Re: antidepressants and weight gain (long post)

October 22, 2003

A customer of mine takes Topamax for chronic pain and he told me that he

lost some weight while taking it. I, on the other hand, gained 9 pounds

while on Elavil for 2 weeks to try and manage the pain.

Tigger

antidepressants and weight gain (long post)

> I just came back from my visit with my psychiatrist and asked him again

about the various anti-depressants and weight/gain loss.

> His experience has been that there is some weight loss with Topamax but no

one seems to know why. Also often with Welbutrin because Welbutrin cuts

down on cravings (especially carbs) so you are less likely to snack.

> On the other hand, sometimes some people will gain weight on

anti-depressants simply because they start to feel better and begin to eat

more. His theory is that those of us who have used food to help us cope

tend to eat when we are depressed and eat when we feel good (Before WLS I

didn't need a REASON to eat) so sometimes just the change in mood can be a

trigger to eat more, even subconsciously.

>

> I found that I did gain weight the time I was on Elavil but part of the

reason was that it made me so tired that when I wasn't working all I did was

sleep so I wasn't burning as many calories.

>

> Right now I am on Welbutrin, Topamax and Lexapro and seem to be doing well

(if it works don't fix it, right?) I take more of the Welbutrin than he

would usually prescribe because he thinks the Welbutrin SR is better than

the regular Welbutrin so instead of taking one Welbutrin once a day I just

take another one about 6 hours later.

>

> His wife just had WLS two weeks ago so he is going to be doing a lot of

looking into how meds affect us and I will be anxious to see what more he

learns.

>

> He also reminded me that as women we have to be aware that our hormones

have a lot to do with our mood swings ... particularly just as we are coming

upon menopause. Sometimes that can be misdiagnosed as bi-polar. I also

recently learned from my gyn following my hysterectomy that just because you

stop getting a period doesn't mean that you have hit the big M and that you

are no longer producing estrogen. The ovaries still might be producing

estrogen on and off intermittently.

>

> B. from NJ

> RNY - 6/25/01

> 313/196/??

>

> PS thanks again to these two groups. Since coming on these lists I have

stopped the weight gain and have started losing again. Proof that you can

still lose after 2 years out.

>

> The smallest feline is a masterpiece. - Leonardo Da Vinci

>

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October 22, 2003

, thank you for the good post. I always believed that when I felt

really good I wanted to eat more. Even though the literature on Lexapro, which

I

have been on for a couple of months, says there is no weight gain, I know that

I have my first weight gain since surgery. Today is my second anniversary.

It is what I want to eat. I want to eat big hearty meals. I had a very large

serving of chili for lunch and dinner yesterday. It wasn't the comfort I was

seeking like when I am depressed. It was the enjoyment I was seeking. When I

eat too much in a depression I don't even taste the food, just seeking

comfort. Yesterday, it was just plain fun. I enjoyed every spoonful.

Now for the good part, It has been my experience that this too passes. I

just hope it doesn't take too many pounds. I wish I was a better communicator,

I

am not sure this is really clear.

October 23, 2003

Here's an interesting excerpt from my ADA newsletter.

" Epilepsy Drugs May Curb Appetite

In recent years, doctors prescribing a relatively new epilepsy drug,

Topamax, observed that patients taking this drug began rapidly losing

weight. These observations have led to subsequent studies of the anti-

seizure medication as a weight-loss aid. Preliminary studies have

found the drug effective for appetite suppression, especially for

those people prone to binge eating. In the mean time, similar drugs

including zonisamide (Zonegran) and an experimental compound,

rimonabant, are being looked at for similar effects. These drugs have

not yet been formally approved as weight-loss aids; further research

is ongoing.... "

Alice

The Loon

RNY 12/28/00

> A customer of mine takes Topamax for chronic pain and he told me

that he lost some weight while taking it. I, on the other hand,

gained 9 pounds while on Elavil for 2 weeks to try and manage the

pain.

> Tigger

October 23, 2003

I believe I have the entire article from one of my on-line journals if

anyone wants a copy for their doc. If so,e-mail me privately. Amber/FL