Other medication

[snowball12]

Morning!!
I have to lose 10kg. I eat a Low carb, high protein diet which is keeping my blood sugar good but not as good as some of you despite taking Metformin and Glicazide! I am struggling to lose this weight. I think it maybe my anti depressants which I have taken for 21 years and I need to continue!! Has anyone else had this problem??

 

[Vonny]

Hi @snowball12, I've always wondered if my antidepressants (citalopram in my case) made it more difficult to shift the weight. Despite having lost 5 stone and having a perfectly healthy BMI I still have to really careful about what I eat, and if I don't do between 10 and 20K steps per day I know it will creep up. I'm aware that I'm immensely lucky to be able to walk so far as none of my friends are able to given their ranges of ailments.
I certainly couldn't do without my citalopram. Drugs are changing all the time...do you think it's worth a chat with your GP (if you can get an appointment!) to see if there are any new drugs which could be more suitable?
Best of luck x

 

[snowball12]

Hi @Vonny. I was on Citalopram for a few years pre diabetes. Then GP changed it to Duloxetine, a few years later. I put on two stone exactly!! and couldn't shift it, I lost a stone when my mother died suddenly give years ago, put some back and I am still two stone overweight. It is impossible to see GP!! Hubby has been on the phone everyday for himself!!!! I have just started therapy which I have to pay for. So not a good time to change tablets. I did try Sertraline once!! It was awful I just stopped functioning. I think I will do some research. Thanks for replying

 

[s'nic]

I'll start by saying I'm a light sleeper, it has to be dark and quiet and I wake easily. I've always been the same and describe myself as not being a skilled sleeper 🙄
Back in 2013-2014 I cycled through Citalopram, mirtazapine, Sertraline, and Venlafaxine over the space of a year, none suited me and all just made me feel worse as I became unable to sleep. I forget which one, but I noticed that I'd lie down, relax and a few minutes later realise my jaw was tensed (extremely tensed), that was weird.
Venlafaxine was the last one I tried, I'd lie down, sleep for about 2 hours then I'd be wide awake but knackered. I ended up going to bed and getting up about 3 times a day, spending my waking hours completely exhausted. it was a nightmare.

At that point (after approx 1 year of sleep deprivation) I decided I'd had enough of being the doctors guinea pig and figured I'd feel better if I just had the depression, but could sleep. I switched to st johns wort, and gradually reduced those. I still deal with depression, but I can sleep and I can function when awake.
I acknowledge that antidepressants can help some people, but personally would not go near them again.

Mirtazapine caused a huge weight gain, so avoid that one

 

[snowball12]

I'll start by saying I'm a light sleeper, it has to be dark and quiet and I wake easily. I've always been the same and describe myself as not being a skilled sleeper 🙄
Back in 2013-2014 I cycled through Citalopram, mirtazapine, Sertraline, and Venlafaxine over the space of a year, none suited me and all just made me feel worse as I became unable to sleep. I forget which one, but I noticed that I'd lie down, relax and a few minutes later realise my jaw was tensed (extremely tensed), that was weird.
Venlafaxine was the last one I tried, I'd lie down, sleep for about 2 hours then I'd be wide awake but knackered. I ended up going to bed and getting up about 3 times a day, spending my waking hours completely exhausted. it was a nightmare.

At that point (after approx 1 year of sleep deprivation) I decided I'd had enough of being the doctors guinea pig and figured I'd feel better if I just had the depression, but could sleep. I switched to st johns wort, and gradually reduced those. I still deal with depression, but I can sleep and I can function when awake.
I acknowledge that antidepressants can help some people, but personally would not go near them again.

Mirtazapine caused a huge weight gain, so avoid that one

Sertraline caused terrible insomnia and I stopped functioning. Duloxetine makes me sleepy so I take it at night. Anxiety is my main problem but I have suffered four major episodes in my life. I am happy that you can manage without medication. I wouldn't wish my Anxiety on anyone, it is truly horrific

 

[s'nic]

Sertraline caused terrible insomnia and I stopped functioning. Duloxetine makes me sleepy so I take it at night. Anxiety is my main problem but I have suffered four major episodes in my life. I am happy that you can manage without medication. I wouldn't wish my Anxiety on anyone, it is truly horrific

I get anxiety as well which varies in intensity, and any stress seems to act as a trigger.
I've never slept well anyhow, even as a baby or child, so trying to cope with looking after myself and my house/affairs etc with raging sleep deprivation is just not an option.
As a baby I think I almost drove my mother insane, I'd be awake and crying by the time she wanted to go to bed and sleep. After trying every 'fix' she knew she worked out I'd decided I'd had enough sleep and wanted to get up and play

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear you are struggling to lose weight despite working hard at a menu that seems to be working well for your glucose levels @snowball12

Feels like you are between a rock and a hard place with your other conditions, starting of therapy, and the other meds you need.

And it can’t be helping that you find it so difficult to get an appointment with your GP

 

[mikeydt1]

i am on dulox anti-depressant but def did not make me gain any weight. something you could ask about if you are really struggling to loose weight is Ozempic injection works really well for weight loss.

Please note that there can be shortages of Ozempic.

One thing if your docs ever want you off Dulox it can cause mini seizures i am having nightmares with it and now on epilepsy meds seems no where to get off the stuff after you have been on it for ages but i am talking years of been on it.

take care snowball.