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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Amanda S on March 30, 2000, at 20:55:40
My doc didn't return my call giving a reason why I can't take metabolite. Is it the ephedran? Not sure I spelled that right. Can't seem to drop those 10lbs I would like to drop. I exercise at least an hour and ahalf daily. What's the big deal??? On another note... My hair has been thinning since I started lamictal back in June 1999. I am sick of it. Just about ready to get off of it. I have been to an endocrinolgist. He tested my level of testosterone ( I had an oopharectomy at 33 because my mother died of ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, her sister did to, 20 years before her). The testosterone has given me an incredible libido. The doc said my level was high so he told my obgyn to half the dose and increase the estrogen. I get an injection every five weeks. He told me my hair should start growing back eventually. It has been at least 3 months and no sign. I think the culprit is lamictal even though this is not listed on the info. about lamictal. I want to talk to people who have been on this drug for at least ayear. It has been a lifesaver. Other drugs certainly haven't worked for me. I take zinc supplents. I use zinc shampoo, and rogaine for women. Please help me out. Thank you for being such a saint on this web site. Hope you know how much all these people including me appreciate your input. God Bless!!!
Posted by Cam W. on March 30, 2000, at 22:53:15
In reply to Cam, metabolite and lamictal, pdoc says NO, posted by Amanda S on March 30, 2000, at 20:55:40
Amanda - Is Metabolite a brand name of a diet pill? A metabolite is a breakdown product of a drug. Most drugs are lipid soluble (dissolve better in oils, or fatty tissues, than in water). The liver and blood stream metabolize, or alter the chemical nature, of these lipid soluble drugs by making them more water soluble (ie by hydroxylation, desmethylation, glucuronidization, etc.). The kidney is better able to excrete (pee out) these water soluble metabolites than the lipid soluble parent compounds.If Metabolite is a brand name of diet pill containing ephedra or ephedrine, as many diet pills in the U.S. do (I think). Ephedrine is not in Canadian diet pills. Ephedrine works as a diet aid by giving you more energy to burn off calories (eg can't sit still). The downside is that ephedrine also speeds up your heart rate and has caused problems (eg heart attacks) in some people (esp. if taken in large doses). As an aside, ephredrine is the starting compound in the manufacture of methamphetamine (speed).
I really do not think that any diet pill is effective in weight reduction. You may lose some weight with them in the short term, it usually is because of water loss (eg slight dehydration). The weight is usually regained after a period of time. Any diet aid that claims to increase metabolism is either lying or fudging the truth. Increasing one's metabolism is not easy. Exercise may not make you lose weight, but it replaces fat with muscle, which is more dense (thus heavier). I say, look at your parents' shape, that is what you are going to look like. You are doomed by genetics (in most cases). Most of us do not have the genes necessary to have "model-like" figures.
Diet also figures greatly into weight loss. When we exercise, we generally get more hungry and thus eat more. Our North American diet consists of too much fat and junk food, rather than raw veggies and fruit. We must just avoid the temptation of the comfort foods that taste good and eat the rabbit food (yeah, like I follow my own advice - added sarcasm). Rather than eating less food, we should probably eat a better balance of healthy food.
As to the hair loss. Until I started reading this board, I did not realize that hair loss was caused by Lamictal alone. Whenever someone complained of hair loss while taking Lamictal, they were usually taking another mood stabilizer that also could cause hair loss (eg lithium or divalproex). I always blamed the hair loss on the other agent, but others on this site have kinda convinced me that Lamictal can cause hair loss on its own (even though I cannot remember seeing this reported in the literature). Your hair loss could be due to an over abundance of testosterone, but I could not say this with any certainty.
If Lamictal is working for you, I would not be so ready to stop it for 10 lbs. The next drug you try could be worse. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Sorry that I don't have any other answers, but I'm sure I would like you just the way you are. Sincerely - Cam W.
Posted by JohnL on April 1, 2000, at 2:55:53
In reply to Cam, metabolite and lamictal, pdoc says NO, posted by Amanda S on March 30, 2000, at 20:55:40
I think what Cam said makes a lot of sense...that is, if Lamictal's working don't mess with it. But if it isn't really doing much, that's a different story. I think it is implicated in hair loss sometimes.
My wife uses Omega oil supplements for skin health. She uses one called Omega 3-6-9, in softgell form. Couple capsules a day. I started taking it too just for grins. I figured it's healthy, so what the heck. I was surprised to observe after a week that I was no longer shedding hair. I take Lamictal. I used to be able to run my fingers through my hair and come out with quite a few strands of loose hair. But now I run my fingers through my hair and not even a single strand comes out. The only thing different is the Omega3-6-9 supplementation. Omega oils are good for skin, overall health, and apparently hair health as well. It's no placebo effect. I wasn't expecting anything.
As far as Metabolite goes, conservative dosing shouldn't be a problem. Metabolite has an herb in it called Ma Huang, which stimulates the adrenal glands, increasing norepinephrine and such. Ma Huang is the active ingredient in Metabolite. They also have a candy bar. I tried one to sample Ma Huang instead buying a whole bottle of pills. I was amazed at the energy, motivation, interest, and mood lift it gave me. In hindsight I think a quarter or a half a candy bar twice a day would be much better. These candy bars are available in the pharmacy section of Wal*Mart near the prescription window. I was told at the healthfood store Ma Huang is not for consistent use though. Not sure why. But for a definite boost, a $1.00 candy bar might be worth sampling just to see. Nothing wrong with taking it while on Lamictal. Heck, people take MAOI inhibitors with Lamictal.
Just wanted to mention Omega3-6-9 oil supplements (two capsules a day) for the hair health, and a Metabolite candy bar to sample Ma Huang to see how you like it.
This is the end of the thread.
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