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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by afatchic on June 7, 2000, at 23:04:57
Hi everyone in Babble Land! I'm trying to decide on a new medication. I have suffered from dysthimia for as long as I can remember with only a few rare episodes of full blown depression. Several years ago, I started on Trazadone and it was wonderful! After a couple years, I was still feeling good but I had gained 40 pounds. I felt like the trade-off was worth it but I was in danger of losing my career (the Air Force doesn't like to see fat people wearing "their" uniform). I switched to Prozac; another wonderful drug! I immediately quit having orgasms but had no idea it was caused by the Prozac, I was so ignorant. Next, I tried Wellbutrin. Definitely NOT wonderful! It made me extremely irritable and possibly even more depressed. Now, I'm ready to try again with something new. I've gathered a lot of advise and wisdom from this board and have semi decided on Serzone. I understand that it is very unlikely to cause sexual side effects and that I have to be willing to take it for several weeks to fully evaluate its effectiveness. My only concern is weight. I can't handle any more weight gain. I've already lost my career and life as a fat chick in our society is depressing in itself. After all my rambling....my question is, does Serzone cause weight gain? I welcome your advice. Thanks for listening, afatchic
Posted by paul on June 7, 2000, at 23:28:12
In reply to Serzone and Weight, posted by afatchic on June 7, 2000, at 23:04:57
it didnt for me-but i'm a newly-addicted recumbent-bike-nut. paxil made me feel like a lounge chair and zoloft made me feel like a dirty carpet sitting in a warehouse. have you tried some minor diet modifications and our dear friend exercise? i'm no lightweight by any means but serzone doesn't seem to have affected that part of my life. wellbutrin was hell for me too.
pcl
Posted by afatchic on June 8, 2000, at 11:22:28
In reply to Re: Serzone and Weight, posted by paul on June 7, 2000, at 23:28:12
Paul,
First, I want to thank you for responding to my post and sharing your experience. However, I already have an extremely healthy diet and I don't eat too much. Have I tried exercise?!? LOL I've been an exercise nut for many years. I work out long, hard, and frequently. When I said it was difficult being a fat chick in this society, one of the things I meant was people's assumtions about me. They look at me and think, "If she'd just get off her lazy, twinky-eating butt and get some exercise, she wouldn't look like that." .......big sigh
> it didnt for me-but i'm a newly-addicted recumbent-bike-nut. paxil made me feel like a lounge chair and zoloft made me feel like a dirty carpet sitting in a warehouse. have you tried some minor diet modifications and our dear friend exercise? i'm no lightweight by any means but serzone doesn't seem to have affected that part of my life. wellbutrin was hell for me too.
> pcl
Posted by Lynn B on June 8, 2000, at 13:59:14
In reply to Re: Serzone and Weight, posted by afatchic on June 8, 2000, at 11:22:28
> Paul,
>
> First, I want to thank you for responding to my post and sharing your experience. However, I already have an extremely healthy diet and I don't eat too much. Have I tried exercise?!? LOL I've been an exercise nut for many years. I work out long, hard, and frequently. When I said it was difficult being a fat chick in this society, one of the things I meant was people's assumtions about me. They look at me and think, "If she'd just get off her lazy, twinky-eating butt and get some exercise, she wouldn't look like that." .......big sigh
>
> > it didnt for me-but i'm a newly-addicted recumbent-bike-nut. paxil made me feel like a lounge chair and zoloft made me feel like a dirty carpet sitting in a warehouse. have you tried some minor diet modifications and our dear friend exercise? i'm no lightweight by any means but serzone doesn't seem to have affected that part of my life. wellbutrin was hell for me too.
> > pclI'm still pretty new to Serzone, but so far it has not caused any increase in appetite. My weight has been stable and have even lost a few pounds. I'm not particularly fond of working out so I think if it were going to put on weight it would have by now(a month into taking it).
The only problem so far has been its sedating effect. I just started a small dose of Effeoxor to hopefully counter this as Effexor is known to be activating for some. What you heard about its not interferring with sex is true! Its so much better than the SSRIs in this way. I'm still waiting to see how fully effective it is for depression/anxiety. It's definetely stabilized me. Just hoping this lasts. Zoloft stopped working for me after several years. A little disillusioning...but not too unusual so I'm told.
I know how hard it is to find the right drug or combination. Weight gain is something I would prefer not to get with an anti-depressant. I did gain weight with Zoloft/Doxepin before--about 10-15 pounds. I told myself it was better than crying and being anxious all the time, but you're right, after awhile it bothers you. Good luck with whatever you try. One more thing--Remeron caused me to binge eat, which I've never done before, its just hits those appetite receptors. So that one might be one to avoid. Lynn
Posted by paul on June 8, 2000, at 23:43:11
In reply to Re: Serzone and Weight, posted by afatchic on June 8, 2000, at 11:22:28
i'm mystified then-from whence cometh yon extra baggage? i could use dropping 10-15 but it'll probably never happen. i cant speak to what effects sz has on the female physiology. maybe something else is going on? a suggestion, if you'll allow-i question what your username might be doing to your self-concept. maybe pick another one? just an observation.
pcl
Posted by paul on June 8, 2000, at 23:46:49
In reply to Re: Serzone and Weight, posted by Lynn B on June 8, 2000, at 13:59:14
lynn-
consider taking all your serzone @ bedtime to utilise the sedation. i hate adding new drugs to counteract older ones so maybe run this notion by yon doc and see what he thinks?? works for me!
pcl
Posted by Dianethics on June 9, 2000, at 11:39:28
In reply to Re: Serzone and Weight, posted by paul on June 8, 2000, at 23:46:49
Hi,
I'm another fat chick, I also started taking Serzone about 4 weeks ago and right now I have put on about 10 lbs, but it might be that I'm still not feeling the drug (I eat and sleep when I'm down)About 4 months ago I decided I could stop the drugs and deal with it on my own (bad, bad mistake!!!) but to cut it short within these
last few months the total would be 25 lbs gain total, and believe me I know it's not easy to be
fat girl in the US.Who cares about the sexual side effect if you can't get any.
However, I disgress, my point was I'm very anxious to hear about people's weight experience with this.... Also how long until it started working for you, I'm not feeling all that good
yet... One month and waiting, waiting....Dianethics
Posted by Lin on June 9, 2000, at 22:53:37
In reply to Re: Serzone and Weight, posted by Dianethics on June 9, 2000, at 11:39:28
Hi,
I was on Serzone for over 2 years and didn't gain any weight at all. I tolerated it really well and was able to have orgasms, too! FYI: I also didn't gain weight on Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil either. Good luck to you, and hang in there with the dizziness in the early days of the med.
Lin
This is the end of the thread.
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