Warning! FDA Approves a New Pill Belviq (lorcaserin) and soon Qnexa® (phentermine and topiramate) for Weightloss

As a person that suffered 3.5 years of Antidepressant Withdrawal I just found out that the FDA has approved a new weight-loss pill and will approve another one sometime this month or next. As some of you might know, Antidepressants make the person pack on the weight, leaving the person with a huge weight-loss problem that will not budge until you get off the Antidepressant. Which one must do slowly and steady with 10 percent tapers every 3 to 6 weeks. Please see Paxilprogress.org for help with tapering safety.

During withdrawal my weight gain would not budge.  It was not till after I was off the drug that weight-loss has started.

Now think about all the people who were trapped on their antidepressant, those who painstakingly slowly tapered off the drug to be left with a wrecked figure. And then they get this pill probably encouraged by their doctor.  It really makes my stomach turn.

Before getting into into these medications I want to express my thoughts on weightloss, and I want to say it is all about exercise and healthy nutrition NOT pills or starvation. Please do not fall for this. There is no pill that will help you. Only hurt you further. The change takes place in your mind and your spirit not your stomach or brain.  More about that later.

So the first one to get FDA approval is  Belviq (lorcaserin).  
This drug has serotonergic properties. what does that mean?  Serotonergic or serotoninergic means "related to the neurotransmitter serotonin". A synapse is serotonergic if it uses serotonin as its neurotransmitter. A substance is serotonergic if it produces its effects via interactions with the serotonin system.

A serotonergic, or serotonergic agent, is any chemical which functions to enhance the effects mediated by serotonin in the central nervous system.

Does that sound familiar? Think about Antidepressants and how they affect the serotonin? After a very painful withdrawal would you want to have anything to do with any drug that affects the serotonin?  If you found this Blog via search for Lexapro withdrawal or Antidepressant withdrawal then you know all about the horrible aspects of withdrawal and the weight gain. You know about the pain of withdrawal and want it over. Those symptoms you are going through or went through is the result of your brain trying to get back to "base" the whole thing is your brain coming back from a drug altered state to your normal state.

Now after all that this pill comes along to solve the weight problem? Well no actually this pill does not help, the average weight lost was only 7 pounds.  Risk your brain and central nervous system for 7 pounds. Sounds ridiculous to me.

Next pill that is up to be approved is  Qnexa® (phentermine and topiramate)

Topiramate otherwise known as Topamax

http://www.drugs.com/topamax.html
You may have thoughts about suicide while taking Topamax. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening symptoms of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits.

FDA pregnancy category D. Taking Topamax during pregnancy may increase the risk of cleft lip and/or cleft palate in the newborn. Do not start taking Topamax without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Use effective birth control while you are taking Topamax.

If you need to stop taking Topamax for any reason, your doctor slowly tapers off your dosage to prevent seizures

Phentermine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phentermine
Drug may increase blood pressure and heart rate. It may also cause palpitations, restlessness, and insomnia. Additionally, phentermine has the potential to cause psychological dependence. After short term use, tolerance begins and can be followed by rebound weight gain.

Cardiovascular Effects

Palpitation, tachycardia, elevation of blood pressure.

Central Nervous System Effects

Overstimulation, restlessness, dizziness, insomnia, euphoria, dysphoria, tremor, headache.

Gastrointestinal Effects

Dryness of the mouth, unpleasant taste, diarrhea, constipation, other gastrointestinal disturbances.

Read more: Topamax Withdrawal Side Effects | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5527603_topamax-withdrawal-side-effects.html#ixzz1zsh8nkbx


Well you can see why I wanted to post this warning especially for people that are withdrawing from thier Antidepressant or just finished and looking to lose the weight gained. This is no answer and to expose your already fragile Central Nervious System is just frightening,

As a fellow human being that went through this horrible withdrawal with no help from any Doctors I will never take any drug for any reason that affects any brain chemicals or receptors.

I am two months off and I can feel myself getting better and better everyday. I am already almost 20 pounds lighter.  I went through all the emotions and worry about the weight and if it will ever budge. And I can tell you it does!  I watch my calories according to my BMI and I exercise. Weight is one thing I do not do is worry about  anymore and that is the key.

Food
Food is healing and when you care for yourself with good nutritious food and have your portions across the day (eat three times a day and have snacks) You will start to feel better and better. Good portions of fresh fruits and vegetables with lean protein and and low-fat dairy and you will be set.

One of my days of what I eat.

Breakfast - 1 serving of Kashi Cinnamon Harvest with a cup of skim milk and fresh blueberries.
                   coffee
Lunch - My favorite Omelette : 1/2 cup egg whites Chopped Tomatoes, Chopped Green Peppers, Swiss Cheese 1 Rye Toast with butter. 5 Fresh Strawberries.

Snack: Greek Yogurt with extra fresh fruit and a Tablespoon of granola.

Dinner: 4 oz of Trout, Sweet Peas, Raw Carrot Sticks and a Nectarine.

Snack: At least two hours before I go to bed. The Kashi cereal with fresh fruit or a Cliff bar and a cup of skim milk.

For some reason I prefer snacks after lunch and after dinner, this is just a normal day and because I am not taking Antidepressants I have zero abnormal cravings. I am not afraid of carbs, I like potatoes and pasta I just pay attention to portions and calories. I do have more of a challenge because I am tracking sodium also and that has to be kept under 1500mgs a day. So processed food even organic processed has salt.

So I mix my own spices to avoid salt and I cook everything from scratch. I do like cheese but limit it to Swiss and I pick out the less processed with the less salt.

I am still learning my way through this but have been doing this since my last Lexapro dose and I feel fantastic.


Exercise
I have found exercise to be a personal choice. Aerobic has always helped my withdrawal symptoms and eased my withdrawal pain, so I stick with it. I use a stationary bike. I also am targeting my upper muscles with dumbbell weights and I exercise with standard situps and side crunches. I add the weights with the bike and exercises 3 days a week and for 3 days I just do the bike and the sit ups and side crunches. My goal to have healthy larger muscles (I started out really slow).

Muscles protect the bones and the bones grow stronger. Added Muscles also burn more calories. I have read a few different books and what interested me was having muscles  and when at rest, burns more calories at rest than only aerobic exercises. Meaning I burn more calories while resting for 30 mins than if I ride my bike for 30 mins if I had never exercise and built up my muscles.

Muscles are more dense than fat so the weight will not go down as fast, but you will see the difference and feel the difference. It wards off depression and give you lots of energy. Taking care of you muscles means you exercise them and you feed them good food. Getting a low calorie Whey protein drink really helps also. I drink 100 calorie powder after a weight session, all that protein goes right to the muscle.

Speaking of buring calories ... after working out your muscles you stay in the calorie buring mode well after 24 hours. So as you watch tv or on the computer or while you sleep you are still burning calories!

All I did was go to a used sports and exercise equipment store and buy the dumbbells 3 pounder to 10 pounder sets. I did pick up a weight bench and am planing on getting regular weights and a bar. But for right now I am happy with what I am doing. Hey, best thing about weights is that there are no parts you have to worry about breaking down! Unlike machines your body moves freely and it is harder for your muscles to become too used to the movement. You can change you movements and the weights will always be useful.

I started slow and worked my way up. Adding mins on the bike and adding weight to the dumbbells.  I did start while I was in withdrawal and kept reminding myself that once I was off I will see results.
Now my normal routine is the bike 30 mins and the exercise and weights 30 mins, so that is 60 mins every other day, and 45 mins on the no weight days for a total of 6 days a week. I know sounds hard, but not really I gotten used to it, I started slow and eventually worked my way up, I am used to it and I find I can carve out an hour a day with no problems. Sometimes I do that hour at night and sometimes when I wake up but I have to tell you, this is so worth it.  I think I would have lost weight without the changes but I know the changes will really boost me into what I want to be.

After the Antidepressant you will have the new found energy and positivity!