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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by missinglynxx on February 9, 2003, at 11:27:04
I just had my first BIG workout this morning on ABILIFY. I definately think I wasnt as strong as I was Prior to taking this medication, Maybe I just had too long a layoff
Has anyone found their exericise/weightlifing routine has been improved by a medication?
If so, which one did you find helpful for strength gains/muscle gains? Are most of these drugs side effects supposed to be mild?
I mean doing Heavy duty exericise is hard enuff,I wont allow myself to take a drug that ruins my workouts.
Maybe Ill be optimistic and not JUDGE the abilify so hard on this workout thing, its so confusing, I enjoy my gym.
Posted by cybercafe on February 9, 2003, at 16:57:56
In reply to Weightlifting and anti-depression!, posted by missinglynxx on February 9, 2003, at 11:27:04
> I just had my first BIG workout this morning on ABILIFY. I definately think I wasnt as strong as I was Prior to taking this medication, Maybe I just had too long a layoff
>
> Has anyone found their exericise/weightlifing routine has been improved by a medication?
> If so, which one did you find helpful for strength gains/muscle gains? Are most of these drugs side effects supposed to be mild?
> I mean doing Heavy duty exericise is hard enuff,I wont allow myself to take a drug that ruins my workouts.
> Maybe Ill be optimistic and not JUDGE the abilify so hard on this workout thing, its so confusing, I enjoy my gym.antidepressants such as paxil and parnate really helped
but obviously when you're not depressed you're going to have more energy right?
Posted by sjb on February 10, 2003, at 8:57:18
In reply to Re: Weightlifting and anti-depression!, posted by cybercafe on February 9, 2003, at 16:57:56
I think I can weigh-in on this subject, ha ha. I've been lifting weights regulary for almost ten years now and have been on almost 30 different meds for the past 8 years.
These meds DEFINATELY affect strength, performance, etc. The first thing I would advise is too not beat yourself up if you notice weakening.
I found Parnate to be counterindicated, although many would disagree. I go back to an observation I made a while back that the MAOIs, generally, seem to have more success with males. I could barely get to the gym on Parnate. Getting up and down from machines was irritating due to the dizziness. I also had this affect when on Serzone. Zprexa, well, I couldn't get off the couch for a week, let alone go to the gym. Some mood stablizers and other stuff I was on, that I can't even remember now, also seemed to make me weaker.
I was able to work out very nicely on Prozac, Effexor, Luvox and Lexapro.
Reading some of these post today, I wonder if Prozac really was better than all this new stuff today. Seemed to work the best for the longest period of time for a lot of folks. Unfortunately, the problem is going back. For me, stuff that worked great once and pooped out, never was the same again when trying again.
I digress.
Posted by missinglynxx on February 10, 2003, at 17:17:45
In reply to Re: Weightlifting and anti-depression!, posted by sjb on February 10, 2003, at 8:57:18
Thanks for the Response SJB. I got some great info.
I told my psychiatrist I would never take a medication I couldnt Lift weights well on. I think my weightlifting has some anti-depressant affect, Its sure good for goal setting, and looking healthy, I find MDS listen to you ,if you appear to "have it together"
OK Ill avoid any Parnate,, I did great on Zyprexa LOL it actually woke me up MORE ( strange as to our differences
The worst was Lithium (IM NOT Bipolar) I had extreme clumsiness and this drunk feeling, and MAN that drug went into the Garbage quickly
Right now , how are your workouts going?
I did so-so working out yesterday on Nortriptyline and ABilify, Ill take your advice and not beat myself up,, Actually I did 20 sets which is damn good!
Keep in touch, what are you taking currently, Prozac or Lexapro?
Posted by missinglynxx on February 10, 2003, at 17:20:33
In reply to Re: Weightlifting and anti-depression!, posted by cybercafe on February 9, 2003, at 16:57:56
> > I just had my first BIG workout this morning on ABILIFY. I definately think I wasnt as strong as I was Prior to taking this medication, Maybe I just had too long a layoff
> >
> > Has anyone found their exericise/weightlifing routine has been improved by a medication?
> > If so, which one did you find helpful for strength gains/muscle gains? Are most of these drugs side effects supposed to be mild?
> > I mean doing Heavy duty exericise is hard enuff,I wont allow myself to take a drug that ruins my workouts.
> > Maybe Ill be optimistic and not JUDGE the abilify so hard on this workout thing, its so confusing, I enjoy my gym.
>
> antidepressants such as paxil and parnate really helped
>
> but obviously when you're not depressed you're going to have more energy right?
Very True Cybercafe... I think Depression weakens your love of sports and Incentive to improve yourself, even if its just physical appearance.
How is your fitness routine doing on your currrent medication?
Posted by sjb on February 11, 2003, at 16:14:05
In reply to Re: Weightlifting and anti-depression!, posted by missinglynxx on February 10, 2003, at 17:17:45
I'm glad I could help. Right now I'm really in the shi!@er. Haven't worked out at all for 2 days and it feels like forever. When I crash I'm home crying eating and/or drinking. No energy. And I used to be a distance runner. Maybe I shouldn't be giving advice. Anyway, hope to get back to gym tomorrow. All the mirrors there are difficult as I've never been so heavy and it's hard to deal with that right now.
I forgot about the Lithium. I tried that one summer when I was distance running and couldn't complete my workouts. The cramps and dirarhea at night were not pleasant either. I, too, dumped it in the garbage within a week, and judge my meds by how I can work out. You're right about the workouts helping.
I started Luvox again at a very low dose, but took some Lexapro today, as I had to leave work cause I was falling apart so much. See my PDoc tomorrow but close to giving up and all this stuff. Need to cut the crap food, the booze, get back to running and hitting the weights. It's the answer, I know.
Posted by missinglynxx on February 12, 2003, at 21:26:29
In reply to Re: Weightlifting and anti-depression!, posted by sjb on February 11, 2003, at 16:14:05
Thanks for the validation about the Lithium and exericise.. SJB.
It made it impossible to workout, THe clusiness was scary. Plus Im not Bipolar anyhow LOL . It was one of my *infamous* augmenting agents
How are the workouts on Luvox? do you love the Luvox.... Its not mentioned much on here.
Dont beat yourself up about missing 2 days!Probably 85% OF American men and women (which are you haha?) dont exercise as hard as you do per week,,,,,Good luck on the muscle gains and enjoyable weightlifting
Posted by sjb on February 13, 2003, at 9:50:22
In reply to Re: Weightlifting and anti-depression! » sjb, posted by missinglynxx on February 12, 2003, at 21:26:29
Thanks for the encouragement. Same to you. I got to the gym yesterday and was able to complete my weight routine but barely. Was so tired on the bike, that I stopped after 14 minutes. It was so embarrassing as I was right next to my husband who does an hour everday, at high resistence and high rpm, NO FAIL. I get so jealous of his consistency! At least he's supportive of my condition, but it's difficult.
I'm really scared about the new stuff my doc has me on now. I really thinking about stopping all meds. Luvox was a good med for me for about 5-6 months for me but then it pooped out. I think there is some weakness with most of these meds, but of course, if they help the depression, that's the most important thing, although, like you said you don't want anything to totally wipe out your energy. What's frustrating is knowing when to stick with a new med or not, cause some have start-up sedation that goes away or changes to more energy. I think we athletes are less likely to stick out this period and docs should be aware of this.
Posted by missinglynxx on February 13, 2003, at 17:52:21
In reply to Re: Weightlifting and anti-depression!, posted by sjb on February 13, 2003, at 9:50:22
amen to that SJB. a person can get Fat and out of shape in like 2 weeks! haha Its just the facts about sports. Alot of College linemen are WAY TOO fat..... Fast but way too huge.
I agree. I dont want to sit at my computer waiting for the sedation to resolve
The Abilify is NOT sedating, so Im kind of gung ho about it. Altho my paranoia is only about 30% better. Ill just stick with it///////
Posted by nails on February 14, 2003, at 21:33:40
In reply to Re: Weightlifting and anti-depression!, posted by sjb on February 11, 2003, at 16:14:05
When I started on Prozac 13 years ago, I felt so good that I began my first workout regimin which lasted 11 years. Then about 2 years ago, the Prozac just quit working and I quit working out. Every day, I THINK about getting back on the ol' treadmill again, but I just can't seem to get motivated.
sjb, you mentioned "drinking" and "booze" in your last post. How much do you drink? How often? Do you think it effects your moods? Your workouts? My doc cautions me about drinking while on antideps but I do drink - daily. I have 4 to 6 glasses of wine a night, starting around 5:00p.m., with my last glass around 2:00 a.m., which I don't consider excessive, but maybe I'm in "denial". I blame my lack of motivation to work out on the fact that the Prozac quit working for me. I used to work out 5 days a week, 2 1/2 hrs a day, when the Prozac was working. I was drinking then, too, but had no problem getting to the gym. Like you said, I know what I have to do. It's just a matter of getting my butt to the gym, but I have no self-motivation.
Posted by sjb on February 15, 2003, at 6:29:17
In reply to Re: Weightlifting and anti-depression! » sjb, posted by nails on February 14, 2003, at 21:33:40
I think the general consensus would be that your wine consumption is too much. Not one to judge, I must add that I drank A LOT more than that on a daily basis for a longer period of time. I hit the "hard" stuff. I've put the booze in the basement and haven't had a drink in a week. Really want to stay off it. I'll battle the weight gain, to med or not-to-med, and workout when I can, but figure I don't need the extra problem of booze. (I had this rationale, that if I drank, I wouldn't eat and at one time that was true. Not healthy and insane, but hey, it was like that for a while. Of course, I was probably heading to full blown alcoholism and God only knows where I would be (dead? in the gutter?) if I didn't meet my husband where, after his example, I started a running and weights program.)
Good luck. You may want to do a search for posts by "Old School" from years past. His posts help me stop the booze. It didn't last, but I'm trying again.
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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