Has anyone gained weight due to medication? - Cure Parkinson's
Has anyone gained weight due to medication?
YES! I'm on Sinemet and Requip XL, and over the past year and a half I've gained 30 pounds. Doesn't seem to matter what I eat or don't eat. I can't exercise much due to fatigue and bfalance issues. I do yoga and ride my bike, but the pounds stick on.
I have gained 40 pounds. Ropinarole has made me a compulsive eater. I want to eat through the night. From trying to curb this by sucking sugar free candy through the night I have ruined my teeth. Besides cavities, one tooth had to be pulled. Tooth implants are difficult and expensive. Today I gave my extensive wardrobe to Big Sisters. I went from a medium misses to a 2x. Depressing and unhealthy, I work out once a week with a trainer, take a yoga class for balance and ride a stationary bike and walk as much as I can. It is nice to share this with you. People not experiencing this don't understand it's out of my control.
I have been craving and eating salty things and of all things, fried chicken. love it and eat toooooo much of it.
I am right there with Sassy. Ropinarole turned me into a salt craving binge eater...wasn't even aware until 15 lbs later. I have since cut back on that med dosage and the overnight food cravings have stopped.
I'm currently taking Sinemet, Trihexyphenidyl (Artane) and Requip XL (and Amantadine to counter the dyskinesia from the Sinemet). Still tweaking the meds with my neurologist, so this is not a set I've taken for long (except for the Sinemet). Currently ramping up on the Requip. Have been trying different meds over the last 2+ years.
Over the last 17 months, I've gone from 255 pounds to 198. I didn't like my weight at 255 -- I had a Buddha belly (especially unhealthy on men) and overall kinda looked like a big thumb. I've done this by simply eating less. I hardly eat anything, especially on work days, when have no breakfast, no lunch and just a small amount in the evening (such as a banana and a muffin). I haven't exercised since the mobility started becoming a problem (2006 -- I stopped playing hockey and softball). You'd think I'd be hungry much of the time, but I rarely am. I don't understand that, but I'm going with it. I want to get down into the 180's and stop the weight loss there. I'm male, 55, 6'1" and of average build.
The insurance companies and the US gov't say that a healthy weight range for me is from the 140's to the 180's. 140 sure strikes me as too low -- especially if I were to get very sick and needed the reserves.
So, no, I've not gained weight from taking PD meds. But, the only meds mentioned above that I recognize are Sinemet and Requip. Donno what effect Ropinarole would have on me.
I actually lost weight when I first started with PD. I have always been about 10 pounds over what I should be (according to the charts). But I had severe dyskinesia and I was taking aerobics at the time. But after my DBS surgery in 2001, I did gain around 30 pounds and have been fighting that ever since. I love chocolate and can't stay away from it for very long.
I am glad to see your post. I am not on as many meds as you and plan to start the HCG diet which is drops and a 500 calorie a day diet for 30 days. I was a little concerned about eating so little while taking meds but you seem to have done well.
I'm surprised no one has talked about Using Marijuana. It worked for me.
what do you use it for weight gain - pain or what ?
Since my diagnose 2 years ago my Dr. has used 4 different types of meds trying to find the right thing for me. Each had some crazy side effects. The 1st was Pramipexole 1mg, 3 times daily. I lost 27 lbs in 6 weeks, bad stomach reaction and some other stuff. I began smoking pot shortly after that and gained back the weight, got rid of the stomach problems and trimmer were not as hard. Every time we would switch meds, i would stop smoking and the side effects each time were helped when I would smoke. The last bunch of meds was Ropinirole. That was some nasty shit. Bad dreams and a lot more all helped with pot. I am back to Carbidopa/Levo now and getting alone better. Carbidopa/Levo was the 2nd stuff I got and side effects were helped with pot then too, but got in trouble with law enforcement on the pot deal and have not smoked since. Dr is now talking about anti depressants but I don't want to start that and all those side effects. Wish I could just smoke a joint.
Marijuana intensifies pd symptoms, unlike Ms sufferers. Maybe you have been mis-diagnosed!!
I was diagnosed about six years ago. I take Stalevo and Requip slow release. I have gained about 2 stone in the last two years and can't shift it. May now have angina and possibly diabetes but gained weight before I knew this. Lead an active life, eat quite healthily and exercise when I can, but cannot loose extra weight. Help!! Should mention that I am female, late sixties.
I was diagnosed 10 years and am taking stalevo and requip and have gained weight I too have angina so life is a vicious circle I am in my early sixtys so can relate to you
well i think it must be the meds as i have not increased my food intake - i even think i am taking in less calories as i find i cannot drink alchohol much now...for ref i am now on modopar and neupro patches
While on MIRAPEX I ballooned to 236 . After going off it I went down to 185, with help of a 3x week exercise program. For the last year I've stayed at 185-192 which is my ideal. Now I'm on sinemet and comtan.
Thanks for your reply. There is so much stigma attached to pot being illegal that it is hard to get honor dialog about it.
I hope that pot isn't The Cure for PD
From what I have heard, it is legal in California for medical conditions, maybe you could move there! 
I don't think I could ever do it, I am such a non-smoker, but I know they can package it in different forms for medical use.
Funny thing. I've actually lost weight with PD. I don't know where it went, but 20 lbs seems to have vanished. That is in the face of taking Serequel which is reported to cause weight gain. My wife thinks it is because I am moving 24/7 and that I don't have much of an appetite any more. Is this due to loss of smell? I don't know. I do excercise 4 days a week (fencing). One nice side effect, I was taking TriCor for my triglyceride level and now they are down to normal range. Anything that reduces my med intake is good to me. Less drugs = less side effects and less interactions.
I was diagnosed 15 yrs ago...I worked the 1st 6 yrs and was on Eldyprel and Amantadine... I was over weight at 165 lbs, ( I am 5'6")...but was active in traveling with my work and white water rafting and snow boarding...before my diagnosis. In that 1st 6 yrs I gained 15 lbs.. and after medical disability retired, I gained another 10 lbs. Ugh..I was on Myrapex and sinemet and a few others but have finally started Stalevo...I have tried diets and do not exercise anymore (at least the last 4-5 yrs) because of fatigue and aches and pain...I have been on Stalevo 200 (5 X day ) and Requip XL (1 x day) for the PD now for about 2 yrs and yes ...i have gained another 15 lbs. I watch what ii eat and cannot loose at all...of course exercise would help but.....and so I continue on my journey...hoping I can at least stay present weight and quit gaining.
i lost weight when I went on Amantadine.
Would love to loose the 10 lbs I have gained since on meds. I was not sure if it was the meds or the cut back on activities. I have learned that if I overdo things physically one day, I will end up exhausted and shaking for several days. I have been trying to find a balance.
From reading the postings, it seems that Requip is the main culprit, it is one of the meds I take, though I cannot tell that it helps me that much.
I sometimes find it iseasier to walk upstairsthan on theflat.
It seems that half tthe work isdone by the hands and arms.
Doesthis mean that PDis mainly a disease affecting longer nerves or what?
yes yes and yes. not sure which one is doing it as i also had my thryroid removed 8 months ago. i have always been slim without ever trying now it just is there seems to be going nowhere. i take azilect, mirapex, and carbidopa-Levodopa if any one has any hx with these causing wt gain i would love to know.. i also have esisodes of feet , ankles and legs swelling tight and staying that way for a few days and than gone just that fast. ??????????? any imput from anyone??????
Yes, I have that problem. The only thing that seems to help is to lay flat with legs elevated several times a day. It doesn't stop it from happening but you do get rid of your sausage toes for a while.
HIya-I have graves disease as well as newly diagnosed w/ PD> The thyriod issues are awful in respect thtat it mimics so many other diseases and issues. I take tapazole to keep my thriod slowed down and though the doctors will fight yoou to the death about it, there are times when theyve brought me to low for 'my normal' and my weight will jump up overnight,. Are you on Snythriod or anything to replace your thyriod? maybe that neds to be raised. Just wanted to metion that. I feel for you because I was at war w/ 3 different endo's for over 10 years eho wanted my ti eiter have some of it removed or do the iodine. I have
a history of eating disorders and a career where things like weight shouldnt matter but they do-especially if it makes us more depressed,
Maybe your body is adjusting to the surgery,?? Im on carbidopa-Levodopa which can have the side effect of compulsive behavior -ie spending- gambling -eating- beg my husband whom n=brings junk food home on his way from the bar to 'cheer me up' not to- Have found myself sleep eating (as did my late Mama who I would find in the kitchen all hours with no memory of it) When I was on ambian it would happen alll the time-an now with this wierd PD sleep which is either none, up and down all night( and then falling asleep at the movies, meeting ect...anyway been doing that agian..xx
Yes, I have gained weight. I am so frustrated that I am going to try the HCG diet.
Google HCG diet and you'll find a lot of info. Basically it is taking HCG Drops and eating a very low calorie diet. I felt great and lost 15 lbs in 24 days. However, I didn't check with my PD or GP doctors before doing it. Even though I felt good my husband thinks I should do that before going on it again.
I didn't gain weight while on meds alone. But I just had DBS a month and a half ago and am gaining weight uncontrollably???? not sure whats causing it. I was on meds alone for 10 years and was able to maintain my weight but i did initially gain weight about 10 lbs. but I think that was due to my discontinuing of working out due to fear of falling or instability of my gate I was afraid of hurting myself and just more aware of my deficit. But after the initial weight gain I pretty much was able to maintain weight for 10 years DBS???
Yes I have gained weight and I hate it. I have other issues also I can't exercise due to a twisted spine and I can't stand sometimes and I am in agony. Ireckon my drugs don't help as I take 15 Sinemet tablets and 6 Mirapexin. I have tried to stop Mirapexin but I get Restless Legs. I also take BetaBlockers I just hate this overweight I have gained 70lbs and still gaining.
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