Posted by lil' jimi on May 6, 2003, at 11:46:10
In reply to Re: weight gain ...on Lexapro!!? (carb-cravings) » lil' jimi, posted by Okpolosi on May 5, 2003, at 16:49:37
> > > Been on Lex 3+ mos., 10mg. I had actually lost about 10lbs. until this past week. I noticed increased carb cravings and got my period and I ate like a pig. It looks like I gained 8 of the ten BACK IN A WEEKEND!! Am so upset, and noticed I don't seem to be getting the same relief I was from My symptoms.
> > >
> > > Have been waiting to see the DR, and want to ask to go to 20mg.
> >
> > hi okpolosi,
> >
> > the carb craving, munchie mongering syndrome is so typical of med effects, hormonal / menstrual response, dope smoking, etc, that it makes me think ... well i have a theory that it's a form of self-medication where we are trying to adjust our neurotransmitters by carbohydrates ... (another theory: a leading cause of alcoholism may be trying to adjust neurotransmitters with alcohol) .... so at least with starches we can have less risk than with alcohol.
> >
> > one support for my theory is an article i saw in scientific american:
> > "Sweet Medicines; July 2002; by Thomas Maeder; 8 Page(s)
> > Sugars play critical roles in many cellular functions and in disease. Study of those activities lags behind research into genes and proteins but is beginning to heat up. The discoveries promise to yield a new generation of drug therapies
> > File size: 204 KB"
> > at
> > http://www.sciamdigital.com/cart_http.cfm?ARTICLEID_CHAR=2C57E6C6-8565-435C-9111-9C641ED2B53
> >
> > unfortunately, folks at scientific american want to charge at least $5 to download the whole issue..... sorry.
> >
> > so i'm offering you my Guess that one's period tips the neurotransmitter balance, which has been so neatly balanced by your lexapro, back over into .... that carb-craving imbalance.....
> > for whatever that's worth.
> >
> > perhaps we should investigate nutrients to support menstruation, to help prevent or lessen the neurochemical impact?
> >
> > now 8 pounds in one weekend.... wow ... i wonder if i even eat 8 pounds in one weekend ... i'm trying to imagine swallowing 8 pounds in one weekend .... well, i understand why you are upset ... may i suggest metamucil capsules, fresh fruit, and lots of water? ... this is my "new" wonder cure for everything (!) (wink, wink!) ... well, it shouldn't hurt anyway ....
> >
> > good luck anyway
> > and
> > TAKE CARE !!
> > ~ jim
>
> A lot of GREAT info.....Thanks a bunch.
>
> I think some of that 8lbs. is from water retention, feel like a whale, but clothes still fit.
>
> Funny thing is that this is my 3rd period since starting Lex, and I didn't have the same problem for the other 2, in fact I generally ate less, and felt full. That's probably how I lost the weight in the first place.hi there okpolosi,
water retention!..... okay, that i can understand .... i can drink 8 pounds of water in a weekend .... make that, i SHOULD drink 8 pounds of water in a weekend (!), since a gallon weighs about 6 pounds.... and these days it seems we are supposed to drink lots and lots of water.
a point i wanted to make (and i don't think i did) is that science is just recently discovering the therapeutic benefits of some specific carbohydrates and therapies from these disoveries are now being developed.
i have extrapolated from this news that we may be subconsciously compensating our neurotranmitter imbalances by trying to use carbs on our inter-synaptic environments ..... maybe .... maybe not.
another 'nutrient' to promote is water .... i suspect that dehydration is worse for the neurotransmitters than it is for our muscles or our digestion, if only because the healthy electrolyte balance has to have a greater impact on our neurotransmitters ..... that and i tend to not drink water unless i make myself, especially when i get my lex SEs.
enough about me.... how are you doing?
take care !!
~ jim
poster:lil' jimi
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030505/msgs/224669.html