Is Rx medication ever OK to use when ongoing dieting results in Binging?

So, here is the question I pose. Mind you all, I am not an advocate either way. I just want to see the different thought processes out there.

If you are an individual who has legitimately been struggling with weight loss and weight gain for a long period of time. Whatever, the pattern of time doesn't matter. But you struggle keeping your weight down or keeping focused or motivated to stay the course. When is it OK to go to your doctor and ask for support? There are medications for
high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, etc. Is there really any shame attached to saying we need additional support to aid our addiction. And, yes I know there is no magic pill, but I find that I can't continue living like this. I gain weight, I lose weight. I over examine and become obsessed when on a diet. And if I get derailed, forget it. I may not get back on track for another (who knows) it could be 2 weeks or 2 months. Then I eat haphazardly because I
know that one day soon I will be starting another diet. I feel like in addition to eating right and exercise I need additional support to keep my mind right. I don't want to think about food every minute of the day. I hope I am making sense. No heated debated please, just your objective opinions.

Fri. Feb 8, 6:07pm

I see what you're saying you need help with, and I don't think they make a pill for it. What you'd do better with is some cognitive therapy. However, that takes time and effort, and most people aren't willing to invest either in it, when they *think* they can solve problems with a pill.

I'm personally opposed to taking pharmaceuticals though except in the most dire of circumstances. I'm a bigger believer in homeopathy and naturopathy.

No offense, but your prob sounds more like a mental/emotional one than a physical. I mean, do you really think keeping your weight down is going to make you instantly happy? Is it going to solve all your problems?

Friday, February 08, 2008, 6:14 PM

Learning to maintain my weight without obsessing is very important to me. I am in my 40's, and I just want to live a life that I am not trying to always get to a certain weight. I want to get to that weight, and learn to maintain. I have yet to be successful. I have been at iy for a very long time. As Doctor Phil would say, how's that working for you? The way I've been doing it, ain't working for me. I want something to help me control the anxiety I place on myself when dieting. I know that exercise I'd a great stress reliever. I also know that I am not exercising 100% of the day.

Friday, February 08, 2008, 6:29 PM

I forgot to mention that I have taken two separate stints of hypnosis. I also bought tape that you listen to while you sleep. I've been on WW, LA Weight Loss, Diet Center (when they were around), etc . I never partnered with my doctor to see if there was anything that I can use as an aid to support my efforts.

Friday, February 08, 2008, 6:36 PM

let me repeat: cognitive therapy. Re think your thought patterns. Don't go to your GP, get yourself a therapist. A pill will quiet your anxiety. Cognitive therapy will help you work through the anxiety. To truly over come it. And then those same processes you learn to deal with your weight, you can use to deal with all the other kinds of stresses life throws your way.

Wouldn't you rather be able to teach your children how to work through things than take pills?

With all due respect, you're talking about your life feeling out of control because of your weight. How many people would rather struggle with their weight than memories of abuse? Of witnessing the atrocities of war? Of relatives they haven't seen since they fled to a refugee camp?

See, this doesn't mean that your problem isn't real. It obviously is, but until you really really examine why you let this control your life, you can't solve it.

Pills can help you lose weight faster, but I don't think there's any pill that doesn't still require work on your part. You can take an anti-depressant to calm your anxiety, but it won't do anything for your weight.

It almost sounds like if you can fix it with a pill, then you can say that you didn't have the power to fix it on your own, which means you didn't fail. If there is no pill, then you can absolve yourself.

Friday, February 08, 2008, 7:53 PM

I agree with the cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy will deal with all of the things you tell yourself, the messages you replay in your head, your mindset about food, etc. - all of those things that result in this never ending struggle with food. And cognitive therapy would give you that support you need to keep your mind right. And it's so empowering - I highly recommend it.

Friday, February 08, 2008, 8:11 PM

Thank you to the previous two posts, for your thoughtful examination of my OP. Where would one go to seek out a cognitive therapist?

Friday, February 08, 2008, 8:55 PM

I'd check with your insurance company. It may not be listed under 'cognitive' - there are many therapy modalites - buy you can call and ask. I'm in the mental health field, and I'd also highly recomend thinking about a behavioral therapist. Cog. therapists are more about 'talking', whereas behavioral therapists are more hands on, problem solving oriented. Both work amazingly well for different personality types. You can do an internet search for more info. And counselors are listed in the phone book, too.

Saturday, February 09, 2008, 7:42 PM

Or perhaps you can check with your employer- I'll admit I'm Canadian, but many many employers have "Employee Assistance Programs" that allow for free short term counselling.

Good luck OP!

Saturday, February 09, 2008, 9:47 PM

A great source for finding a shrink is on psychologytoday.com - you can filter by location, types of therapy offered, specialisms, even insurance plans accepted.

If you can find a Registered Dietician with a private practice (as opposed to a clinical setting), they're the best source for therapists that deal with the psychologic issues attached to weight problems. They might suggest that you see your doctor for a pill to help with an underlying condition (e.g. depression, anxiety, etc), but what you're talking about isn't a diet problem. Your weight problems are a symptom, not a cause...which is the case for most of us, and not acknowledging that and dealing with it is a big reason why only 10% succeed in keeping the weight off.

Saturday, February 09, 2008, 10:41 PM

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