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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on August 2, 2006, at 15:26:30
I can only speak from my own personal experiences, and I encourage input from others. Here goes ...
I have taken 30+ meds over the past nine years for anxiety, and several had notorious reputations for weight gain, including one I currently take (Seroquel).
I have gained weight, but I am unsure whether is directly or indirectly from the med. Indirectly, the Seroquel makes me tired and sluggish, more likely to sleep long and be lazy, therefore less likely to exercise or be active, therefore more likely to gain weight.
Posted by valene on August 2, 2006, at 17:33:42
In reply to My theory on weight gain from meds, posted by UgottaHaveHope on August 2, 2006, at 15:26:30
I just started Prozac only 5mg and my pdoc wants me to increase. I am afraid of weight gain and decreased or absent libido.
I heard that many psych drugs affect your metabolism and thus you can exercise and diet all to your heart's content but still gain weight? I hope this is not true or I will quit the prozac.
Posted by H. Upmann on August 2, 2006, at 21:20:26
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds, posted by valene on August 2, 2006, at 17:33:42
I wonder how these meds affect glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity? I see that as one possible mechanism for gaining weight. I have no idea what the meds do to the thyroid or if they are estrogenic, etc. It'd be interesting to hear some from some of the gurus here as to what they think. H. Upmann
Posted by Adrift on August 2, 2006, at 21:29:26
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds, posted by H. Upmann on August 2, 2006, at 21:20:26
They also can increase your appetite and often cause late-night eating
Posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2006, at 22:17:58
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds, posted by Adrift on August 2, 2006, at 21:29:26
I know this may sound strange. But I read that you lose more weight the more you sleep. Wierd? Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on August 3, 2006, at 0:16:28
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds, posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2006, at 22:17:58
> I know this may sound strange. But I read that you lose more weight the more you sleep. Wierd? Love Phillipa
I don't know, I've gained weight and lost weight and I'm still sleepy, with Seroquel. Basically since my weight is pared down now I have to both severely cut my diet and excercise at the same time.
I lost weight on my vacation and it ended up causing a pseudo-anorectic stage where I lost 10 lbs because I wasn't eating like I normally eat at home. I think that contributed to my more recent breakthrough depression. But as soon as I returned to my normal patterns, the hunger pangs fell away, and I've gained a few.
Seroquel in and of itself, though not like Zyprexa, causes weight gain through lipid changes. But it also causes late night eating, so I'd say its 50/50 on that one, at least for me, since the massive amount of weight I lost through my initial 9 months or so of excercise also dropped my cholesterol way down.
Excercise does work, but we're talking intense treadmill usage and some minor muscle building (not in the excessive category), which substitutes for the fat, and muscle is more dense. Of course I'm just readjusting back to my routine now -- if you stop it, it's hard to start again.
Ah, the wish of the metabolism of 18 again. :)
Posted by mayzee on August 3, 2006, at 11:31:00
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds, posted by Phillipa on August 2, 2006, at 22:17:58
> I know this may sound strange. But I read that you lose more weight the more you sleep. Wierd? Love Phillipa
If only! Speaking as a former (pre-emsam) hypersomniac, the opposite was true for me. I was more likely to lose weight in the few times when I slept less (due to having more energy. On emsam, I'm sleeping ALOT less, but don't have more energy... which is partially due to the low blood pressure problems I've had with it).My weight gains that seemed to correlate with certain drugs (e.g., Paxil) seemed related to changes in appetite, e.g., more intense cravings. What regulates that?
Posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2006, at 12:29:49
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on August 3, 2006, at 0:16:28
Mayzee I forget are you still on the Emsam? And are your sleeping now? If I don't sleep I'm crazy. And what size patch did or are you using? So no weight loss? Love Phillipa
Posted by fairywings on August 3, 2006, at 20:38:52
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds, posted by Adrift on August 2, 2006, at 21:29:26
OMGosh! Tell me about it! I get amnesia....my husband found me yesterday morning, lying on the couch...glasses on, clothes on, not covered, tv still on, with an open container of chocolate frosting! I don't think I even ate any of it. It had melted, and was seeping out onto the couch. I don't know how I got there and don't remember anything about the night before.
Also, with regard to glucose....even Topamax messed with my blood sugar. I can feel it. Since it's protein bound, it messed with my hormones too. I'm hoping all the anti-seizure meds won't do that to me.
fw
Posted by mayzee on August 3, 2006, at 23:39:07
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds » yxibow, posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2006, at 12:29:49
> Mayzee I forget are you still on the Emsam? And are your sleeping now? If I don't sleep I'm crazy. And what size patch did or are you using? So no weight loss? Love Phillipa
Hi Phillipa,
Yep, I'm still on Emsam, but I had to back down to the 6mg patch because I had such problems with low blood pressure --drinking water and taking salt pills didn't help. So after a few days back at 6mg, I don't feel faint every time I walk, but my bp is still lower than usual (I finally got a monitor). I may try to go up with a quarter patch. But I just wanted a week kind of back to normal before I try that.
As far as sleep goes, I still have the sleep fragmentation --waking up 4-6 times every night-- but I almost always fall right back to sleep. Plus I go to bed later, cause I feel more alert at night. So I can't be getting much deep sleep, right? But I'm not falling asleep as much during the day either. I am still taking a nap some days, but not as often or long as I used to. So Emsam has really changed my sleep patterns *alot*. My pdoc gave me a script for klonopin so I'll probably try that.
Right now I can't really comment on the AD effect. I just feel so much better not having the debilitating low blood pressure symptoms. It's the old feel-better-cause-the-side-effect's-gone routine.
Wishing you all the best with Emsam!!!
--mayzee
P.S. oh, re. weight, I think it's been pretty stable; not really affected by the emasam. (I have monthly cravings/binges with my cycle and that hasn't changed unfortunately)
Posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2006, at 23:49:28
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds » Adrift, posted by fairywings on August 3, 2006, at 20:38:52
By any chance on you on ambien? they now say it can cause amnesia. Love phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2006, at 23:51:21
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds » Phillipa, posted by mayzee on August 3, 2006, at 23:39:07
So maybe I'll start with a quarter of a patch and see how it goes and start klonopin. Most of the success storys are klonopin and EMSAM. Love Phillipa
Posted by fairywings on August 4, 2006, at 12:11:12
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds » fairywings, posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2006, at 23:49:28
Yeper! I knew that's what it was....I told my pdoc some of the weird stuff I was doing, and he asked if I wanted to go off of it, but I have to sleep, and can't w/o it. Maybe I'll try something else.
fw
Posted by yxibow on August 4, 2006, at 23:39:03
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds » fairywings, posted by Phillipa on August 3, 2006, at 23:49:28
> By any chance on you on ambien? they now say it can cause amnesia. Love phillipa
Ambien always had the potential to cause amnesia, as well as similar sleep aids, most especially when taken with a projected fewer than 7-8 hours of sleep.
Posted by Crazy Horse on August 5, 2006, at 18:24:27
In reply to My theory on weight gain from meds, posted by UgottaHaveHope on August 2, 2006, at 15:26:30
> I can only speak from my own personal experiences, and I encourage input from others. Here goes ...
>
> I have taken 30+ meds over the past nine years for anxiety, and several had notorious reputations for weight gain, including one I currently take (Seroquel).
>
> I have gained weight, but I am unsure whether is directly or indirectly from the med. Indirectly, the Seroquel makes me tired and sluggish, more likely to sleep long and be lazy, therefore less likely to exercise or be active, therefore more likely to gain weight.Try Remeron for a year..guaranteed to add 30+ lbs. to an adult man (it did me). When i was on Remeron i suddenly became obsessed with food, i was hungry ALL THE TIME, and i ate large portions. Before remeron i was nice and fit, and food was not that inportant to me. 'Remeron = increased appetite' this is for sure for the majority of people who take it! I am just now slowly losing the gained weight, been off remeron for about 10 mos.
Monte
Posted by Phillipa on August 5, 2006, at 19:06:35
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds - Ambien » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on August 4, 2006, at 23:39:03
I think we may be talking about a different type of amnesia. My neighbor got up in the middle of the night, her husband followed her, she went to the freezer in the cellar took out a gallon of ice cream. Then got dishes and spoons , brought it to the bedroom ate it all, went back to bed, and in the morning had no recollection of doing it. The empty container was the proof and her husband following her he didn't want her to fall. She's an older woman. Love Phillipa
Posted by yxibow on August 11, 2006, at 22:14:52
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds - Ambien » yxibow, posted by Phillipa on August 5, 2006, at 19:06:35
> I think we may be talking about a different type of amnesia. My neighbor got up in the middle of the night, her husband followed her, she went to the freezer in the cellar took out a gallon of ice cream. Then got dishes and spoons , brought it to the bedroom ate it all, went back to bed, and in the morning had no recollection of doing it. The empty container was the proof and her husband following her he didn't want her to fall. She's an older woman. Love Phillipa
I understand -- no offense to your neighbour, but being an older woman (since I dont know her mental capacities), Ambien may have accelerated an underlying pre-dementia state unfortunately. Or it could just be coincidental or the body not fully processing a drug through the system as fast as a younger individual.--tidings
J
Posted by bart on August 12, 2006, at 21:22:08
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds » UgottaHaveHope, posted by Crazy Horse on August 5, 2006, at 18:24:27
Yes Crazy Horse, I've been treading the same damn path with AD's over the years
good luck, stay well
Posted by yxibow on August 15, 2006, at 0:09:00
In reply to Re: My theory on weight gain from meds » UgottaHaveHope, posted by Crazy Horse on August 5, 2006, at 18:24:27
> > I can only speak from my own personal experiences, and I encourage input from others. Here goes ...
> >
> > I have taken 30+ meds over the past nine years for anxiety, and several had notorious reputations for weight gain, including one I currently take (Seroquel).
> >
> > I have gained weight, but I am unsure whether is directly or indirectly from the med. Indirectly, the Seroquel makes me tired and sluggish, more likely to sleep long and be lazy, therefore less likely to exercise or be active, therefore more likely to gain weight.
>
> Try Remeron for a year..guaranteed to add 30+ lbs. to an adult man (it did me). When i was on Remeron i suddenly became obsessed with food, i was hungry ALL THE TIME, and i ate large portions. Before remeron i was nice and fit, and food was not that inportant to me. 'Remeron = increased appetite' this is for sure for the majority of people who take it! I am just now slowly losing the gained weight, been off remeron for about 10 mos.
>
> MonteTry around 40-50+. I never in my life reached such a proportion. Radical gym schedules have dropped it to just a "somewhat overweight" level from a near morbidly obese.
Not to say it isn't a good antidepressant. In fact its a very novel one, with properties similar to that of a mild atypical antipsychotic minus the dopamine angle. One just has to lock the refigerator if one is doing well on the medication.
This is the end of the thread.
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