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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 Heather Veeder on May 5, 2000, at 16:14:36
Wow, I've been doing some research on the Zyperxa drug for a health class report. With limited experience with it myself I was suprised to see the amount of you with weight gain problems. Actually I was almost put on this drug but my tests said just to remain on Zoloft for a couple more months. My doctors said there was mild side effects but wow, sounds like the best you can hope for is 30 + pounds and nothing short of unconciousness for a good 24 hours fallowed by feeling dizzy for the rest of the awake state.
If there is any positive response I would love to here...thank_God I never went on it....
Posted by Cam W. on May 5, 2000, at 20:16:38
In reply to *what*, posted by Heather Veeder on May 5, 2000, at 16:14:36
> If there is any positive response I would love to here...thank_God I never went on it....Heather - Not everyone gains weight on Zyprexa, just most people. In general, the better you respond to Zyprexa, the more weight you seem to gain. Also, the weight gain seems to plateau at about 8 months. Methods for preventing Zyprexa-induced weight gain (exercise and healthy, closely watched eating habits) are always more successful than trying to lose the weight once it has been gained. Also, the lower your initial body weight (or body mass index), the more weight you seem to gain.
Clozaril induces more weight gain than Zyprexa, but it is more toxic and is a better antipsychotic. Some studies suggest that exercise and dietary interventions with Clozaril do not have an effect on the amount of weight gain you may get with this drug. If you are going to gain weight with Clozaril, you will gain weight. At least with Zyprexa you may be able to slow the weight gain.
I think that there is a clinical study being done in Southern Ontario on using Topamax to control Zyprexa-induced weight gain. I think that using Topamax for losing weight only (and not also as a mood stabilizer or anti-epileptic) is not the best strategy. Topamax has too many cognitive side effects and is too potent a drug for weight loss alone (my opinion).
Zyprexa is a great drug. It unclouds the mind, as well as controls the symptoms of psychotics disorders. It works wonderfully as a mood stabilizer and also has some antidepressant activity.
The older, traditional antipsychotics (eg chlorpromazine, thioridazine, etc) also caused a fair bit of weight gain, but they also caused more serious movement disoders. Tardive dyskinesia is far more serious than weight gain, so the weight gain wasn't really talked about.
I'm rambling again - Cam W.
Posted by Chris A. on May 6, 2000, at 15:18:35
In reply to Re: *what*, posted by Cam W. on May 5, 2000, at 20:16:38
I know personally individuals that these drugs have been life savers for.
Just the same, I have name for each of them:
1)Zyprexa (olanzapine): "olanzaspan"
2)Lithium: "lithigain"
3)Depakote: "depabloat"
4)Clozaril: "clozaroll"
5)Tegretol: "tegreball"Sorry if I've missed any.
Chris A.
P.S. It is true. I know people whose lives have been radically changed for the better by these meds. They are too busy out living their lives to be checking in here. Some of them are managing to keep a good handle on their weight, too. Not me. I blew up like a baloon (have since lost it) and then the meds didn't work or blew me away with side effects.
This is the end of the thread.
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