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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jealibeanz on May 31, 2006, at 19:26:58
Does that mean I'm likely to gain on all AD's? Wellbutrin is supposed to cause weight lose or neutrality, yet, I barely could eat, worked out tons, and gained 20 lbs. The same happened with Paxil, Buspar, and Effexor.
Is it possible that I have some metablic abnormality that occurs when my body has to preocess medication?(although I'm fine with Straterra) Should I try for another AD, or give up and accept my chronic condition? I could try another class, but aren't older meds known to cause weight gain more than SSRI's?
Posted by yxibow on June 1, 2006, at 0:51:26
In reply to If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by jealibeanz on May 31, 2006, at 19:26:58
> Does that mean I'm likely to gain on all AD's? Wellbutrin is supposed to cause weight lose or neutrality, yet, I barely could eat, worked out tons, and gained 20 lbs. The same happened with Paxil, Buspar, and Effexor.
>
> Is it possible that I have some metablic abnormality that occurs when my body has to preocess medication?(although I'm fine with Straterra) Should I try for another AD, or give up and accept my chronic condition? I could try another class, but aren't older meds known to cause weight gain more than SSRI's?It could be a P450 difference in your genomes but I would say that each medication has its own set of ways in which it causes weight gain, none of the mechanisms which have been precisely discovered yet. Paxil is generally modestly weight gaining for a lot of people.
If there is any commonality in any of the medications, I would only say that if all the medications "worked" for you at one time or another, for depression or anxiety, then it is a sign of relief that one, unfortunately gains weight, usually by slight unnoticeable increases in appetite because of an improvement in mood.
But that's only conjecture -- I would not place a blanket statement on all antidepressants or anxiolytics. They each have to be treated for what they are worth, in your body, not necessarily in the general population or what someone else has said.
Posted by Sunny357 on June 1, 2006, at 2:15:35
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain... » jealibeanz, posted by yxibow on June 1, 2006, at 0:51:26
There is no easy answer to these AD issues. I have tried all SSRI's with no luck. I don't believe there is a way to tell beforehand what your reaction to a drug will be, and it seems that reactions vary as widely as the clouds in the sky. I tried Zoloft and gained 10 lbs. in the first month. That depressed me even more, so I quit immediately (10 lbs too late - didn't help my symptoms anyway). Grrrr!!!
Wellbutrin was the only drug that even took the edge off the depression - though did not alleviate the symptoms and only kept me from being suicidal (I can't complain about that though b/c I'm here!) - but it ultimately caused me more anxiety than I or my family could bear. As of a month ago, I'm off Wellbutrin and back to square one with no meds....
My PMHNP wants me to try Abilify, but before I move to antipsychotics (God help us all), I told her I want to try the MAOI patch. Right now I'm just having a hard time finding it, but it just might be the miracle I'm looking for.
When I first got on Wellbutrin, I had a severe decrease in appetite and lost TOO MUCH weight. I think that was a combination of its appetite suppressing element with my depression (which the Wellbutrin didn't help), which was a recipe for disaster. I'm back to normal weight now, but very discouraged about meds. I really didn't want to go the antipsychotic route, but that's what they prescribe when traditional AD's don't work.
Then... enter MAOI patch. I'm looking for it!! It's expensive, so I'm going to try for free samples through the distributor. But there has to be something that will work.
Don't give up. I'm saying that as much for me as for YOU. Please don't give up. I have to believe there is a better quality of life ahead for us. I have had depression only 3 years (long long years) - along with PTSD, GAD, Panic Disorder, blah blah blah. My past came back to haunt me.
I have to believe there are answers for us. Please don't give up.
PS - I visited a forum once on Zoloft before trying it, and though I noticed a LOT of people had gained weight, some had actually lost weight. I know that doesn't make you feel better... but next time I won't wait until I gain 10 lbs from a drug to recognize I'm headed in that direction and to quickly get off of it.
Posted by jealibeanz on June 1, 2006, at 3:54:41
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by Sunny357 on June 1, 2006, at 2:15:35
I've been fighting since high school. I'm now 23 and getting ready to enter the workforce, where I can't hide and take naps or "drop out of life" occassionally. I'd really like to find something. I also have bad anxiety and am afraid I won't be employable (or board certified- physician assistant) if I'm taking Xanax daily.
Posted by jealibeanz on June 1, 2006, at 4:12:03
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain... » jealibeanz, posted by yxibow on June 1, 2006, at 0:51:26
OK, I will stress that there was no "hidden gain" in appetite or decrease in activity. I was trainging aerobically and with weights up to 5 hours a day, 6 days a week as a collegiate athlete. I also ate an extremely clean, low calorie diet...
Anway, are all those medications I mentioned metabolized by the P450 cytochrome? What about Straterra?(I also do fine with Provigil and benzos)Maybe it's the serotonin that I have problems with?
I always sort of gave up with my treatments each time they didn't work. I didn't want another SSRI thrown at me. I honestly never gave it a thought that maybe my doctors (the caring, good ones, at least) wouldn't just give up if I hadn't told them the anxiety and depression subsided.
I just always become very turned off by my side effects and wanted to run from medications after each unhappy trial. I actually didn't know of the use of MAOI's, TCA's, and other unconventional methods until recently.
Do you think my doc may suggest an alternative (he is treating my for anxiety right now, so won't be shocked) is I hint at depression at my next visit? I'll refuse and SSRI's and tell him I'll just deal with the daily depression if he want to try one, that may prompt something. I have no idea what his thoughts are on AD's other than SSRI's. They tend to be a cery "safe" pratice and stick to the drugs they have samples of.
Right now I take daily Xanax. I also take Lunesta, which currently isn't help me adjust, sleepwise, to a new apartment, and it's making me life hell! I feel like I'm slowly falling apart. The depression started about a month ago, so it's not related, but exacerbated by the fatigue. I'm so tired, scared, unhappy, and frustrated!
Posted by bassman on June 1, 2006, at 8:32:42
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by jealibeanz on June 1, 2006, at 4:12:03
I'd suggest not hinting anything-tell the doc you're depressed and how you feel about SSRI's. I say this from experience: I told my doc the same thing about 7 years ago when I was having a very hard time. She charmed me into taking an SSRI anyway and I'll be forever grateful-it turned my life around.
When you talking to your doc, think about it like you've just gone into a store, "I'm going to a party and I need a shirt that is XXX color and doesn't have XXX, because that doesn't work for me".
You are the customer at the doc's-think of it that way. can you imagine going to a store and the clerk saying, "well, I'm NOT going to sell you a green shirt because I personally don't like green shirts..." You'd go to a different store, if you get the analogy.
Posted by Phillipa on June 1, 2006, at 13:23:36
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by bassman on June 1, 2006, at 8:32:42
I think anxiety leads to depression l0 years for me. Love Phillipa
Posted by jealibeanz on June 1, 2006, at 16:32:55
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by Phillipa on June 1, 2006, at 13:23:36
I'm not even sure how to present it to him. If asked about my recent life... I just moved and started graduate school. I like the place, the program, the students, the professors, ect. I'm very happy with it. I'm happy with my life. I think I have a good life. However, that doesn't mean that I don't feel depression or anxiety. Does that make sense?
Posted by bassman on June 1, 2006, at 16:54:10
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by jealibeanz on June 1, 2006, at 16:32:55
Of course it makes sense! We feel how we feel, period. Sometimes, how we feel has nothing to do with our circumstances...which is why I believe a lot of mental health problems are almost purely biochemically based.
Certainly everyone has heard a story about a pretty, popular cheerleader that was always laughing and then went home one day and killed herself-or similar story. The point is that the doc understands that you can be depressed (I sure hope) without asking "what are you depressed about?"-the answer may be "nothing in the external world". But that doesn't mean you aren't suffering.
Maybe you're afraid the doc will poo-poo your depression/anxiety because you don't have something to say like, "my family just got wiped out in a car crash" or even "my gerbil has diabetes"? If he/she does, they need to find a different profession. Good luck!
Posted by jealibeanz on June 1, 2006, at 17:15:16
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by bassman on June 1, 2006, at 16:54:10
I actually right now would appear extremely happy to anyone, probably especially my doctor. He's very very upbeat and enthusiastic. It tends to rub off. I actually am fairly excited to talk about what I'm doing because I like my physician assistant school quite a bit, much more than I had anticipated, and much more than my ungrad school. It's a welcome change. We'd both have a great time talking about it. Even in class I'm constantly laughing and joking (not normal for me, but the new atmosphere and Xanax help a lot). I wouldn't ever be picked out as depressed, yet for the last month have just felt no urge to do anything productive. I'm unmotivated and apathetic. I only want to lie in bed all day, every day, and sleep. Yet, i don't. I push myself to achieve something and appear happy, successful, and socialize. That almost makes things worse when one feels like they're putting on a show 24/7.
Posted by bassman on June 1, 2006, at 18:35:38
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by jealibeanz on June 1, 2006, at 17:15:16
You'd be surprised how many people seem really happy and excited outwardly and are hurting inside. But it might be worth thinking about how much the changes in your life may have affected you...in direct contadiction to my last note. :>} But the fact you have a medical person who you are comfortable with is a huge asset-confide in him.
Posted by jealibeanz on June 1, 2006, at 18:45:51
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by bassman on June 1, 2006, at 18:35:38
Actually, I don't feel that the life changes have hurt at all. They've helped. However, my mood is chronically low. It's the truth. I feel like I'm complaining for saying that or that people don't believe it. My life situations have led to depression, although, anxiety does, but that's something I've always had too. I suppose I could just realize that it's always going to be an underlying feeling, try to build the best life I can, and cover up those tendencies. It's what I've always done. Unfortunately, it can be exhausting.
Posted by jealibeanz on June 2, 2006, at 8:42:40
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by Sunny357 on June 1, 2006, at 2:15:35
Do docs usually persue something else if SSRI's are helpful? It'a never been suggested to me, although I've never stopped a med and wanted something else to try. If I ever stop it's because I thought the depression went away (it did because of the med, but also had badddd side effects) or just was too fed up with side effects to touch medication. At one point I stopped Wellbutrin and didn't go back for a year and a half, so I was never seen as an urgent case.
My last year has been tough though. I went in October for insomnia. A couple weeks later for extreme anxiety. A few days later a bad reaction and spiral into major depression. I then had checkup 2 weeks apart. I didn't tolerate the medication (effexor) well and stopped after 6 weeks.
I soon came in for cold/flu symptoms that I'd have nonstop for 2 months! They did some blood tests. My next checkup was for my Lunesta, where I told the doc I was taking old Klonopin and had bad anxiety and couldn't concentrate. My ADD was at a bad point. He said Klonopin was not a good idea (makes me depressed and foggy) but gave me Strattera.
Two weeks later I called and asked for a new sleep aid, Lunesta wasn't working since I started Strattera. I got Ambien CR, had sleepwalking episodes, and switched back to Lunesta shortly after. Surprisingly, I'm fine with the Straterra. The Lunesta works well now too, until recently with a move to a new apartment.
Then, while moving to school, I was having very very bad anxiety and my mother actually called and asked for my Xanax script, since I was already gone. Needless to say, this has been a bad year and it is obvious now that I have quite a bit going on which stems from the anxiety mainly, and partly from depression (especiall winter!) I've become the girl who's always there for something new. I'm not quite sure what that indicates to them.
Posted by bassman on June 2, 2006, at 9:44:28
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by jealibeanz on June 2, 2006, at 8:42:40
Stop worrying about what the docs think about you-you're the customer, remember? You seem to be having trouble with anxiety/depression and the job of the doc is to help you, not judge you. Yes, there are other meds...and maybe you want to explore that a bit more thoroughly (it sounds like you only do things when you get very uncomfortable) to get some relief. You'll be surprised how much better life is without anxiety: it's worth putting some effort and time into...best of luck!
Posted by jealibeanz on June 2, 2006, at 10:33:20
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by bassman on June 2, 2006, at 9:44:28
I am aware of other treatments, but am unsure of how widely they are used in everyday practice. All you ever hear about are the SSRI's. It's hard to bring up "alternative" (not really alternative... but some docs seem to think that anything other than SSRI's are poison and not to be touched) treatments when I may get shutdown. I also don't want to act as if I have any more knowledge or expertise than my doctor.
Posted by bassman on June 2, 2006, at 10:52:47
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by jealibeanz on June 2, 2006, at 10:33:20
Ask,"in your experience, what medications have you found useful for treating your patients with anxiety and depression?" If he mentions one you're interested in trying, say, "do you think that might work for me?"-at which time he'll say, "I don't know (if he's an honest doc)-would you like to give it a try?"
Posted by jealibeanz on June 3, 2006, at 1:19:37
In reply to Re: If Wellbutrin caused weight gain..., posted by bassman on June 2, 2006, at 10:52:47
I do need to discuss my situation with Xanax. I doubt he'd want me on it indefinitely as a daily medication. His suggestion might be an AD, to which I would give him my reluctant opinion about those I've tried,
This is the end of the thread.
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