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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by hollyocd on November 15, 2004, at 13:08:15
Hi Everyone,
I found this board because I was searching the Net for information on a medication recently prescribed. I have OCD and unipolar depression. For nearly 3 years I took 80 mg of Prozac daily for both depression and OCD. Then in Dec. of 2003 I had gastric bypass surgery. Following the surgery I found that Prozac caused horrible nausea. Due to deficits in my healthcare network I was being treated by my general practitioner, who was continuing the prescription given to me by a psychiatrist. So, once the Prozac wouldn't "work" due to my nausea, the GP switched me to 20 mg of Paxil daily telling me this is the clinic's standard treatment for OCD. It did nothing. My OCD and depression became severe. It's been all I can do to get up in the morning, go go to work, and go home. I'm irritable, have crying jags, and have to put forth a gigantic effort to resist my compulsions. My OCD is primarily ruminative, or centered on thoughts. But my compulsions include things like reading Tarot cards online to see if everything will turn out ok. It's funny but when the "voice" inside your head says to read the cards again and again and again it's hell.
So, I found out there is a psychiatrist in my network two hours from here who would see me. The local psych docs in my network either see kids exclusively or work with the local mental helath clinic. To see a clinic psychiatrist I would have to discontinue seeing the cognitive behavioral therapist I've seen for years and who has done me so much good and see a social worker at the mental health clinic. That's not a chance I want to take. So, I went to see the doc 2 hrs away. He seems ok. He prescrived Zonegran, an anti-convulsant. After 2 days it seems to be helping. Of course this may be my imagination, but I'll keep you posted.
holly
Posted by stresser on November 15, 2004, at 16:39:18
In reply to New Here, posted by hollyocd on November 15, 2004, at 13:08:15
Holly,
Welcome.....you will find some great information here, and hopefully make some wonderful friends. I find this site incredibly supportive, and come here every day to check on how everyone is doing. Check out the medication board, because I think you will find it fits your needs very well. The people that frequent that board are terrific and have more information than my MD! How are you doing since your surgery? I'm sure this will be directed to the medication board since I am going to ask you about your Zonegran,...... how much are you taking? Is it for weight loss as well? I hope you don't think I'm prodding too much, I would like to get to know you...we all would. -L
Posted by hollyocd on November 15, 2004, at 18:30:39
In reply to Re: New Here and your on Zonegran?, posted by stresser on November 15, 2004, at 16:39:18
Hi L, No, you're not prodding :-) I answer questions about my surgery and my weight loss all the time. In fact, at work I'm something of a curiosity. I've lost 90 lbs since Dec. 2003. I have been pretty successful with altering my eating patterns, although I will admit that a lot of my overeating was driven by anxiety and depression. I remember in the 90s the first time I was prescribed Prozac for depression and being told that Prozac would make me eat "normally" but that didn't happen. In fact, after I was again prescribed Prozac for OCD and depression and began taking the max. dose of 80 mg I *gained* 50 lbs. Not the fault of Prozac but rather stress-induced compulsive eating.
In fact, considering that I've been under-medicated for nearly a year, the fact that I've managed to follow my surgeon's eating plan pretty regularly is a wonder. I do eat more carbs than I should be eating. However, in the couple days since starting Zonegran, my carb cravings have been less. And in fact the psychiatrist is hoping Zonegran will help me acheive better eating patterns and lose more of my excess weight. I still need to lose about 45 lbs.
I have checked the meds boards for Zonegran and even started my own thread as it seems it is an unusual treatment for OCD. However, lots of folks are taking it for bipolar disorder.
Holly
Posted by stresser on November 16, 2004, at 9:03:32
In reply to Re: New Here and your on Zonegran?, posted by hollyocd on November 15, 2004, at 18:30:39
Holly,
That's wonderful!! Congrat's.!!!!! You must be very proud of yourself, because that's difficult to lose and stay on a restricted diet. Carbs are addicting, I know!!! I love carbs. I think Zonegran is suppose to work like Topamax, and help binge eating. That's what I have read anyway. 45lbs really isn't all that much, do you think? You can do THAT, no problem....especially with the zonegran. -L
Posted by hollyocd on November 16, 2004, at 9:07:44
In reply to Re: New Here and your on Zonegran? » hollyocd, posted by stresser on November 16, 2004, at 9:03:32
Hi L, Thanks for the kind words. I'm hoping I can lose the remaining 45 lbs but at this point my weight loss has slowed so it's hard. With the depression it's been tough to exercise although walking at the park does help me tremendously to cope with depression and OCD. It all depends on if I can get myself to do it. Today however I have my exercise clothes with me and I plan on stopping by the park on the way home. Today the spaced feeling from the Zonegran isn't as pronounced. I'm hoping the appetite suppresent isn't wearing off either :-)
Holly
Posted by nikkidavis on February 23, 2005, at 20:30:43
In reply to New Here, posted by hollyocd on November 15, 2004, at 13:08:15
Hi holly
i was just prescribed zonegran adn geodon for bipolar 1 disorder and ocd. can you please inform me of how it has worked for you in all respects including the weight loss, and compulsion avoidance.
thanks
This is the end of the thread.
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