Posted by Sad Panda on June 2, 2004, at 6:29:01
In reply to Re: remeron and blood sugar????????????, posted by BobS, on June 1, 2004, at 18:49:05
>Does anyone have any hard evidence regarding Remeron and blood sugar levels? Does anyone monitor their blood glucose levels?
>
>I have been on Remeron at 15 mg for 41 days and have not gained weight, other than what was lost trying Zoloft and then Lexapro. Remeron has been very kind to me, bringing me back from >a dreadful state. I spent years losing weight from Paxil and am now at the weight I should be.
>
>Also, during the time on Remeron I was able to reduce my Xanax from 3.5/4.0 mgs to 2.0 mgs per day. This has helped with mild sedation. Remeron and Xanax are the only two drugs I take.
>
>Am I in for a big (fat) surprise?>Kind regards,
>BobS.
>
>
>Hi fellow Remeron users,
Looks like I have stirred up some worries with one of my posts. :) Sorry if I have caused anyone undue worry or panic.
Remeron does try to lower blood sugar as a side effect. For the majority of people this is a transient side effect & your body adapts & normalizes. For people like Ravenstorm who suffer hypoglycemia it would be a problem, but I suspect her body will adapt eventually.
How Remeron lowers blood sugar is by the way it effects norepinephrine(NE or NA-Noradrenaline) in your body. The known NE receptors are Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Beta-1 & Beta-2. These receptors are situated around the body but in particular they effect the heart & circulation. The primary purpose of NE is to set your body in to fight or flight mode so you can run really fast from whatever is frightening your prehistoric inner person. The TCA antidepressants & nearly all antipsychotic drugs have the unwanted side effect of major Alpha-1 antagonism with some minor Alpha-2 antagonism. Remeron has very mild Alpha-1 antagonism & major Alpha-2 antagonism. Blocking(antagonising) the Alpha-1 NE receptors from receiving NE causes your perphial blood vessels to relax which cause your blood pressure to drop badly when you standup(orthastatic hypotension) this then causes your heart to beat faster to compensate(reflex tachycardia). What mother nature intented when she invented NE was that the sudden burst of adrenaline agonizes the Alpha-1 receptors to divert blood away from your periphery, organs & brain so that the maximum amount is available for your large leg & arm muscles so that you can run really fast or fight. Cutting to the chase, NE agonism of Alpha-2 receptors in your pancreas inhibits the release of insulin which has the effect of raising blood sugar levels & preventing fat production for the purpose of having maximum energy available to run really fast. Logically, Alpha-2 antagonism has the opposite effect of raising insulin which lowers blood sugar. Also, Alpha-2 antagonism causes the release of NE which is the source of stimulation from high dosages of Remeron. This effect could possibly also push someone who is hyperglycemic into diabetes or cause triglyceride problems to those that are susceptible. I myself am very susceptible because I am very obese & my sugar levels are always at the maximum level allowed, but after 6 months of Remeron I have had no problems with diabetes, trigycerides or cholesterol. Also of interest, hunger/craving problems involving carbs can be caused by both hyper & hypoglycemia. So if Remeron, TCA's or AP's make you crave carbs, I would monitor your sugar & fat metabolism closely.
Hope I haven't bored anyone to sleep.
Cheers,
Panda.
poster:Sad Panda
thread:352416
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040602/msgs/352933.html