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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by saw on November 22, 2004, at 5:56:37
I am now growing very desperate. I have stabilised in so many areas and even coped with my father's death a week or so ago, yet my continuous steady weight gain created such a crash in me this morning I punched the wind out of myself.
I have been off of Effexor XR for a couple of weeks whilst slowly starting on Lamictal. My whole heart and soul was crying out for some weight loss after tapering but the weight is steadly increasing.
I spent a fortune on "fat" clothes and have already outgrown them. I refuse to go out socially with my husband now, and if we do, I hide behind pot plants, or whatever I can find. It must be so embarrassing for him.
Today, I am my fattest ever. I am miserable. Utterly miserable.
It made me want to chuck in the medication and start smoking again. That, or dig my grave, though it would have to be a big one.My body aches the whole time, especially my feet. They are tiny and I don't think they can handle my weight.
What on earth is IN these drugs to cause the wobbly, jelly like weight gain? I just don't understand.
Sabrina
Posted by smokeymadison on November 22, 2004, at 6:09:00
In reply to Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight gain?, posted by saw on November 22, 2004, at 5:56:37
I am sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time. The only thing that hasn't caused me weight gain is wellbutrin, but obviously it is going to affect different people differently. A death in the family is so hard to handle, usually it takes a few weeks to really settle in. That said, i totally understand your concern with your weight gain. I used to be underweight until i started on meds 5 years ago and since then i too have ballooned out of control. it is not something your pdoc should take lightly, it really does matter. good luck!!!
Posted by Racer on November 22, 2004, at 10:04:21
In reply to Re: Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight gain?, posted by smokeymadison on November 22, 2004, at 6:09:00
Yeah, weight gain is a major pain in the you-know-what, and a lot of doctors don't take it seriously.
Wellbutrin hasn't started me gaining -- yet -- nor has Cymbalta -- yet. (Although I'm miserable today, because of an additional 8 pounds on my scale. But that's a different story.)
Talk to your pdoc, there are drugs that sometimes help. Glucophage, topamax, and a few others. The only other thing I can suggest is to post which drugs you're on right now, and see if anyone can suggest anything.
Best luck. It is the most miserable thing in the world, and I can certainly empathize with you.
Posted by anastasia56 on November 22, 2004, at 12:29:37
In reply to Re: Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight ga, posted by Racer on November 22, 2004, at 10:04:21
can't recall reading whether you considered cymbalta? at worst most people seem to be finding it weight neutral. at least one wouldn't be gaining?
Posted by Wildflower on November 22, 2004, at 13:00:34
In reply to Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight gain?, posted by saw on November 22, 2004, at 5:56:37
Hi Sabrina.
I understand your weight concern. My appetite has been out of control and I threatened to ` stop taking my ADs if I gained another pound.
Anyway, wellbutrin, which is an AD, is also used for some people to lose weight. It has two benefits in one. You might want to consider it.
Posted by banga on November 22, 2004, at 16:57:21
In reply to Re: Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight gain?, posted by Wildflower on November 22, 2004, at 13:00:34
But do people find Wellbutrin to help in losing weight? Or is it simply weight-neutral?
Posted by smokeymadison on November 22, 2004, at 17:56:42
In reply to Re: Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight gain?, posted by banga on November 22, 2004, at 16:57:21
> But do people find Wellbutrin to help in losing weight? Or is it simply weight-neutral?
Wellbutrin makes you more active and doesn't cause the cravings like other meds do. I think that it is the increased activity level that really can help you lose weight if you take advantage of it and exercise. Of course, it is still important to watch WHAT you eat. You can still gain weight on it if you don't watch portion sizes and all you eat is a high fat, high carb diet. Drinking lots of water and taking fiber suppliments has really helped me.
Posted by saw on November 23, 2004, at 1:11:20
In reply to Re: Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight gain? » banga, posted by smokeymadison on November 22, 2004, at 17:56:42
Thanks everyone. My frustration is so high because I have improved my eating habits, started a bit of exercise and generally improved my health. Yet the weight gain is steady. And so wobbly. I am not just overweight anymore, it's gross wobbly, rollabout fat.
Now, though the gain is all over, so much is around my stomach and waist. I used to have such a tiny waist, now wearing a tucked in shirt is a thing of the past. This morning I couldn't close my legs because of my stomach. There is absolutely no way on the lettuce leaves I ate for supper that my stomach can be this big.
What does the drug do inside there anyway? Doesn't it digest or something? Ever since taking meds my stomach has never been the same.
I have only taken Effexor and now Lamictal. (Tried about 14 others a couple of years ago). I am currently on 75mg Lamictal going up to 100mg next week.
My doctor does understand but is reluctant to change medication. She knows I'm treatment resistant and she knows I give up on the drugs easily but I have decided that if there is no improvement by the time I see her in two weeks time, I am quitting Lamictal. No more drugs.
My husband said he can't deal with either situation. Fat and depressed or thin and depressed so it really doesn't make a difference anymore.
Apologies for the rant.
Sabrina
Posted by saw on November 23, 2004, at 2:13:20
In reply to Re: Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight ga, posted by Racer on November 22, 2004, at 10:04:21
I researched a bit on glucophage because I have never heard of it. The info from the below floored me.
http://www.psycheducation.org/hormones/Insulin/metabolic.htm
I was tested recently for hypothyroidism but am clear, now I wonder if I should test blood sugar?
Any ideas on stress hormones impacting weight gain?
Posted by splath on November 23, 2004, at 9:16:09
In reply to Re: Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight ga » Racer, posted by saw on November 23, 2004, at 2:13:20
I agree with topomax. Lamictal is also supposed to help. a lot of AD's help at first then make the problem worse, as we all know.
sometimes a doc is willing to help out and prescribe s/thing like phentermine.
Posted by Racer on November 23, 2004, at 9:48:50
In reply to Re: Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight ga » Racer, posted by saw on November 23, 2004, at 2:13:20
Stress hormones, that's a complex topic, and I can't stay online long enough to do much with it right now.
Either wait until I can get back here with more time, or email me at babbler39 at excite dot com and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
Posted by Kat26 on November 23, 2004, at 13:19:45
In reply to Re: Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight ga » saw, posted by Racer on November 23, 2004, at 9:48:50
Since you say the weight feels "wobbly" and you gain weight even after eating just lettuce - could part of it also be water retention?
I guess as far as meds and weight gain, everyone is so different again. For example the SSRIs, some people gain, others don't. I have been on Prozac for years and it hasn't make me gain any weight, actually I am rather underweight.
Kat
Posted by KaraS on November 23, 2004, at 14:40:05
In reply to Re: Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight gain?, posted by saw on November 23, 2004, at 1:11:20
Yes, there are other drugs that don't cause weight gain. In fact some of them tend to cause weight loss. The tradeoff is that with these drugs you generally have to deal with insomnia, increased anxiety and/or tachycardia.
Desipramine or lofepramine, Wellbutrin/Zyban (bupropion), Parnate, stimulants are the ones that come to mind now. I don't think Provigil causes weight gain either. People on Cymbalta/duloxetine have spoken about weight loss at first but then it seems to stabilize. Selegiline with phenylalanine is another option though there aren't a lot of doctors willing to prescribe it because they just don't know much about it. If/when the selegiline patch comes out in the US, that will be another great option. (I don't know where you are located so I dont know how many of these meds are available to you.)
I am currently starting on low dose selegiline with phenylalanine. If that doesn't work out for me then I'll try Parnate. The latter is a very powerful MAOI medication that seems to have a good track record with treatment resistant depressives. It has the drawback and the risks of the MAOI diet however.
Bottom line is you CAN get adequate treatment for your depression and NOT gain weight. In fact, there are meds that can help you lose weight.
Hope this helps.
Kara
Posted by stresser on November 23, 2004, at 21:13:58
In reply to Re: Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight gain? » saw, posted by KaraS on November 23, 2004, at 14:40:05
Welbutrin has not caused me to gain any weight, however; it does give me some anxiety. If will affect everyone differently, but it is suppose to be weight neutral. -L
Posted by CareBear04 on November 23, 2004, at 22:23:47
In reply to Re: Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight gain?, posted by stresser on November 23, 2004, at 21:13:58
hi, sorry to hear of your troubles, and i'm very sorry to hear of your father.
here are some quick thoughts on what has caused weight loss for me:
-zoloft-- causes weight gain for many people, but it has a stimulant-type effect on me, especially at first or at dose increases.
-stimulants-- i'm on suggesting this is a good path for everyone or anyone, but stimulants do definitely suppress appetite. wellbutrin is a stimulant-like antidepressant, and, as others said, it is pretty weight-neutral or can help with weight loss. provigil, for me, didn't directly suppress appetite, but it made me focused or preoccupied so that if i didn't remind myself to eat, i wouldn't. concerta (long-acting ritalin) was similar in its effects. adderall, especially adderall XR, causes extreme appetite loss for me to the point that nothing is appealing, and i don't eat or drink enough. provigil, concerta, and adderall are all controlled substances in the US, and concerta and adderall are especially monitored so you really would need to get your dr on board.
-topomax as someone else suggested. i've never tried it, but i've heard good things about it from a friend who has weight problems, especially from psych drugs, and has struggled with bulemia.
good luck! cb
Posted by saw on November 24, 2004, at 8:20:24
In reply to Re: Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight ga, posted by CareBear04 on November 23, 2004, at 22:23:47
Thank you everyone, for your input.
Racer, I will email you soon. Am tied up in work studies at the moment.
I am thinking that the effexor and lamictal may not be digesting or that I am not metabolising the drug (whatever that might mean). Last night my stomach almost visibly grew until my husband made me sit down. (I have no bowel problems btw).
I have always had a water retention problem which is intensified now. My wedding ring hardly fits and it is only 6 months old!
My toes go blood red and swell and the feel hot, my feet and lower leg aches. Probably because they are small and don't like my hefty butt.
My stomach sort of hurts on the outside, I don't know how to explain it. I would have to say that it's like my stomach is trying to tell me it doesn't belong there. I truly feel that this body doesn't belong on me. It just seems so unatural. But then, what if it is me and my fault?
This whole thing has made me obsess about people sniggering behind my back. My skin crawls when I walk into a room because I am "convinced" people are laughing, pointing, staring. This is ridiculous I know but my reasoning and logic fail me completely right now. I am refusing to go anywhere socially and I am rude to people at work so that they don't want to talk to me. My dear, poor husband cannot have sex with me unless I am clothed from head to foot and the lights are off!
Sorry, I did not mean for this post to turn into another rant, but I wont delete because it made me feel better.
Thanks again everyone.
Sabrina
Posted by Laree on November 24, 2004, at 16:40:03
In reply to Is there ANYTHING that DOESN'T cause weight gain?, posted by saw on November 22, 2004, at 5:56:37
Hi Sabrina,
I have been on many AD's and have a history of anorexia & bulimia. I am extremely hypersensitive to the possibility of weight gain as a side effect of any med.
The AD's I have lost weight/maintained my weight while on include Prozac, Effexor XR, and Lexapro.
Best of luck, and hang in there!
L.> I have been off of Effexor XR for a couple of weeks whilst slowly starting on Lamictal. My whole heart and soul was crying out for some weight loss after tapering but the weight is steadly increasing.
This is the end of the thread.
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