Question:
I doubt it has a significant effect on your metabolism… now your THYROID, that’s another story. Lithium can indeed mess with thyroid release resulting in weight gain.
Response:
What is the best way to get checked for thyroid dysfunction??? Thanks– Jeff.
Response:
> What is the best way to get checked for thyroid dysfunction??? Thanks– > Jeff.
Get your doc to write you a slip for bloodwork. That is the easiest way. if there is an abnormal reading, there are more tests that the doc can do. Take care, Liz Dakini- A wrathful or semi-wrathful female deity * Coming to you live from Bal’mar Mer’lin * * Baltimore Maryland *
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> And as to the weight gain, eat less and exercise more — or blame no one >> or nothing than yourself. >> Dan Suffoletta > I hope the group will forgive me, but this Dan person’s response is really > inappropriate! Yes, lithium does cause weight gain as do most of the > psychotropic drugs. Lithium presents a unique problem, as after a period of > time it is very common to find oneself suffering from hypo-thyroidism. This > slows down the bodies metabolic rate, with one of the resulting side effects > being weight gain. The damage to the thyroid gland is usually permanent, > although it can be treated with a thyroid hormone. > So, Dan, until you know what you are talking about, it would be best to keep > your catty remarks to yourself. People who are coping with depression or > manic depression have enough to cope with without people like you and your > inconsiderate ignorance. > Phoenix
Way to go Phoenix!! Depakote also causes weight gain because it, for reasons I just don’t understand because I am so incredibally unscience oriented, produces more insulin. When more insulin is produced, it makes you hungry all the time. Therefore you eat more not because you are lazy and nuts and a whiner, but because your body is begging for it. I am trying to exercise a lot right now because I am hoping to convince my Pancreas that the insulin I have is enough and being used properly. They often suggest diabetics excercise more for the same reason. However, I have been told by 2 neurologists that "the jury is out" on whether or not I will be able to lose the 20lbs I have gained on Depakote. They said-keep trying and consider going to weight watcher’s and asking about there classes for diabetics. I was told that I may need to change my eating habits to those of a diabetic to combat this problem, or even just keep it at bay. Anyway, aside from that, weight and body image issues have been a big problem in my life and the lives of many. You can’t just come onto a support group and say "just get physical" and expect that to do anything but be hurtful. I don’t know why, but it can be a difficult process to even begin changing your eating habits and exercising. grrrrr. take care, ms manic
Response:
> And as to the weight gain, eat less and exercise more — or blame no one > or nothing than yourself. > Dan Suffoletta
Lithium always gave me sever stomach pains, like really bad hunger pains. I took it for about a year and stopped after I gained about 20 lbs and I have been unable to shed those pounds. My metabolism used to be extremely fast and now it seems to be about a quarter of that. I wonder if taking the lithium could possible mess up one’s metabolism permanentaly?
Response:
>> And as to the weight gain, eat less and exercise more — or blame no one > or nothing than yourself. > Dan Suffoletta >Lithium always gave me sever stomach pains, like really bad hunger >pains. I took it for about a year and stopped after I gained about 20 >lbs and I have been unable to shed those pounds. My metabolism used to >be extremely fast and now it seems to be about a quarter of that. I >wonder if taking the lithium could possible mess up one’s metabolism >permanentaly?
I hope the group will forgive me, but this Dan person’s response is really inappropriate! Yes, lithium does cause weight gain as do most of the psychotropic drugs. Lithium presents a unique problem, as after a period of time it is very common to find oneself suffering from hypo-thyroidism. This slows down the bodies metabolic rate, with one of the resulting side effects being weight gain. The damage to the thyroid gland is usually permanent, although it can be treated with a thyroid hormone. So, Dan, until you know what you are talking about, it would be best to keep your catty remarks to yourself. People who are coping with depression or manic depression have enough to cope with without people like you and your inconsiderate ignorance. Phoenix
Response:
> I hope the group will forgive me, but this Dan person’s response is really > inappropriate! Yes, lithium does cause weight gain as do most of the > psychotropic drugs. Lithium presents a unique problem, as after a period of > time it is very common to find oneself suffering from hypo-thyroidism. This > slows down the bodies metabolic rate, with one of the resulting side effects > being weight gain. The damage to the thyroid gland is usually permanent, > although it can be treated with a thyroid hormone. > So, Dan, until you know what you are talking about, it would be best to keep > your catty remarks to yourself. People who are coping with depression or > manic depression have enough to cope with without people like you and your > inconsiderate ignorance. > Phoenix
Woah, This is really disturbing. Although this letter is signed with my name- I did not write it. The ‘From’ line on the letter (David Laskowski)> David…I don’t know you and I don’t know why you would chose to employ a fake name in writing to the group, but you are using my name. There was another person last week who was signing as <Phoenix in CDC> or something. I understand that the name Phoenix may have powerful connotations for many people…it does for me too, but I think this group is too small to have this many Phoenix-s running about. Phoenix is my REAL name and I gotta sign my posts with something! I had hoped to maintain some informality in signing with just my first name, but it appears that is going to cause some confusion. From now on I will sign my name at the end of a letter just as it appears on the ‘From’ line at the top of the post. I work really hard to maintain an open and sympathetic ear when I am writing with/to all of you and I hope that if any of you come across a nasty post signed by a Phoenix you will check the return address and make sure it really is or isn’t this Phoenix Mayet. Thanks, Phoenix Mayet
Response:
My doctor has me on both (at full bore) as well. While he feels this may be gilding the lilly so to speak, he feels the added prophalactic layer of protection is advisable. Would you rather be heavier, constipated, or under the uncontrollable force of a manic episode. I’ll gladly take either of the former, for now it is next to impossible for me to go manic, and I have pushed the envelope. I should also tell you my Dr. specializes in pharmacology, in addition to psychiatry, and is affiliated with NIH and Johns Hopkins. He know his shit, but I still read all the literature I can on my medication and his combinations. I pepper him with questions and he has given me the flexibility to adjust my meds when I feel the differences within myself. I know you know what I mean. We cannot throw static medicine at a dynamic human environment. It must be responsive and flexible. And as to the weight gain, eat less and exercise more — or blame no one or nothing than yourself. Dan Suffoletta