Guest guest Posted March 9, 2004 Report Share Posted March 9, 2004 I was talking with my daughter's psychiatrist today about all the weight gain (and subsequent diabetes) in kids taking atypical antipsychotics (like Risperdal and Zyprexa). I wanted reassurance that the diabetes was Type II, formerly called Adult Onset which is related to weight gain, and not Type I, formerly called Juvenile Onset, which runs in my husband's family. She said that, yes, it's usually in kids who have gained 40 or more pounds in a short time on these drugs, and mentioned that they are usually craving carbohydrates, which have high glycemic indexes. I asked her about the connection between kids with disorders like OCD and carbohydrate cravings, and she said that a large intake of carbohydrates releases serotonin throughout the body (not just in the brain) which is why people feel sleepy and happy after a big meal of pasta or potatoes or the like. So basically, our kids are self-medicating with food. The other interesting piece of this is that bulemics tend to binge on carbohydrates also, and get a big serotonin rush. They then throw up and get endorphins from that, so they are getting two chemical surges from it. That's why Prozac is now the first line treatment for bulemia (but doesn't do anything for anorexia). Just thought I'd share that neurological tidbit for those who are interested. in NV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2004 Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 Oh, thank you SO much! My dr. doesn't believe in a food/body connection, but I've known for a LONG time that there must be some link between dear son's carb and sugar cravings and his OCD. He would get up in the middle of the night and eat three big spoonfuls of straight white sugar. It put him back to sleep! He would also stash food in his pockets - usually carbs or sugar. I have been treating it like bad behavior, but a serotonin link seems so much more likely since he can't seem to stop, even though he knows it will get him punished. He really wants to behave and please us, and this one behavior has caused him so much frustration! Thank you! Peggy >I asked her about the connection between kids with >disorders like OCD and carbohydrate cravings, and she said that a large >intake of >carbohydrates releases serotonin throughout the body (not just in the brain) >which is why people feel sleepy and happy after a big meal of pasta or >potatoes or the like. So basically, our kids are self-medicating with food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 14, 2004 Report Share Posted March 14, 2004 Hi , this is really interesting. Did the doc say anything whether this carbo-loading our kids like to do is on balance good or bad disorder-wise? In other words, if high carbs reduce OCD symptoms as our kids say it does, is it a valid way for them to reduce symptoms--or does it contribute to up and down symptoms and the " need " (craving) for more carbs to even things out again. Obviously lots of sugar is bad news but what about healthier high-glycemic index foods I wonder. Maybe a good approach is to serve healthier high-glycemic foods + protein each meal, maybe that would work to reduce their candy cravings since they already would be awash in serotonin from the pasta or whatever. Thanks for posting this, Kathy R. in Indiana ----- Original Message ----- > I was talking with my daughter's psychiatrist today about all the weight gain > (and subsequent diabetes) in kids taking atypical antipsychotics (like > Risperdal and Zyprexa). I wanted reassurance that the diabetes was Type II, formerly > called Adult Onset which is related to weight gain, and not Type I, formerly > called Juvenile Onset, which runs in my husband's family. She said that, yes, > it's usually in kids who have gained 40 or more pounds in a short time on > these drugs, and mentioned that they are usually craving carbohydrates, which have > high glycemic indexes. I asked her about the connection between kids with > disorders like OCD and carbohydrate cravings, and she said that a large intake of > carbohydrates releases serotonin throughout the body (not just in the brain) > which is why people feel sleepy and happy after a big meal of pasta or > potatoes or the like. So basically, our kids are self-medicating with food. The other > interesting piece of this is that bulemics tend to binge on carbohydrates > also, and get a big serotonin rush. They then throw up and get endorphins from > that, so they are getting two chemical surges from it. That's why Prozac is now > the first line treatment for bulemia (but doesn't do anything for anorexia). > Just thought I'd share that neurological tidbit for those who are interested. > in NV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 15, 2004 Report Share Posted March 15, 2004 Hi Kathy, Our doc didn't really say whether this is good or bad. I wished afterward I had asked that very question, but our appt. had already run over and I didn't want to keep her any longer. I asked whether getting the serotonin levels higher through medication would, in theory, cut these cravings, and she said, yes - in theory. That's why Prozac helps bulemics. I think the chief concern is the weight gain that this carb and sugar craving causes. Probably serving protein plus high glycemic index foods together is a very good idea. I have an unfounded and untested theory that increasing Annie's protein would help her in all kinds of ways, but until she agrees to eat a protein-rich food, I'll never know. You can test this out for me on your daughter and let me know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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