I've been on Atkins since July 14th, 2002. I've lost 15 lbs. so far, due to some overall changes in my health and beginning LCing. I deal with Anxiety & my MD and Counselor started me on some SSRIs several weeks ago, because we all agree that I have a biochemical component to my anxiety.

However, I've had severe reactions to all FOUR of the SSRIs they had me try - increased anxiety, irritability, aggitation, disturbing thoughts, racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, etc. Last Friday I ended up in the ER at Kaiser because I was afraid of my thoughts and my behavior - the Psychatrist on-duty took me off the SSRI I was on and has been giving me two new medicaitons - on is Zyprexa (anti-psychotic) and Klonopin (sedative/anti-anxiety) This Psychatrist also advised me to stop taking all my herbal suppliments (I see a Naturopathic Physician) and to stop doing Atkins immediately.

I've done everything she asked, and I've tried to go back to eating a lot of carbs . . . but it's difficult! I decided to eat two "regular" dinners two nights in a row 1) 1/2 cup white rice with chicken chow yuk, 2) Bean & Cheese burrito (Large) . . . the following morning after the burrito I had major carb cravings!! But the thought of eating a bunch of carbs was revolting . . . because they don't sound good to eat & because I don't want to gain the weight back!!

So here (finally) are my questions:

1) Have any of you experienced anxiety/aggitation/irritability or headaches from doing Atkins? Did it only last during Induction, or for a month or so?

2) How should I best go about adding some carbs? I'm beginning to feel better (anxiety wise) since I've stopped the SSRIs and have been eating more carbs - but eating a bunch all at once seems to cause an insulin response & carb cravings. I would appreciate some advice on some foods I could introduce slowly throughout the day to up my carb intake. I think I'll try oatmeal for breakfast or as a morning snack - but what could I add for snacks/lunch/dinner that would help me keep my carbs fair-mid range.

3) How many carbs sould I add - should I go up only to 50-60g or as high as 100-150?

TIA for reading through this mess of confusion! Any advice and support is greatly appreciated.

I was on a lot of meds when I first started Atkins. BCP's to regulate my cycles, Anti-depressants for anxiety and depression, and a lot of herbs for other reasons. Some ofthe anti-anxiety drugs I was switched too made the symptoms worse. I have now gradually weaned myself off of all of them but my multi-vitamins and L-glutamin for my sweet tooth.
Here is what I think-
Atkins helps to regulate your insulin which helped me to not be anxious and my cycles are much better with exercise. I now have energy to do exercise since eating less carby foods.


1) Have any of you experienced anxiety/aggitation/irritability or headaches from doing Atkins? Did it only last during Induction, or for a month or so?

---I think everyone experiences headaches from detoxing from the sugar overload. After 5 days or so for me they went away. I used Jalepenos which naturally thins my blood which helped my headaches tremendously.

2) How should I best go about adding some carbs? I'm beginning to feel better (anxiety wise) since I've stopped the SSRIs and have been eating more carbs - but eating a bunch all at once seems to cause an insulin response & carb cravings. I would appreciate some advice on some foods I could introduce slowly throughout the day to up my carb intake. I think I'll try oatmeal for breakfast or as a morning snack - but what could I add for snacks/lunch/dinner that would help me keep my carbs fair-mid range.

---I add carbs after induction in the way of watery fruits and whole wheat bread (1 slice toast in the morning) and tortilla (for lunch). I don't eat carbs after 5pm and continue to lose or maintain. You may also consider eating the BFL way-6 times a day with equal parts carb/protein/veggies. A portion is the size of your fist.

3) How many carbs sould I add - should I go up only to 50-60g or as high as 100-150?
---As far as Atkins' WOE, he suggests increasing carbs 5G a day until you find your tolerance (keeping you in Ketosis). Since your doctor has advised you otherwise-I think you would be safe on the BFL plan I listed above. It is very similiar to WW & Jenny Craig, and most doctors approve of it.

Good luck!

Sorry you are going through such problems.

The psychiatrist is probably referring to lack of carbs and your seratonin level.......There is a lot of reading that you can do on this, I wish I can point you in the right direction but I am not sure. I cannot answer your questions completly. But have you thought about a different low carb plan instead. Maybe the Carbohydrate Addict's diet. That way you are still somewhat following low carb and for the time being listening to the doctor and upping your carbs for one meal....

Another thing is that some people have all the side effects to SSRI's that you have shown, it is a small percentage but nonetheless they have them. I think the problems you are facing are more to blame on the SSRI's not the low carbing you are doing.

But, as I said if you maybe get the book for the CAD plan, you may find that a better alternative for you.

Good luck
Cindy

This might not be what you want to hear but here are some of my thoughts.

I have been taking psychotropic medications for almost 20 years, with only a few months off them. I am certain the meds contributed to my weight gain.

I have also had my share of psychiatric crises.

I live, always, with the hope that I will need less and less psychotropic medication as time goes by.

I am losing weight even though I am on the meds but I am pretty sure it slows it down.

The doctor that currently monitors my psychotropic medication (SSRI is a psychotropic med) is well aware that I am doing Atkins and she is fully supportive of the idea.

Lots of doctors don't understand Atkins even though new studies seem to come out regularly that Atkins was right all along.

Rather than give you eating advice, here is what I think you should focus on. Get emotionally stable. Stable doesn't mean a few weeks. Give yourself a few months of emotional stability and medication stability. Playing around with new meds is a very stressful time. Give yourself some time.

When you are feeling more well, then return to weight loss. If your doctor still opposes it at that time, find a new med doctor.

Focus on your overall life progress, not on just weight loss.

It is so hard to postpone our desires, especially when we are under the kind of stress that puts us in the ER. My favorite psychiatrist was a Chinese American who spoke with a wonderful Chinese accent. I no longer live in same city as him or he would still be my guy. I went to see him once wildly upset about the fact that my emotional instability was going to erase all the progress I had made. He asked me, "tell me, if you are building a fence and then for a time you must stop woring on it, does the work become undone? Is not the effort of your work still there when you return to finish the fence?" He assured me my progress would still be waiting for me when I was ready to focus on it again. He didn't call it an ancient Chinese proverb but it sure sounded like one. I even had friends accuse me of making it up because it sounded like a racial stereotype. That story has helped me when I have felt stalled in life.

When you are stable, and it might not take very long, you can return to weight loss. Be patient with yourself.

I would not make a lot of decisions based on the ER doctor. S/he does not know your full medical history. I would definitely not stop taking supplements w/out seeing my own doctor.

Love that story about the fence Isabel. It really struck a chord with me.

Wish I could offer some advice but alas I can only re-iterate what others have said before.

Hang in there.

Alena.

I really appreciated all your helpful thoughts, suggestions and support. I had a really bad afternoon - where I screamed at my sweet little boy & threw his highchair half-way across the room I can't wait for this nightmare to end!! At least it is now the weekend and my husband will be available to help me get through the day, and then it will only be 2 more days until I can see my Psychatrist and my MH counselor.

I like the idea of adding some fruits and more veges - I've been missing my fruit. I went ahead and had 1/2 cup of raspberries today, as well as one piece of spelt bread w/ almond butter. For this evening, I'm adding 1/2 cup of soy ice cream to my 8oz steak.

I appreciate your suggestions to focus on getting emotionally stable first . . . I just hate to give up LCing if it isn't part of the problem. I'll work on eating more balanced meals throughout the day & stop carb counting for now. Then I think I'll discuss Atkins & LCing with my Psychatrist & Counselor next week.

I also agree that it doesn't feel right to trust the ER Psychatrist - I even told her so when she suggested that I go on Lithium and Thorazene! YIKES Because it was my 3rd trip to the ER, I think she was grasping at straws . . . I hate Kaiser . . . I so wish I could go to Providence and speak with a triage nurse at least!

Anyway - thanks for letting me vent & for offering your support. I wish all of you the best in your pursuit of health.

Monica, I have to put my two pennies in here for what it's worth...because I have seen this run-around with SSRI's before and have been through it myself. My health problems seemed as confusing as yours for the longest while - mostly symptoms of PCOS and depression since childhood. I have been on and off SSRI's for years, and the short times I'm OFF is when I realize that I am simply one of those people that needs a chemical correction to function normally. Not "optimally" - that's still up to me, but at least within the normal range, energy-wise, pleasure-finding-wise, etc. The meds help and should not be stopped for me. And sounds like for you as well.

GOOD for you on saying NO to the others at the ER. My health problems got under control, many of my symptoms disappeared and I felt 100% better when I took control over my own health and used the doctors for my sound boards. I TOLD them I was going to cut my carbs, regain control over my insulin and hunger surges, monitor my PCOS (which they finally admit is glucose related) and despite the slower pace of losing on SSRI's, I keep this as part of my routine. It took a long time to get there, but since I was used to 2 good migraines each week, I was motivated to do something. After I started Atkins, it took 58 days to get the first headache, and that was after a piece of carrot cake! No doctor would have advised this for me...nor would they admit that these two things were related. But they damn sure were, and I knew it better than they did.

I know it takes time to clear the smoke out of the way and come to a personal plan that works for you...but you will do it. I would ask another doctor about stopping Atkins "immediately"...or at least ask what the benefits/effects this is intended to have on your health. If they can answer that completely to your satisfaction, fine. Otherwise it sounds like the nay-sayer approach so many medical people take. My counselor said the same thing...and she's an eating disorder specialist. I firmly disagree with her, and I have the right to.

I hope you're doing better this week. Let us know.

I made a big mistake - I went back to eating "regular" dinners & (no extra starches - just like eating the torilla with my beans and cheese, eating one slice of bread/roll, etc. ) and have already begun to gain weight!!

Recently I met with my new Psychatrist & she was very helpful - I'm staying on the Zyprexa & Klonopin, with 75mg Amitriptyline . . . they are helping greatly . . . however, my feet have swollen up and I'm wondering if I haven't gained back some water weight.

I'm going to make a renewed effort to stay as close to strict Atkins as I can . . .

peace & happiness to all . . .

I would suggest that if you want to incorporate more carbs into your diet, you concentrate on unprocessed/unrefined carbs with a low glycemic index. Those have the least impact on your insulin level. So make sure to avoid anything "White" white sugar, white flour, potatoes, white rice. Eat instead 100% whole wheat bread, brown rice ect. Try to insure that the glycemic index of everything you eat is 50 or lower.

This should prevent a lot of the problems from eating unrestricted carbs (weight gain/bloating, etc) as well as being much healthier than eating junk.

I found this method in the book called Eat yourself Thin by Michel Montignac