Posted by Ponder on April 3, 2003, at 0:33:20
In reply to Anyone seen an endocrinologist for AD weight gain?, posted by Otherworldly on April 1, 2003, at 15:00:36
Otherworldly,
I think it's an excellent idea to see an endocrinologist. I have been frustrated by the difficulty of getting coordinated care. Although psychiatrists are medical doctors, they don't seem to be really tuned in to non-psychiatric medical concerns, and other medical specialists don't seem to know much--or want to know much--about psych drugs. But damn, we're trying to live in one body and make all these systems work together smoothly in a reasonably healthy way.Weight gain is one of the most insidiously negative things that can happen to a person's overall health. I gained 45 pounds on Effexor and had ill effects ranging from cardiovascular symptoms to GI problems to osteoarthritis in places where I previously didn't even know I had joints.
Different people require different treatments, so this may not be helpful, but I will share what is currently working for me. I am on 150 mg/day of Lamictal and 400 mg/day of Wellbutrin. This is a pretty activating combination and has not caused any weight gain for me. I have lost all the extra weight and, in fact, weight less than I have since high school. This combo is not particularly good for anxiety. I have a PRN prescription for Ativan, but I rely mostly on a 4-mile walk every day to smooth me out and I take ambien at night for sleep.
Still, my treatment is far from perfect. I still have dips and periods of instability, but I resist my p-docs suggestions to add an SSRI because of this weight issue.
I will be among those hoping to see further posts from you. Your proactivity is admirable.
poster:Ponder
thread:215123
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030402/msgs/215666.html