Q. Currently I am being treated with Zoloft. I've gone from 200mg to 50. From some of the Q & A 's I understand that this particular treatment should help suppress my craving for sweets and carbs. But In fact, when I feel emotionally stressed, my first thought is food. Although I'm not huge, I could stand to lose 40 lbs or so. I still have periodic bouts of anger, although not as before. Should I contact my doctor for an adjustment in medication or must I live with this? Is this just the way it is?

A. Zoloft is one of a group of medications referred to as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). They all seem to help folks with certain types of BPD. Unfortunately, over time, they can cause weight gain. Particularly, they cause an increase craving for carbohydrates (bread, chocolate, sugar, candy, cookies, pasta, etc.). Talk this over with your doctor. Lowering the dosage will not make the craving go away, but will make the medication not work for the BPD. Most physicians have ways of helping out, so go over these with your clinicians.