Posted by ed_uk2010 on August 2, 2010, at 16:07:25
In reply to Re: Weight loss meds » emmanuel98, posted by Maxime on August 2, 2010, at 15:18:54
Dear Maxie,
I know you won't want to hear this but I honestly believe that no medication will significantly relieve your depression until you start eating an adequate diet. However high your antidepressant dosages are increased, and however potent your combination, no medication can reverse the effects of starvation on the brain. Your brain needs calories to function normally. It needs fatty acids, it needs carbohydrates, it needs proteins and amino acids. It needs vitamins, it needs minerals - it needs to be nourished. Even if an antidepressant can elevate your mood to some degree, there is no possibility that you will achieve remission or even near remission on 300 calories a day. It simply cannot happen - 300 calories is so far below what you body needs. Anorexia is like a vicious cycle; the more you starve youself, the worse you feel.......and the more you want to starve yourself. The only way to escape this cycle is to begin eating a healthy, balanced diet with adequate calories to permit normal bodily processes to occur. It won't happen overnight, but a healthy diet will eventually restore your metabolism to normal. High protein foods such as eggs could help to increase your caloric intake without the issues associated with hi-carb foods. Why not have a couple of scrambled eggs? I always find scrambled eggs comforting, especially when I'm feeling unwell.
Weight neutral meds are best in anorexia. Meds which cause weight gain invariably cause distress. Meds which cause weight loss tend to end up being misused, leading to a downward spiral in mood and behavour. Nortriptyline is a decent antidepressant but it frequently leads to weight gain. Switching to Surmontil probably wouldn't help in the weight department.
If only you could learn to like yourself more Maxie. I like you. Does that help even a little bit? Any kind of therapy which could help you to love and accept yourself would be fantastic. Well, you don't need to absolutely love yourself. So long as you can recognise all the things which are good about yourself, that's enough. Let me start.....you're thoughtful, you're intelligent. There are so many good things about you Maxie, but when you're depressed, you just can't see them anymore.
Take care of yourself,
Love Ed
poster:ed_uk2010
thread:956610
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100731/msgs/956902.html