Some people find that they are able to lose weight successfully on the Atkins diet before but not after starting Remeron, the brand name for the antidepressant mirtazapine. Some patients claim that after being prescribed Remeron, their weight loss slows down or grinds to a halt completely. You should not discontinue using Remeron without consulting your physician, who can advise you if you are concerned about its effect on your weight-loss efforts.
Background
The Atkins program is a low-carb, high-protein diet designed to promote weight loss by encouraging your body to use stored fat as energy. Phase one is the strictest phase of the Atkins diet and requires you to restrict your carbohydrate intake to less than 20 grams per day. Your body uses carbohydrates for fuel and reverts to fat usage when fuel from carbohydrates is unavailable. During the maintenance phase, you can generally consume up to 100 grams of carbs daily.
Glucose Restriction
Robert Atkins designed the Atkins diet based on the belief that people typically consume too many carbohydrates, which can lead to weight gain. Carbohydrates are converted to blood glucose. Your pancreas secretes the hormone insulin to regulate this form of energy. Depending on your needs, insulin can trigger your body to use the available glucose immediately for energy, to store energy in the form of glycogen for later use or to store it as fat. The Atkins diet is designed to work by reducing the amount of available glucose that can be stored as fat.
Glucose Transport
Remeron works through its actions on the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. As a side effect, Remeron may affect your blood sugar levels. A study published in the June 2006 issue of the "Journal of Psychiatric Research" found that Remeron caused a significant increase in the GLUT-4 glucose transporter. Theoretically, this means that even if you reduce your carbohydrate intake on Atkins, you may not experience the same weight-loss effects as before starting Remeron.
Considerations
Antidepressants are commonly associated with weight gain, although the official cause remains unknown. You can discuss switching medications with your doctor, as some antidepressants are less likely to cause weight gain or interfere with weight loss. These medications include Effexor, Wellbutrin and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Zoloft.
References
- Journal of Psychiatric Research: Effects of Different Antipsychotics and the Antidepressant Mirtazapine on Glucose Transporter MRNA Levels in Human Blood Cells
- European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology: The Association Between Antidepressant Use and Disturbances in Glucose Homeostasis: Evidence From Spontaneous Reports
- British Journal of Pharmacology: α2a-adrenoceptor Antagonism Increases Insulin Secretion and Synergistically Augments the Insulinotropic Effect of Glibenclamide in Mice
- Drugs.com: Remeron
- MayoClinic.com: Can Antidepressants Cause Weight Gain?
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