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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 pretty_paints on February 3, 2006, at 5:54:11
Hello
I am feeling quite low, even depressed. Haven't felt like this in a while. I am having MAJOR weight gain on my meds.
Before all meds I weighed 7 1/2 stone (48kg). Then I started on Mirtazapine and went up to 9 1/2 stone (61kg). Then I went onto Clozapine and now I am 11 1/2 stone (73kg). I can't BELIEVE I've put on nearly 4 stone. I am so miserable.
My doc says she wants to increase my Clozapine, but is worried as it will increase my weight even more. The most annoying thing is I am hardly eating ANYTHING. No lunch, a small meal in the evening and a bit of brekkie. And I am exercising - swimming twice a week, aerobics and skipping. My doc says it's because Clozapine alters your metabolism. GGRRRRRRRR
So now I have to choose between getting my head sorted out or staying slim. Before all this started, my BMI said I was "underweight". Then I was "normal" and now "overweight". If I get to 12 stone, I shall be clinically obese. Can you believe it, from underweight to obese! It's ridiculous.
My doc has said we'll try CBT first, rather than upping my medication.
Maybe coming off mirtazapine will help. I'm not exactly DEPRESSED anymore. But then again it might bring it back...
Oh I'm so annoyed. PLEASE anyone who's been on this med, can yo tell me how much you gained or how long you went on gaining for? Is there any way to fight it??
I feel bad because I campaigned so much for this med right from the start, and my doctors told me it had a lot of bad side effects. I should have listened to them.
PLEASE ANYONE WITH ANY SUPPORT, PLEASE REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE!!
Love and hugs
xxxx
Posted by ed_uk on February 3, 2006, at 13:31:10
In reply to CLOZAPINE WEIGHT GAIN - so fed up, posted by pretty_paints on February 3, 2006, at 5:54:11
Hi K!
Nice to hear from you :) :) :) How are you doing apart from the weight gain
How is the clozapine working? Does your doc think it has been any more effective for you than quetiapine? The side effects certainly seem to be worse than quetiapine.
>My doc says she wants to increase my Clozapine, but is worried as it will increase my weight even more.
Why does your doc want to increase the dose?
>Is there any way to fight it??
Your doctor could prescribe orlistat (Xenical) 120mg three times a day. It might help you loose some weight.
Ed xx
Posted by Racer on February 3, 2006, at 16:00:14
In reply to Re: CLOZAPINE WEIGHT GAIN - so fed up » pretty_paints, posted by ed_uk on February 3, 2006, at 13:31:10
Meridia was first developed as an anti-depressant, and is marketed for weight loss instead, if it's available in the UK. Or a lot of doctors over here are prescribing Topomax for weight control with psychotropic medications. Maybe one of those could help?
The diet you're describing might be contributing to your weight gain, though. If you don't eat enough, your body's metabolism slows wwwaaaaaaaayyyyyy down. You need to eat at least 1200 calories per day, absolute minimum, not a tiny bit less, to get your metabolism normalized. Anything less and you'll start maintaining or even gaining, because your body thinks it's gonna starve, so it hangs on to every bit. So, maybe talk to your doctor about that, and also about one of those meds.
I'm sorry -- I know how frustrating and frightneing that can be. Your numbers are almost identical to mine when I went on my first antidepressant twenty years ago. Those days, though, they all said it was because I was eating too much. {sigh} Least that's better now, huh?
Posted by Phillipa on February 3, 2006, at 19:16:46
In reply to Re: CLOZAPINE WEIGHT GAIN - so fed up, posted by Racer on February 3, 2006, at 16:00:14
Hi Katie, I've missed you!!! Are you feeling better besides the weight gain? Are you still attending the groups daily? Wish you'd write more . Love Phillipa
Posted by 4WD on February 3, 2006, at 22:14:58
In reply to Re: CLOZAPINE WEIGHT GAIN - so fed up, posted by Phillipa on February 3, 2006, at 19:16:46
Does it have to be Clozapine? It seems to me that being on not one but two drugs famous for weight gain is going to make this an impossible situation for you. Did other ADs besides mirtazapine not help?
For me, mirtazapine and olanzapine were the only two drugs that made me hungry. I can't even imagine being on both at once. And I can well understand how gaining so much weight is very depressing in itself.
Racer had some good suggestions. You really do have to eat to keep your metabolism up. But I think I'd ask my doctor if I couldn't change at least one of the offending drugs.
Marsha
Posted by yxibow on February 4, 2006, at 0:18:05
In reply to CLOZAPINE WEIGHT GAIN - so fed up, posted by pretty_paints on February 3, 2006, at 5:54:11
>
> So now I have to choose between getting my head sorted out or staying slim. Before all this started, my BMI said I was "underweight". Then I was "normal" and now "overweight". If I get to 12 stone, I shall be clinically obese. Can you believe it, from underweight to obese!
Actually a variety of drugs that affect metabolism ironically create obesity in those who were originally underweight. This has been observed. I'm sorry to hear that it is affecting you so much :/
This is the end of the thread.
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