Ask Dr. Gott » PCOS

Depression linked to medication

Dr. Gott — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 05:01:08 +0000

DEAR DR. GOTT: I’m 20 years old and have been on birth control from the time I was 13. I’ve been depressed all my life. I think the medication causes my depression to worsen. I also have polycystic ovary syndrome. I tried metformin instead of birth control. It made me sick but less depressed. Can you tell me of a birth-control medication that will not cause depression?

DEAR READER: Medications can definitely cause feelings of sadness, despair and discouragement. All are feelings commonly associated with depression.

The metformin you were prescribed is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. It helps control the amount of sugar in the blood and decreases the amount of glucose absorbed from food and the glucose made by the liver. It can also be prescribed to regulate menstrual cycles but does not prevent pregnancy. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but not depression.

Your polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause erratic or prolonged menstrual cycles, obesity, acne and excessive hair growth. Women with the diagnosis may have difficulties becoming pregnant because of the infrequency of ovulation.

My guess is that you were prescribed birth control to help regulate your cycles, because low-dose birth control with a combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone can decrease androgen production, correct any abnormal bleeding, and decrease your risk of endometrial cancer. An alternative to this would be to take progesterone for up to 14 days every month, which will reduce your risk of endometrial cancer and regulate your menstrual cycle but will not improve your androgen levels. Treatment for PCOS is geared toward management of obesity, acne, hair growth and infertility.

I don’t know if you have a weight problem as a result of your PCOS, but exercise will go a long way toward lowering your blood-sugar levels. Speak with your physician before beginning any exercise regimen. Request a referral to a gynecologist familiar with PCOS who can direct you in terms of treatment and your depression. Perhaps counseling is in line. A nutritionist can get you on the right track regarding your diet.

It appears you have a lot going on at 20 years of age. You deserve a better outlook, and the help is out there.

To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Consumer Tips on Medicine.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order made payable to Newsletter and mailed to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com.

Making excuses for obesity

Dr. Gott — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:01:41 +0000

DEAR DR. GOTT: My 38-year-old granddaughter is convinced that because she has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), she cannot lose weight. She is grossly overweight, and I am concerned about her future. She sees an endocrinologist about once a year, and takes thyroid medication and niacin for cholesterol. Can she be helped? Thank you for your consideration of this serious problem.

DEAR READER: PCOS is a hormonal disorder that commonly begins when a female begins menstruation; however, it can develop later in life.

Obesity presents in nearly half of all patients with PCOS and is often the initial complaint. Abnormalities in the menstrual cycle, infertility, pre or type II diabetes and the presence of polycystic ovaries diagnosed through ultrasound are but a few of the other symptoms. It should be noted, however, that having polycystic ovaries is not a firm indication of PCOS.

There is no specific testing for diagnosis. Rather, it is one of exclusion, meaning that a physician will rule out a number of related possibilities prior to deciding on PCOS. The disorder makes other conditions, such as type II diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea, more likely to occur.

Only you and your granddaughter can determine the sequence of events. When was she diagnosed? Could the PCOS be a result of her obesity? Is that issue under control? I cannot tie in high-cholesterol levels with her excess weight; however, thyroid disorders are often linked with obesity, elevated cholesterol and menstruation abnormalities.

There is help and hope that focuses primarily on her major symptoms. She should exercise and become involved with a regular weight-control program.

Diet modification appears essential. There is some initial evidence of success on a low-carbohydrate diet without discrimination between carbs on either end of the glycemic index. Her caloric intake should be reduced. She should avoid simple carbohydrates such as soda, sugary drinks, doughnuts, cakes and pastries. Any carb intake might focus on choices high in fiber, such as brown rice, whole-grain breads, fortified cereals and beans.

Her physician might decide to place her on low-dose birth control as a means of regulating her menstrual cycles.

She should continue to see her primary-care physician and endocrinologist on a regular basis.

To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “A Strategy for Losing Weight: Introduction to the No Flour, No Sugar Diet.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com.

Daughter needs attentive physician

Dr. Gott — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 05:01:15 +0000

DEAR DR. GOTT: I hope you can help my daughter, as I am worried about her. She is not getting the help she needs. In February 2009, she started suffering from a skin condition on her scalp, which flakes. She also started losing large amounts of hair. She then developed a rash on her face and body.
She has been seen by three doctors and four dermatologists all connected to a local medical center, which is part of a college. One of them said she had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and another said she didn’t. She has had nine lab tests, including a CA-125, a testosterone test and a DHEA test. She is still waiting for some of the results because the doctors and medical center are being lax about sending the information to her new off-campus physician.
When this first started, my daughter suggested to one of her doctors that perhaps her birth-control pills were the problem, but the physician refused to change them until my daughter quit smoking, which she did. She also suggested that my daughter get her tubes tied instead. My daughter, 41, has no children but hopes to some day.
This new doctor did an ultrasound and found a black mass on one of her ovaries that he is watching, but he does not respond to her repeated calls about her lab results. The lab has said it sent some of the results to him and that they cannot help her. She just graduated college and is trying to find a job, but it is being made hard by the fact that she has this rash and is losing her hair. She is getting very discouraged and depressed, and cries all the time. She also doesn’t have insurance, so this whole thing is costly.
Please help.
DEAR READER: Based on your description, the first thing that comes to mind is psoriasis or some other type of dermatitis. However, if she has seen four dermatologists, this common skin condition should have been recognized and diagnosed quickly.
Psoriasis causes the body to overproduce skin cells, which it then cannot flake off as normal. It results in skin plaques that are red with silvery-white scales. When scratched or picked at, the plaques may come off but will result in bleeding.
Scalp psoriasis typically starts within the hairline and may present as nothing more than dandruff. Mild cases may even respond well to over-the-counter dandruff-control shampoos or treatments. More severe cases eventually spread beyond the hairline, down onto the neck, ears and forehead.
Psoriasis may also appear on other areas of the body. It commonly affects the arms, elbows, knees and lower legs. There are several types of psoriasis, and each carries its own distinct appearance. For example, psoriasis of the nail can cause thickening, pitting and ridging of the fingernails that may, at first appearance, resemble a nail fungus.
Psoriasis also carries complications. Scratching can lead to bleeding and increased risk of skin infections. In severe cases, it can cause feelings of social isolation, anxiety or depression because of the sufferer’s reaction (or that of others) to their appearance.
As for her diagnosis of PCOS based on her rash, I cannot comment other than giving general information about the condition.
The Androgen Excess and PCOS Society developed criteria for the diagnosis of androgen excess to include PCOS. The criteria currently consists of having excess male hormones, ovarian dysfunction and the exclusion of related disorders. However, newer determinations find there are forms of PCOS without overt evidence of increased male hormones. Additional research results are pending with regard to clarification.
PCOS may also be associated with obesity, infertility, pre- or type 2 diabetes, and a skin condition known as acanthosis nigricans (AN), which causes darkened, velvety patch of skin, commonly on the nape of the neck, armpits, inner thighs or under the breasts. It may occur on any part of the body where folds or creases are present, such as the fingers. AN is not a rash but a simple darkening of the skin. It may itch, but this is rare, just as it does not typically affect the scalp or other areas of the body that do not bend or crease.
I believe your daughter needs to find a physician who will work with her to determine the cause of her problems. There is a saying among doctors and other healthcare providers that goes something like, “If you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.” It seems to me that her physicians have been looking for zebras.
To provide related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Dermatitis, Eczema and Psoriasis.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.