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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 Christina24 on October 5, 2004, at 3:48:43
Hi my name is christina. A just switched from wellbutrin to effexor xr for depression and anxiety. I have herd that XR causes weight gain. I have gone between bulimia and anerexia for about 8 years. If I gain weight the bulimia will come back, I can't take that I would be so depressed again and hate myself and I could go on forever, but i'll spare you. I need to get something that causes lose of appitite! Any suggestions? I'm afraid of taking XR. I have only taken it 2 days, will i have withdrawl? Weight is my meaning of life, if i lose it i'll lose that. Any fellow EDs out there that have advise on meds. ANYONE at all, let me know. THanks
Posted by Racer on October 5, 2004, at 3:48:44
In reply to Any ADs cause weight lose? ana?, posted by Christina24 on October 2, 2004, at 14:22:34
I'm guessing that this will be redirected to the Meds board, but here's an answer from another with an ED.
I took Effexor XR and Prozac in combination for about three years, and did gain some weight. The good news about it, though, is that there was no weight gain while I was on Effexor alone, and Prozac is known for causing weight gain. While I was on the Effexor only, though, it helped with some of the symptoms of my ED. I didn't feel so obsessive about food -- although I still cared about my weight -- and it was easier to eat than it had been. Also, the weight gain I experienced was caused by a weird and rare side effect that's only recently been identified: changes to the endocrine system causing blood sugar disregulation. That's a weird side effect that can emerge after very long periods at very high doses -- and it's a rare side effect.
For the most part, though, Effexor is not known for weight gain the way the other drugs are. I don't purge, but from what I remember of the Effexor alone, I'd say it's a good bet to reduce your anxiety enough to help you relax about food a bit.
Here's another question for you, though: are you getting treatment for your ED? If not, maybe it's time to start thinking about it? Not to make you gain weight and get fat, you understand -- just to help you become healthier in all aspects. Believe me, I know it's difficult. I've been struggling with all this on and off for 27 years now. After 27 years, it's only now that I'm finally trying to get treatment *honestly* -- and even with that, I still don't want to gain weight, because I still feel much too fat and still think the numbers on the scale are too high.
Therapy is considered the best approach for eating disorders, and I recommend it highly to you. I hope you can hear that, and that you either are already in therapy or will be soon.
I hope that helps.
Posted by shrinking violet on October 5, 2004, at 3:48:45
In reply to Re: Any ADs cause weight lose? ana?, posted by Racer on October 2, 2004, at 21:00:52
Welcome to the board. :)
I have had an ED also for over ten years. I can understand your concern and fear over possible weight gain.
But everyone reacts differently to meds, so it's hard to say. I tend to do a lot of research about any potential med and then decide whether or not I would feel safe taking it (my T doesn't like that I do this, but, I can't help it). My doc wanted to try me on Effexor actually, but after some research I decided against it (not weight-related though, I promise), even though part of me wanted to see if it would help with my anxiety. I agreed to try Lexapro again (was on it for a couple of months before I stopped taking it) as I felt fairly safe with the Lexapro as it didn't seem to cause any weight gain before.
I should admit that weight gain/loss probably isn't the best reason to decide for or against taking any medication, though. But, the fear outweighs reason more often than not, as I'm sure you'd understand.
Does your doc know about your ED? If not, please try to tell him/her. Discuss your weight concerns with your doc and maybe he/she can help ease your fears about the med, or come up with something you are more comfortable with. I also urge you to find a T, and/or a nutritionist, if you haven't already. I know those steps can be scary, though, but remember that those things in and of themselves won't cure the ED (or take it away before you're ready).
Good luck.
Posted by Speaker on October 5, 2004, at 3:48:46
In reply to Re: Any ADs cause weight lose? ana?, posted by shrinking violet on October 2, 2004, at 21:21:34
Effexor caused weight loss for me...they took me off it due to that, drat!!! ED is not my problem but for the first time I was enjoying people telling me I was too thin. You might just keep on it and see.
Posted by Jasmineneroli on October 5, 2004, at 7:11:15
In reply to Any ADs cause weight lose? ana?, posted by Christina24 on October 2, 2004, at 12:43:52
Hi:
I'm on Celexa and have found no weight again at all. At first, I definitely experienced appetite loss and a lot of GI side effects (nausea, gut pain etc.). My daughter is also on Celexa and she actually lost weight...even though she is already very slim. She stayed stable at the lower weight. My husband, on the other hand, is on Paxil (what a family, huh?) and he put on about 10lbs and stayed at that extra weight all along (about 9 years) with no other increase. I think that Paxil is sometimes prescribed to people with eating disorders - for their anxiety and depression, and because it doesn't cause appetite loss.
I do not have an eating disorder, but came very close to it in my early 20's, obsessed with diet and exercise and I hate gaining weight, so I understand how you feel. A lot of us would rather be depressed, than OK, but fat!
However, your situation does sound a little precarious....in terms of E.D. Does your doctor know how you feel???? Are you getting therapy etc. for that part of your mental health? Don't do anything without talking with your Pdoc.
Take care
Jas
Posted by boomarang on October 5, 2004, at 7:11:15
In reply to Any ADs cause weight lose? ana?, posted by Christina24 on October 2, 2004, at 12:43:52
so far in a month or so i've lost 4 pounds on cymbalta with lamictal. not a huge mood lifter but i'm loving the weight loss.
Posted by anxiety_free on October 5, 2004, at 7:41:38
In reply to Any ADs cause weight lose? ana?, posted by Christina24 on October 2, 2004, at 14:22:34
Hi! First of all, I'd recommend you work a bit on your body image. You'll be a lot happier. You ahould AVOID Effexor b/c it can re-activate anorexia. My advice would be to just go with something weight-neutral; minimal or no change in weight. Zoloft is one....some people lose a wee bit, others put on a few pounds, but its usually under 5lbs of. Really minor. Oh, and FYI- I don't know if you do diet pills or not, but while on anti-depressants, DON'T. It can cause serotonin syndrome, which can be fatal.
Posted by King Vultan on October 5, 2004, at 8:09:06
In reply to Any ADs cause weight lose? ana?, posted by Christina24 on October 2, 2004, at 14:22:34
I think the others have some good advice on therapy and self image. As for meds, it is hard to tell how you're going to react until you take it. Effexor always killed my appetite, but I believe it also simultaneously slowed down my metabolism. It wound up being weight neutral for me, which is fine, because I am normal weight, anyway. There was an article in Consumer Reports recently listing weight gain on antidepressants from 1,664 survey respondents. The numbers are so close on most of them I don't think they mean very much, other than the number for Wellbutrin:
AD........% people reporting weight gain
Effexor.....21%
Prozac......19%
Celexa......18%
Zoloft......17%
Paxil........22%
Wellbutrin...12%Effexor was reported as the most effective AD, 76% of respondents reporting that it helped a lot. Wellbutrin was least effective, with 57% reporting that it helped a lot. The numbers for Prozac, Celexa, and Zoloft were virtually all the same, at 69%, 68%, and 67% respectively. Paxil was reported as only slightly more helpful than Wellbutrin, with 59% of respondents saying it helped a lot.
Todd
Posted by Colleen D. on October 5, 2004, at 8:15:51
In reply to Any ADs cause weight lose? ana?, posted by Christina24 on October 2, 2004, at 14:22:34
a whole 20 pounds since this past May and I've been happy with this result. I hope it works the same way for you! Good luck!
Colleen
PPD, GAD and OCD
Posted by saw on October 5, 2004, at 9:24:44
In reply to AD+Weight Gain, posted by anxiety_free on October 5, 2004, at 7:41:38
Forgive my ignorance. What is serotonin syndrome and other than being fatal, what else does it do?
Sabrina
Posted by sjb on October 5, 2004, at 10:15:41
In reply to Re: Any ADs cause weight lose? ana?, posted by Racer on October 2, 2004, at 21:00:52
I thought most people lost weight on Prozac, at least initially, and that, overall, it was weight neutral. I've been on Prozac, alone and in combo with other things, and my weight's been up and down. I believe it was mainly due to other factors (less excercise, more eating, duh. I know we all know that, but I can't say that Prozac itself seem to increas my appetite, as other meds have most definately have done. Can anyone say Zyprexa???)
When I'm on Prozac, I tend to have more energy, am less emotional and more consistent with my excercise regimen. However, I know we all we react differently, another frustrating aspect of ADs.
Posted by anxiety_free on October 5, 2004, at 10:22:52
In reply to Re: AD+Weight Gain » anxiety_free, posted by saw on October 5, 2004, at 9:24:44
I'm DEFINITELY not a doc, so excuse the huge gaps in my knowledge. Anyway, SS occurs when your brain is flooded with serotonin it can't handle. I think the symptoms are flu like in some cases, and more like neuroleptic mallgnancy syndrome in others. So there's fever, sometimes spasms. If it gets treated ear;y, its not that...hospital stay for a day or two. Untreated...you die. I think its b/c your core temp goes up, but I'm not sure. SS is the reason for the MAOI "washout".
This is the end of the thread.
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