how are you doing coach?
HOw do you deal with the food fantasies?
bizi

Hi

I don't know of a good way to deal with the food obsession. I go to overeaters anonymous and that helps some. Also I don't eat sugar cause when I do I pig out on it.

Anyone else taking Zyprexa and having problems with weight gain?

Pam

Dear Pam

i'm not on it right now but i gained about 40lbs on Zyprexa. i was taken off it because i was gaining too fast. i can take it only on a short term or occasional basis.

you do well to avoid sugar. try to limit all ready carbs (bread, potatoes etc). if you eat them, do not eat them alone - combine with other foods - esp proteins or fats - basically a hypoglycemic diet.

my GP at the time i took Zyprexa happened to be a diabetologist. she told me that Zyprexa causes the appetite increase by increasing the insulin response. it can especially result in carb cravings, but eating carbs stimulates insulin secretion thereby aggravating the problem.

she said (i asked) there was nothing she could give me to contrast the effect completely but picking foods carefully can help reduce the impact overall and avoid the craving-gain cycle.

you should have your blood sugar monitored periodically, for safety. this is especially important and possibly should be done more frequently (? ask your doctor) if you are prone to hyperglycemia/diabetes, or have family members who are.

~ waves ~

coach and waves.
I wonder if the time of day that you take the zyprexa matters at all?
I wonder if you take it with a lot of protein if that would help to ward off an insulin response????
bizi

dear bizi,

i was hungry 24/7 when i was on zyprexa. the only time i didn't want to eat is if i had just stuffed myself and my stomach couldn't stretch that far.

eating something (anything) with it i don't think would help. the diabetologist told me it agonizes the insulin receptors. she said it has a direct effect. ready carbs make things worse because they also stimulate the insulin response.

~ waves ~

that sounds awful waves....24/7 hunger...yikes! I could not do that...I would have to change meds....bizi

well Bizi, i did get to subtract, from the 24/7, all of the hours during which Zyprexa knocked me unconscious, which fortunately was quite a few! but yeah, i was hungry during all my waking hours. i did switch meds.... but when it's the only thing that does what you need it for, you choose the least of the two evils... sigh.

Pam, are there others at overeaters anonymous who deal with med-induced appetite?

~ waves ~

Hi,

No one has said they are dealing with medication related weight gain at my group. Saw the shrink this week and switched from trazodone to Oleptro (extended release trazodone) and I felt better immediately

Pam

Dear Pam,
That's good news about your new Oleptro.
M.

Yesterday my little 90 year old mother passed away at our house with the help of hospice. Right now I am numb. Happy she's out of her misery but sad for me.

Pam