wanttolivelong Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 Hi All, I was on Olanzipine 20mg and Escitelopram (Lexopro) 5mg for 2 years. I slowly tapered both medications in a span of 5 months and felt very good and confident but I was losing weight unintentionally. I went down from 130 lbs to 94lbs in about 7 months with no effort from my side. I can see muscle wastage. My base weight used to be around 99-100 lbs but going down below that base weight scares me. I did consultations with doctors across many departments like Gastro, Cardio, Endocrine, Neuro but they all took tests and said I am fine. I am shrinking day by day and not sure what the issue is. My blood work, endoscopy, colonoscopy, tests for lupus etc. all came normal. I even took a CT scan, X-Ray and ultrasound and everything came fine. Has anyone faced this situation? Can you please tell if this is a normal withdrawal symptom? It does feel painful on the upper back below the neck and the part of the legs below the knees periodically. I have no clue of this weight loss as everyone keeps saying this is normal. I feel anxious because of this now. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted January 12, 2018 Administrator Share Posted January 12, 2018 Welcome, wtll. Many people gain weight on olanzapine and escilatopram, particularly olanzapine, which disrupts endocrine function. It is possible that you have lost weight because your endocrine system has over-corrected. How long have you been off both drugs? What is your eating pattern? That would seem to be the key to maintaining your weight. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Rabe Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Hi WTLL, I wanted to tell you that after I started my first taper I rapidly lost weight and muscle and fat that have yet to gain back. I too have read places that this has happened to others and I too have seem doctors about it. Most recently I saw a GI who would like to do an endoscopy. Other than that most everything has been pretty normal. I do know that each time I start a taper or the stress is increased in my life I can almost immediately see and feel the changes in my body. I believe for myself I started tapering at home, had no clue about the 10% or anything else and it took a huge toll on my system that will probably take much time to correct itself. Rather than focusing on trying to gain weight I have focused on eating my meals, eating good nutritious food (for me I go organic as much as possible and stay away form sugar and processed), trying to keep hydrated, and moving to point of not stressing myself. Some days I think I see a bit of improvement and others not but if I focus on it too much I find itt only adds stress. I also have a friend who tapered and lost significant weight. I hope it helps you to know that you are not alone.....and that medical test normal is a very positive thing. Take care! -Nardil 1976 < year, stopped. React to AD's. Klonopin .5BID 1990, 2.5mg til 2016 -Klonopin doubled Jan '16. Taper to 2.25mg May to Nov '16. Bad react to Lexapro, stop. React to Prevacid too, taper off. -November '16 Tapered .25mg Klonopin in hospital. Jan '17 started Viibryd, 20mg from Feb to June '17, -20mg to 10mg Viibryd from 3/25 to 6/10 2017, 12/15 10% Viibryd taper...back up next day -Clonazepam 2mg to 1.85mg 4/14 '17 to end November; taper to 1mg Clonazepam in hospital 9/1 tp 9/14 '17 -Feb '18 Amiloride .25mg 5/18 off Amiloride d/t react. Clonaz compounded -4/27 '18 Viibryd 9.5mg, 6/11 9.0 mg, 1/27 '19 Viibryd 8.75mg, ; Clonazepam .2mg 530pm and .7mg 1130pm, Premarin .3mg 830PM CARAFATE QID 2/27/19 to 3/5/19 -July 6'19 1/2 10mg Claritin 230pm, stopped it about July 18, started Oct 11 '19, -7/27 Viibryd 8.5, 8/29 8.25, 10/24 8.0, 12/19 7.75, Feb '20 7.50, 3/20 7.25, 5/20 7.0, 6/20 6.75, 7/20 6.5, 8/20 6.25, 10/2 20 6.0, 11/25'20 5.75, 1/9/21 5.5, 2/23 5.25 -1015 AM Viibryd, vit D 4,000IU 130, 415 Clonazepam .2mg, 815 Premarin .3mg, 1015 Clonaz .7mg, 1115 3t fish oil+D 1145 Castor Oil 650mg(4) 1230 Carafate 1/2GM,Methylated B Vit 1/week,Reacted Mag prn Link to comment
Rabe Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Was wondering if anyone could tell me if having an endoscopy with the usual sedation is ok while tapering...or in midst of tapering. I am concerned about the max sedation affecting the receptors/tapering so have been putting it off until I could get some insight. Thank you so much! -Nardil 1976 < year, stopped. React to AD's. Klonopin .5BID 1990, 2.5mg til 2016 -Klonopin doubled Jan '16. Taper to 2.25mg May to Nov '16. Bad react to Lexapro, stop. React to Prevacid too, taper off. -November '16 Tapered .25mg Klonopin in hospital. Jan '17 started Viibryd, 20mg from Feb to June '17, -20mg to 10mg Viibryd from 3/25 to 6/10 2017, 12/15 10% Viibryd taper...back up next day -Clonazepam 2mg to 1.85mg 4/14 '17 to end November; taper to 1mg Clonazepam in hospital 9/1 tp 9/14 '17 -Feb '18 Amiloride .25mg 5/18 off Amiloride d/t react. Clonaz compounded -4/27 '18 Viibryd 9.5mg, 6/11 9.0 mg, 1/27 '19 Viibryd 8.75mg, ; Clonazepam .2mg 530pm and .7mg 1130pm, Premarin .3mg 830PM CARAFATE QID 2/27/19 to 3/5/19 -July 6'19 1/2 10mg Claritin 230pm, stopped it about July 18, started Oct 11 '19, -7/27 Viibryd 8.5, 8/29 8.25, 10/24 8.0, 12/19 7.75, Feb '20 7.50, 3/20 7.25, 5/20 7.0, 6/20 6.75, 7/20 6.5, 8/20 6.25, 10/2 20 6.0, 11/25'20 5.75, 1/9/21 5.5, 2/23 5.25 -1015 AM Viibryd, vit D 4,000IU 130, 415 Clonazepam .2mg, 815 Premarin .3mg, 1015 Clonaz .7mg, 1115 3t fish oil+D 1145 Castor Oil 650mg(4) 1230 Carafate 1/2GM,Methylated B Vit 1/week,Reacted Mag prn Link to comment
wanttolivelong Posted January 15, 2018 Author Share Posted January 15, 2018 Hi Rabe, Thanks a lot for your response. I just hope everything gets set right. Regarding your endoscopy, I believe it could be done in the midst of tapering and it should not be a problem but again, you can double check with your doc. Link to comment
wanttolivelong Posted January 15, 2018 Author Share Posted January 15, 2018 Hi Alto, Regarding the weight, I went all the way up to 130 lbs from about 100 lbs (which used to be my base weight) in about 2 years time. I then lost all of that weight during withdrawal. My concern here is, why would I lose weight even after reaching my baseline weight. As in, my belief was the weight loss to stop at around 100 lbs or even 95 lbs at least. However, it doesn't, I am now 92 lbs only. Before taking ADs, I used to stay at a constant weight regardless of my eating pattern but when I saw my weight going away, I started eating more on purpose - taking in lots and lots of proteins but they were of no use. Thats when I get even more woried. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted January 15, 2018 Administrator Share Posted January 15, 2018 Yes, you've lost a little too much weight. How often do you eat? I'm sure you can figure out how to add more calories to your diet. Are you by any chance on a paleo or keto diet? If so, add carbs. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
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