![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by PhoenixGirl on June 26, 2011, at 21:27:48
Does any one else have major sugar cravings? I've had major depression and anxiety since I was a kid, and I'm in my 30s now. I take Cymbalta (60mg), Adderall XR (low dose), and Ativan (10mg). I've taken this stuff for a few years, but the major sugar craving is more recent than that, like maybe the past two years or so. I don't want to be eating so much sugar because I know it's bad for depression, but I can't stop!
Posted by butternut on June 26, 2011, at 21:52:21
In reply to Insane sugar cravings!, posted by PhoenixGirl on June 26, 2011, at 21:27:48
The short answer is yes!
The long answer: I noticed a general, very very slow, increase in appetite overall once I started Zoloft at age 26. In took me years to realize that when I had something really yummy, i was eating past the point of fullness just because it tasted good.And that I had never done that as a kid, teen, or earlier twenty something. Unfortunately it's just gotten worse over the years. I gained weight. I went off Zoloft, lost weight, got anxious and depressed again, when back on zoloft and then got pregnant, gained hugely when pregnant, and never lost it. Went on effexor eventually, and it was like a switch was flipped, suddenly, I was in control of my own eating, I exercised, I lost 30 pounds, then I started bruising like crazy. Doctor took me off effexor and started cymbalta, and the carb and sugar cravings came right back, and so did the weight. I gained it all back, and MORE. Switched to an SSRI, still cravings. Very frustrated right now. I've been off all meds for about 3 or 4 months, and it's NOT getting better. I am always tired, can't motivate myself, feel kind of flat. My orgasms, however, improved, so at least there is that!
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 26, 2011, at 21:55:38
In reply to Insane sugar cravings!, posted by PhoenixGirl on June 26, 2011, at 21:27:48
Could be the pills, could be somthing else.
Have you tried taking a chromium supplement (chromium picolinate), these are said to help sugar cravings in some people
Posted by Phillipa on June 26, 2011, at 22:29:03
In reply to Re: Insane sugar cravings!, posted by jono_in_adelaide on June 26, 2011, at 21:55:38
I agree with Jono. Did you really mean l0mg of ativan that is a high dose? Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on June 27, 2011, at 14:06:09
In reply to Insane sugar cravings!, posted by PhoenixGirl on June 26, 2011, at 21:27:48
PG, I felt a hormonal shift mid-thirties. This wasn't backed by tests, just intuition and my accupuncturist and friends studying Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Just an idea. Maybe bringing aboard that sort of thing if you haven't already. Not necessarily hormone replacement stuff, but herbs?
Good luck!
Posted by policebox on June 28, 2011, at 0:38:46
In reply to Insane sugar cravings!, posted by PhoenixGirl on June 26, 2011, at 21:27:48
I don't know whether or not this is applicable to you, but carbohydrate cravings (and other so-called reversed vegetative symptoms) are common for those of us with the atypical subtype of depression. After doing some investigating, I learned of some research studies which showed taking the dietary supplement chromium picolinate helped some patients reduce their carbohydrate cravings.
In my own personal experience, I began taking 1000 micrograms of chromium picolinate daily about two months ago. I have certainly noticed that I no longer have the "NEED" for a soda. In fact, now when I drink soda it tastes too sweet. I also no longer crave desserts like I used to.
However, I also began taking an MAOi drug (which is a drug which works particularly well for MDD with atypical features), so it's possible my reduction in carbohydrate cravings is caused or boosted by the MAOi, rather than the chromium picolinate.
I'm skeptical when it comes to testimony or anecdotal evidence, even more so when it comes to dietary supplements. However, the articles I reviewed advocating chromium picolinate were from peer-reviewed journals, backed by scientific research methods. Here's a link to at least the abstract of one of the articles: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16184071
Posted by preps on July 6, 2011, at 16:24:46
In reply to Insane sugar cravings!, posted by PhoenixGirl on June 26, 2011, at 21:27:48
Hi,
I totally understand where you are coming from. When I was on 60mgs of Cymbalta i had major sugar cravings all the time. All I thought about was sweet things. I even preferred to eat a bowl of cereal for dinner instead of something savoury. Cymbalta worked really well for me, but I had to come off it because of the intense sugar cravings. So I am pretty sure it is probably the same for you as you are on the same dose. Sorry I cant think of a solution though, I had to come off it because I put on quite a lot of weight. But I hope you will be able to find another solution.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.