Posted by Pfinstegg on September 26, 2004, at 20:49:02
In reply to Cholesterol Increase with Weight Gain, posted by invisiblemanpa on September 23, 2004, at 8:15:37
Yes. Seven years of taking Prozac, Paxil and Lexapro, plus Zyprexa, made me gain 50 pounds, and raised my total cholesterol, LDL (the bad one) and triglycerides to abnormally high levels. I had always had a *low risk* lipid profile, but it changed to *medium-high*. I also almost became diabetic (probably the Zyprexa), going from a fasting blood sugar of 70 to one of 112. I just had to get off these drugs, and when I was able to, everything gradually reverted to normal over a 3-year period. Thankfully, this doesn't happen, at least not to such an extreme degree, to most people who take these drugs. I'd be the first to say that they can be extremely valuable, and even life-saving. I do think, though, that watching one's weight, lipids and blood sugar should be given more attention.
Because of the risks these drugs had for me, I had to find some alternative ways of treating my depression. The things that seemed to work best were rTMS, psychotherapy, low dose Wellbutrin and a low dose Synthroid-Cytomel combination.
poster:Pfinstegg
thread:394032
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040921/msgs/395490.html