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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by delna on February 16, 2007, at 4:32:30
Hi
I am really distressed. No drug has ever managed to control my bipolar II disorder totally. But Mirapex did (as part of a long standing cocktail)
It’s a dopamine agonist and by its nature it should not cause weight gain.....infact people lose weight on it. But I gained almost 20 pounds in 8 months (even at a lowered does)
The weight climbs very rapidly and is uncurbed (unlike with Olanzapine wherein the weight gain did level out eventually)How is this possible- what mechanism can be involved? I know I had some hormonal problems while on it like constant physical pms symptoms. Apart from that nothing else was different and I definitely didn’t binge (infact I used to forget to eat!) It wasn't water retention either because it didnt go even after stopping the drug for 5 weeks.
I really want to figure out what could be going on because this drug is really the only hope left for me to have any sort of life...but the weight gain is ridiculous and dangerous. If I find an answer maybe I can try an antidote and a way to control it.
I wonder if the company will know since they have been other cases of this problem with Mirapex. But since it is such a rare side effect I wonder if they will have any clue . Especially since no one fully understands why it can be so effective in resistant bipolar, in the first place :-(
My doctor is clueless (as ever) and I am frantically trying to find an answer. I tried bromocriptine (a similar drug) but it was useless.
Please help!!
Thank you so much
D
Posted by blueberry1 on February 16, 2007, at 17:11:57
In reply to Anyone clued up on dopamine- PLEASE help!!, posted by delna on February 16, 2007, at 4:32:30
What was your long standing cocktail that mirapex was added to?
What side effects did you get from mirapex other than weight gain?
blueberry
Posted by delna on February 18, 2007, at 5:37:28
In reply to Re: Anyone clued up on dopamine- PLEASE help!! » delna, posted by blueberry1 on February 16, 2007, at 17:11:57
> What was your long standing cocktail that mirapex was added to?
>
> What side effects did you get from mirapex other than weight gain?
>
> blueberryHi
And thanks for the response!I have been on lamactil 200mg , venlafaxinne 37.5, bupropion 150mg for around 3 years. I started getting depressed and very impulsive again so I was given the Mirapex.
Other side effects depended on the dose.
Initially I titrated to 2mg and stayed on that for 8 months. I have to admit that I was very flat when it came to emotions ( I didn’t react to someone’s death even though normally it would have disturbed me alot) I had no desire to interact with anyone (including very close people) as I was very involved with what I was doing at the time (which was digital art) and yes, I did compulsively buy something everyday on the net related to art.(which Mirapex is apparently capable of causing) But I was highly productive and can actually make use of all the things I learned in art , during that year!
Also I was a bit blank in that I lost track of time and events and found remember words difficult. I also hated people calling me or wanting to meet me as I just saw this as interference to my work so my phone was on silent for 8 months. Sleep was a pain too.
I know that sounds unhealthy but it beats lying in bed crying all day and abusing tranquilizers which is what I was doing without Mirapex
I stopped the drug because of weight gain and quickly got back my desire to get out and meet people etc again. But the symptoms of impulsiveness and severe agitation came back rapidly so I restarted at and stayed at the lowest possible dose in the hope that the weight would not go up.On a lower dose of 0.5mg I found that the drug still balanced me out without any 'zombie' effect. I was stable, positive and active but in control of myself but the stupid weight started rapidly coming on again
Thanks for reading...really appreciate it
D
Posted by delna on February 18, 2007, at 6:09:16
In reply to Re: Anyone clued up on dopamine- PLEASE help!! » delna, posted by blueberry1 on February 16, 2007, at 17:11:57
Sorry one more important side effect I failed to mention!
I had the physical symptoms of PMS all month round...that included sore breasts, bloating, some back and leg ache too. I mean, I kept thinking I was due any minute but my period was always quite timely.
I feel this may be the key to the weight gain. I went to an endocrinologist who was clueless and said there was nothing she could do as she doubted I had developed hypothyroidism or cysts and anyway did not advise the pill.On another note studies are being done connecting bipolarity with the female hormonal cycles- I really hope they find something soon!!
Take care
D
Posted by itsme2003 on February 21, 2007, at 1:04:23
In reply to Re: Anyone clued up on dopamine- PLEASE help!! » blueberry1, posted by delna on February 18, 2007, at 6:09:16
I've experimented a couple of dopamine agonists as part of an antidepressant cocktail. I've found that they generally contribute to my eating everything in sight. Perhaps it's tied in with a pre-existing serotonin deficiency.
I've tried Cabergoline (Dostinex), Ropinirole (Requip), Amantadine (Symmetrel) and Adderall. It's important to note the different classes of these drugs.
Dostinex is a dopamine agonist. It made me want to eat like crazy.
Requip is a dopamine agonist. It made me want to eat like crazy.
Amantadine is a dopamine releaser and also a reuptake inhibitor (in addition to being an antiviral). I can't remember, but it seemed to me that it was neutral about appetite for me.
Adderall is dopamine reuptake inhibitor (and norepinephrine also). It was an appetite reducer for me although not as much as I would have expected.
Wikipedia speculates that the overeating side effect may be because of its D3 receptor agonist activity.
This is the end of the thread.
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