Diet Meds

[shesellsseashells]

I'm having trouble losing the last 15 pounds and am thinking about asking my PCP about diet meds.  I lost a fair amount of weight on Meridia a while back, and I absolutely loved it because it was one of the few times in my life when I wasn't obsessed about food.  I could take it or leave it.

 

It looks like Meridia was discontinued a few years ago, but I wondered if anyone else has had experiences with weight loss meds that they might be willing to share?  Thanks in advance.

[confused]

I haven't tried any but there is a topomax/phenteramine combo that I think is pretty new.

[shesellsseashells]

I haven't tried any but there is a topomax/phenteramine combo that I think is pretty new.

 

Thanks confused, I'd read about that, but I have had cognitive side effects with Topamax in the past so I discontinued it.  I should have mentioned that in my post.  Thanks for your response!

[forgetmenot220]

I tried phentermine alone, at the highest dose, 37.5 mg, it worked, but i had side effects i didn't like. My doctor said it could only be taken for 3 months max.

 

I also had cognitive side effects on topamax but I'm back on it for migraine prevention at a lower dose and no cognitive stuff at all. So maybe that combo is worth a shot for you?

 

There is another one too, Bellvique..I think it's called? Didn't try that one because it's $$.

 

The catch with these kinds of meds is getting your insurance to cover them.

[Crazyfroglady]

my primary doctor is too chicken shit to prescribe me diet pills due to having a psychiatric condition.  pissed as hell.

 

 

so now I am pursuing weight loss surgery

[San]

Have you ever taken Wellbutrin? I see you have ADHD in your signature. Wellbutrin can go along with stims and can help lose weight. I know its not a common use for Wellbutrin, but it has the weight loss side effect and can help ADHD, too.  The meds you're on are fairly weight-neutral (or loss, even). 

 

Topamax can be a bitchy med and can be hard to get used to. I was titrated up quickly because I was IP when I started it. It took months for side effects, including cognitive, to go away after reaching 200mg. If you've taken it before, and stopped it, it may also not help with weight loss the next time around (as I've been told by others)

 

Talk to your pdoc and GP about weight loss meds, make sure they have open communication because some weight loss meds can interact. You may have to sign forms to allow them to communicate. I did this with my pdoc and GP and I'm very glad I did, because the two working together makes life easier for all three of us.

 

Sorry I don't have better solutions. Don't take OTC weight loss pills either, I know you didn't mention them, but they're fairly useless and can do bad things. I'm pretty sure you know this though!

[melissaw72]

Have you tried naltrexone?  It isn't a diet drug but helps control the eating so that you aren't constantly eating.  You'll still get hungry, just not all the time.

[shesellsseashells]

I tried phentermine alone, at the highest dose, 37.5 mg, it worked, but i had side effects i didn't like. My doctor said it could only be taken for 3 months max.

 

I also had cognitive side effects on topamax but I'm back on it for migraine prevention at a lower dose and no cognitive stuff at all. So maybe that combo is worth a shot for you?

 

There is another one too, Bellvique..I think it's called? Didn't try that one because it's $$.

 

The catch with these kinds of meds is getting your insurance to cover them.

 

Thank you for the suggestions.  I read about Belviq . . . I don't think that my insurance will cover any of these, so I will have to pay out of pocket.

[shesellsseashells]

my primary doctor is too chicken shit to prescribe me diet pills due to having a psychiatric condition.  pissed as hell.

 

 

so now I am pursuing weight loss surgery

 

That is annoying.  I don't know that mine will because of the ED issue, but then again, he usually tells me I need to lose weight at my physicals, so perhaps he might acquiesce.

[shesellsseashells]

Have you ever taken Wellbutrin? I see you have ADHD in your signature. Wellbutrin can go along with stims and can help lose weight. I know its not a common use for Wellbutrin, but it has the weight loss side effect and can help ADHD, too.  The meds you're on are fairly weight-neutral (or loss, even). 

 

Topamax can be a bitchy med and can be hard to get used to. I was titrated up quickly because I was IP when I started it. It took months for side effects, including cognitive, to go away after reaching 200mg. If you've taken it before, and stopped it, it may also not help with weight loss the next time around (as I've been told by others)

 

Talk to your pdoc and GP about weight loss meds, make sure they have open communication because some weight loss meds can interact. You may have to sign forms to allow them to communicate. I did this with my pdoc and GP and I'm very glad I did, because the two working together makes life easier for all three of us.

 

Sorry I don't have better solutions. Don't take OTC weight loss pills either, I know you didn't mention them, but they're fairly useless and can do bad things. I'm pretty sure you know this though!

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me, San.  I have taken Wellbutrin in the past and it has been helpful . . . current pdoc mentioned it initially but has put me back on Prozac because he says it will help more with OCD tendencies (which I'm not quite convinced that I have).  Sigh.  I've been slowly talking him into some other things and he's been receptive, so I'll keep working on the Wellbutrin front.

Have you tried naltrexone?  It isn't a diet drug but helps control the eating so that you aren't constantly eating.  You'll still get hungry, just not all the time.

 

I haven't tried that, Melissa, and was thinking about it when you mentioned it in another post I recently read.  I will ask my pdoc about it.  Thanks!