Weight gain or meds - crappy choice.

Since I started on psych meds, I have gained 50 pounds. I have since lost 11 of them, but not recently. I have just decided it is time to go on a diet and I hope to add some walking to my day. Dieting is fairly easy for me if I am out of the house. But, during the weekends when I am home alone all I seem to do is eat. That's something I am going to have to work on.

I understant what you are going through... i had a pregnancy and gained over 70lb and havent been able to drop any of the weight back off due to my meds... ive tried everything except topomax... I think I will ask my doctor about that because Im just not happy with myself like this... Good luck!

I am coming to the party kind of late.
I was wondering if it is the medication driving more of a craving or if it is the depression or stability that cuts down on exercise or even movement. I am steadily gaining but I think it my medically supervised diet that is giving me fits. Then too I am an emotional eater.
What do you think?

I think somebody mentioned some meds slow down the metabolism.

I am not an emotional eater, unless you count boredom. During the week when I am out and about, I eat breakfast and supper and nothing in between. But, when I am home for the weekend I don't usually eat meals but I snack constantly.

For me, I think it is both, but my metabolism is definitely slowed by meds. Before meds, I could eat whatever I wanted and would bounce the same two lbs or so around. Now, between recent depression and meds, I have gained more than 25lbs.

BNLsMOM, I was like that until I turned 28, then what I ate made a difference. I went from about 128 pounds to 150 pounds that year and my eating habits hadn't changed. I gained another 30 from medications. I am currently starting to diet. Slow but it has worked.

Yes, i think age is a factor too. I guess going on meds and turning 35 are both factors too.

Hi,
How long did it take your weight to level off? How much higher of a weight did it level off at? 10, 20, 30? I am concerned, I want to stay on my new med (depakote) and I know there is going to be weight gain but I want to know how far I let it go before it levels off or I get off.
Thanks!

In my case it was both the lithium and age. earlier, I could take the lithium and there were few if any side effects. This time, i got the whole range, and the weight gain was a type that we don't get much in women on any side of my family, all in the belly. The P-doc I was changed to took a look at my meds, at me, at my weight charts and finally admited, "If we don't stop this, we might be looking at metabolic syndrome, so let's dump the Lithium. You are not metabolizing it like you used to." The weight gain has stopped. I was at minimum calorie intake for my height and weight, have a eating disorder history and disc trouble, and could not possibly keep up the excersize schedule i had without my family and my body paying horrendously (at one point i was doing / km a night n the elipse without it makeing a dent). It is NOT TRUE that you have to only chose between fat and crazy. It is simply an arrogant medical tradition that says "Pick your stigma, we can't be bothered." Sorry, but that from inside the system. Huggs all.

Wow, what a difference. I am now on a med combo that is really working and I feel great. I have put on even more weight and I would say that I am up a total of about 40lbs, but because my meds are working, I feel like the weight is secondary.

I have joined weight watchers and I am getting more active now that I feel better. I do hope to lose the weight, but at this point, I can deal with it. I am even moving toward going back to works and getting my home organized and clean.

So, for the moment, I choose sanity over weight.

Yay! So happy you are motivated!! I'm trying to reach a point where I'm not focusing on the weight as much as focusing on being healthy. Not there yet, but getting there.

Great job!!!!! And great choice!!!!!! ((((((BNLsMom))))))

Yea, BNLsMOM!!! So glad to hear you are feeling good!

I've put on 50 lbs in the past year (on many different medications) and I'm NOT happy about it. I have been refusing to buy clothes that fit because I'm determined to lose weight, yet it isn't happening.

Right now I'm on 30mg of Abilify and 300mg of Wellbutrin XL, and not doing great. Okay, but not fantastic. I want to ask about adding topamax but I have a feeling my psychiatrist won't like the idea unless it could do something for my mood. Is topamax known to help with depression, or is it more of a mania-dampener?

I have a history of eating disorders so my version of trying to lose weight usually begins with a decision to starve myself until I'm thin. Fortunately, I guess, I currently lack the willpower to make that happen. Actually, right now I'm lacking the willpower to make much of anything happen.

And thus I remain fat and unhappy.