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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KRM123 on October 4, 2003, at 23:25:20
I've been on Zoloft since June. I started out on 50mg and then upped it to 100mg. For the past month my appetite has been out of control. The carb cravings are terrible. I am not gaining that much weight but still worried. At first the Zoloft helped me stop my emotional binge eating and let me maintain a regular appetite. Now I just feel hungry all the time. I don't know if maybe I got used to my dose (serotonin level) and now need to go higher or what. I really don't know what to do. I don't want to switch to another medication because Zoloft is a miracle for my depression. I also got blood work done to see if my sugar was balanced and everything was normal. Please help!!
Posted by DSCH on October 5, 2003, at 0:09:23
In reply to Zoloft- adjust dose to stop carb cravings??, posted by KRM123 on October 4, 2003, at 23:25:20
From what I have read, carbohydrate craving is partly due to your brain asking for more serotonin. This is because the insulin released into the blood in response to the increase in blood sugar has the effect of skewing the competetion of amino acids crossing the blood brain barrier in favor of tryptophan, resulting in higher serotonin levels. When the serotonin level reaches the "comfort zone", the craving ceases.
Ref: Food & Mood: The Complete Guide to Eating Well and Feeling Your Best, 2nd Ed., by "Elizabeth Somer", Chapter Two
Some ideas (YMMV!):
1) increase the dosage of Zoloft?
2) count your carb intake, give yourself a quota (for example "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution"), and then spread it out over the course of the day, preferably in the form of highly complex carbohydrates that don't cause blood sugar spikes
3) eat foods containing tryptophan along with the complex carbs and likewise spread it out over the day
Posted by KRM123 on October 5, 2003, at 15:49:05
In reply to Re: Zoloft- adjust dose to stop carb cravings?? » KRM123, posted by DSCH on October 5, 2003, at 0:09:23
Thank you very much for the information. I remember reading an article awhile ago about adjusting to serotonin level and then craving more. I also have the book you mentioned "Food and Mood"! I'll look at that too. I might try a few herbal products before upping my dose. I am at 100mg now, what happens when I have to go up from 200mg??? I am so scared and confused and don't know what is causing this out of control hunger. I hate it so much. Thanks for helping.
> From what I have read, carbohydrate craving is partly due to your brain asking for more serotonin. This is because the insulin released into the blood in response to the increase in blood sugar has the effect of skewing the competetion of amino acids crossing the blood brain barrier in favor of tryptophan, resulting in higher serotonin levels. When the serotonin level reaches the "comfort zone", the craving ceases.
>
> Ref: Food & Mood: The Complete Guide to Eating Well and Feeling Your Best, 2nd Ed., by "Elizabeth Somer", Chapter Two
>
> Some ideas (YMMV!):
>
> 1) increase the dosage of Zoloft?
>
> 2) count your carb intake, give yourself a quota (for example "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution"), and then spread it out over the course of the day, preferably in the form of highly complex carbohydrates that don't cause blood sugar spikes
>
> 3) eat foods containing tryptophan along with the complex carbs and likewise spread it out over the day
Posted by DSCH on October 5, 2003, at 18:38:03
In reply to Re: Zoloft- adjust dose to stop carb cravings?? » DSCH, posted by KRM123 on October 5, 2003, at 15:49:05
> Thank you very much for the information. I remember reading an article awhile ago about adjusting to serotonin level and then craving more. I also have the book you mentioned "Food and Mood"! I'll look at that too. I might try a few herbal products before upping my dose.
If you could look that article back up and post about it that would be nice. :-)
What did you have in mind hegarding herbals? If it's St. John's Wort, it's not generally recommeded to take it concurrently with a medication that is a serotonin reputake inhibitor (as Zoloft is). It would be best to have a professional take on that (hopefully your doc is careful but not close-minded).
>I am at 100mg now, what happens when I have to go up from 200mg???
That's why I put the '?' by raising the dose. That's really something you should discuss with doctor though, I'm just saying that would be one of the options that should come up in a discussion with him/her.
I would get concerned if this develops into a pattern: raise dose, cravings go away, time passes, cravings return, raise dose again. That's why I think you shouldn't disregard the other ideas regarding a change in eating habits.
Posted by KRM123 on October 5, 2003, at 21:53:01
In reply to Re: Zoloft- adjust dose to stop carb cravings?? » KRM123, posted by DSCH on October 5, 2003, at 18:38:03
DSCH,
I'll keep looking for that article. I know I had added it to my "Favorites" list but must have deleted it. I looked at my Food and Mood book for awhile today too.
About the herbals...well I am not looking for anything to add serotonin, but I might try Chromium supplements or anything else that might help stabilize my blood sugar. I am pretty familiar with holistic medicine and there is a Naturopath institute close to me where I have recieved herbal supplements before.
I really don't want to up the Zoloft dose. I remember my pDoc wanted me to try 200mg because I was so fatigued all the time (and still am) but the high dose made me feel to anxious and uncomfortable. I felt like I was taking Ephedra.
Well I'll keep you updated- thanks for everything.
> > Thank you very much for the information. I remember reading an article awhile ago about adjusting to serotonin level and then craving more. I also have the book you mentioned "Food and Mood"! I'll look at that too. I might try a few herbal products before upping my dose.
>
> If you could look that article back up and post about it that would be nice. :-)
>
> What did you have in mind hegarding herbals? If it's St. John's Wort, it's not generally recommeded to take it concurrently with a medication that is a serotonin reputake inhibitor (as Zoloft is). It would be best to have a professional take on that (hopefully your doc is careful but not close-minded).
>
> >I am at 100mg now, what happens when I have to go up from 200mg???
>
> That's why I put the '?' by raising the dose. That's really something you should discuss with doctor though, I'm just saying that would be one of the options that should come up in a discussion with him/her.
>
> I would get concerned if this develops into a pattern: raise dose, cravings go away, time passes, cravings return, raise dose again. That's why I think you shouldn't disregard the other ideas regarding a change in eating habits.
Posted by DSCH on October 6, 2003, at 7:49:13
In reply to Re: Zoloft- adjust dose to stop carb cravings?? » DSCH, posted by KRM123 on October 5, 2003, at 21:53:01
> DSCH,
>
> I'll keep looking for that article. I know I had added it to my "Favorites" list but must have deleted it. I looked at my Food and Mood book for awhile today too.
> About the herbals...well I am not looking for anything to add serotonin, but I might try Chromium supplements or anything else that might help stabilize my blood sugar. I am pretty familiar with holistic medicine and there is a Naturopath institute close to me where I have recieved herbal supplements before.
> I really don't want to up the Zoloft dose. I remember my pDoc wanted me to try 200mg because I was so fatigued all the time (and still am) but the high dose made me feel to anxious and uncomfortable. I felt like I was taking Ephedra.
> Well I'll keep you updated- thanks for everything.You might want to look into something to help you out with the fatigue, and then also the anxiety if do you end up raising the Zoloft dose.
Two herbal approaches to that would be licorice for fatigue and kava for anxiety. Neither appear to be contraindicated by SSRIs.
Posted by Patient on October 6, 2003, at 15:17:21
In reply to Zoloft- adjust dose to stop carb cravings??, posted by KRM123 on October 4, 2003, at 23:25:20
Why not try reducing dose back to 50 mg? As for my experience with Zoloft about 3 years ago, I had started at 25mg and it worked very well for several months, then it was increased to 50mg when I got in a rut and situational stresses were causing me to want to try upping the dose. I eventually went up to 75mg and the higher I went, the more anxious and jittery I became. I too had emotional binge eating problems before starting any SSRI or Wellbutrin. I haven't had this problem since. I am now taking 5 mg Lexapro as of Feb. '03. It works fairly well for me. I tried 10mg once a day and I felt anxious.
I agree with the diet suggestions. Buy some healthy snack foods like WASA crispbread crackers, homemade popcorn (not the microwave kind)- complex carbs. As well as almonds, sunflower seeds, soy nuts, hard-cooked eggs. Take a quality vitamin/mineral complex with a high ratio of the B vitamins.
Posted by KRM123 on October 6, 2003, at 16:08:09
In reply to Re: Zoloft- adjust dose to stop carb cravings?? » KRM123, posted by DSCH on October 6, 2003, at 7:49:13
Thank you again for the helpful information. I went to the institute today to consult with a Naturopath student that has been suggesting herbal products to me. I told her about the constant cravings and she told me to make a "green drink" every day...it is just blended up greens with distilled water. I'm sure it might make some difference and help me get the minerals I need but I don't think it will be the magic formula for all of my symptoms- also including the fatigue and headaches. I will go back if this green drink doesn't do anything great for me and ask for licorice root or ginseng. Thanks again!
> > DSCH,
> >
> > I'll keep looking for that article. I know I had added it to my "Favorites" list but must have deleted it. I looked at my Food and Mood book for awhile today too.
> > About the herbals...well I am not looking for anything to add serotonin, but I might try Chromium supplements or anything else that might help stabilize my blood sugar. I am pretty familiar with holistic medicine and there is a Naturopath institute close to me where I have recieved herbal supplements before.
> > I really don't want to up the Zoloft dose. I remember my pDoc wanted me to try 200mg because I was so fatigued all the time (and still am) but the high dose made me feel to anxious and uncomfortable. I felt like I was taking Ephedra.
> > Well I'll keep you updated- thanks for everything.
>
> You might want to look into something to help you out with the fatigue, and then also the anxiety if do you end up raising the Zoloft dose.
>
> Two herbal approaches to that would be licorice for fatigue and kava for anxiety. Neither appear to be contraindicated by SSRIs.
Posted by KRM123 on October 6, 2003, at 16:17:13
In reply to Re: Zoloft- adjust dose to stop carb cravings??, posted by Patient on October 6, 2003, at 15:17:21
Patient,
Yes I have considering lowering my dose but I'm not sure what difference it would make. The higher you go- the more energy you're supposed to have. I am doing so good on 100mg for my depression that I am afraid to mess with the dose...I just don't understand where this fatigue and carb cravings are coming from!
The fatigue actually started last March when I tried Lexapro 10mg. It completely wiped me out...I was sleeping all of the time...it was awful. I feel like I never completely recoverd from that feeling. An alternative medicine Dr. tested my adrenals and said that they are low during the morning and afternoon so maybe those are still messed up...wow it could be an endless possiblity of things. It's just so frustrating because I want a quick fix now but don't know what to fix!!Thanks for your suggestions.
> Why not try reducing dose back to 50 mg? As for my experience with Zoloft about 3 years ago, I had started at 25mg and it worked very well for several months, then it was increased to 50mg when I got in a rut and situational stresses were causing me to want to try upping the dose. I eventually went up to 75mg and the higher I went, the more anxious and jittery I became. I too had emotional binge eating problems before starting any SSRI or Wellbutrin. I haven't had this problem since. I am now taking 5 mg Lexapro as of Feb. '03. It works fairly well for me. I tried 10mg once a day and I felt anxious.
>
> I agree with the diet suggestions. Buy some healthy snack foods like WASA crispbread crackers, homemade popcorn (not the microwave kind)- complex carbs. As well as almonds, sunflower seeds, soy nuts, hard-cooked eggs. Take a quality vitamin/mineral complex with a high ratio of the B vitamins.
>
>
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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