![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jealibeanz on March 29, 2007, at 4:58:04
To prevent weight gain? I would consider trying again if I could reduce the possibility of this side effect that seems inevitable with me.
I don't mean combine w/ Wellbutrin or Topamax. Wellbutrin caused lots of weight gain for me, and I think the only reason Topamax works for some is that it controls appetite. I don't need appetite control, since I wasn't overeating on AD's.
I'm thinking there's a few other "tricks" that have been explored. I just can't quite recall what they may be. I know there are a few drugs like Glucophage or Byetta that diabetics use to control blood sugar. That might help if SSRI's are somehow messing with my insulin output and blood sugar levels (I've seen that proposed somewhere.)
It would help to know why exactly they cause weight gain with me (and others like me). There's definitely a metabolic change. It's very clear with me... anything drug that manipulates serontonin even the slightest bit causes my fat cells to search for anything to make them grow! (i.e. Wellbutrin = small serontonin reuptake + big weight gain; Straterra = no serotonin reuptake + no weight gain).
Does this all mean that these "selective" reuptake inhibitors aren't really so selective, rather, they have systems effects as well as CNS?
Any ideas? Haha, not that I think I'd ever get prescribed something that isn't common, but whatever, just wondering.
Posted by Pluto on March 29, 2007, at 8:40:30
In reply to What can you combine with SSRI's?, posted by jealibeanz on March 29, 2007, at 4:58:04
Posted by Quintal on March 29, 2007, at 10:12:03
In reply to What can you combine with SSRI's?, posted by jealibeanz on March 29, 2007, at 4:58:04
I took glucophage with Zyprexa and lost 3lbs during a month of treatment. Not sure if this would help with SSRI induced weight gain, but there's only one way to find out.
Q
Posted by Pluto on March 29, 2007, at 10:27:59
In reply to Re: What can you combine with SSRI's? » jealibeanz, posted by Quintal on March 29, 2007, at 10:12:03
> I took glucophage with Zyprexa and lost 3lbs during a month of treatment. Not sure if this would help with SSRI induced weight gain, but there's only one way to find out.
>
> Q
If it helps with Zyprexa, then it should with SSRIs too.
I take Glucoophage XR 500mg with Prozac. I stopped gaining weight ever since I began to take Glucophage.Cheers
PLS
Posted by jealibeanz on March 29, 2007, at 10:43:58
In reply to Re: What can you combine with SSRI's?, posted by Pluto on March 29, 2007, at 10:27:59
So did your doctors specifically prescribe these to help w/ weight gain? It's nice to hear that this actually works and that some doc's recognize the problem with SSRI's and AP's.
Like I said, I won't get these meds. I think it takes a very gutsy and up-to-date pdoc, which I don't have.
Posted by Pluto on March 29, 2007, at 11:02:50
In reply to Re: What can you combine with SSRI's?, posted by jealibeanz on March 29, 2007, at 10:43:58
Hi
I was prescribed Glucophage for diabetes.
However, I think I got diabetes due to the usage of atyptical antipsychotics. (I was on Solian =amisulpride) for over years.
You can ask your doc to get Glucophage. It can be used for non-diabetic too.
Cheers
PLS
Posted by Phillipa on March 29, 2007, at 11:44:41
In reply to Re: What can you combine with SSRI's? » jealibeanz, posted by Pluto on March 29, 2007, at 11:02:50
Pluto will the diabetes go away like gestational diabetes if you are not on the meds? Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on March 29, 2007, at 11:57:35
In reply to Re: What can you combine with SSRI's?, posted by jealibeanz on March 29, 2007, at 10:43:58
Nope, I bought the glucophage from an online pharmacy. I'm very thin so my pdoc wasn't concerned about me becoming obese, and I don't think he would have prescribed glucophage even if he did.
Q
Posted by Racer on March 29, 2007, at 12:32:49
In reply to What can you combine with SSRI's?, posted by jealibeanz on March 29, 2007, at 4:58:04
>>
> Does this all mean that these "selective" reuptake inhibitors aren't really so selective, rather, they have systems effects as well as CNS?
>The SSRIs are pretty selective -- it's just that most of the serotonin in your body is in your gut. The increased availability of serotonin in the synaptic gap leads to downregulation of the postsynaptic receptors. That means that your body is getting weaker signals from the receptors that mediate digestion. This leads to decreased bowel motility, and lowered volume on the signals to your brain telling you you're full after eating, among other things. Only about 5% of the serotonin in your body is anywhere near your brain.
There is another drug out there, the name of which I've forgotten, that normalizes one type of serotonin receptor, which should counter weight gain. I'm not sure if it's approved yet, it probably is, and I don't remember the name. It might be worth asking your doctor about a drug that normalizes the type 4 receptors. He might know.
Otherwise, sibutramine might be worth exploring -- that might even be the type 4 receptor drug, come to think of it -- or metformin, or combining an SSRI with Strattera or Ritalin, or there's adding Orlistat. Taking a stool softener can also help. Drinking plain water can help, since the downregulation at some of the type 2 receptors can lead to a lack of moisture in the bowel.
I also have to ask this: I know you've said you don't have an eating disorder, but it sure sounds as though you might. Have you ever been evaluated by someone who has experience with them? It could be that treating the eating disorder would help a lot in finding a way to help you get stable.
Good luck.
Posted by Quintal on March 29, 2007, at 13:31:47
In reply to Re: What can you combine with SSRI's? » jealibeanz, posted by Racer on March 29, 2007, at 12:32:49
>Otherwise, sibutramine might be worth exploring.......
I tried sibutramine a while ago myself and it did seem to have a 'mood brightening' effect. I think I even felt a little high on it for a while, strange that it's never demonstrated any antidepressant effect though some conventional antidepressants like Zoloft have also failed to show substantial antidepressant effects in independent clinical trials.
Q
Posted by jealibeanz on March 30, 2007, at 21:47:14
In reply to Re: What can you combine with SSRI's? » jealibeanz, posted by Racer on March 29, 2007, at 12:32:49
> >>
> > Does this all mean that these "selective" reuptake inhibitors aren't really so selective, rather, they have systems effects as well as CNS?
> >
>
> The SSRIs are pretty selective -- it's just that most of the serotonin in your body is in your gut. The increased availability of serotonin in the synaptic gap leads to downregulation of the postsynaptic receptors. That means that your body is getting weaker signals from the receptors that mediate digestion. This leads to decreased bowel motility, and lowered volume on the signals to your brain telling you you're full after eating, among other things. Only about 5% of the serotonin in your body is anywhere near your brain.
>
> There is another drug out there, the name of which I've forgotten, that normalizes one type of serotonin receptor, which should counter weight gain. I'm not sure if it's approved yet, it probably is, and I don't remember the name. It might be worth asking your doctor about a drug that normalizes the type 4 receptors. He might know.
>
> Otherwise, sibutramine might be worth exploring -- that might even be the type 4 receptor drug, come to think of it -- or metformin, or combining an SSRI with Strattera or Ritalin, or there's adding Orlistat. Taking a stool softener can also help. Drinking plain water can help, since the downregulation at some of the type 2 receptors can lead to a lack of moisture in the bowel.
>
> I also have to ask this: I know you've said you don't have an eating disorder, but it sure sounds as though you might. Have you ever been evaluated by someone who has experience with them? It could be that treating the eating disorder would help a lot in finding a way to help you get stable.
>
> Good luck.Wowww... very scientific! A little too much for my brain to comprehend this late at night!
What is silbutramine? I've never heard of it.
I've taken Straterra and am taking Ritalin right now. I don't think that taking them with an SSRI would counter the weight gain, especially since it's not due to increased appetite.
Nope, no eating disorder. I've always been very healthy, athletic, and nowhere near underweight, but I'm not unhealthily heavy either. I'm just a 24 yr old woman who would rather not put on 20 lbs in a matter of months, since I've experienced several times and it's rather frustrating... haha, and it only stops at 20 lbs because that tends to be my cut off where I say enough is enough! It would probably continue to rise if I stayed on a drug for a long period of time. That's not worth it on top of loads of other side effects.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.