![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by markowitz on September 15, 2007, at 19:47:12
Just starting to feel better w/ 45 mg. of Nardil, but having intense, uncontrollable carb/sugar cravings, and have been bingeing. Already overweight and can't afford to gain more. Any antidote to this?
Posted by Jedi on September 16, 2007, at 21:01:36
In reply to nardil-sugar/carb cravings, posted by markowitz on September 15, 2007, at 19:47:12
> Just starting to feel better w/ 45 mg. of Nardil, but having intense, uncontrollable carb/sugar cravings, and have been bingeing. Already overweight and can't afford to gain more. Any antidote to this?
Hi,
I take 90mg of Nardil daily. About the only thing that helps the carb cravings and associated weight gain for me is strenuous exercise.In the past I have lost weight, while taking Nardil, on a very low carb diet. It is very hard to stick with but the carb cravings seem to go away when you are not eating any at all. On this very low carb diet the body enters a state called ketosis where it burns fat for energy instead of gluclose. The problem is, when you go off the diet, which is pretty much inevitable; the weight comes back fast.
Take care,
Jedi
Posted by sadone on September 21, 2007, at 17:39:26
In reply to Re: nardil-sugar/carb cravings » markowitz, posted by Jedi on September 16, 2007, at 21:01:36
Good News - I am on Topomax which is known for curbing cravings - as soon as first dose is taken. It does however cause sleepiness, to combat the sedating effect I take alertec which works well. It IS worth trying the Topomax - is currently being used for binge eating disorders and compuslive eating disorders in trials. I am weaning off Effexor to try Parnate...not sure if this is the route I need.
Topomax is awesome !
Posted by Jedi on September 21, 2007, at 22:02:54
In reply to Re: nardil-sugar/carb cravings, posted by sadone on September 21, 2007, at 17:39:26
> Good News - I am on Topomax which is known for curbing cravings - as soon as first dose is taken. It does however cause sleepiness, to combat the sedating effect I take alertec which works well. It IS worth trying the Topomax - is currently being used for binge eating disorders and compuslive eating disorders in trials. I am weaning off Effexor to try Parnate...not sure if this is the route I need.
> Topomax is awesome !Sadone,
Let me know how the Topamax works long term. It's nickname is "stupidmax" and I'm stupid enough already. The Parnate should be better for weight gain than the Nardil. I just had a trial of Parnate and it was working pretty well for the depression. Not so good for the social anxiety. During my Parnate trial I had to up my clonazepam from 1mg to 2mg to combat the social anxiety. Parnate does not affect GABA like Nardil or clonazepam. Unfortunately I had to end my trial of Parnate because of a rare spontaneous hypertensive reaction. Parnate does cause more problems with hypertension than Nardil so be careful with the diet and medications.
Be well,
Jedi
Posted by blueboy on September 25, 2007, at 10:28:59
In reply to nardil-sugar/carb cravings, posted by markowitz on September 15, 2007, at 19:47:12
Heck, I don't need Nardil to have carbo cravings, LOL.
I don't know what to tell you. Nardil puts 20 pounds on me, but it's worth it. I'd rather be fat and live life, than slender and spend my life lying in bed all day.
Posted by Jedi on September 25, 2007, at 23:28:10
In reply to Re: nardil-sugar/carb cravings, posted by blueboy on September 25, 2007, at 10:28:59
> Heck, I don't need Nardil to have carbo cravings, LOL.
>
> I don't know what to tell you. Nardil puts 20 pounds on me, but it's worth it. I'd rather be fat and live life, than slender and spend my life lying in bed all day.Blueboy,
That is just what I told my MD the other day. I've quit Nardil four times in 11 years for other med trials, each time the major depression returned within a couple of months. Baring some new miracle drug, I will probably be a lifer on Nardil. I have gained a lot of weight but the med actually lowers my blood pressure. I'm actually pretty healthy for someone who the numbers say is morbidly obese. I'll probably die a few years earlier because of the weight, but I can not live with the depression. I'm afraid that without Nardil I would already be gone. There is nothing worse than living with chronic treatment resistant depression. I don't believe that people who quit Nardil because of weight gain are really suffering with major depression. There is nothing worse in my mind than lying on the floor in a fetal position, unable to do anything but suffer.
Take care,
Jedi
Posted by blueboy on September 28, 2007, at 9:24:23
In reply to Re: nardil-sugar/carb cravings » blueboy, posted by Jedi on September 25, 2007, at 23:28:10
Jedi, we seem to have similar reactions to the drug. It lowers my blood pressure, too. It's irritating, because I can't work bent over (I can't pull weeds while standing for more than like 30 seconds) but at least it has some real health benefit to counteract the extra body fat.
May I also recommend a good salmon oil daily, while we're on this tangent? I have actually done extensive research on the subject of Omega-3 actions. You need DHA; I don't think the alleged anti-depressant effects are valid (they are certainly not supported by any reliable research) but the effects on blood chemistry, specifically overall serum cholesterol and LDL levels, can be profound. It is really a miracle drug.
The problem is that men, unlike women, will not readily manufacture DHA from short-chain Omega-3 oils (ALA) such as those found in plant oils like flaxseed and walnuts. The process of creating DHA from ALA is apparently linked to estrogen (possibly, in Darwinian terms, due to the need for DHA in breast milk, as infants' nervous systems are profoundly affected by it). Some men, according to some reliable research, manufacture no DHA at all; others, inadequate amounts.
Anyway, find a good deep-water natural salmon oil and try it out. I use Carlson. The effect it had on my cholesterol levels was astonishing.
Now, if I could just find some way to stave off diabetes risk :(
Posted by Jedi on September 28, 2007, at 12:35:12
In reply to Re: nardil-sugar/carb cravings - DHA tangent » Jedi, posted by blueboy on September 28, 2007, at 9:24:23
> Jedi, we seem to have similar reactions to the drug. It lowers my blood pressure, too. It's irritating, because I can't work bent over (I can't pull weeds while standing for more than like 30 seconds) but at least it has some real health benefit to counteract the extra body fat.
>
> May I also recommend a good salmon oil daily, while we're on this tangent? I have actually done extensive research on the subject of Omega-3 actions. You need DHA; I don't think the alleged anti-depressant effects are valid (they are certainly not supported by any reliable research) but the effects on blood chemistry, specifically overall serum cholesterol and LDL levels, can be profound. It is really a miracle drug.
Blueboy,
I've also read a lot on the omega-3 fatty acids. I take about 1080mg of EPA and 720mg of DHA on a daily basis. I used to take more, 1800mg of EPA and 1200mg of DHA. I also found that these fatty acids do little for my depression, but the research is becoming overwhelming on the cardiovascular benefits. What is your daily dosage? I'm finding it hard to find good research on what is the best dosage. I'm sure this will come out, in time. I take the Kirkland(Costco) brand, because it is cheap; 400 gelcaps with 180mg EPA and 120mg DHA each, for about nine bucks. At my dosage, this is only 13 cents per day. Probably not as good as Carlson.
Thanks,
JediPS The orthostatic hypotension side effect will decrease greatly in time, also.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.