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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Amy Salloway on June 12, 2000, at 21:40:58
Hi there --
I'm an oft-depressed, formerly-medicated actress/writer/office slave who's been lurking on PsychoBabble for a while now, and it's been wonderfully educational and fun...that is, as
fun as a chatboard about depressive disorders can be.
There's lots and lots I'd like to share and ask about, but as I'm short on time, I'll start with this --I was researching Meridia a few days ago -- the fairly
new diet drug that's replaced phen-fen in popularity --
and noticed that whaddayaknow, it's an
SSRI! So...I don't get it! Does anyone use Meridia as
an antidepressant instead of a weight-loss drug (because BOY, the statistics show it really isn't very
effective for weight loss)? And if so, to what result?
And if Meridia is an SSRI being marketed for weight-loss, why do other SSRIS cause weight GAIN? Is it based on some tiny but specific ratio of serotonin-interaction versus norepinephrine-reaction or something? If someone who takes Meridia is both overweight and depressed, are the chances good that both those problems will see a benefit?Has anyone out there been on Meridia for either purpose?
Hope to hear from you...happy Monday...
Amy
Posted by shar on June 12, 2000, at 23:14:06
In reply to Hi. I'm new. And other stuff. :-), posted by Amy Salloway on June 12, 2000, at 21:40:58
> Hi there --
> I'm an oft-depressed, formerly-medicated actress/writer/office slave who's been lurking on PsychoBabble for a while now, and it's been wonderfully educational and fun...that is, as
> fun as a chatboard about depressive disorders can be.
> There's lots and lots I'd like to share and ask about, but as I'm short on time, I'll start with this --
>
> I was researching Meridia a few days ago -- the fairly
> new diet drug that's replaced phen-fen in popularity --
> and noticed that whaddayaknow, it's an
> SSRI! So...I don't get it! Does anyone use Meridia as
> an antidepressant instead of a weight-loss drug (because BOY, the statistics show it really isn't very
> effective for weight loss)? And if so, to what result?
> And if Meridia is an SSRI being marketed for weight-loss, why do other SSRIS cause weight GAIN? Is it based on some tiny but specific ratio of serotonin-interaction versus norepinephrine-reaction or something? If someone who takes Meridia is both overweight and depressed, are the chances good that both those problems will see a benefit?
>
> Has anyone out there been on Meridia for either purpose?
>
> Hope to hear from you...happy Monday...
>
> Amy
Posted by bob on June 12, 2000, at 23:21:37
In reply to Hi. I'm new. And other stuff. :-), posted by Amy Salloway on June 12, 2000, at 21:40:58
Hey Amy,
did you catch anywhere in the research you did what the "generic" or chemical or scientific name of the stuff is? I wonder if someone is pulling a Wellbutrin/Zyban thing here.
Personally, tho, if I'm remembering my commercials properly, with the extremely nasty intestinal side effects meridia can have, I'd much rather be on paxil (gack!), thank you.
Cheers,
bob
Posted by JohnL on June 13, 2000, at 4:25:59
In reply to Hi. I'm new. And other stuff. :-), posted by Amy Salloway on June 12, 2000, at 21:40:58
Hi Amy. Welcome.
I too researched Meridia at one time. I looked mostly at the websites where you can order it online without a prescription. (Instead you pay them a fee to have them issue you a prescription) The only thing that made me look at other things instead was that to order it I would have also had to pay the consultation fee. Fill out a questionnaire and get charged for it, and then some physician on the other end issues a prescription. I guess that's not a bad way to go though if one's own local physician isn't open to trying it, and if one is well-researched and experienced enough to be responsible with self medication.
I never tried it for two reasons. First, I was reluctant about the consultation fee. Second, I just never seemed to respond well to any kind of reuptake inhibitor. Doesn't matter whether it's serotonin, NE, or dopamine, for some strange reason my chemistry just doesn't agree with that mechanism of action. I've found personally that stimulating existing levels of neurotransmitters works a lot better than merely increasing the levels.
Meridia is actually more than an SSRI. It is actually more like Effexor. That is, it inhibits the reuptake of not just serotonin, but norepinephrine and dopamine too. Somewhere in there is the weight loss component. I would suspect it has to do with norepinephrine more than anything else. But that's just a guess.
I don't know of anyone who has tried Meridia.
I do recall reading about patients who tried Meridia for weight loss who were also pleasantly surprised to discover their long standing depression went into remission as well, where previous antidepressants had failed. So yes, it could possibly be an antidepressant and a weight loss agent all in one. As with everything though, your mileage may vary. And there's no way to tell without a personal trial. But on paper at least it looks doable to me.
JohnL
Posted by Kath on June 13, 2000, at 16:31:20
In reply to Hi. I'm new. And other stuff. :-), posted by Amy Salloway on June 12, 2000, at 21:40:58
Hi Amy - Welcome. I don't know anything about your medication, but wanted to say hi & welcome you aboard.
Kath
Hi there --
> I'm an oft-depressed, formerly-medicated actress/writer/office slave who's been lurking on PsychoBabble for a while now, and it's been wonderfully educational and fun...that is, as
> fun as a chatboard about depressive disorders can be.
> There's lots and lots I'd like to share and ask about, but as I'm short on time, I'll start with this --
>
> I was researching Meridia a few days ago -- the fairly
> new diet drug that's replaced phen-fen in popularity --
> and noticed that whaddayaknow, it's an
> SSRI! So...I don't get it! Does anyone use Meridia as
> an antidepressant instead of a weight-loss drug (because BOY, the statistics show it really isn't very
> effective for weight loss)? And if so, to what result?
> And if Meridia is an SSRI being marketed for weight-loss, why do other SSRIS cause weight GAIN? Is it based on some tiny but specific ratio of serotonin-interaction versus norepinephrine-reaction or something? If someone who takes Meridia is both overweight and depressed, are the chances good that both those problems will see a benefit?
>
> Has anyone out there been on Meridia for either purpose?
>
> Hope to hear from you...happy Monday...
>
> Amy
Posted by Cecilia on June 14, 2000, at 7:26:41
In reply to meridia an SSRI?, posted by bob on June 12, 2000, at 23:21:37
> Hey Amy,
>
> did you catch anywhere in the research you did what the "generic" or chemical or scientific name of the stuff is? I wonder if someone is pulling a Wellbutrin/Zyban thing here.
>
> Personally, tho, if I'm remembering my commercials properly, with the extremely nasty intestinal side effects meridia can have, I'd much rather be on paxil (gack!), thank you.
>
> Cheers,
> bobActually, Bob, Xenical`s the one with the nasty intestinal effects possibly leading to the need for embarrassing purchases in the adult diaper dept, it acts to decrease fat absorption in the gut, whereas Meridia`s just supposed to act on the appetite center in the brain. Needless to say, neither of them are all that effective. Has anyone ever pondered how dramatically it would change the world if science really managed to invent a safe, effective, "eat all you want and still lose weight" pill. Once everyone can be thin, the status is gone, would those with the genes for fatness suddenly become the new elite and diet centers turn into "fatten `em up" franchises?
This is the end of the thread.
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