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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by spriggyjig on June 20, 2007, at 10:12:25
Formerly my name was esokev, but I had to reregister.. was having some problems with computer stuff.
I've been staying off the boards for a while, because I'm starting a new med trial soon, and don't like to spook myself with some of the horror stories...
Anyway, my big Zoloft adventure. I've been tapering off for almost 2 1/2 months now. We've been using the liquid. The reason for the taper was an almost 100 lb weight gain. I'm very lucky that I have an affirming pdoc that listens and is concerned with all aspects of treatment. He took one look at how much weight I had gained and said ""SSRIs are now a last resort therapy for us to consider (if ever again.)This is UNACCEPTABLE." FINALLY! A little confirmation at just how detrimental this side-effect can be. We decided parnate would be a good solution for my depression/panic along with my current benzo treatment. If the parnate doesn't work, then we will take the benzo only route. I have a REM sleep disorder (sleepwalking and night terrors since childhood) so chances are I'll be on one the rest of my life (or until something more effective comes along.)
So things have been going well, because we designed a very slow taper program due to my being med sensitive. We've been using the liquid. I cannot advise strongly enough that anyone switching or going off should use the SLOW liquid taper method. It has helped a lot. I have very minimal brain zaps, and only slight, controllable aggitation and moodiness at times. It's NOTHING like when I've tried to quit SSRIs before. My energy is coming back, I don't feel apathetic anymore about life. I look back now on the past three years kind of horrified. i let my bills go, my life go... I just didn't care about anything. The not-so-fun aspect has been cleaning up after the mess I left behind.
The weight hasn't budged yet, but the doc told me not to expect anything to happen fast. He saiud my metabolic system has to find it's homeostasis again. However, I can see that my eating has returned to normal again. The SSRIs caused such ravenous hunger that I can't even believe how much I was eating. So you take that with a combination of a slower metabolic rate... well it makes for disaster (I really want to stress here that what happeneed to me does NOT happen to everyone. I'm not an advocate of scare posts. I have two friends who have taken zoloft for years without a single pound gained... It's VERY individualized.)
Anyway, I feel like I'm on my way to a good recovery. I just wanted to keep you all posted.
Posted by Justherself54 on June 20, 2007, at 10:43:34
In reply to My Zoloft adventure, posted by spriggyjig on June 20, 2007, at 10:12:25
Congrats on trying a new med regime..I went from Zoloft to Lexapro and after an 80 lb. weight gain am on my 3rd week of Parnate..still at a low dose but see my pdoc tomorrow and will discuss upping it. Even at a low dose of Parnate I feel more engaged in life, I want to socialize again and have lost 10 pounds..It's like the eating switch has been turned off..what a bonus..
Good luck to you and keep us posted..
The food restrictions on Parnate have just made me eat a healthier diet..something I haven't done for a long time..I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you do well on the MAOI
Posted by Phillipa on June 20, 2007, at 11:05:26
In reply to Re: My Zoloft adventure, posted by Justherself54 on June 20, 2007, at 10:43:34
So are you both saying that SSRI's increased your appetite? I am on them and just recently have gained weight but not my eating habits. So it's not the class of meds? Good luck to you both on the parnate. Love Phillipa
Posted by spriggyjig on June 20, 2007, at 12:06:49
In reply to Re: My Zoloft adventure, posted by Phillipa on June 20, 2007, at 11:05:26
Hi Phillipa,
That happenedd to ME, but I refuse to say it happens to everyone. There is no generalized one-size-fits-all anything when it comes to these meds (that's what I've learned from my own experiences.) If you are concerned, keep a food diary of everything that goes into your mouth. My experience with Zoloft was that it increased my appetite and slowed metabolism. However, as I mentioned earlier, I have two female friends that have been on medium to high doses of Zoloft for YEARS, and have not gained a pound. (They're both rail thin twigs.)
Posted by elanor roosevelt on June 21, 2007, at 0:08:30
In reply to Re: My Zoloft adventure, posted by spriggyjig on June 20, 2007, at 12:06:49
hey
i went from 120 to 180 in 2 years
i worked off 30 pounds in 4 years
worked out hard and for 2 years stayed at 150
then lost another ten when i was on parnate
it's not just the diet
it seemed to get my metabolism out of that funk
no aches or pains either
unforunately it didn't work s well with my mind as with my body
but i've managed to keep at 140
i'll stay with that
good luck
This is the end of the thread.
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