hi. sorry about your situation. focalin is, of course, cleaned up ritalin. my own personal experience was that i didn't gain weight while on focalin (I was on other stuff, too...) but I didn't lose weight until a switch to adderall.

on the plus side...for some people, combining the 'atypical' tranquilizers and an appropriate stimulant covers a lot of bases and "gets the job done." I have acquaintance who takes an amphetamine and seroquel, and she's doing well.

In terms of weight gain or loss, I don't think there's much data to support your psychiatrist's idea that focalin will be sufficient to help. I'm not trying to be too critical, but...metformin addresses the metabolic roots of a lot of (psych) drug-induced weight problems and metabolic problems. Stimulants can certainly lift mood and help with weight gain for --some-- people, at least for a while, but...I'm not sure its something to look to as a long term solution.

i dont know if you're into "alternative" health at all, but some people do well taking supplements with psych drugs. I seem to recall seeing abstracts for some very small studies that used high dose, high potency antioxidants--green tea extract, alpha lipoic acid, for instance--with 'atypical' tranquilizers, to help with weight gain and metabolic problems. some people in the studies got very good results.

i hope this helps. im not trying to be a bummer bob/debbie downer, but stimulants generally aren't that reliable for weight loss or maintenance over the long haul.

i hope you and your doctor(s) can find a work-able, long term solution.