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Antidepressant Weight Gain

If you have entered this page without reading the rest of the site first, The Road Back Program is a non-profit 501(c) 3. We have been helping people taper off psychoactive medication since 1999. Over 40,000 people have used this program to become drug free. 

Weight Gain Caused by Antidepressants

Over the last 11-years, our researchers have made partial breakthroughs with methods to help stop drug induced weight gain. During the summer of 2010, clinical studies unraveled the last and most important part for a solution of the weight gain caused by medication, specifically antidepressants. The Road Back Program has now taped the route for successful weight loss. 

Note: This weight loss approach works for people still taking an antidepressant as well as those already off the medication.

The weight gain caused by antidepressant usage is now an acknowledged side effect by the drug companies, the F.D.A. and the American Medical Association. If your physician still claims that an antidepressant does not cause weight gain, the physician needs to read the current drug description supplied by the drug company.

Again, The Road Back Program’s main focus is assisting individuals taper off psychoactive medication but with 25% of the people taking an antidepressant experiencing sudden and dramatic weight gain, a fair amount of our research time has been spent looking for the cause of the antidepressant induced weight gain.

The Cause of the Weight Gain

The intent of this text is to make the science easy to understand for all readers of this web site. If you are a medical professional and wish to read additional scientific information, please go to www.pubmed.gov and type in the search box “JNK” “obesity” or “JNK” “diabetes” or any other term you wish with JNK.

An Israeli medical group conducted a clinical study titled, (Antidepressant induce cellular insulin resistance by activation of IRS-1 kinases) in 2007, which demonstrated the sequence within the body that takes place leading to weight gain and potential obesity when a person takes an antidepressant. This study was the first to show the direct cause of antidepressant induced weight gain and by defining the cause of the weight gain it allowed a route to follow to look for a possible solution. The cause of antidepressant weight gain, as described in the Israeli study, is rather technical and we will do our best to keep the explanation easy to understand.

Antidepressants cause a gene in our cells to become too active. Genes can turn off and on much like a light switch or a rheostat that can dim or brighten a room with the turning of a knob. The gene that is affected by the antidepressants is called the JNK gene. When this JNK gene is turned on too much, other proteins in the cells will begin to be too excited as well and in other cases completely shut off their functional processes.

With the case of antidepressant induced weight gain; the JNK gene becomes overly activated and this makes a substance called IRS-1 not function properly. IRS-1 regulates insulin within the cells. Insulin resistance is the next step in the process of gaining weight due to the antidepressant. The cells are no longer able to regulate the inflow of insulin properly and a pre-diabetic state is now in place. For those of you that are predisposed to diabetes, this is why there is a 10-fold increase chance of becoming a diabetic when an antidepressant is used. Your body is already genetically arranged to have a problem with insulin and it only takes the stimulus of the antidepressant to push the body over the edge.

For the medical professionals reading this, we are aware that there are other factors that can cause insulin resistance and obesity, however, this information is specific to antidepressants and their cause of weight gain. You see, a person can take an antidepressant, eat a well-balanced diet, get plenty of exercise and still gain a massive amount of weight.  We have had too many aerobics instructors over the past decade gain weight once they started taking an antidepressant to not look further at this problem.

The Solution For the Antidepressant Induced Weight Gain

The solution is simple actually. Reduce the activation of the JNK gene and then a good diet and exercise will actually lead to weight loss. It is that simple. Click here to go to the JNK Diet. On the JNK Diet web site you will be able to read about the foods to avoid and eat.

How to Reduce the Over Activation of the JNK Gene

The process we followed while researching this JNK gene not only led to an effective way to lose the weight gain caused by antidepressants but it also led to a massive improvement of our drug tapering program. After reading JNK gene medical studies conducted by Harvard Medical and other prestigious universities, we knew a drug company would be making a weight loss drug in the future based on the JNK gene but their drug would probably address diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, tumors and a host of other real diseases. We were correct.

The biopharmaceutical company Celgene now holds 17 pending patents or full patents for a new drug to reduce the over activation of the JNK gene. Read more from Celgene. One of the JNK drugs being produced by Celgene for reducing inflammation is nearing the pre-clinical stage. Read more. These will probably be a blockbuster drug for Celgene in the future for several medical conditions but what can be done now to help stop the over activation of the JNK gene?

There are natural ways to reduce the over activation of the JNK gene and reverse the weight gain caused by the metabolic changes forced on the body by the antidepressant. Medical studies show you can reduce the over activation of the JNK gene naturally and effectively without the use of a drug.

After reviewing thousands of JNK gene medical studies, while keeping in mind the metabolism route of antidepressants to not create a drug/supplement interaction, a completely natural solution was found.

We wish we could say “reduce your calories and exercise and weight loss will happen for you” but you know that has not worked. We wish we could say “try the prepared gourmet meals offered by the top diet companies” but you probably have and you know it has not worked at all.

Until you reduce, and keep reduced, the over activation of the JNK gene, weight loss does not have a chance to begin when an antidepressant is used. That is another simple and to the point statement here but watering down the truth is not going to do anyone any good.

We recommend the patented and all natural weight management product called JNK Liquid Booster. The Road Back Program does not sell or distribute this product or any other products but we will recommend a natural supplement if we feel it will help when a drug is being used or help once a person is completely off the medication.

If you were to read through the book on this web site, How to Get Off Psychoactive Drugs Safely, you will read that we do not recommend starting any diet program while still on the medication, and in this case an antidepressant. That has been able to change with the product called JNK Liquid Booster. The JNK Liquid Booster is gentle enough to not cause a reaction with antidepressants, yet formulated with all natural ingredients to get the job done.

The JNK Liquid Booster is backed by 4 medical studies with real science showing what it is doing inside the body. We knew if this product was actually reducing the over activation of the JNK gene, more than weight loss would need to happen. Liver enzymes should go back to normal, cholesterol should go back to normal, blood glucose should return to normal and a person should not show any signs of starvation of the cells. Those results were shown in the 4 medical studies.

There is a lot of information here for you to digest. Take your time and read through the 4 medical studies below. Choose the approach used in one of the studies you feel you can do and get started. Losing weight is not only excellent for your overall health but your mental health as well. Too many times over the past year we have received e-mails from people stating, “I was a little depressed before I went on the antidepressant but with how much weight I have gained and how I look now, I am really depressed.”

Many of you will be making your New Year’s resolutions during the next few weeks and weight loss is probably high on your list. If you try other approaches before what we have here and weight loss does not happen, don’t give up. Bookmark this page and come back to it, the information will still be here for you.

Medical Trial #4 below has given the best results and is the approach we would recommend. Again, the liquid nutritional product used in all 4 medical Trials is called JNK Liquid Booster. You can click here to go to the company that manufactures the product and for ordering information. They have an interesting video at the top of the page you are directed toward with the link, worth watching. We do recommend you first visit the JNK Diet web site for additional information.

Here is a summary of the 4 medical studies

SUMMARY OF RESULTS FROM MEDICAL STUDIES

The development of a proprietary liquid nutrient concentrate and weight management program began with an analysis of what per FDA and FTC guidelines is considered a bona-fide weight loss system. From a regulatory point of view, for the purpose of advertising, weight loss is the result of two factors:

Reduced calorie intake;

Exercise to stimulate the burning of calories.

The liquid nutrient concentrate (a food product) was formulated to help a dieter do this: (1) be a meal substitute to reduce the caloric intake, and (2) provide sufficient nutrition so that a dieter feels energetic enough to do some form of daily exercise.

A weight loss program was then designed based on these two points. The effects of that program—both on weight loss and overall health—has now been studied in four medical studies, plus a short clinical observation report.

MEDICAL TRIAL #1: The purpose of the first medical study was to see if using the liquid nutrient concentrate together with a strict reduction in two of the three meals per day would produce safe and effective results after only one week. The results showed a significant loss of weight and reduction in body measurements, as well as improvements in several blood values:

(Comments from The Road Back – Medical Trial #1 is showing the results after 1 week.  The weight loss is fantastic for 1 week as well as the size reductions but the reduction of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides is beyond impressive. Frankly, if a drug company presented data like this to the FDA for a drug approval, the drug would fly through the approval process as long as the drug did not cause too much harm)

Weight loss: 7.5 lbs

Body fat percentage reduction: 3.02%

Waist size reduction: 2.32 inches

Hips size reduction: 2.80 inches

Chest size reduction: 1.93 inches

Abdomen size reduction: 2.45 inches

Glucose reduction: 3.17 mg/dL

Total cholesterol reduction:5 mg/dL

Triglycerides reduction: 22.31 mg/dl

MEDICAL TRIAL #2: The second study was carried out to see if a dieter could comfortably use the liquid nutrient concentrate for a longer period of time than one week (four weeks) without secondary effects such as tiredness or feelings of hunger. The dietary modifications were also not as strict as in the previous study: Only one meal per day was replaced by the nutrient concentrate.

Weight loss: 7.48 lbs

Waist size reduction: 2.75 inches

Hips size reduction: 2.32 inches

Chest size reduction: 2.56 inches

An observation from this study was that the greater the starting weight of a participant, the greater was the weight lost. Some obese participants lost over 20 pounds during the trial.

MEDICAL TRIAL #3: The third trial was made to see if the liquid nutrient concentrate could improve lipid (fat) metabolism at a very early stage of being overweight. This study also had no dietary modifications other than using the nutrient concentrate in lieu of breakfast.

Weight loss: 4% (5.72 lbs)

Waist size reduction: 5.4% (1.73 inches)

Buttocks size reduction: 2.6% (0.94 inches) Rump size reduction: 3.2% (1.18 inches)

Blood pressure reduction: 1.6%

Total cholesterol reduction: 4.7%

LDL cholesterol reduction: 2.0 %

Triglycerides reduction: 29.5%

Blood glucose reduction: 12.1%

Insulin reduction: 12.6%

SGOT activity decrease*: 1.4 %

SGPT activity decrease*: 3.3%

* Decrease in the activity in these liver enzymes indicate that the nutrient concentrate may have systemic cleansing or detoxifying effects.

MEDICAL TRIAL #4: The fourth clinical took place over a period of six weeks to study both the weight loss results and overall health benefits to a dieter over this longer period of time. This study began with a three-day initial cleansing program with the nutrient concentrate as the only source of nutrition, followed by five and a half weeks of using the concentrate to replace one meal per day.

Weight loss: 28.4 lbs

Adipose tissue reduction: 6.7%

Average total cholesterol reduction: 20.6 mg/dL

Average triglyceride reduction: 18.3 mg/dL

In addition, those participants with high liver enzyme values saw these normalized during the trial.

SHORT CLINICAL OBSERVATION: A clinical observation trial with 13 participants showed that twelve of the 13 were able to normalize abnormal liver enzyme values (SGPT and SGOT) after using the nutrient concentrate for two weeks. Those twelve subjects were also able to lose a significant amount of weight during the two-week period (10-15 pounds).

PATENT PENDING: Based on these clinical results, a patent that covers any combination of the ingredients in in the nutrient concentrate in liquid form as a “method for preventing or treating pre-obesity and obesity and metabolic conditions associated with pre-obesity and obesity” has been filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office. During the review of the application by the USPTO, the invention enjoys full patent protection.

Medical Trial #4 in More Detail

MEDICAL TRIAL #4

The effects of a 6 week weight management program, utilizing non-pharmaceutical nutritional supplements, on weight reduction, subjective energy level, cholesterol, triglycerides, adipose tissue and liver enzymes in obese adults.

Dr. Gerald W. Lane, Medical Director & Primary Research Investigator Institute for Metabolic Research, Columbus, Ohio

Dr. Lane is Administrative Director of Research at The Institute for Metabolic Research, Columbus, Ohio. He is a graduate of Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, Ohio. He is former Medical Director for Hilltop Research and Radiant Research, Columbus Ohio. Dr. Lane has contributed toward greater than 250 clinical research projects over 15 years. Past Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Ohio University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, Ohio

Abstract

A nutritional supplement program studied 35 participants to determine safety and efficacy of the products (a liquid nutrient concentrate) while measuring weight reduction, lipids, adipose tissue and liver enzymes over a 6 week period. This was an open label trial with obese adults which measured total weight, percentage of body fat, andropometric measurements of mid-arm circumference, abdomen, hips, thighs, caliper measurements of skin folds of triceps, supraliac and mid-thigh (female) and caliper measurements of skin folds of chest, abdomen and mid-thigh (males), electrolytes, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, albumen, total protein, bilirubin, BUN, Creatinine, SGOT, SGPT, and subjective energy levels (self-reported by participants). The group participated in a 72 hour program utilizing only the nutritional supplements and hydration. The results were remarkable. Every subject in the program lost weight with an average weight loss of 8.7 pounds. They then continued to utilize the nutritional products to replace one meal per day for 39 additional days. The average weight loss after 14 days was 18.2 pounds and 28.4 pounds at the conclusion of the 6 week trial.

Patient’s metabolic functions were closely monitored in order to document therapeutic benefit, while monitoring for potential side effects. Total cholesterol was lowered in all participants (average reduction = 20.6) and every participant with clinically elevated cholesterol (= 200) at baseline, reported normal values after 6 weeks. Similarly, all participants with fasting hyperglycemia (s. glu. = 100) returned to normal by the end of the study. This included 3 patients with NIDDM who were not well controlled prior to the study. There was no evidence of hypoglycemia (s. glu. = 65). Participants with elevated liver enzymes at baseline reported normal SGOT & SGPT levels after 2 weeks. No participant developed liver enzyme elevations. Subjective energy level of the participants was reported at baseline as low to average and reported as high to very high at the conclusion of the study. All participants lost total adipose tissue with the average change calculated at 6.7% lost. Decrease in total inches of body fat paralleled that of weight. For each pound of weight lost, the participants lost 0.82” off of body measurements.

Introduction

Obesity is the number one contributor to the development of heart disease, diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis in developed countries. The toll on human existence, both medically and economically is immense. While we cannot alter genetic factors contributing to obesity, cholesterol and triglycerides and diabetes, we can successfully address the exogenous contribution to these disease states.

Pharmaceutical attempts to promote weight loss have historically been accomplished via appetite suppressants that many times are addictive and or have cardiovascular side effects. The prescribing patterns of these medications are closely monitored by the board of pharmacy in most states, due to abuse and miss-use by patients and prescribers.

This study was conducted to document scientifically an effective and safe mechanism to help obese individuals lose weight. The results of this study bear out that there are safe, effective adjuncts to weight loss without the need for prescription medication or frequent physician visits.

Methods

Inclusion in the study required that all subjects were obese adults, between the age 18 and 65, whose weight was at least 15% over IBW (ideal body weight). IBW for males was calculated utilizing the formula: 106# for the first 60” of height and 6 # for each additional inch, plus or minus 6#’s. Females utilize the formula: 100# for the first 60” and 5# for each additional inch, plus or minus 5#’s. Examples: a male 5’ 8” (68”) would have an IBW of 148-160. A female of 5’8” (68”) would have an IBW of 135-145. Study participants would be equal or greater than 15% more than the upper limit of the IBW range. The male in the above example would have to weigh = 184 (15% greater than 160) and the female would have to weigh = 167 (15% greater than 145). The study sample consisted of 35 qualified and consented subjects, 2 females and 8 males. The average percentage over IBW was 21% (range of 15% -45%). The first study participant was enrolled on August 22, 2010. All participants received a general physical exam, anthropological body measurements utilizing the Jackson – Pollock scale. This included weight, body circumference measurements of arms, abdomen, hips and thighs plus body fat analysis with caliper measurements of arms, sacroiliac and thigh in females and chest, abdomen and thigh in males. Laboratory analysis included comprehensive metabolic panel + lipids at baseline visit, day 15 and upon conclusion of the study (day 42). On the first visit, the participants were started on the phase one of the study, which consisted of 3 dietary cleansers on day zero and the study products and protocol for days 1-3 (appendix 1 – phase 1). They returned on day 4, weighed, all measurements were repeated and they received the study products and protocol for days 4-42 (appendix 2 – phase 2). On days 15 and 42, they were seen for a follow up visit. Weight, body measurements and labs were repeated. All data was collected and the study was closed on November 15th, 2010.

Statistical analysis

The data was analyzed using the statistical package SPSS version 12. A Kolmogorov-Smirnoff goodness of fit test was performed on all variables in the experimental group to test the null hypothesis that the data came from a normally distributed population. The results accepted the null hypothesis for all variables (p < 0.01). Next a parametric paired-sample t-test was carried out to determine that there is no significant difference between the mean of the initial measurements (i.e. before treatment) and the mean of the subsequent measurements (i.e. post-treatment).

This test was performed for each variable included in the experimental group (treated with the dietary program). All results rejected the null hypothesis and the means were significantly different (p< 0.05). Also an analysis of variance was performed between the three measurements resulting in a significant difference (p < 0.01) among the three measurements. Finally, a Pearson coefficient was calculated to test the degree of correlation in the change detected between the pre and post-treatments. All results showed a significant coefficient (p< 0.01) consistent with the changes observed experimentally.

Results

All measurements reported on the 35 subjects were taken 3 times during the study (at randomization day #1, day #14 and at the conclusion of the study, day #42). All subjects served as their own controls.

Total body weight: Every subject in the program lost weight with an average weight loss of 8.7 (± 2.1) pounds. They then continued to utilize the nutritional products to replace one meal per day for 39 additional days. The average weight loss after 14 days was 18.2 (± 3.7) pounds and 28.4 (± 6.5) pounds at the conclusion of the 6 week trial. This was found to be statistically significant (p<.01)

Adipose Tissue: The average % loss of adipose tissue was 6.7% (± 0.8). This difference was found to be significant (p < 0.01).

Glucose: The average serum glucose at baseline was 93.76 mg/dL ± 1.89. Glucose at day 14 was 89.55 (± 1.80) and 92 (± 1.54) at the conclusion of 6 weeks. These numbers were not statistically significant. 3 participants with clinically significant hyperglycemia (fasting glucose = 100) had normal values at the conclusion of the study. Of these 3 subjects, the baseline fasting glucose was 154.33 (± 22.67 mg/dL). These 3 subjects fasting glucose on day 42 was 94 (± 2.33 mg/dL). These findings were not statistically significant, however, clinically very revealing.

Total cholesterol: The average loss of total cholesterol was 20.6 mg/dL (± 6.23). The total cholesterol at baseline was 192.2 mg/dL (± 8.05) and at day 42, was 171.6 mg/dL (± 5.67). This was found to be a statistically significant difference (p<0.01).

Triglycerides: The average loss in triglycerides was 18.3 mg/dL (± 4.22) for 34 of the 35 patients. This difference had a statistical significance (p<0.05).

Of particular interest was one participant whose baseline triglyceride was 1430 mg/dL (normal = 149 mg/dL). The subject was notified of the “alert” values and was offered to be more closely monitored and to be referred to an independent physician for further evaluation. He chose to remain in the study. At day 14 his triglyceride level was reduced to 894 mg/dL, at day 28 was reduced to 782 mg/dL and at day 42 was reduced to 593 mg/dL. He experienced a reduction of 837 mg/dL of his triglycerides. This outlier is scientifically interesting, although not significantly significant. Upon conclusion of the study, he agreed to continue to remain on the study product and agreed to monitor of his triglycerides every 3 months.

Discussion

This study was an open label clinical trial in which subjects served as their own control for a period of 6 weeks (42 days). The primary end points of the research were to assess the efficacy of a non-pharmacological weight loss system while monitoring for safety. Secondary end points were to demonstrate if the studied products would elucidate medically therapeutic changes in fasting glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides while monitoring hepatic and renal functions for safety.

Each subject was monitored for changes in total body weight, percentage of adipose tissue (total body fat), waist, hips, chest measurements as well as glucose, SGOT, SGPT, albumin, total cholesterol and triglycerides.

Significant reductions were found in total weight loss, total body adipose tissue, cholesterol and triglycerides while participants experienced no clinically significant adverse effects. There were no elevations in hepatic function studies and participants experienced normalization in SGOT, SGPT if those values were elevated at baseline.

Likewise, there were 3 participants with elevated fasting glucose at baseline. These 3 participants had normalization

of their fasting glucose upon conclusion of the study, while there were no subjects who experienced hypoglycemia.

All subjects reported stable serum albumin levels as documentation maintenance of proper nutritional balance.

 

 

Introduction by James Harper and  Jayson Austin

1. The Road Back Basics

2. The Four Simple Steps

3. "Nutritionals" Used on The Road Back Program

4. Drug Side Effects

5. Things to Be Aware of

6. General Pre-Tapering and Taper Instructions

7. Daily Journal

8. Graph Your Success

9. Antianxiety, Anticonvulsants, Benzodiazepine, and Sleep Medication Pre-Taper

10. Antidepressant Pre-Taper

11. Antipsychotic Medication Pre-Taper

12. ADD, ADHD Medication and Stimulants Pre-Taper

13. How to Taper Antianxiety, Anticonvulsants, Benzodiazepines, and Sleep Medication

14. How to Taper Antidepressants

15. How to Taper Antipsychotic Medication

16. How to Taper ADD, ADHD Medication and Stimulant Medication

17. How to Taper Multiple Medications

18. What to Do If You Are Already in Withdrawal or Quit Your Medication Cold Turkey

19. Once Off All Medication

20. What Can be Done If You Have Never Taken Psychoactive Medication

21. Drug Induced Weight Gain

22. The Science

References

Glossary

 Copyright and Patent Information


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