Is anyone on a prescription weight loss pill?

[BabyTigger99]

I posted this on WISH, but I thought I might get some more responses here...


Here is my reason for asking. I have lost weight before, and been successful with it. However, since having my chemo 2 years ago, I feel like my metabolism has STOPPED! I eat good, exercise at least 3 nights a week (sometimes more) and yet the scale stays the same, or even goes up. I have my yearly scheduled for next week, and I was going to ask the doctor about it. I know that insurance won't cover weight loss medication (in most cases), but I can't keep carrying around the extra weight. Anyone have experiance with this?

 

[mudnuri]

Just a thought...

a good friend of mine is a Breast cancer survivor- but she's on lupron now. That shot causes weight gain- similar to that of depo-provera.

Is it possible that one of your daily meds could be increasing this problem for you? I know it bothers her big time- its about 15 lbs, but it seem to be all in her belly...no matter what she does, she cant get rid of it.

Good luck to you

Brandy

 

[BabyTigger99]

Nope, that wouldn't be a problem for me. I haven't been on any meds Since February of 2004. The nurses say they like to get my drug list when I come in for a check-up, because I am not on anything!

 

[BabyTigger99]

Anyone else????

 

[kdibattista]

I just got a presciption for Meridia an will probably start taking it later this week... I'll let you know how it works.

 

[bicker]

I'm sorry but I don't have positive experiences to share. I took Meridia for quite a few months, lost 35 pounds, and gained them back as soon as I stopped taking the medication.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I am on Meridia, and it is the best thing that ever happened to me. My whole attitude about food has changed, and I can now make that lifestyle change. I have been on heavy doses of Prednisone on and off (up and down) for over 4 years. In the 1st 3 months of being on 40mg a day, I gained 50 pounds! The appetitite was insatiable. It drove me insane. I was overweight to begin with, but now I was morbidly obese. My doctors were not as concerned with my weight as much as I was, you see, they wanted to knock my RA and hepatitis into remission before worrying about my weight. But I was desperate for them to help me. FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY....my health has stabilized! I am down on the prednisone dosage. After monitoring my blood pressure for a few months, to get a base, my Doctor put me on Meridia. I have lost almost 40 pounds. It really does work! It works so well, I have to force myself to eat something because I do have to eat. It takes away all your cravings for food. At least it did for me. It makes you feel full well before your plate is empty. You can't ignore the full feeling and continue to eat, because then you get sick.

You need to be under CLOSE Dr supervision with Meridia. If your Dr puts you on it, and does not want to see you every 8 weeks or so, to check your blood pressure, be concerned. This is a strong drug, and only those in dire need to lose weight should be on it. There is a criteria list the Dr needs to follow.

Good luck with whatever path you take on your weightloss journey.

 

[maps]

The only successes I have had with patients on Meridia were ones that realized they needed lifestyle changes to go along with the pill.

You have to exercise and watch what you eat. Otherwise, once you go off the medicine, you'll put the weight back on. So I use Meridia with people who are really committed to losing weight and need the little extra help intitally.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Think exercise has to be 5-6 times a week to really help weight loss.
Welbutrin xl has ads in weight watcher magazines for treating depression. It seems to cut stress snacking for me.

 

[BabyTigger99]

Thank you for all your your help and answers. I will keep you posted on what my doctor has to say.

And to those that posted about diet and exercise. I do watch what I am eating, could probably watch a little better, but I am not eating out every meal, eating a non-balanced diet, etc. And the exercise that I do is teaching dance class, which I do for 8 hours a week, and that is just at a bare minimum of the exercise I do.

 

[Patty3]

I am not a big fan of weight loss pills. Remember phenfen. I used to take that and while taking it, those bad side effects were unknown to my doctor. And after getting off the pills, I regained most of my weight back. I hope that you have better luck than I did.

 

[bettyann29]

Is Meridia usually covered under insurance plans? or is this something that you pay for by yourself?

 

[kdibattista]

Is Meridia usually covered under insurance plans? or is this something that you pay for by yourself?

Nope, normally not (although my friend's insurance did cover it) however they do have a coupon out now. I just picked up my prescription and it was $114 before the coupon for a 30 day supply. The coupon was good for 25% of first time and 40% off for the next 5 months. If it works for me then it will be worth the money.

 

[jenm2878]

I have trouble losing weight because I am on the pill. (for med reasons) What I have found has helped is:

Drink lots of water

Eat lots of fruit & veggies (water & fiber)

And LIFT WEIGHTS! As soon as I raised my weights/reps I lost 10 pounds. This after a six month stand still. I still have 15 or so more pounds, but this seems to help the most. (I do cardio 4-5 times a week, lift weights at least three of those days - total time at gym only an hour a visit)

ETA: I know this doesn't answer anything about weight loss pills, but thought you might be interested in a different solution.

 

[Tiffann4k]

I was on a combo drug about 2 years ago called phen-pro. The phen is phentermine( the good part of the bad fen-phen combo drug) and the pro was prozac ( that had something to do with the seratonin to make me not eat as much, boy was that a wonderful drug..lol Anyhow since its a controlled substance I was only allowed to be on it for 3 months, off for 6 months and then back on for 3 months....The first three months I was on it I lost close to 50lbs( & 6 dress sizes! ) but as soon as I got off of it I gained it all back....I am an emotional eater so getting off the pills I went back to the way I was. I would love to get another chance with the pills because now I understand its a lifestyle change but unfortunatly they were getting too exspensive for our budget......

The worst problems I had with them besides the gaining of weight when I stopped taking them was for the first 4-5 nights I started the pills I could not sleep I was like on a drug high or something...I hated that

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

Before starting Meridia, try a couple of things:

1) If you really are counting calories and aren't cheating AT ALL, then you might need to increase your caloric intake by 200-300 calories.

2) If you aren't drinking 6-8 cups of water a day, do so.

3) Take a multivitamin.

4) And this is what worked for me--add a dose of Omega-3 fatty acid every day.

I went through 4 weeks of diet and daily exercise without losing anything at all, I started taking Omega-3 pills and lost 8 pounds in less than a week.

My best friend owns a weight loss center and swears by Omega-3 and fish oil pills. While I'm not wild about the fish oil, I do like the Omega-3s. You can get them at Wal-Mart or your local health food store.

 

[nomie74]

phentermine is a mild stimulant and appetite suppressant. It works very well but it is important to start lifestyle changes while on the medication. If you get in the habit of exercising and watching what you eat when you're not very hungry it wil make is so much easier when you stop the meds.

 

[BabyTigger99]

4) And this is what worked for me--add a dose of Omega-3 fatty acid every day.

I went through 4 weeks of diet and daily exercise without losing anything at all, I started taking Omega-3 pills and lost 8 pounds in less than a week.

My best friend owns a weight loss center and swears by Omega-3 and fish oil pills. While I'm not wild about the fish oil, I do like the Omega-3s. You can get them at Wal-Mart or your local health food store.

How much do the Omega-3 pills cost, and did you notice any side effects from them? What is it that you don't like about the fish oil?

 

[Amy]

BabyTigger - I'm a BC survivor, too, and I've gained about 40 pounds. My oncologist blamed it on Tamoxifen. I was very careful with what I ate, I even joined a gym and worked out religiously 3x a week, plus walking our dogs 4x a week, and that scale wouldn't budge. I hate the way I look now, but I'd rather be 40 lbs overweight than have cancer come back!

Anyway, I switched from Tamoxifen to Arimidex earlier this year, but the weight still won't come off. I also started getting Depo-Lupron shots every 3 months, and somebody above posted that Lupron can cause weight gain. I just can't win!

If you find something that works, please let me know! I've just resigned myself to buying plus-size clothes....sigh.