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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ricker on December 6, 2008, at 11:29:38
Started zyprexa several weeks ago and it's helping with my mood, but..... Porky Pig is in the building!!
I've allways kept in prety good shape... aerobics and weight-training, high protein diet etc.
3 weeks in and I've gained 7lbs! wtf????
Every drug that makes me feel good mentally, cause some negative physical reaction..lamictal had allergic reaction and now this fat producing A/P.
I realize lots of people would gladly take the weight gain for a positive med response...not me, it's not acceptable. Maybe I'm not desperate enough and I'm not looking for pitty, just frustrated with my meds at the moment.I see my p/doc on Monday and I'm requesting a stop to the zyprexa. I will keep the lithium, zoloft and clonazepam. I can't get abilify here in Canada so that rules out A/P treatment, maybe I'll try some domomax.
Last appointment p/doc suggested another course of ECT of which I had in 1989. God forbid! So many of you must be rolling your eyes and yelling out, "OMG - ECT - NO!" Well, for those anti-ECTer's, maybe take a look around the forum and maybe even take a look at many of your very own posts..... meds cause diabetes, meds ruined my memory, meds are poison to my liver, and on and on the threads go. The few ECT NEVER! posts are somewhat laughable when they're surrounded by chronic med bashing posts!!!! WTF!!!!!!!
Posted by Phillipa on December 6, 2008, at 13:35:21
In reply to zyprexa - love/hate, posted by ricker on December 6, 2008, at 11:29:38
Ricker I'm so sorry the zyprexa didn't work out for you. So many different body chemistries. Did Ect help you? Or are you just extremly frustrated at the moment? Love Phillipa
Posted by ricker on December 6, 2008, at 13:59:44
In reply to Re: zyprexa - love/hate » ricker, posted by Phillipa on December 6, 2008, at 13:35:21
> Ricker I'm so sorry the zyprexa didn't work out for you. So many different body chemistries. Did Ect help you? Or are you just extremly frustrated at the moment? Love Phillipa
Hi Phillipa,
Yes, I believe ECT helped, but it's not something that worked overnight. I think it helped by allowing myself to respond to meds again? Kinda like rebooting your computer after it freezes up?
And yes, I'm feeling quite frustrated with all these failed attemps. Seems like a positive response to a med on the mental side comes with nasty physical side-effects.
I'm not willing to turn myself into a 300 lb sugar craving diabetic with high blood pressure, I don't mean to sound selfish... sorry.
Posted by bleauberry on December 6, 2008, at 17:40:52
In reply to zyprexa - love/hate, posted by ricker on December 6, 2008, at 11:29:38
One cannot manage the damage ECT might do. But one can manage what goes in the mouth and how many calories are burned. Even with the best of efforts, some weight is likely to be gained. But for sure, anyone benefiting from Zyprexa has to take on a new lifestyle in terms of reading ingredient labels, choice of veggies over pasta/pastry, and such. Not a bad trade-off for feeling better. And those kinds of eating habits are pro-mood as well.
I say stay with Zyprexa, completely overhaul the way you approach food, set out to burn calories, and be well. Sounds much healthier than ECT if you ask me. All the other AP risks are likely to be avoided as well with healthy responsible living.
Back in the old days people had no choice...grains, berries, fruits, veggies, sometimes some meat. There were no donuts or pastas or candybars or prepackaged foods.
I am gluten-free, which means none of the typical foods everyone else takes for granted. If I can do it, anyone can do it.
A zyprexa-friendly diet would look like this:
1. Heavy on veggies, raw or slightly cooked.
2. All you want in lean proteins...steak, chicken, fish, eggs.
3. No fruit juice, too much natural or artificial sugar in it.
4. Moderate fruits, avoid real sugary ones such as melons and bananas. Best are granny smith apples and berries of all kinds.
5. Avoid sugars of all kinds...natural, cane, corn syrup, etc.
6. Light on the carbs...very little in the way of pasta, cereal, chips, potato, etc.
7. On the bright side, you can have all the real butter and cream you want.
8. Anything on the avoid list, well, you can have those. Just keep it to once a week as a well deserved treat. Dark chocolate is good anytime.I don't know about you, but to me taking a few weeks to start eating like that, and a couple months to really like it better than the way you used to eat, sounds a ton better than ECT.
For zyprexa-induced food cravings, find some good substitutes such as carrots, celery with cream cheese, egg on salad, a couple pieces of dark chocolate, ya know? Another easy trick is to just drink a ton of purified water, which will fill up the stomach and trick it into thinking it is full so you won't have such cravings.
All healthy stuff, especially for anyone who is a pysch patient.
Posted by ricker on December 6, 2008, at 18:36:35
In reply to Re: zyprexa - love/hate, posted by ricker on December 6, 2008, at 13:59:44
Bleauberry, thankyou very much for your thoughfull reply. I appreciate you taking the time and effort. It's somewhat reassuring to hear a little positive with regards to diet and zyprexa. I agree that feeling good should not be taken lightly.... no pun intended. I'm sure my p/doc will insist I stay with zyprexa and work on my diet as you have suggested.
I've read on another site where additives such as metformin or topamax are used to help with weight loss? I'll discuss these further at my Monday appointment.
Again, thanks for your support.Regards, Rick
Posted by Zyprexa on December 6, 2008, at 20:31:02
In reply to Re: zyprexa - love/hate, posted by bleauberry on December 6, 2008, at 17:40:52
Bleuberry has some good ideas. I would stay away from the saturated fats. And trans fats, but good fats are good, ie all the others. Lots of food with high fiber. The other thing I do is drink a lot of diet soda. Keeps you awake and stomack full, plus all the fluids. Metformin an anti diabetic medicine helps too.
Posted by Phillipa on December 6, 2008, at 21:12:21
In reply to Re: zyprexa - love/hate, posted by ricker on December 6, 2008, at 13:59:44
Ricker I don't feel you sound selfish at all. We all need to do what's best for us. Hopefully your pdoc will help you with that. Love Phillipa
Posted by azalea on December 6, 2008, at 21:31:26
In reply to Re: zyprexa - love/hate, posted by ricker on December 6, 2008, at 18:36:35
There is some research about adding betahistine to zyprexa to mitigate weight gain.
Betahistine is available from compounding pharmacies.
Evidence is conflicting . . .
Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2005 Mar;20(2):101-3.
The effect of betahistine, a histamine H1 receptor agonist/H3 antagonist, on olanzapine-induced weight gain in first-episode schizophrenia patients
Histamine antagonism has been implicated in antipsychotic drug-induced weight gain. Betahistine, a histamine enhancer with H1 agonistic/H3 antagonistic properties (48 mg t.i.d.), was coadministered with olanzapine (10 mg/ day) in three first-episode schizophrenia patients for 6 weeks. Body weight was measured at baseline and weekly thereafter. Clinical rating scales were completed at baseline and at week 6. All participants gained weight (mean weight gain 3.1 ± 0.9 kg) and a similar pattern of weight gain was observed: an increase during the first 2 weeks and no additional weight gain (two patients) or minor weight loss (one patient) from weeks 3 to 6. None gained 7% of baseline weight, which is the cut-off for clinically significant weight gain. Betahistine was safe and well tolerated and did not interfere with the antipsychotic effect of olanzapine. Our findings justify a placebo-controlled evaluation of the putative weight-attenuating effect of betahistine in olanzapine-induced weight gain
But the study below was terminated because interim results indicated no significant benefit of the study medication on the primary endpoint.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00428168?cond=%22Weight+Gain%22&rank=3
> Bleauberry, thankyou very much for your thoughfull reply. I appreciate you taking the time and effort. It's somewhat reassuring to hear a little positive with regards to diet and zyprexa. I agree that feeling good should not be taken lightly.... no pun intended. I'm sure my p/doc will insist I stay with zyprexa and work on my diet as you have suggested.
> I've read on another site where additives such as metformin or topamax are used to help with weight loss? I'll discuss these further at my Monday appointment.
> Again, thanks for your support.
>
> Regards, Rick
Posted by azalea on December 6, 2008, at 21:34:16
In reply to Re: zyprexa - love/hate, posted by ricker on December 6, 2008, at 18:36:35
There is also evidence for adding reboxetine or sibutramine, although these may be contraindicated with other meds you're taking. Betahistine has few contraindications and is generally well-tolerated.
> I've read on another site where additives such as metformin or topamax are used to help with weight loss? I'll discuss these further at my Monday appointment.
> Again, thanks for your support.
>
> Regards, Rick
Posted by Applefreak on December 7, 2008, at 17:28:06
In reply to zyprexa - love/hate, posted by ricker on December 6, 2008, at 11:29:38
I really think ECT should be the last measure, when everything fails. I had only one last winter because I was suicidal and all treatments had failed. But the restart took away some things that made me be me. I wouldn´t do it again. Some people don´t mind the things they lose on ECT, some of us do. I´d rather spend the rest of my life medicated than losing an important part of myself. We´re not computers, there´s still not backups for your personality.
Posted by B2chica on December 8, 2008, at 8:33:55
In reply to Re: zyprexa - love/hate, posted by ricker on December 6, 2008, at 18:36:35
i was just going to suggest topomax, definately check into it with your doc.
and bleu is right on about the water. several startups on zyprexa having a bottle of water constantly at hand avoided weight gain.
(this last time i didnt do that and gained weight).
best wishes
b2c.
Posted by PollyFarm on December 10, 2008, at 2:49:46
In reply to zyprexa - love/hate, posted by ricker on December 6, 2008, at 11:29:38
My pdoc tried adderall w/the zyrprexa...seems to work for appetite control, but I'm afraid I may be getting a crash from the adderall that worsens my depression. Porky Pig is right, though! I gained 25 lbs (after I had lost 15 and down to my normal weight after giving birth to twins...grrr!)...it just makes you want to eat and eat and eat! Especially fried foods and whatever is bad for you! I've been going off and on the zyprexa...it causes some extrapyramidal effects like twitching that of course I don't like the looks of...but I haven't been having the calorie cravings like before...not sure that going on and off is good, and I think it isn't as effective these days...I only take 2.5 mg. Let me know how it is going, and are you taking anything else? I will ask my pdoc what the other drug she suggested taking to combat the zyprexa appetite problem.
This is the end of the thread.
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