My doctor scheduled me to visit Jan 14th and I was unsure why. I asked my contact person over there and she stated it's an appointment with the doctor because he's going to be prescribing me some weight loss meds to get me losing a little during the next 5 months of nutrition visits I have to complete. That was kind of shocking. I didn't expect to be given meds. Anyone know what they might give me? I had an addiction problem with Adderall for some years that I finally overcame and this kind of scares me. I don't want anything that'll make me speedy to remind me of the Adderall days. I'm already taking Trintellix for depression which has been AMAZINGGGG. Thoughts?

No idea about the meds, but I would be finding out how much weight you are expected to lose over the next five months and workout if its doable by 'diet'. If you are expect to lose 10% of your body weight for instance, that's 23lbs (going by your current weight) = approx 5lb per month, which initally isn't too onerous...more you have to lose the more you likely lose initially but as time progresses (and there is no more fluid weight to lose) weight loss will slow down.

To keep weight loss on track you can expect that they will want you to possibly do meal shake replacements and go fairly low carb.dea about the meds, but I would be finding out how much weight you are expected to lose over the next five months and workout if its doable by 'diet'. If you are expect to lose 10% of your body weight for instance, that's 23lbs (going by your current weight) = approx 5lb per month, which initally isn't too onerous...more you have to lose the more you likely lose initially but as time progresses (and there is no more fluid weight to lose) weight loss will slow down. To keep weight loss on track you can expect that they will want you to possibly do meal shake replacements and go fairly low carb.

I am assuming you are pre-op as you don't have a date, but you have lost a good amount of weight already, and there have been a couple of instances here (or perhaps on the facegroup I am on) where people lost significant weight pre-op and their BMI reduced below the threshold and insurance was denied. I would definitley be finding out how much weight loss expectative over the next five months.

33 minutes ago, 2shea said:

No idea about the meds, but I would be finding out how much weight you are expected to lose over the next five months and workout if its doable by 'diet'. If you are expect to lose 10% of your body weight for instance, that's 23lbs (going by your current weight) = approx 5lb per month, which initally isn't too onerous...more you have to lose the more you likely lose initially but as time progresses (and there is no more Fluid weight to lose) weight loss will slow down.

To keep weight loss on track you can expect that they will want you to possibly do meal shake replacements and go fairly low carb.dea about the meds, but I would be finding out how much weight you are expected to lose over the next five months and workout if its doable by 'diet'. If you are expect to lose 10% of your body weight for instance, that's 23lbs (going by your current weight) = approx 5lb per month, which initally isn't too onerous...more you have to lose the more you likely lose initially but as time progresses (and there is no more fluid weight to lose) weight loss will slow down. To keep weight loss on track you can expect that they will want you to possibly do meal shake replacements and go fairly low carb.

I am assuming you are pre-op as you don't have a date, but you have lost a good amount of weight already, and there have been a couple of instances here (or perhaps on the facegroup I am on) where people lost significant weight pre-op and their BMI reduced below the threshold and insurance was denied. I would definitley be finding out how much weight loss expectative over the next five months.

Yes, I am pre-op. The weight I've lost was a result of 2 years strict keto....you probably saw that in my other post.

I don't believe there's a set expectation for weight loss. The lady at my surgeon's office said with the meds, they expect me to lose approx. 25lbs which should put my BMI around 38.5. I gained a good 5lbs during the holidays which they're unaware of. I can lose 13.5lbs at this point and be right at a BMI of 40. I just need to get to that appointment and find out what they're wanting me to take. I'm guessing it's phentermine which I highly doubt will effect me since I used to pop Adderall like Skittles. No matter what, I'm going to make sure this surgery happens...

Edited January 3, 20197 yr by Kimmie K

2 hours ago, Kimmie K said:

Yes, I am pre-op. The weight I've lost was a result of 2 years strict keto....you probably saw that in my other post.

I don't believe there's a set expectation for weight loss. The lady at my surgeon's office said with the meds, they expect me to lose approx. 25lbs which should put my BMI around 38.5. I gained a good 5lbs during the holidays which they're unaware of. I can lose 13.5lbs at this point and be right at a BMI of 40. I just need to get to that appointment and find out what they're wanting me to take. I'm guessing it's phentermine which I highly doubt will effect me since I used to pop Adderall like Skittles. No matter what, I'm going to make sure this surgery happens...

It may not be phentermine. There's a lot of other weight loss medications... Topomax, Belviq, Qsymia, Contrave... all of which I was on before and none of which do anything. LOL. It is weird he wants you on weight loss medications... you aren't going to medically managed weight loss... that's what they do there... Medifast and rx meds.

I used to take Adderall. I don't know if you've taken Phentermine before, but it made me much more strung out the first time I was on it than Adderall ever did. The second time I took it, it did nothing. But my resting heart rate was 165BPM. It was bad.

50 minutes ago, mousecat88 said:

It may not be phentermine. There's a lot of other weight loss medications... Topomax, Belviq, Qsymia, Contrave... all of which I was on before and none of which do anything. LOL. It is weird he wants you on weight loss medications... you aren't going to medically managed weight loss... that's what they do there... Medifast and rx meds.

I used to take Adderall. I don't know if you've taken Phentermine before, but it made me much more strung out the first time I was on it than Adderall ever did. The second time I took it, it did nothing. But my resting heart rate was 165BPM. It was bad.

I bit the bullet and emailed the lady to ask what she thinks he has in mind so I'm sure she'll get back with me shortly. I've bothered the hell out of this poor woman But they DO work for me and I DO deserve an upfront answer. I'll report back once I have the deets LOL

Weird is definitely right...I honestly don't want anything and the way you describe phentermine, I sure don't want any of that either! LOL I'm too old for that kinda junk now. My main concern is I already take my Trintellix anti-depressant. If anything were to interact negatively with that...oh man...it has helped me SO much.

Edited January 3, 20197 yr by Kimmie K

15 minutes ago, Kimmie K said:

I bit the bullet and emailed the lady to ask what she thinks he has in mind so I'm sure she'll get back with me shortly. I've bothered the hell out of this poor woman But they DO work for me and I DO deserve an upfront answer. I'll report back once I have the deets LOL

Weird is definitely right...I honestly don't want anything and the way you describe phentermine, I sure don't want any of that either! LOL I'm too old for that kinda junk now. My main concern is I already take my Trintellix anti-depressant. If anything were to interact negatively with that...oh man...it has helped me SO much.

I did not do well on Topomax. I was given it a few times for weight loss (alone and part of another medication) and for migraines. It made me pretty depressed. I take Lexapro, Valium, and Guanfacine for anxiety and don't really have depression issues, but Topomax was not goooood. Personally, anyways.

1 minute ago, mousecat88 said:

I did not do well on Topomax. I was given it a few times for weight loss (alone and part of another medication) and for Migraines. It made me pretty depressed. I take Lexapro, Valium, and Guanfacine for anxiety and don't really have depression issues, but Topomax was not goooood. Personally, anyways.

Yes! I was given Topamax along with Lexapro many years ago. The Topamax effed me up! I was at work one day and all the sudden I couldn't speak. It was the scariest crap in the world so I quit all my meds cold turkey after that and Lexapro withdrawl was pretty awful. Brain zaps...not my idea of a fun time LOL

1 minute ago, Kimmie K said:

Yes! I was given Topamax along with Lexapro many years ago. The Topamax effed me up! I was at work one day and all the sudden I couldn't speak. It was the scariest crap in the world so I quit all my meds cold turkey after that and Lexapro withdrawl was pretty awful. Brain zaps...not my idea of a fun time LOL

Yeah I've been on Lexapro about 10 years now and if I stop taking it within like 2 or 3 days I am in EXTREME PANIC MODE. lol. So now I know... just never... stop... taking... it.

Just now, mousecat88 said:

Yeah I've been on Lexapro about 10 years now and if I stop taking it within like 2 or 3 days I am in EXTREME PANIC MODE. lol. So now I know... just never... stop... taking... it.

Dude

@mousecat88 Surgeon's office lady replied back and said "phentermine + topamax or Contrave", but to let the surgeon know I'm concerned about interaction with the Trintellix. Good to know...

There is diethylpropion that only lasts 4 hours in your system and it doesn't make you buzzy or a b!+@$ - like phentermine will. Phentermine stays in your system 21 hours and after 3 days I could NOT sleep, had muscle twitches and leg cramps and was a snapping turtle.....and that was on a half dose! Neither however interfered with Wellbutrin.

8 minutes ago, Kimmie K said:

@mousecat88 Surgeon's office lady replied back and said "phentermine + topamax or Contrave", but to let the surgeon know I'm concerned about interaction with the Trintellix. Good to know...

Just watch your heart rate on Phentermine. It helped the first time I took it; lost about 13lbs fast but I NEVER ate. Then I stopped due to my heart rate. Started it again like 2 years later, but it didn't do anything that time.

3 minutes ago, mousecat88 said:

Just watch your heart rate on Phentermine. It helped the first time I took it; lost about 13lbs fast but I NEVER ate. Then I stopped due to my heart rate. Started it again like 2 years later, but it didn't do anything that time.

Noted. Was the phentermine addictive?

This next appointment can't get here soon enough...looks like Contrave is bupropion+naltrexone. I tried Wellbutrin (which is bupropion) before I was given Trintellix. It messed me up. Mainly didn't work so they upped the dose. I found myself just sitting and staring, numb, but wanting to cry. NOPE! No thanks! LOL

7 minutes ago, Sosewsue61 said:

There is diethylpropion that only lasts 4 hours in your system and it doesn't make you buzzy or a b!+@$ - like phentermine will. Phentermine stays in your system 21 hours and after 3 days I could NOT sleep, had muscle twitches and leg cramps and was a snapping turtle.....and that was on a half dose! Neither however interfered with Wellbutrin.

Yikes! To be honest, now I don't want to take anything after all these stories!

14 hours ago, Kimmie K said:

Noted. Was the phentermine addictive?

This next appointment can't get here soon enough...looks like Contrave is bupropion+naltrexone. I tried Wellbutrin (which is bupropion) before I was given Trintellix. It messed me up. Mainly didn't work so they upped the dose. I found myself just sitting and staring, numb, but wanting to cry. NOPE! No thanks! LOL

Phentermine is an amphetamine derivative, like Adderall. I don't have addiction issues, so I didn't find it addictive. I don't think it has the potential for addiction like Adderall does, but you can have withdrawal and that sort of thing from it. It won't make you hyperfocused like Adderall can, but it will keep you awake. If you had issues with Adderall before, I probably wouldn't risk Phentermine.

17 minutes ago, mousecat88 said:

Phentermine is an amphetamine derivative, like Adderall. I don't have addiction issues, so I didn't find it addictive. I don't think it has the potential for addiction like Adderall does, but you can have withdrawal and that sort of thing from it. It won't make you hyperfocused like Adderall can, but it will keep you awake. If you had issues with Adderall before, I probably wouldn't risk Phentermine.

Turns out I can't take anything...phentermine, Belviq, Qsymia (which is the brand name for the phentermine+topamax combo)...they all severely interact with Trintellix. Basically combining any of them with Trintellix increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. That's some scary stuff so...no meds for me. Nope, nope, nope...