I have gained 40 pounds on my small frame, and I am pretty sure it is from the Amitryptiline I have been taking for a year. I'm trying to get off it to see if I can stop gaining. The extra weight is brutal on my joints.
Anybody else have meds that you think are responsible for this sort of thing? When you stop the meds, does some of the weight come off pretty easily?
Posts: 220 | From central TX | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Definately the amitriptiline and tetracycline. I've gained 20lbs and I usually don't gain weight.
Cave 76---you are too funny!
Posts: 441 | From USA | Registered: Jul 2004
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TheCrimeOfLyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4019
posted
Rifampin and zoloft
-------------------- You want your life back? Take it. Posts: 3169 | From Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Registered: Jun 2003
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kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
My daughter put on nearly 80 pounds in three months. It was like watching a slow version of Violet Bouregarde in Willy Wonka. This was before she was even diagnosed with Lyme.
In the past two months, after being on Rifampin, she has felt good enough to walk. Ten pounds came off in a month. So, we are hopeful that as treatment progresses she will start to shed the weight; which, looks more like an allergic reaction than fat.
Our LLMD says that since every system is affected, the metabolism is most often hit and that almost all his patients return to normal weight near the end of their treatment. We'll see. So far, I can see that the extreme bloating and inflammation is receding.
She is, however, on medications that are known to slow metabolism...Seroquel is one. She is trying to get off of it.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
The body's hormone production is affected by Lyme and by Heavy metal toxicity, primarily by metals. The toxins "sit" on the hormone producing glands, mostly the metals and xenobiotics/environmental toxins. I dropped much of my excess weight once I started to correct progesterone, etc. Read the info published years ago by John Lee, M.D. Most good healthfood stores can get you a tape free with one of Lee's lectures that is excellent. I had very little abx and very few drugs per se, yet I gained weight.
24 hour urine test for hormone panel, including adrenals. Meridian Valley Lab has been doing one for years one and there is another more recent one - don't know the lab right now. They are expensive. Hormone creams are available in health food stores. Check them out thoroughly.
Take care.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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Carol B
Unregistered
posted
I lost 50 lbs prior to diagnoses-which was not a bad thing-just wasn't for the right reasons( like having undiagnosed Lyme)-have been taking Ceftin and Minocycline- and my appetite has increased tremendously-and it is hard to resist eating.
Shove it in-can't stop, no willpower. The only appetite control I seem to have now is called Nap Time.
LLMD wanted me to double my minocycline- which made me so nauseas i couldn't eat for a week- but I couldn't move either I was so dizzy and weak. But I am tempted to increase dose again just so I stop eating so much!
My question would be-what food most satisfies that hungry feeling-like I have become a bottomless pit.
I know I know- *shaking hand vigorously in the air*- STOP ALL SUGAR AND REDUCE CARBS AND CRAVINGS WILL DIMINISH- right Lymetoo ?
Practice what I preach she says to self. Sorry dogs ate all the carrots. I did just eat a veggie burger-but I want more more more-like the rest of the package. I'll keep trying.
dmc
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5102
posted
gained 30 lbs in the past three months...due to lexapro then cymbalta this past month. Pain dr. put me on them not for dipression but to help sleep. Rather have disruptive sleep then the weight gain. Been off for three days and already feel lighter.
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
Maybe look into CraveArrest from Designs for Health. hey do have some well designed products.
posted
Neurontin for nerve pain but then it also made me a tad loopy and sleepy. I switched to Topomax and it worked without the side effects. I take it with elavil and have for years with no gain issues.
For me the weight I gained with lack of exercise (pain) and Lyme in general came off slowly when I switched to no sugar anti-inflammation diet before I knew I had Lyme. I lost most of the weight.
I was happy thoguh that the last little bit just came off with no more effort when I started treatment for Lyme, perhaps Lyme was messing with my body in some way to keep it on.
The good carb only and no sugar diet along with Pilates has helped me with the weight but finally getting treatment and getting nearly better seemed to be the last step.
-------------------- Lucy Posts: 342 | From Hawaii | Registered: Nov 2005
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
depression pills caused me to gain 20 lbs. 1 yr.
There is ONE advantage for being overweight!
We don't blow away on WINDY days! Bettyg
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AZURE WISH
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 804
posted
amoxicillin and predisone
and something else I cant remember but pretty sure it was an abx.
posted
When I was on mepron for a couple months I definitely gained weight and my cholesterol shot up to about 205.
I was then on tetracycline (2 grams, twice a day) for 3 months and ate non-stop at times! So I gained weight on this too.
All the weight that I gained was pure fat...no muscle mass increase! lol
I am now on biax/plaq and am exercising as much as I can. Thankfully my cholesterol has dropped back down to normal but I still have some progress to go with the other stuff.
-David
-------------------- Same nightmare, different day! Posts: 401 | From East Coast | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
This is kinda the oppostite. But I've gained about 10 lbs. over the last three months since I stopped taking Bicillin shots. LC
Posts: 116 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Mar 2005
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hiker53
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 6046
posted
I LOST 30 pounds on antibiotics 2 years ago and can't seem to gain it back.
-------------------- Hiker53
"God is light. In Him there is no darkness." 1John 1:5 Posts: 8929 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2004
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posted
I'm afraid my issues are opposite-I've lost 20 lbs. and don't think I'll be gaining it back. I can't drink, or eat sweets-so gaining weight just isn't happening-even with me drizzling olive and coconut oil on everything.
I know this may not seem like a problem-but its sure an issue for my bank account since I have to buy a whole new wardrobe-exchange my wedding dress-and deal with comments from people at work who think I've developed anorexia since my ribs are now visible Posts: 594 | From NJ/NY | Registered: Jun 2006
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klutzo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5701
posted
Amytriptaline = 43 lbs. in 2 months! Doxepin = 9 lbs. in 2 weeks! Inderal = 13 lbs. in 2 months! ERT = 22 lbs. in 2 months!
The only weight that came off on it's own when I stopped the med was the 13 lbs. from the Inderal.
Over the years I have dieted some of it off, had some of it come back, dieted again, and so on.
I was at the upper end of normal when I got sick, and am now 64 lbs. overweight....obesity and Lyme....two diseases for the price of one!
Klutzo
P.S. Armour Thyroid to get my TSH down to 1.5 did not cause any weight loss.
Posts: 1269 | From Clearwater, Florida, USA | Registered: May 2004
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
I gained 25 pounds before I was diagnosed with Lyme and started treatment.
Nothing would make those pounds budge -- not even swimming a mile a day several times a week.
As soon as I started antibiotics last summer, I dropped the whole 25 pounds in the first few months. My weight's been steady since then.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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posted
I'm like Andie -- I gained almost 40 lbs on a tiny frame in the few months before being dx'ed (and had that swollen, bloated "lyme" look)-- since starting treatment, the weight has been coming off steadily. I'm now almost back to where I was before.
None of the usual culprits (amitryptiline, cymbalta, lyrica) seem to have stalled the weight loss. Now that I'm feeling much better, I'm also able to exercise again, so am regaining some muscle tone.
-------------------- "Looks like freedom but it feels like death.. It's something in between, I guess"
Leonard Cohen, from the song "Closing Time" Posts: 822 | From California | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Believe it or not, the cholestyramine/actos protocol caused me to gain weight which I still can not get off over a year 1/2 later. It definitely caused my leptin resistance to become more problematic and increased some other inflammatory conditions as well. If anyone had a similiar experience I'd be very interested because this protocol was supposed to do the opposite!
-------------------- "We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us" - e.m. forster Posts: 921 | From PA | Registered: Jan 2004
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i have been trying the progesterone cream treatment. does this help with any facial hair? also, can it cause heart/breathing/jittery issues? i would not think so... i am young-its I think lyme is affecting my hormones
but eliminating everything than adding things back in to see what is helping and what is hindering/
if you could pm me that would be great because of my foggy brain! thanks kristin
Posts: 225 | From home | Registered: Aug 2006
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groovy2
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6304
posted
Mepron - I have gained 9 lbs in 2 weeks --ouch-
I m not worried tho --I can take weight off perty easily- getting rid of babs Much Harder--Jay--
Posts: 2999 | From Austin tx USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Biaxin - I can't stop eating (I'm also on doxy and plaquenil). Even though I don't feel hungry, I just have the urge to eat. I think I'm tring to get rid of the awful taste in my mouth and the "yucky tummy"
I have tried Hoodia and Green Tea Extract to conteract the weight gain - but no luck. I walk every day and do Ai Chi twice a week. I don't have time to exercise more than I do now!
What to do, what to do - I'm getting to the point where I just don't care anymore - then I start to feel guilty for overeating all the time!
-------------------- "Few of us can do great things, but all of us can do small things with great love". Mother Theresa
posted
Tetracycline, 1/2 lb per week. That's approx 12 pounds each time I do a 6 month course. Imagine if I hadn't been on the anti yeast (no sugar, flour, grains) diet. hats
Posts: 956 | From MA | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
Wow, thanks for all your responses. Looks like anything and everything is a culprit...
I have been off almost ALL meds for a week and a half, since an allergic reaction to my abx put me in the ER on Labor Day. LLMD suggested I let everything clear out of my system for a week or two... well, I have lost FIVE POUNDS since going off everything, and I have not even been trying. (Actually, I've had a lot of ice cream!)
It makes me really not want to go back on my meds.
Posts: 220 | From central TX | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Evidently I gained lots of weight becasue my cortisol production is too high all the time. The adrenals produce too much cortisol when you have a chronic infection (LYME) or are stressed. My suggestion is to do some saliva hormone testing. I now use a hormone creme made especially for me. I can't say I've lost any weight but then again I haven't gained even more. Two good books are Adrenal Fatigue by James L. Wilson and The Cortisol Connection, Why Stress makes you fat and ruins your health and what you can do about it. by Shawn Talbott Ph.D.
Of course a lot of lymies gain weight because your too sick or mostly to darn tired to exercise!
Posts: 547 | From Maryland | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
I gained 40 pounds as I was succumming to Lyme. It was like I was on a downward spiral. After the weight gain, came horrible pain and then the exhaustion. After I was diagnosed and after being bedridden for three years, I have gained 20 more pounds. I was always very fit and I now weigh more than I did when I was 9 months pregnant.
I can't blame my weight-gain on medication or being inactive, as the majority of it occured before I came down with full-blown Lyme Disease. I would think that if I could get rid of this exhaustion and pain, I would be able to lose some of this weight, but it's like being puffy all over. I eat only good things and no sugar. I've traied everything people have told me and nothing works. VERY FRUSTRATING! I used to be so active, fit, fun, pretty, and now I've aged 15 years. It really hurts my heart.
Glad I'm not alone! Posts: 75 | From NC | Registered: Dec 2004
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trueblue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7348
posted
Neurontin ~ gave me non-stop munchies. I gained 10-15 pounds in the first few months and it took me a year to lose it.
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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mo
Posts: 8337 | From the other shore | Registered: Jul 2002
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trueblue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7348
posted
quote:Originally posted by Mo: i'd have to say it was the bon-bons.
(taken for medicinal purposes only, of course)
mo
-------------------- more light, more love more truth and more innovation Posts: 3783 | From somewhere other than here | Registered: May 2005
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