Posted by CamW. on September 3, 2003, at 1:48:08
In reply to nutritionist for weight loss?, posted by sarita0001 on September 2, 2003, at 21:16:20
Sarita - In a workshop att the 2001 Schizophrenia Conference in Edmonton, Dr. Pierre Chue showed some of his research into drug-induced weight gain. He believes that the weight gained by people taking Clozaril™ (clozaril), Zyprexa™ (olanzapine), Paxil™ (paroxetine), Zoloft™ (sertraline), etc., may very well be irreversible. Dr. Chue thinks that these drugs may be resetting the body's "homeostasis weight" (ie. the weight that your body normally wants you to be).
Mind you, Dr. Chue was being paid by Janssen-Ortho (makers of Risperidal [risperidone]), so the above is probably far from proven. Experience does tell me that very few people who do put on weight because of these drugs, will lose that weight.
I have found that if someone is diligent about eating a balanced diet (and feel starved all of the time) for the first 6 to 9 months of SSRI/TCA use and the first 12 to 14 months of Zyprexa™ use the cravings (esp. for carbohydrates) does ease (perhaps this phenomenon is just get use to feeling famished!). After this period of time the food cravings do abate in most people (yes, even with high dose TCAs).
One last thing; Clozaril™ is the only psychotropic where no one seems to lose any weight that is gained because of this drug. Figures, the best drug we have for psychoses is also the most toxic.
As a note: not everyone gains weight when taking these medications. Also, the amount of weight gained is not usually very significant (.... well, relatively so).
So, here's a question for you. Which is worse (ie. has a higher mortality rate), tardive dyskinesia, or the secondary effects of being overweight (ie. increased risk of hypertension. type-II diabetes, etc.)? Makes one think, huh?
- Cam
poster:CamW.
thread:256471
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030902/msgs/256547.html