weight gain from drugs alternatives

[nburris]

Between me and my husband I just realize that a lot of the medication cause weight gain.And be do have weight problems.
So far this are the drugs I found;can you let me now if there is alternative
Sotolol,naxium,lipitor,coumadin?
On my side a suffer from severe anxiety,panick attacks,depression.I have been diagnose bipolar and have been trated for that for several years.The drugs that I took thenb make me actually lose weight (lamictol.ativan,trazodone,valium).I was barely fonctionning,like a zombie.
I was in the hospital for about 4 weeks with lungs problems and decided to take advantage of being in the hospital to quit everything but the vaalium.
I fond a new psy that agreed that if I'am bipolar is a mild case and the tratment .
So I stayed with amytriptylin,lorazedpam (for sleep)and VaLIUM DURING THE DAY
But I started having more and more anxiety and panick attacks and shew put me on zoloft and remeron.
I had already gain some weight with the amytriptylin thatr I blame on quiting smoking,but now iyt is pretty major.
I have been putting on 1to4 pds a day.
I started at 128 pds and i'am now 165!
]Can you let me know if there are alternatives for this drugs?Doctors dont like to look to hard to find something that would not make me gain weight.I will do anything to avoid gaining weight.(I had a body image disorder and then a eating disorder that I only solve about 3/4 years ago and will not take the risk to go back.
Please help me if you can I am willing to try anything!

[jrbon]

Anyway keep in mind that even if one side effect it is listed in a medicament, that only means that it might happen in a percentage of the patients, it DOES NOT mean that anyone taking that medicament will suffer that effect.

Jesus

[erijon]

Flycaster is correct, cholesterol drugs do not have weight gain as a side effects so that rules out the Lipitor. Sotolol is a heart rhythm med and it does not cause weight gain as a side effect either. In mots cases, heart meds are designed to lower fluid loads and will generally cause a drop in weight. Coumadin is a blood thinner and again does not cause weight gain.

Your anti anxiety and depression meds are most likely the culprit, and not because they cause weight gain directly, however they keep you from being active and cause a more sedentary lifestyle. You are on several benzodiazepine and opiate drugs that will cause you to feel lethargic. Have you discussed this with your doctor? I suspect that your weight gain has more to do with the fact you stopped smoking and your lifestyle on the anxiety and depression meds. Again, you need to include your doctor in this discussion. You should never stop an prescription med without first discussing it with your doctor, that is very important.

Jon

[Flycaster305]

The heart and cholesterol drugs don't have, in my opinion, a side effect of weight gain.  I don't know about the anxiety medications, but rather think if they make you easily tired, you aren't probably exercising as much.  Also, when you quit smoking, most people tend to gain weight.
I'd suggest trying to exercise an hour a day and see if that hellps.

[Red_Star]

Have you ever been tested for hypothyroidism? Symptoms include acid reflux, rising or high cholesterol, anxiety, panic attacks, weight gain, depression, can be misdiagnosed as bipolar (bipolar type mood swings noted with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - autoimmune hypothyroidism). Testing for this condition includes TSH, free T3, free T4, and thyroid antibodies TPOAb and TgAb.

Magnesium deficiency symptoms include high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, anxiety, panic attacks, acid reflux. The newest warning for PPI's - proton pump inhibitors (eg: nexium) is hypomagnesemia (magnesium deficiency). Studies show the average time to develop a deficiency was a year after taking a PPI however deficiency was noted in some patients after 3 months.

Magnesium comes in various forms (look for forms ending in "ate") which are mentioned below for different conditions. However any form will benefit for symptoms of magnesium deficiency. If you have a kidney disorder, do not take magnesium without supervision.

Low and high stomach acid both can cause acid reflux however low stomach acid is more common.  Stomach acid lowers as we get older but other causes include h pylori bacteria, overeating, stress, lacking nutrients needed for stomach acid production such as zinc, medical conditions such as hypothyroidism.

The baking soda test:

Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, not baking powder) in an 8 ounce glass and drink it.

If sufficient quantities of acid are present in the stomach, bicarbonate of soda is converted into gas, producing significant bloating and belching within 5 or 10 minutes of drinking the mix.  Little or no belching is suspicious for low stomach acid.

Nexium alternatives:

Treat h pylori  
Eliminating dairy and gluten
Eliminate alcohol, caffeine, citrus, tomato-based, and spicy foods
Don't eat within 2 - 3 hours before bed
Don't eat junk/processed foods
Eat smaller, more frequent meals, at least 4 to 5 times a day
Take digestive enzyme supplements with each meal
Probiotics
75 to 150 mg of zinc carnosine twice a day between meals
200 to 400 mg of magnesium citrate or glycinate twice a day
Betaine HCI with pepsin supplements (for low stomach acid)
Apple cider vinegar (for low stomach acid)
Correcting low thyroid (low metabolism slows down acid production)

Lipitor alternatives:

Finding the underlying cause such as correcting low thyroid function, avoiding transfats, treating fungal infections, detoxing from heavy metals.

Other alternative treatments include vitamin B3 (niacin), artichoke leaf; soluble fiber [dietary supplement such as psyllium powder or in foods such as oats, barley, rye, legumes (peas, beans), fruits such as apples, prunes, and berries, vegetables such as carrots, brussel sprouts, broccoli, yams], plant stanols and sterols (such as beta-sitosterol and sitostanol) you can find sterol products at pharmacies; omega 3 fish oil.

Coumadin alternatives:

Nattokinase is a potent fibrinolytic (anti clotting) enzyme extracted and highly purified from a Japanese food called natto. Researchers have found that nattokinase is 4 times more potent than plasmin, works more effectively than warfarin (coumadin), and doesn't produce any side effects.

In addition: High homocysteine levels increase the risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart attack. Aim for a healthy homocysteine level of 6.3umol/L.

The following nutrients help lower homocysteine:

Folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin B2, zinc, TMG (trimethylglycine), Nacetylcysteine (NAC), SAMe, taurine, micronized creatine, CDP choline.

Sotolol alternatives:

Alternative for heart arrthmias: magnesium taurate, goldenseal, coenzyme Q10, taurine, hawthorn, calendula, cornflower.

Alternative for high blood pressure: L-arginine, magnesium aspartate, 95% grape seed extract, eliminating sugar and eliminating artificial flavours, replacing carbohydrate (bread, pasta, desserts, and excess fruit) consumption with healthy fats (such as coconut oil, eggs, grass-fed beef, wild salmon, avocados, seeds, and nuts).