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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by iforgotmypassword on November 19, 2005, at 19:43:37
i think i want to avoid a typical AD type drug... as i really worry that i don't respond to those very well. i'm not sure. i have gained a lot of weight since being off desipramine. i'm 5'4" and have now reached 150, when before (~3 months ago) i was under 130, and 115-120 tend to be my ideal weight. i guess i could try desipramine, but i worry about anticholinergic effects and possibly worsening of anger problems. would atomoxetine be more appropriate? how about topiramate, what dose do you have to be at to have weight losing appetite controlling effects? is it possible to use that drug without cognitive blunting and flattening emotions?
Posted by med_empowered on November 20, 2005, at 1:46:19
In reply to best med for losing weight, controlling overeating, posted by iforgotmypassword on November 19, 2005, at 19:43:37
hey! Topomax really does have a tendency to make people stupid. In addition, it isnt the best mood stabilizer, and it doesnt always help people lose weight. Zoloft and Wellbutrin both tend to cause a little weight loss; zoloft is about 2lbs, Wellbutrin about 5. If you need something kinda stimulating but dont want to try a Tricyclic again, Wellbutrin, maybe with an SSRI, could be good...sometimes that combo counteracts the side effects of both meds somewhat, and the response rate is a little higher. Obviously, a stimulant will help you lose weight, but stimulant augmentation for depression is kind of old-school, and mostly done if you're very, very treatment resistant. Provigil can be added; it might be helpful, and it tends to have a mild "slimming" effect without any ill effects on the heart, which is nice.
If you tend to be angry, you could go either way with an antidepressant..you could get happier, or angrier. Or you could be more or less unaffected. Adding a mood-stabilizer can help prevent some antidepressant problems and might make the antidepressant(s) work better, but it comes with its own problems, which vary by medication. If you have good insurance, I'd recommend Trileptal (no blood work, weight neutral, etc.) or Lamictal (there is the rash thing, but other than that..nothing too bad) to add to your AD. Depakote and Lithium work well for some people, but those are pretty hardcore; they require blood work, and have fun side effects like hand tremors and hair loss. Klonopin can be good for some forms of depression/bipolar, too, but it is a benzo, so there's the potential for disinhibition or some sort of rage reaction. However, that's not too common, and its more common with xanax.
Good luck!
Posted by NISSYNICOL on November 20, 2005, at 16:45:18
In reply to Re: best med for losing weight, controlling overea, posted by med_empowered on November 20, 2005, at 1:46:19
> hey! Topomax really does have a tendency to make people stupid.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++When I was on this it made me stupid as a stick. For example, one day we were going to Ruby Tuesdays for dinner. I have been to this restaurant at least 30 times and it is very close to the house. I could not remember how to get there. My husband had to tell me! And I never lost a pound on it. I had to go off it because it caused metabolic acidosis in my blood which is a side effect of it.
:)nissynicol
Posted by blackcat23 on November 20, 2005, at 18:42:12
In reply to Re: best med for losing weight, controlling overea (nm), posted by blackcat23 on November 20, 2005, at 12:59:51
Sorry, my message didn't show up last time I tried to post a reply-- odd.
I don't know if you've considered an MAOI, but I'm taking Parnate for depression and it has diminished my appetite. I have a history of bingeing on sweets and carbs (especially when depressed) and Parnate has completely stopped the urge to do this. This is an unexpected bonus to the relief it's given me from depression.
I also take Cytomel (a thyroid supplement) to help with the fatigue and low energy I had experienced in the past. This has caused me to lose weight as well.
Best of luck to you.
Posted by Gabbix2 on November 21, 2005, at 13:24:06
In reply to Re: best med for losing weight, controlling overea, posted by NISSYNICOL on November 20, 2005, at 16:45:18
NO KIDDING!
When I was on it, I was trying to plug in my lamp in the dark, and I kept trying to turn the lamp on so that I could see where to plug it in...
Embarrassing but true.
Posted by overtheedge on November 21, 2005, at 19:22:06
In reply to Re: best med for losing weight, controlling overea » NISSYNICOL, posted by Gabbix2 on November 21, 2005, at 13:24:06
Well call me odd, but when i was on topamax the 1st time i was a little forgetful, you need to raise the dose slow..... i lost weight. then when i was put on it again, we started higher and i was fine no effects at all that were noticable except the tingling in the hands, i was 75mg am and 75mg 4.00pm......i was fine on it but i was losing weight again and stopped eating.....not a good thing for me, but if you are a binge eater it works, i say give it a try and it might take a while to get to a theraputic dose, if u become forgetful then stop.....but at least u tried,
Denise
Posted by CareBear04 on November 22, 2005, at 9:32:22
In reply to best med for losing weight, controlling overeating, posted by iforgotmypassword on November 19, 2005, at 19:43:37
hi there,
i was on topomax for awhile, up to 300mg a day, and i didn't experience any weight loss. i wasn't put on it for the slimming effects; i was on it as a mood stabilizer, but i thought the slimming effect would be nice. unfortunately, no luck. on the bright side, i don't think the drug made me stupid, either, even at that high a dose. as for drugs that made me lose weight, i would say zoloft, wellbutrin, and adderall, though it wasn't always healthy weight loss. good luck and let me know if you have questions.
cb
Posted by MoparFan91 on November 23, 2005, at 9:43:35
In reply to Re: best med for losing weight, controlling overea, posted by overtheedge on November 21, 2005, at 19:22:06
For me, Topamax sort of killed my appetite at the lower doses starting at 50mg. When I got over 200mg, though, my appetite came back the longer I was on it. I'm on 300mg now, and my appetite is now back.
I don't get stupid on it at all because my Temporal Lobes (which Topamax hits) were messed up in the first place. If the drug hits a healthy pair, you get stupid on it.
> Well call me odd, but when i was on topamax the 1st time i was a little forgetful, you need to raise the dose slow..... i lost weight. then when i was put on it again, we started higher and i was fine no effects at all that were noticable except the tingling in the hands, i was 75mg am and 75mg 4.00pm......i was fine on it but i was losing weight again and stopped eating.....not a good thing for me, but if you are a binge eater it works, i say give it a try and it might take a while to get to a theraputic dose, if u become forgetful then stop.....but at least u tried,
> Denise
Posted by overtheedge on November 24, 2005, at 4:50:45
In reply to Re: best med for losing weight, controlling overea » overtheedge, posted by MoparFan91 on November 23, 2005, at 9:43:35
see now i think thats what they mean by everyone is diffrent with all meds, i have never been put on a higher dose than that..but am now back on it....we'll see what happens this time, hey ya know some people don't even lose the weight. go figure.
This is the end of the thread.
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