Posted by LostBoyinNCBecksDark on November 18, 2008, at 1:43:19
Many psychiatric patients take a wide variety of psychiatric medications over long periods of time. Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, most psychiatry medications are notorious for causing bad weight gain. Compound this with the fact many psychiatry patients become physically inactive due to their underlying condition(s) plus sedating medications, and frequently obesity results.
Why does obesity matter to a mood or anxiety disordered person? Because obesity is the # 1 cause of sleep disordered breathing such as sleep apnea. And sleep apnea causes/worsens depression, often making antidepressants much less effective.
So in your quest to "pump up the meds" to treat your refractory psychiatric condition, oftentimes you make yourself fatter and fatter and fatter over the years. Then you have TWO conditions that cause mood and anxiety problems! The original depression you sought treatment for, PLUS the sleep apnea that often develops with medication induced obesity.
What a world!
Calculate your BMI to see if you are obese or just fat and if so, consult a board certified sleep medicine doctor to get screened for sleep apnea. You will probably find your mood disorder improves a lot after CPAP treatment.
http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/
LostBoyinNC
poster:LostBoyinNCBecksDark
thread:863734
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081114/msgs/863734.html