that - even with it only being due to drugs - some people have major issues with telling people how much weight they gained or just generally how much they weigh.
>
> But anyway, thats not the case with you :)No, it's not. I am what I yam. ;-)
> I read somewhere that Remeron was initally designed to help depressed people, who have poor sleep and a poor appetite, to regain both of these. And that it actually affectsd something in your stomach (eek, don't press me to be more specific, I don't know the details) so that you get hunger pangs even when you are not techincally "hungry". Hmm. But did you not feel more hungry than usual?
Oh, yes. Much more hunger. But I did not substantially change my intake.
> If you dont mind me asking, how much did you weigh before starting remeron? Were you naturally slim or bigger?I'm a big lad. (I literally was Hoover the Mover. I moved pianos and such for a living.) Ideally, I'd be about 175 lbs. (at this age, being less active). When I went on Remeron, I was at 185. I ballooned to 217, and those 217 weren't located where they had been, back in my prime. Yikes!
Lar
Posted by pretty_paints on August 17, 2004, at 12:00:43
In reply to Re: Brave enough to talk about weight gain?! ;) » pretty_paints, posted by Larry Hoover on August 17, 2004, at 11:48:37
Well Hoover the Mover, thank you very much for sharing your story with me :)
I will appreciate some hunger I think! For months, Ive been so bored of food. I take hours preparing it, inbetween big sighs and crying fits (if some big drama happens, like, erm, I realise I've run out of ham..). Then I sit staring at it for hours, while flicking through Richard & Judy and all the daytime tv crap. And then when I finally get something in my mouth, I have no energy, so I can't be bothered to chew it. And it has no taste! Which of course makes me cry even more, because to loose one's taste is a tragic ordeal! And then, when Iv been sat feeling sorry for myself for a good, ooh, hour or so, my mum will come in and be like "Jeez kate, you've been nursing that (miniscule portion of) pasta for ages!! It must be stone cold by now".
Which, by then, of course it is.
And realising that, all the effort I put into the meal is now null and void, now that it has gone cold, I start to cry again!!
Oh haha. Bully for depression hey! Man, I sooooo need to keep my sense of humour about these things!...
Posted by Larry Hoover on August 17, 2004, at 12:13:59
In reply to Re: Brave enough to talk about weight gain?! ;), posted by pretty_paints on August 17, 2004, at 12:00:43
> Well Hoover the Mover, thank you very much for sharing your story with me :)
Yer welcome, eh?
> And it has no taste! Which of course makes me cry even more, because to loose one's taste is a tragic ordeal!
Ahh! Details!
Loss of taste (and smell) sensitivity can indicate a deficiency of zinc. Which is only made worse, of course, if you don't eat well (because of the lack of pleasure). Less than half of the population even gets the absolute critical minimum amount of zinc, and without it, you can get depressed.....which might be why you are considering Remeron???? Another sign of zinc deficiency can be (though not necessarily so) little white flecks on your finger nails. Or prostate trouble, but I doubt that applies. ;-)
Zinc (chelated or gluconate or?), 25-40 mg/day. If that is the cause of the loss of taste, it will take about 1-2 weeks, and you'll gradually notice food coming alive again.
And, if you've not been eating well for some time, a general multi-vitamin mineral supp, with additional B-complex, is in order.
Lar
Posted by verne on August 17, 2004, at 18:20:52
In reply to Brave enough to talk about weight gain?! ;), posted by pretty_paints on August 17, 2004, at 11:20:21
I've been moderately overweight the last ten years but until remeron had been able to stay under 200lbs. In less than a month I balloned to over 210lbs.
Posted by Sad Panda on August 18, 2004, at 8:53:02
In reply to Brave enough to talk about weight gain?! ;), posted by pretty_paints on August 17, 2004, at 11:20:21
I gained no weight on Remeron, nor did my appetite increase. At least 50% of people do gain weight on it, I generally recommend that the doseage be kept as low as possible if you are adding it to another AD to solve insomnia problems. Two side effects it gave me was some foot oedema & nasal congestion.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by Shadowplayers721 on August 18, 2004, at 10:07:32
In reply to Brave enough to talk about weight gain?! ;), posted by pretty_paints on August 17, 2004, at 11:20:21
I read some where on the net that Remeron was the worst AD for weight gain. Paxil was next in line.
Also, I heard that it is not uncommon for folks to gain around 20-30 pounds of Remeron within 4 months. The cravings for carbs are greatly increased. Of course, this is only from readings and not my personal experience. I am very small person and I would look like Humpty Dumpty with 30 pounds, so Remeron ISN'T an option for me. I know with Lexapro I have gained 6 pounds, but I can handle that.
This is the end of the thread.
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