AboutDr. Ravindra Bhaskar Ghooi Expertise I can provide information on drugs and medicines, their actions, uses, interactions and adverse effects. To avoid confusion, generic names of
medicines may please be provided. I am a pharmacologist, having worked
on animal and human pharmacology, and presently I am the Dean of Bilcare Research Academy, where we teach courses on clinical research. We dont work on saturdays and sundays, hence questions reachng me on these days will be replied on Monday, please bear with me.
Question I have weight gain from a med my neurologist prescibed without warning me of the weight-gain side effects and have been unable to lose it even with doctors help. The added weight has added to my discomfort and I have been investigating meds to try to find something that would work. Using a weight-loss drug in the past was extremely successful (fasten, Iominan?) and I was hoping you could answer some questions. I strongly beleive that the generic forms sometimes work better for whatever reason so I do know that generic and brand name meds can have a different outcome. I've recently asked my doctor about the anti-smoking drugs that can be used as weight-loss as well. He isn't well versed with that particular area but he did ask if I'd heard of the "Barbie Drug". It seems a little hard to beleive that this drug can exist but I was wondering if you know when it will be available and if there are any side effects? I am looking at every possible way to decrease my weight, even a gastric pacemaker. The website www.constipation.com talks about using the pacemaker as a way to control bowel problems which I have been born with. I was wondering if you might think I could benefit from this procedure, kind of like killing two birds with one stone? I beleive getting the meds over the internet and not from a pharmacy is taking a chance in whether or not you're getting the actual drug. I was hoping for your input about what you think about what path I can take. I am on Oxicontin and Darvocet for the pain, Prozac for the depression, Guifiasen for the sinus headaches, tetracyclen for my facial ecxema, ortho-novum 777 and a new drug for profuse sweating. I'm a walking pharmacy and I hate drugs!
Answer Hi Cynthia,
The course to be taken for weight loss will depend upon how much weight you want to lose and whether you are really way above your desired weight. For this one has to calculate the BMI. BMI is equal to the weight (kg) divided by the square of height (in mtrs). I ma aware that in the US the usual measures are lbs and feet, but BMI calculation is in Mts and Kg.
Surgical procedures for weight loss are used only in extreme cases, and without adequate information it will not be ethical to say whether you require them.
Secondly you have spoken about bowel problems. This is rather vague and medical opinion cannot be based on this information only.
I appreciate your concern about use of drugs but they are always a better option to surgery, since there are no ways to reverse surgery, while drugs can be stopped.
No there is no drug that helps control smoking and causes weight loss. The one to help stop smoking is Zyban (Bupropion) while the one causing weight reduction is Meridia (sibutramine).
I regret that with the available information I cannot give more suggestion, but if you need them I will need more specific and detailed information. If you are worried about confidentiality of information, let me inform you that all information sent to me is always confidential, you may if you wish write on my personal mail, rghooi@clinirx.com
Regards
Ravi Ghooi
