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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by alchemy on March 24, 2012, at 21:39:38
One of the few i havent tried, its still at the pharmacy.
But being female, self conscious about weight, and having food issues in the past scare the crap out of me.
I will still try it, but how soon do the cravings and weight gain start? Do u usually gain weight regardless of whether u give into the cravings? At least i have some ritalin to help.
Posted by Phillipa on March 24, 2012, at 21:49:12
In reply to Remeron weight survey, posted by alchemy on March 24, 2012, at 21:39:38
I admit I only used 15mg for a month but no food cravings or weight gain. It just didn't make me sleepy even with benzos. Maybe wasn't on it long enough? Phillipa
Posted by Hugh on March 24, 2012, at 22:58:05
In reply to Remeron weight survey, posted by alchemy on March 24, 2012, at 21:39:38
I took it for about six months and gained over twenty pounds. I had a strong craving for food the whole time I was on it.
Posted by Raisinb on March 24, 2012, at 23:06:24
In reply to Remeron weight survey, posted by alchemy on March 24, 2012, at 21:39:38
I only have my personal experience, but here it is: I was on Remeron for about two weeks. I don't gain weight on meds; I have a combo of being genetically thin and so depressed/anxious that I don't want to eat anyway. I don't think about food or weight a lot because I'm suicidal half the time and smaller considerations sort of go out the window.
Remeron changed all that. I thought about cookies, cake, pudding, 24/7. I don't know what it would be like if you don't give into the cravings, because I found it almost impossible not to give in. Even bought two extra mini fridges for work to store pudding. That may have been because I am not a good dieter with experience in controlling food intake; I'm usually so messed up it's not an issue. But I think it would be hard for anybody. I gained about eight pounds in two weeks, which was a lot for a 103 lb person.
Posted by TiredofChemicals on March 25, 2012, at 4:07:06
In reply to Remeron weight survey, posted by alchemy on March 24, 2012, at 21:39:38
I got sugar cravings fairly quickly after starting Remeron. Everything hit me pretty quickly if I'm remembering right.
For some reason I think I was gaining weight regardless of my diet as well. It was the only drug that lifted my mood though.
My doc discontinued it because of the weight gain despite my desire to remain on it. I had no self control though and was literally eating boxes of Crispy Cream donuts. Man they were they good!
That sugar was like a drug in itself! I better stop or I'll be on my way to the drive through.
Regards
Posted by alchemy on March 25, 2012, at 17:19:14
In reply to Re: Remeron weight survey, posted by TiredofChemicals on March 25, 2012, at 4:07:06
It was the only drug that lifted ur mood? That at least gives me hope. Have u tried a bunch of meds? How soon did u notice ur mood lifting. Im going to take my first pill right now.
Posted by TiredofChemicals on March 25, 2012, at 21:02:59
In reply to Re: Remeron weight survey » TiredofChemicals, posted by alchemy on March 25, 2012, at 17:19:14
> It was the only drug that lifted ur mood? That at least gives me hope. Have u tried a bunch of meds? How soon did u notice ur mood lifting. Im going to take my first pill right now.
From 1995 to about 2006 I had tried probably every, SSRI and SSNRI on the market.
I was presribed MANY combinations of those with some of the other meds not classified like those..........wellbutrin comes to mind as an adjunct that was tried.
Antipsychotics were added in combination with those towards the end of my treatments.
I guess I just kept getting sicker and sicker. *sarcasm
Remeron was the only med that lifted my mood noticeably. All of the others dulled my emotions so I could neither feel good or bad.
It's a nightmare remembering this now lol, kidding.
Remeron kinda' made me feel like after you come down from smoking pot. If you have no experience with that, my description would be that, my mind and body were relaxed AND, I had some serious munchies lol.
I think that everybody is so vastly different that a psychiatrist can do nothing but guess and
"roll the dice" in precribing a med that he hopes will work.I am just sharing my experience and wish you the best while you seek relief and peace.
If I were to return to psych drugs, I would request Remeron in treatment for depression. I don't anticipate that happening soon thankfully.
I wish I could say "I feel your pain." I can't.
I can however, say "There is no way that I, nor anybody else can know the pain, or the depths of pain, you may be experiencing because it is unexplainable.
That was the conclusion that I came to in the deepest darkness that I have experienced.
Sorry if I got off track.
I'll quit.
Regards
Posted by stewie on March 26, 2012, at 15:48:23
In reply to Remeron weight survey, posted by alchemy on March 24, 2012, at 21:39:38
Ten years ago, I was so desperate that even though I had been warned about weight gain, I took Remeron. I felt I could not control my desire to eat. I gained a great deal of weight.
If it had helped me I would not have cared.I'm sorry to be negative, and it is important to remember that we are all different. If one is desperately depressed, almost any side effect is of little consequence, I think.
Posted by alchemy on April 3, 2012, at 17:18:30
In reply to Re: Remeron weight survey, posted by stewie on March 26, 2012, at 15:48:23
My first week on 15mg of Rememeron didn't seem to increase my appetite or lower my energy levels much. But this week I am really feeling it, and it sucks. I'm hoping there is another reason that I am always tired, but I'm sure it's the Remeron that is making me always wanting to eat, and especially carbs. My doc said that people actually have more energy at a higher dose. But is that the same case for appetite? Or does it even get worse?
I'm suppose to go up to 30mg now, but if my appetite increases, I could find myself obsessed with food and bulimia again. What a life- eat and sleep.
It may be helping a little with my mood, I'm not sure yet.
Posted by gadchik on April 4, 2012, at 11:25:42
In reply to Re: Remeron weight survey » TiredofChemicals, posted by alchemy on March 25, 2012, at 17:19:14
I was able to tolerate remeron when I couldnt tolerate the ssris.I took a low dose 7.5mg.It enabled me to go on to zoloft,get used to it,then tapered off the remeron,except to use 3.75mg for sleep occasionally.I still gained weight on zoloft though.I would definately take remeron again full time if I had to,it helped alot.
Posted by papillon2 on April 6, 2012, at 7:58:26
In reply to Re: Remeron weight survey, posted by alchemy on April 3, 2012, at 17:18:30
> I will still try [Remeron], but how soon do the cravings and weight gain start?
I can't recall, sorry.
> Do u usually gain weight regardless of whether u give into the cravings?
I don't know what is usual, only what happened to me. I gained weight, steadily, despite not giving into cravings.
> My doc said that people actually have more energy at a higher dose. But is that the same case for appetite? Or does it even get worse?
For me the constant feeling of starvation was somewhat dose-dependent. Higher dose, greater hunger.
And yes, I also had greater energy at higher doses (60mg) and a renewed interest in activities I previously found enjoyable! The latter is pretty significant, as it hasn't been replicated with any other medication.
I have written a few posts regarding Remeron (and Zyprexa) and hunger/weight gain side effects within the context of an eating disorder history. You may find these posts helpful. You can find them using the google search function.
I wish you the best of luck with Remeron. Give it your best shot, but know when to pull out if you have to.
Posted by Avenarius on April 6, 2012, at 12:33:36
In reply to Remeron weight survey, posted by alchemy on March 24, 2012, at 21:39:38
45 mg of Remeron is effective for me. I've been on every class of drugs and it's the only one that works with tolerable side effects. Anything less than 45 mg leaves me feeling stoned and pretty sleepy.
I've gained about 5 lbs in 4 months. I crave carbs for a few hours after taking it but then it fades.
Posted by alchemy on April 6, 2012, at 12:49:44
In reply to Re: Remeron weight survey » alchemy, posted by papillon2 on April 6, 2012, at 7:58:26
I've been on 15 about 10 days & have been at 30 for a few days now. It's definitely not helping so far, and I'm having more of an "unstable/wavy" feeling that is hard to describe. How long should I keep going? If this feeling doesn't go away I will go off of it.
Posted by Avenarius on April 6, 2012, at 18:07:36
In reply to Re: Remeron weight survey-How long until kicks in?, posted by alchemy on April 6, 2012, at 12:49:44
I would definitely try 45 mg before giving up. At higher doses the norepinephrine effects outweigh the sedating, marijuana-like antihistamine effects.
Posted by papillon2 on April 7, 2012, at 0:36:01
In reply to Re: Remeron weight survey-How long until kicks in?, posted by Avenarius on April 6, 2012, at 18:07:36
What Avenaris said. I think at least 45mg to 60mg is needed for a proper anti-depressant effect. Anything under that is more sleep medicine.
It's a funny medication in how it switches from being sedating to really activating at higher doses.
Posted by michael on April 9, 2012, at 10:40:45
In reply to Re: Remeron weight survey-How long until kicks in?, posted by papillon2 on April 7, 2012, at 0:36:01
Similar feedback as the previous 2 posts...
I found it helpful, and definitely recommend higher doses (45-60mg)...
However, I did eventually stop... had gained 30 lbs.
Don't recall for certain, but I don't recall eating more - though I very well may have... been a long time. Actually, now that I think about it a bit more, I think I may have been on dexedrine at the same time... which may have helped with appetite... Sorry, just not sure any more.
I think I responded pretty quickly, but I started at a higher dose right off the bat, if I recall correctly... (though as I said, my recollection is fuzzy - it has been a long time).
Hope that somewhat wishy-washy response is of some help...
Good luck with it!
This is the end of the thread.
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