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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maxime on August 7, 2010, at 18:14:59
I am sorry that I am posting so much about weight but it's a scary reality for me. I am currently 60 pounds over my ideal weight for my frame and height. My GP wants to see me again this month just to check my weight. I am afraid she will be disappointed because I have managed to gain MORE since I saw her last month.
I am on Nortryptaline and I am wondering how much weight I might have gained from it. Has anyone noticed a big weight gain from this med? It is helping me and I don't want to stop it. However, if it is what's causing part of the weight gain, then I would be tempted to stop it.
Thanks.
Posted by Phillipa on August 7, 2010, at 22:00:05
In reply to Nortryptaline and weight gain, posted by Maxime on August 7, 2010, at 18:14:59
Don't know but keep taking it. Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on August 7, 2010, at 22:24:57
In reply to Re: Nortryptaline and weight gain » Maxime, posted by Phillipa on August 7, 2010, at 22:00:05
Well something is making me gain weight and it's not food. I should be at least maintaining my weight as I eat less than 500 calories a day. I remember when I was at my low weight back in 1998 I was eating about what I eat now ... 500 calories or less and the weight just fell off me.
Posted by Phillipa on August 8, 2010, at 0:01:31
In reply to Re: Nortryptaline and weight gain » Phillipa, posted by Maxime on August 7, 2010, at 22:24:57
Maxie you're just starting to get hope and feel better see what happens with the adderal. love Phillipa
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 8, 2010, at 5:55:31
In reply to Re: Nortryptaline and weight gain » Maxime, posted by Phillipa on August 8, 2010, at 0:01:31
Nortriptyline certainly has the potential to cause weight gain, exactly how much it has caused you to gain I don't know.
Unfortunately, so many psych meds cause weight gain. Some of the worst culprits include select antipsychotics (Thorazine, Nozinan, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Risperdal, Clozaril etc) and antidepressants (amitriptyline, nortriptyline, mirtazapine etc).
Posted by Maxime on August 8, 2010, at 9:09:37
In reply to Re: Nortryptaline and weight gain, posted by ed_uk2010 on August 8, 2010, at 5:55:31
Thanks Ed. Do you know HOW it makes you gain weight? Does it make you eat more? Or does it slow down the metabolism?
Again, thank you for responding. :-)
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 8, 2010, at 12:02:04
In reply to Re: Nortryptaline and weight gain » ed_uk2010, posted by Maxime on August 8, 2010, at 9:09:37
> Thanks Ed. Do you know HOW it makes you gain weight? Does it make you eat more? Or does it slow down the metabolism?
It does sometimes increase appetite; this may occur due to histamine and serotonin receptor blockade. The exact mechanism by which TCAs cause weight gain is not known. It has been suggested that it may involve tumour necrosis factor.
Posted by Maxime on August 8, 2010, at 15:16:34
In reply to Nortriptyline and weight gain, posted by ed_uk2010 on August 8, 2010, at 12:02:04
Interesting abstract. Thank you. I am starting to think that the Nortrip. isn't what cause the weight gain because I remember when I first started it I was able to lose weight over a two month period. I had to lose my Seroquel weight gain. Sigh. It's never ending.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 8, 2010, at 15:24:01
In reply to Re: Nortriptyline and weight gain » ed_uk2010, posted by Maxime on August 8, 2010, at 15:16:34
>Interesting abstract. Thank you. I am starting to think that the Nortrip. isn't what cause the weight gain...
What about Nozinan, do you think it contributes?
Posted by Maxime on August 8, 2010, at 15:45:22
In reply to Re: Nortriptyline and weight gain, posted by ed_uk2010 on August 8, 2010, at 15:24:01
> >Interesting abstract. Thank you. I am starting to think that the Nortrip. isn't what cause the weight gain...
>
> What about Nozinan, do you think it contributes?
>
>Absolutely! I was taking Largactil and gained a lot of weight on that. When I stopped taking it I dropped 15 pounds. Since Nozinan is in the same family, I am sure it contributes to my weight gain. That's why I am going to try and wean myself off of it. Sigh. I wish meds didn't come with side effects. I think it's a cruel joke that psych meds can make you fat. As if you weren't depressed already!
Posted by emmanuel98 on August 8, 2010, at 20:20:13
In reply to Re: Nortriptyline and weight gain » ed_uk2010, posted by Maxime on August 8, 2010, at 15:45:22
Atypical APs caused me to gain nearly 40 pounds and I wasn't eating more or exercising less. In fact, if anything, I exercised more because they really helped my depression. Since I started on parnate, I haven't gained any weight and I recently went on a strict diet and have been losing 2 pounds a week. So parnate isn't the culprit. On the other hand, parnate caused such severe insomnia, that I started taking a low dose of seroquel at night and gained another 7 pounds. I am now taking ativan and trazadone to sleep. They don't seem to cause weight gain.
You should tell your endocrinologist, who seems to think you're eating too much, that you've been taking psych meds which have caused you to gain weight for no apparent reason. They screw up some people's metabolism for some reason. I asked my p-doc how this worked and he said they really don't know, but when people gain weight on these meds, they tend to gain a lot and to gain it fast.
I had to have knee surgery for a torn meniscus and the doc told me I needed to lose weight to reduce the discomfort from the 2nd grade arthritis in my knee. I told him, because I was pissed by the assumption that I am an over-eater or something, that I had take APs for psychotic depression and they caused me to gain a ton of weight. All my life, I was a normal weight. Not thin, but a normal weight for my height.
Some people never gain weight on psych meds. I envy them. Some people lose the weight they gained as soon as they go off the med. That has not happened for me.
So I am very sympathetic. I also have been on a super low-calorie diet -- 600-1200 a day. I vary it to try not to put my body in famine mode where it just fights back to try and maintain the weight.
So be careful with 500 cal a day. Vary it. Some days 500 cal, next day 800, next day 1200, then once a week or so, go up to 1700 (a normal intake for an moderately active middle-aged woman), so your body doesn't just get used to 500 cal and drop your metabolism to avoid famine mode.
Good luck. I really feel for you.
Posted by Maxime on August 8, 2010, at 21:37:29
In reply to Re: Nortriptyline and weight gain, posted by emmanuel98 on August 8, 2010, at 20:20:13
I could hug you. Not that I want anyone to go through what I have, but just knowing that certain meds cause weight gain in others makes me feel not so alone. It's always HUGE amount of weight. 40 pounds with Seroquel etc. At lot people say that wouldn't mind the weight gain if it gave them some relief from their illness. But I am not even benefitting from the damn meds.
! I go on them because my doctor wants me on them and they come with a *chance* of making me feel better.When I saw my endocrinologist in May she had a fit when she saw how high my weight was. I was living off of tomatoe and cucumber. I told that I wasn't eating much and her response was "well, you are eating enough to be fat". I started to cry.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 9, 2010, at 15:04:38
In reply to Re: Nortriptyline and weight gain » emmanuel98, posted by Maxime on August 8, 2010, at 21:37:29
>.......just knowing that certain meds cause weight gain in others makes me feel not so alone.
Oh Maxie, you are not alone at all. Certain psych meds cause weight gain VERY frequently, even to the extent of most people gaining weight.
Posted by Laney on August 15, 2010, at 13:36:02
In reply to Re: Nortriptyline and weight gain » Maxime, posted by ed_uk2010 on August 9, 2010, at 15:04:38
I've been on N for about two months now and have gained like 10 lbs. I know it's from the Nort. because I have been on paxil for years and didn't gain a thing. I have cravings for sweets and work in a bakery and that's probably not a good thing.
Bottom Line: I would rather be a little heavy than depressed
Laney
Posted by Phillipa on August 15, 2010, at 20:29:34
In reply to Re: Nortriptyline and weight gain, posted by Laney on August 15, 2010, at 13:36:02
Laney was wondering if you would gain. Didn't gain from paxil either. Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on August 17, 2010, at 19:38:31
In reply to Re: Nortriptyline and weight gain, posted by Laney on August 15, 2010, at 13:36:02
If it was only 10 pounds I could deal with it. But now it's 60 pounds from a few meds I have been on.
I am surprised you didn't gain on Paxil. Usually people gain quite a bit on that one.
This is the end of the thread.
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