My Son's Weight Gain

you might also want to get his thyroid checked and blood sugers done(iff possible)

my son is the same with Thomas

behaviours do not always require meds they are not always the answer what was he like before meds worse or better than he is now

shell

Post edited by: RJ2003, at: 04/14/2008 18:01

If he has not got rid of weight gain from the previous med he will be bigger.

abilify is not has bad with weight gain has some other meds are .

I would still ask to have his thyroid rechecked.

My son is 5 he weighs 6 and half stone though he eats nothing has no meds and is very active,we went to three docs before one agreed it was his thyroid,his weight is slowley coming off now

shell

Post edited by: spectrummum, at: 04/15/2008 09:29

Thanks for any information you can give me.

Sharon

is an antidepressant (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI) used in the treatment of depression in adults. It works by restoring the balance of natural chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain, thereby improving mood and feelings of well-being.

Many people are not aware that weight gain is one of the most common side effects associated with many antidepressants prescribed today. In fact, medications such as Fluoxetine (Prozac®) and Buproprion HCL (Wellbutrin®) have actually been marketed for obesity treatment.

Antidepressants can affect weight in several ways:

They may increase or decrease basal metabolic rate without changing caloric intake.

They may affect hormonal changes and increase appetite.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs comprise one of the major classes of antidepressants currently being prescribed by primary care physicians. At first, SSRIs were thought to be associated with weight loss and reduced appetite. For a while, they were even marketed as anti-obesity drugs. It is now known that long-term use of SSRIs is associated with weight gain.

The reason that SSRIs contribute to weight gain is not known. Although it was a widely held belief that drugs that increase serotonin output also decrease hunger, this does not seem to be the case. Patients using SSRIs often report symptoms of hypoglycemia (weakness, dizziness, frequent hunger, and headaches) when they do not eat. Symptoms of hypoglycemia may indicate hyperinsulinemia (elevation of insulin in the blood).

The five most common SSRIs currently prescribed in the United States today are as follows:

Citalopram (Celexa®)

Fluoxetine (Prozac®)

Fluvoxamine (Luvox®)

Paroxetine (Paxil®)

Sertraline (Zoloft®)

Paroxetine (Paxil®) appears to have the most significant impact on weight gain of all of the SSRIs. Studies show that patients using Paxil experience an increase in breast size as well as weight gain and increased serum prolactin. One case report linked cravings for carbohydrates with Citalopram (Celexa®) while other studies showed an average weight gain over time of 15-20 pounds with Sertraline (Zoloft), Fluoxetine (Prozac®), and Citalopram (Celexa®).

However, SSRIs cause less weight gain, fewer anticholinergic symptoms, and less toxic adverse effects than tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). These findings have led to the increase in SSRI prescriptions by psychiatrists and primary care providers. Primary care providers are not likely to be familiar with the difference between the various SSRIs relative to their possible weight gain side effects.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

TCAs were the most commonly prescribed antidepressants before SSRIs became widely available. Tricyclic antidepressants are often used to treat sleep disorders and to help patients manage pain. Most physicians are aware that TCAs can contribute significantly to weight gain.

Weight gain and other side effects vary from one TCA to another as well as from one patient to another. Many drugs in this class induce slowing of the metabolism and carbohydrate cravings. Factors more clearly understood involve histamine and alpha 1 receptor blocking actions. Appetite stimulation and weight gain make it extremely difficult for the diabetic using a TCA to control blood sugar.

TCAs include the following:

Amitriptyline (Elavil®)

Amoxapine (Asendin®)

Clomipramine (Anafranil®)

Desipramine (Norepramine®, Pertofrane®)

Doxepin (Adapin®, Sinequan®)

Imipramine (Janimine®, Tofranil®)

Nortriptyline (Aventyl®, Pamelor®)

Protriptyline (Vivactil®)

Trimipramine (Rhotramine®, Surmontil®)

Weight gain with TCAs is dose dependent and relative to the length of therapy.

The greatest weight gain among TCA patients has been observed with those using either amitriptyline (Elavil®) or imipramine (Janimine®, Tofranil ®).

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

There are two categories of MAOIs: nonselective, irreversible MAOIs and reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase type A (RIMAs). The nonselective irreversible MAOIs cause weight gain similar to TCAs while the newer, selective MAOIs do not appear to have any effect on body weight.

There is not much information available on the current use of MAOIs in clinical practice because they have some dangerous side effects and are used less frequently than other antidepressants.

Nonselective, irreversible MAOIs include the following:

Isocarboxazid (Marplan®)

Phenelzine (Nardil®)

Tranylcypromine (Parnate®)

Selective reversible RIMAs include the following:

Moclobemide (Manerix®)

Toloxatone (Humoryl®)

Other Antidepressants

Other antidepressants that do not fall strictly under the classifications of SSRIs, TCAs, or MAOIs include the following:

Buproprion HCL (Wellbutrin®)

Mitrazapine (Remeron®)

Nefazadone (Serzone®)

Trazadone (Desyrel®)

Venlafaxine (Effexor®)

Venlafaxine (Effexor®) has been shown to cause weight gain but not as severe as has been reported with the SSRIs paroxetine (Paxil®), fuoxetine (Prozac®), and sertraline (Zoloft®).

Mitrazapine (Remeron®) has been associated with significant weight gain, possibly secondary to interactions with the histamine (H1) receptor. It is not associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, sexual dysfunction, or increased heart rate, as seen with the SSRIs.

Trazadone (Desyrel®) is an antidepressant with sedative properties that is frequently used as a sleep aid as well as treatment for depression. It appears to cause less weight gain than amitriptyline (Elavil®) but more than buproprion HCL (Wellbutrin®).

There is currently no information available relating Nefazadone (Serzone®) to increased appetite or weight gain.

Buproprion HCL (Wellbutrin®) has not been associated with weight gain and is commonly used with some success in smoking cessation.

Anticonvulsants/Mood Stabilizers

These drugs were initially used only for seizure disorders. The following anticonvulsants are now prescribed frequently in the treatment of bipolar disorder and other selected forms of depression:

Carbamazepine (Tegretol®)

Divalproex (Depakote®)

Gabapentin (Neurontin®)

Lamotrigine (Lamictal®)

Topiramate (Topamax®)

Anticonvulsants tend to cause hyperinsulinemia (elevated insulin in the blood) and increased appetite leading to weight gain. Hyperinsulinemia also results in increased testosterone, which causes a risk to women on these medications for development of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (POS). Polycystic ovary syndrome can cause weight gain, male pattern baldness, increased facial hair, skin tags, acne, infertility, high blood pressure, abnormal lipid levels, and heart disease.

Seizure disorder studies showed that patients taking anticonvulsants who had either a normal or below normal body mass index had the most severe weight gain.

Conventional Mood Stabilizers

Mood stabilizers were commonly used before anticonvulsants were developed for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizers commonly prescribed consisted primarily of the following:

Lithium (Cibalith-S®, Duralith®,

Ekalith®, Eskalith CR®, Lithane®,

Lithobid®, Lithonate®, Lithotabs®)

Typically, one-third to two-thirds of the patients treated with Lithium gain weight. Of those, 25 percent gain enough weight to be classified as obese. Weight gain is dose dependent, but low doses of lithium (less than .8 mm/L) are often not therapeutic: therefore, low-dose lithium is usually not an alternative.

Antipsychotics

One of the most common reasons for noncompliance and discontinued use of antipsychotic medication is weight gain. The agent believed to be responsible for the increased food intake of patients taking antipsychotics is the serotonin blocker.

Conventional anti-psychotics include the following:

Haloperidol (Haldol®, Peridol®)

Molindone (Moban®)

Thioridazine (Apo-Thioridazine®, Mellaril®, Novo-Ridazine®, PMS-Thioridazine®)

Newer antipsychotics, classified as atypical antipsychotics, include the following:

Clozapine (Clozaril®)

Olanzapine (Zyprexa®)

Quetiapine (Seroquel®)

Risperidone (Risperdal®)

Sertindole (Serlect®)

Ziprasidone (Seldox®)

Haloperidol (Haldol®, Peridol®) is a conventional antipsychotic with a lower incidence of weight gain than the newer agents clozapine (Clozaril®), olanzapine (Zyprexa®), and sertindole (Serlect®).

A retrospective study showed that clozapine (Clozaril®) and olanzapine (Zyprexa®) had the greatest associated weight gain, followed by intermediate weight gain with risperidone (Risperdal®).

Patients treated with sertindole (Serlect®) had less weight gain than those treated with haloperidol. Another study linked clozapine (Clozaril®) to significant weight gain and lipid abnormalities, suggesting increased risk for diabetes.

Among the conventional antipsychotics, thioridazine and chlorpromazine have greater potential for weight gain, while molindone (Moban®) is the only antipsychotic shown not to increase weight on a consistent basis.

Studies show that antipsychotic agents have an effect on the reproductive hormones. Women receiving antipsychotics tended to display hyperprlactinemia and tended to be hypoestrogenic. Women with primary obesity did not have hyperprolactinemia and tended to have normal or elevated estradiol serum levels. These differences have pathogenic and therapeutic implications besides the effects on gonadal and adrenal steroids. Prolactin alone promotes appetite and insulin resistance that may underlie the excessive body weight observed in hyperprolactinemic conditions detected in both animal and clinical studies.

The small intestine absorbs dietary nutrients, including fats, protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Malabsorbtion is a condition in which the small intestine's ability to absorb a needed substance is reduced. The symptoms of malabsorbtion include unplanned weight loss, diarrhea withexcessive fat in the stool, anemia, swelling and vitamin deficiencies. Pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis are common causes of malabsorbtion.

Malabsorbtion is a gastro-enterology problem and does not primarily effect the nervous system.

There are many different causes and I suggest that you direct this

particular part of your question to an expert in that area, mnamely a

gastroenterologist, rather than a neurologist.

Malabsorbtion can effect the nervous system indirectly if there is prolonged inability to absorb vitamins and minerals, this in turn can cause

neurological problems, neuropathy is one particular example

The types of vitamins and minerals which are poorly absorbed depends to a large extent on the specific type of malabsorbtion syndrome concerned.

You need to findout from your physician what exact type of malabsorbtion,or if he/ she does not know get a referral to a gastro-enterologist to

clarify the issue.

If the type of malabsorbtion is clarified we may be able to correlate this with neurological symptoms for you.

In some cases malabsorbtion is part of an auto-immune process which can be associated with autoimmune muscle disease which in turn causes high CPK (The CPK isoenzymes test measures the different forms of creatine phosphokinase in the blood.)A CPK is a blood test that measures creatine phosphokinase