New medicine for weight loss

There was an article in the Washington Post today about the efficacy of
Topamax in aiding weight loss. It is used to treat obsessions, but,in many
cases, seems to help food cravings, too. Has anyone had any experience with
this? I have OCD and always wondered if my carbo craving and binging was
somehow, not related exactly, but somehow connected to OCD. Next time I see
my doctor, I am definitely going to ask her about this one as it sure would
be nice to use a medication that helps both problems, rather than solving
one but acerbating the other. Elise.

Cox SMTP east wrote:
There was an article in the Washington Post today about the efficacy of
Topamax in aiding weight loss. It is used to treat obsessions, but,in many
cases, seems to help food cravings, too. Has anyone had any experience with
this? I have OCD and always wondered if my carbo craving and binging was
somehow, not related exactly, but somehow connected to OCD. Next time I see
my doctor, I am definitely going to ask her about this one as it sure would
be nice to use a medication that helps both problems, rather than solving
one but acerbating the other. Elise.

I've always wondered about treating my fairly mild OCD. I never have: the
main symptom I've got that troubles me is trichotillomania and I manage it
functionally. The other symptoms tend to be benefits when you're a
CPA. Being overly precise about niggling details is a GOOD thing if
you're a bean counter!

Do you treat yours? Did you find you lost some important aspect of being
you? That was always my fear.

Wendy

Ihave treated my OCD episodically. When I was first diagnosed I was in
really, really bad shape. Much to my husband's disappointment, I did not
have the always cleaning symptom. I fall into the "checker" category and
had various behaviors surrounding that. I was so bad, it was becoming a
problem getting me out of the house (is the stove really, really off?) In
any event, I was treated for several years and then had to stop meds when I
was pregnant with my 3rd kid. I've gone back on and off meds several times
over the past twelve years. I can tell when it is time, since depression
seems to follow an increase in symptoms for me. But, this has been the only
time I have been treated while trying to lose weight (in fact, I had my
initial weight loss of 80 lbs when I was deep into obsessive thinking
again...something I considered a good thing at the time). I stopped losing
weight when I went back on meds. I knew that it would be a struggle since
the medication I was on changes how you metabolize carbs, but I swear since
I have gone off the medication, I have not had the constant munchies and
have the mental grit to just tell my brain to shut up and that I am not
going to eat right now, thank you very much.

I joke with my boss (I work in the cash office of a department store) that I
am perfect for the job since, when I close at night, he never has to worry
that the vault is locked. There are some positive aspects to being a little
bit nit picky, you are right. Did I feel the meds changed who I was? No, I
worried less, had a bit more control over my temper, didn't swear so much at
idiot drivers on the road. But, I also felt I was a bit too easy going
since you can just not let anything get to you; it tends to be a little bit
easier to let stuff slide. I also had raging insomnia and once fell asleep
in the parking lot of a grocery store for over 1/2 hour I was so tired and
had to take sleeping pills at night or sleep was impossible. In any event,
I re-read the article and the Topamax is for epilepsy (primarily) which is
interesting since my son takes it and doesn't have epilepsy - he takes it
for Tourettes Syndrome. I can tell you it has not helped his weight at all,
but he is also on so many meds that cause weight gain ( lithium, celexa)
that they probably all cancel each other out.

I was really curious if anyone had had success or any insight connecting
their OCDishness with weight problems. It really does seem that most
doctors just dismiss all weight problems as the same. Elise.
"Wendy" wrote in message
...
Cox SMTP east wrote:
There was an article in the Washington Post today about the efficacy of
Topamax in aiding weight loss. It is used to treat obsessions, but,in
many
cases, seems to help food cravings, too. Has anyone had any experience
with
this? I have OCD and always wondered if my carbo craving and binging
was
somehow, not related exactly, but somehow connected to OCD. Next time I
see
my doctor, I am definitely going to ask her about this one as it sure
would
be nice to use a medication that helps both problems, rather than
solving
one but acerbating the other. Elise.

I've always wondered about treating my fairly mild OCD. I never have: the
main symptom I've got that troubles me is trichotillomania and I manage it
functionally. The other symptoms tend to be benefits when you're a
CPA. Being overly precise about niggling details is a GOOD thing if
you're a bean counter!

Do you treat yours? Did you find you lost some important aspect of being
you? That was always my fear.

Wendy

"Cox SMTP east" wrote in message
...
Ihave treated my OCD episodically. When I was first diagnosed I was in
really, really bad shape. Much to my husband's disappointment, I did not
have the always cleaning symptom.

Falling into the always cleaning category can disappointment them also - or
should I say annoy them I've never had the need to be treated for OCD
but I drive my family nuts with my constant need for things to be clean and
orderly. I've lightened up a little the past few years but it still gets on
my nerves to see things out of place. I used to run around the house before
I left to be sure nothing was sitting out that needed to be put away, etc.
Even the things that can't be seen such as closests and dresser drawers need
to be organized. I've always stored things in the pantry in groups -
fruits, vegetables, soups must be stored together. When I sold the house my
realtor said she had never seen such organized closets and garage. Yes,
even the nails, nuts and bolts in the garage are stored in separate jars. I
honestly think the organization has helped in my job. It's a trait you need
when you're leading large projects. I'm one of those list makers...

Beverly


I fall into the "checker" category and
had various behaviors surrounding that. I was so bad, it was becoming a
problem getting me out of the house (is the stove really, really off?) In
any event, I was treated for several years and then had to stop meds when
I
was pregnant with my 3rd kid. I've gone back on and off meds several
times
over the past twelve years. I can tell when it is time, since depression
seems to follow an increase in symptoms for me. But, this has been the
only
time I have been treated while trying to lose weight (in fact, I had my
initial weight loss of 80 lbs when I was deep into obsessive thinking
again...something I considered a good thing at the time). I stopped
losing
weight when I went back on meds. I knew that it would be a struggle since
the medication I was on changes how you metabolize carbs, but I swear
since
I have gone off the medication, I have not had the constant munchies and
have the mental grit to just tell my brain to shut up and that I am not
going to eat right now, thank you very much.

I joke with my boss (I work in the cash office of a department store) that
I
am perfect for the job since, when I close at night, he never has to worry
that the vault is locked. There are some positive aspects to being a
little
bit nit picky, you are right. Did I feel the meds changed who I was? No,
I
worried less, had a bit more control over my temper, didn't swear so much
at
idiot drivers on the road. But, I also felt I was a bit too easy going
since you can just not let anything get to you; it tends to be a little
bit
easier to let stuff slide. I also had raging insomnia and once fell
asleep
in the parking lot of a grocery store for over 1/2 hour I was so tired and
had to take sleeping pills at night or sleep was impossible. In any
event,
I re-read the article and the Topamax is for epilepsy (primarily) which is
interesting since my son takes it and doesn't have epilepsy - he takes it
for Tourettes Syndrome. I can tell you it has not helped his weight at
all,
but he is also on so many meds that cause weight gain ( lithium, celexa)
that they probably all cancel each other out.

I was really curious if anyone had had success or any insight connecting
their OCDishness with weight problems. It really does seem that most
doctors just dismiss all weight problems as the same. Elise.
"Wendy" wrote in message
...
Cox SMTP east wrote:
There was an article in the Washington Post today about the efficacy
of
Topamax in aiding weight loss. It is used to treat obsessions, but,in
many
cases, seems to help food cravings, too. Has anyone had any
experience
with
this? I have OCD and always wondered if my carbo craving and binging
was
somehow, not related exactly, but somehow connected to OCD. Next time
I
see
my doctor, I am definitely going to ask her about this one as it sure
would
be nice to use a medication that helps both problems, rather than
solving
one but acerbating the other. Elise.

I've always wondered about treating my fairly mild OCD. I never have:
the
main symptom I've got that troubles me is trichotillomania and I manage
it
functionally. The other symptoms tend to be benefits when you're a
CPA. Being overly precise about niggling details is a GOOD thing if
you're a bean counter!

Do you treat yours? Did you find you lost some important aspect of
being
you? That was always my fear.

Wendy