[twiddle]

After 5 years on Lithium 1200mg once daily, Risperdal 1mg once daily and Paxil 60mg once daily with 2 hospitalizations to stabilize me I am beginning to question my med. cocktail. There are several reasons for this.

First, and most worrying to me is the massive weight gain I've endured. I was about 170lbs when I was diagnosed overweight but not obese. Now I'm 286lbs! Definitely obese. Due to another COPD/Emphysema/Oxygen Dependency it's not as if I can really exercise other than walking. I'm concerned that taking Risperdal has caused this weight gain.

Second, also worrying is an overwhelming feeling of what's the point of bothering with keeping up on my personal hygiene, loss of interest in writing (I've written fanfiction for fun) feeling dull and listless all the time. Low energy, etc...

Thirdly, is a feeling like the meds have buried the "me" somewhere in my brain, that I'm not the same person I used to be. I used to be vivacious and fun and spirited and now I just feel flat.

I'm wondering if I need to try a different mood stabilizer and anti-depressant, ditch the AP and start fresh or ditch the meds altogether? Any thoughts? I know I need to talk to my Pdoc about this -I have an appt next Thursday -I just wondered if any of you have had similar epiphanies of sorts and what your experiences were.

Just so you know my symptoms are usually of the milder sort except one time before I was diagnosed when I overdosed on Klonipin, and one time when I was depressed and didn't leave my bedroom for 2 weeks.

[Trippin2.0]

I was also on lithium and risperdal, didnt have the weight gain, but other side effects i.e,flat effect perpetual hunger and thirst, shaky hands, and not recognizing myself anymore sucked so much I flushed my meds. I think you're onto something, a med overhaul certainly sounds like a plan, as the regimen you're on sounds quite detrimental for you, I hope your pdoc is understanding

Originally Posted by twiddle

Thirdly, is a feeling like the meds have buried the "me" somewhere in my brain, that I'm not the same person I used to be. I used to be vivacious and fun and spirited and now I just feel flat.
.

yeah this bit..

very well described....I still feel 'buried' ....I know the feeling.

but I couldn't handle me exposed?...I used to be like a rocket!...fully charged unstoppable...now I'm like a birdie in a cage....

but I'm apparently safe in here...but it still feels un-natural.

I don't have the balls to change it at the moment cos I know what happens ...I run off into fantasy land ...but something will always be awesome about that!!

damn it..

We're all fooling ourselves. We have to. Without the gimmicks, we'd all kill each other and/or ourselves.

Without the games, we'd live like c ockroaches.

[Victoria'smom]

I would ask for some other medications. Depokote made me feel buried but lamictal does not. Ask for weight neutral options.

[hamster-bamster]

Low energy and weight gain? Risperdal is quite likely the culprit.

So for weight loss I have tried biking, walking, and swimming, and biking has won. FYI

[~Christina]

Talk to your Pdoc and work out a new treatment plan. If your Pdoc doesn't agree there needs to be a change... then you need to change doctors.

There is hope

[twiddle]

Originally Posted by dubblemonkey

yeah this bit..

very well described....I still feel 'buried' ....I know the feeling.

but I couldn't handle me exposed?...I used to be like a rocket!...fully charged unstoppable...now I'm like a birdie in a cage....

but I'm apparently safe in here...but it still feels un-natural.

I don't have the balls to change it at the moment cos I know what happens ...I run off into fantasy land ...but something will always be awesome about that!!

damn it..

MonkeyDude your killin' me.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by twiddle

Due to another COPD/Emphysema/Oxygen Dependency it's not as if I can really exercise other than walking.

Sorry, I did not read you OP closely enough at first, so I recommended biking without realizing that you cannot do it.

Try Topomax. In addition to your meds.

[twiddle]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

Sorry, I did not read you OP closely enough at first, so I recommended biking without realizing that you cannot do it.

Try Topomax. In addition to your meds.

Why Topomax?

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by twiddle

Why Topomax?

To lose weight. Reduced appetite and weight loss are common side effects of Topamax.

[hamster-bamster]

Another medication to try is the anti-diabetic Metformin, which is given more and more alongside AP's to counteract weight gain. It is a very old, cheap medication.

[hamster-bamster]

If the p-doc did not stop you somewhere mid-way between 170 lbs and 286 lbs, well, maybe you need another p-doc. Weight gain is THE major side effect of AP's (and psych drugs in general) and monitoring for weight gain comes with the territory if you make your living as a p-doc. My p-doc weighs me at every visit. Also, at 286 lbs you are already at risk for diabetes hence I strongly suggest Metformin not just to control weight but as assurance against diabetes. Diabetes is a really horrible thing with multiple disastrous complications, so the first step now is to ensure you do not get it, hence I suggest Metformin first, and Topamax second. Also, Topamax is expensive and Metformin is cheap, in case you do not have insurance.

[BlackPup]

topomax made me feel like a zombie - but it does help with weight loss.

I think it would be better to tweak your meds, maybe replacing risperidal with some thing else or trying to go with out. it could also be the lithium, I gained weight on lithium and it made me feel dull as well while risperidal was weight neutral and ok concentration wise. Also make sure your antidepressent is strong enough - mild depression can lead to a dull mood and weight gain also.

Good luck

At the moment I'm on abilify and an antidepressant. It works well for me.

[venusss]

I think as much as gaining weight is alarming, I think the submerged personality feeling is worse... so not sure ADDING meds to the only horrifying combo will help.

i think OP needs less... or something else.

[twiddle]

Thanks for all your input. I have to own my part in the weight gain as I never really brought it up to him. I just feel very comfortable with this Pdoc. He's pretty open to trying things and tweaking my meds if needed.

I've done so well stability wise on this cocktail that I'm kind of afraid to mess with it. I did try Abilify and it didn't help, also Geodon and every AD in the book except the really new ones. I tend to be very sensitive to AD's they make me hypomanic or manic.

I just don't feel like the "me" I used to be and I miss "me"

I realize we all change, hopefully for the better but I don't feel like I've changed for the better -I feel like I'm stuck in a rut. And no I don't have a T to hash this out with -tried CBT and it did nothing for me. Too dry. I'm an emotional gal.

I'm in a outpatient treatment program through a hospital. That's where I see my Pdoc. There are T's available but I don't drive so don't want to make my big bro drive me to T appts twice a week or so.

Will talk this through with my Pdoc on Thurs. Anxious for Thur to come!

[venusss]

I've done so well stability wise on this cocktail that I'm kind of afraid to mess with it. I did try Abilify and it didn't help, also Geodon and every AD in the book except the really new ones. I tend to be very sensitive to AD's they make me hypomanic or manic.

I just don't feel like the "me" I used to be and I miss "me"

doped =/= stable. If you feel not you, it's not stable.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

I think as much as gaining weight is alarming, I think the submerged personality feeling is worse... so not sure ADDING meds to the only horrifying combo will help.

i think OP needs less... or something else.

Some side effects go away with treatment discontinuation - GI side effects, sexual side effects, cognitive side effects, those do go away.

Weight gain does not go away. Weight gain from such heavy-hitters as Zyprexa and Risperdal is not going to disappear. Hence, OP needs something to help her along, especially since she cannot do high intensity exercise, so she is virtually out of tools of self-help. Metformin will help at least stabilize weight, prevent diabetes, and, not being a psych med, will definitely not submerge her personality. So I would highly recommend seeing an endocrinologist to get on Metformin ASAP. OP's weight is alarming, and coupled with inability to do cardio, it is especially alarming. She needs some reassurance that she will not turn diabetic.

[hamster-bamster]

Another thing - how you feel, personality-wise, that is all changeable, due to many factors, etc. etc. and you can control it to a large extent.

Diabetes? Once you got it, you got it for life and you cannot undo it. So after that big of a weight gain, the first course of action is to see an endocrinologist about diabetes prevention. And personality you will figure out in a little while without rushing yourself - at least it is not something that will haunt you forever.

Very few diseases are worse than diabetes.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by twiddle

Thanks for all your input. I have to own my part in the weight gain as I never really brought it up to him.

It is not your fault - he was supposed to weigh you and if he could not manage operating a scale, he could have at least sized you up visually! I cannot imagine that one can miss a 100-lb weight gain.

So do not make it your fault - it is entirely his fault.

I was on Zyprexa for a month, came back to my then p-doc who looked at my face and said "that's it, you are gaining weight, we are discontinuing the trial". After one month and probably (I do not have access to my chart now) 15-20 lbs up.

And I am still mad at her for even trying Zyprexa, even for those 15-20 lbs!

For 100+ lbs, I would vote to shoot him down, all his other good qualities regardless. So I am with Morethingswrong.

[venusss]

I meant...that she rather needs to overhaul the whole regimen, then throw in yet another med that can have effect on her... will to live normally. Especially a drug that is often accompanied by effect of making people stupid.