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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jessers11581 on April 20, 2005, at 14:11:26
I'm just wondering if anyone else has this problem: SUGAR CRAVING (and addiction). All I ever want to eat is sugar and carbohydrates. I could totally care less about protein, or even fat really. Just give me the sugar. I never crave salty things. I've read that this can be caused by serotonin deficiency, but since I'm on meds to increase serotonin, I don't understand why this would be such an issue for me. I've always liked sugar, but I don't recall ever being so ADDICTED to it until recently. And I'm very compulsive with it too. Like, I'll stuff a bunch of cookies in my mouth before while simultaneously telling myself that I'm not going to do it. Where is my self-control?!!! I swear, it's driving me NUTS! But anyway, I just want to know if this sounds familiar to anyone else on this board. I went ahead and raised my Cymbalta dose last night to 60 mg., and I'm hoping that this may help. Please respond if you have any experiences to share! Thanks, J :)
Posted by Spriggy on April 20, 2005, at 14:20:59
In reply to is this an indication of low serotonin?..., posted by jessers11581 on April 20, 2005, at 14:11:26
I don't think it means seratonin is low.
My cousin is a pharmacist and she told me the reason some people crave carbs on SSRI's is because they can lower dopamine.
When your dopamine is lower, it can create carb cravings.
So maybe it's more a dopamine problem than a seratonin problem. Have you tried Wellbutrin?
Posted by Spriggy on April 20, 2005, at 14:22:45
In reply to Re: is this an indication of low serotonin?..., posted by Spriggy on April 20, 2005, at 14:20:59
I should add that many people on Wellbutrin experience weight loss.. and Wellbutrin targets dopamine and norepiphrine.. So my cousin's theory makes sense to me.
When I took Wellbutrin, I went 4 days without eating (and sleeping). It completely took away any desire I had to eat.
I don't think that's necessarily a good thing (for me anyway) but it might help you with your appetite.
Just don't take it if you have anxiety issues.
Posted by MidnightBlue on April 20, 2005, at 14:49:54
In reply to is this an indication of low serotonin?..., posted by jessers11581 on April 20, 2005, at 14:11:26
I know when I get depressed my "quick fix" which lasts about 10 minutes is a high sugar drink with caffeine. I have terrible cravings for starches when I am depressed. I did respond well once to Wellbutrin. I think I'm sort of burned out on it. I did not respond to Prozac which is an SSRI.
I'm not sure if it is a dopamine problem or not, but I sure don't think it is a serotonin one.
Posted by tendency on April 20, 2005, at 15:56:49
In reply to is this an indication of low serotonin?..., posted by jessers11581 on April 20, 2005, at 14:11:26
> I'm just wondering if anyone else has this problem: SUGAR CRAVING (and addiction). All I ever want to eat is sugar and carbohydrates. I could totally care less about protein, or even fat really. Just give me the sugar. I never crave salty things. I've read that this can be caused by serotonin deficiency, but since I'm on meds to increase serotonin, I don't understand why this would be such an issue for me. I've always liked sugar, but I don't recall ever being so ADDICTED to it until recently. And I'm very compulsive with it too. Like, I'll stuff a bunch of cookies in my mouth before while simultaneously telling myself that I'm not going to do it. Where is my self-control?!!! I swear, it's driving me NUTS! But anyway, I just want to know if this sounds familiar to anyone else on this board. I went ahead and raised my Cymbalta dose last night to 60 mg., and I'm hoping that this may help. Please respond if you have any experiences to share! Thanks, J :)
Actually, despite what spriggy says, sugar cravings *are* in fact often associated with low serotonin.
Posted by banga on April 20, 2005, at 17:43:28
In reply to Re: is this an indication of low serotonin?... » jessers11581, posted by tendency on April 20, 2005, at 15:56:49
I don't think it is all that simple.
Cravings are at times associated with low serotonin, but are also associated with hypoglycemic conditions, low dopamine, and so many other things; and likewise depression has been associated with all these examples.
See, much of what whe've observed about the body is associations/correlations, not clear cause-effect relationships. That is why drug companies are wrong in saying that depression is *caused* by imbalances of neurotransmitters--all we know is that there is a correlation, and sometimes monkeying with them can help some people. The true cause is unclear, and there are probably many causes.
So, again, it is not that simple...your body is unique.
SSRIs lead to weight loss in some people, for others it leads to weight gain. For some, it depends on the SSRI.I wish you luck! and hope you get it resolved. I wish I could answer this better for you.....
Posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2005, at 18:09:39
In reply to Re: is this an indication of low serotonin?..., posted by banga on April 20, 2005, at 17:43:28
Banga, You're a wealth of knowledge today! Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by banga on April 20, 2005, at 18:27:18
In reply to Re: is this an indication of low serotonin?... » banga, posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2005, at 18:09:39
> Banga, You're a wealth of knowledge today! Fondly, Phillipa
What?? Only today?? LOL!
Posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2005, at 18:37:35
In reply to Re: is this an indication of low serotonin?..., posted by banga on April 20, 2005, at 18:27:18
When I posted that I wanted to add all the time! Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by florence on April 21, 2005, at 18:25:44
In reply to is this an indication of low serotonin?..., posted by jessers11581 on April 20, 2005, at 14:11:26
> I got sugar cravings before my menstrual period; don't know what hormone caused that...
I never cared for chocolate in the last 20 yrs. But when I started Remeron I ate bags and bags of chocolate.... I believe it is becuz of the H1 receptor in the stomach (histamine receptor) Maybe someone else can tell you if your medicine acts on the H1 receptor....SLS had a great chart of meds and it seemed to me that the meds that caused weight gain acted on the H1 receptor; like Remeron and MAYBE if I remember correctly, Zyprexa. But don't quote me on the latter. Florence
I'm just wondering if anyone else has this problem: SUGAR CRAVING (and addiction). All I ever want to eat is sugar and carbohydrates. I could totally care less about protein, or even fat really. Just give me the sugar. I never crave salty things. I've read that this can be caused by serotonin deficiency, but since I'm on meds to increase serotonin, I don't understand why this would be such an issue for me. I've always liked sugar, but I don't recall ever being so ADDICTED to it until recently. And I'm very compulsive with it too. Like, I'll stuff a bunch of cookies in my mouth before while simultaneously telling myself that I'm not going to do it. Where is my self-control?!!! I swear, it's driving me NUTS! But anyway, I just want to know if this sounds familiar to anyone else on this board. I went ahead and raised my Cymbalta dose last night to 60 mg., and I'm hoping that this may help. Please respond if you have any experiences to share! Thanks, J :)
This is the end of the thread.
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