[Mack2]

I've put on tons of weight in the last year going from size 14 to 18. Sometimes I look in the mirror and laugh at what a sight I am, other times I just look in disgust
I met someone I hadn't seen for sometime and my paranoia kicked in. I'm sure they must be thinking, omg hasn't she put on weight or telling their friend 'remember her, she's HUGE now. I'd love to say " oh hi "yes I'm fat but you'll never understand why" I take medication for bipolar disorder that make me put on weight, just to shut them up. But that's not really something you tell people. I actually don't mind it too much. I just don't look in full length mirrors!!

i don't know why scientists can come up with meds that don't make people put on weight. we already deal with enough problems

[Dylanzmama]

I ended up at a size 18, too.
I just couldn't stand being as heavy as my mother...I stopped eating. I eat once every 2 days and I'm now a size 12. (That's not a recommendation-just the truth!)
I'm so sorry you have to go through this. We do have enough problems already!

[sweepy62]

I gained a ton as well I was put on topaz yesterday due to developing bad reaction from lithium after a year I hear topamax can cause weight loss so I'm hoping

[Inedible]

Going from 14 to 18 doesn't sound as statistically significant as going from 4 to 8 would, to me. And I think I'm glad I don't have to keep track of my own size in dress sizes.

[Trippin2.0]

Please people be cautious when putting on significant amounts of weight in short periods of time. Get your blood sugar levels and blood pressure checked regularly, don't trade off one illness for another.Well unless you honestly don't mind, in which case I will shut my trap and mind my own business because I don't understand

Regardless of your stance on this subject remember this though;

Any pdoc who doesn't mind you developing diabetes as long as you're stable on your BP meds, is a ****** pdoc.

[venusss]

Yeah, screwed up metabolism will not make you "happy" or even "stable" long term so careful. Remember that pdocs may throw around lines about "fat and happy" but would they look at fat girl thinking "but she's stable"? Probably not, sad but true...

if you are okay with the weight, then great... but please still do keep track on your physical health. Gaining weight for "no reason" is alarming because there's something going on with your body. If you are no happy with it... then look for other solutions, for they do exist. Do not others let you feel vain and shallow for this.

[gayleggg]

I went from a size 12 to a size 16. complained to all my doctors and didn't get much attention other to excerise. As it turned out I had a huge blood clot. I've lost 25 pounds since the blood clot is disolving. So don't always assume that all weight gain is caused by meds. I'm still not back to a size 12 but I'm getting closer and the clot isn't gone yet. So keep in mind that fast weight gain can be to other factors. If you are concerned check with you doctor.
Gayle

[Mack2]

I have has a full work up of bloods. Due for my annual check up which we get here, includes diabetes check, ECG plus lots more. I do have high blood pressure but they're keeping an eye on that.

[Secretum]

I gained 40 lbs on zyprexa, though miraculously, I managed to stay the same jean size. Still not sure how I did that...but anyway, having thighs that touch and no longer being able to see my ribs started to really bother me, so I got off of zyprexa.

[lawrenman]

I wonder if the medications can cause blood clots. I also suffered a blood clot as I was nearing the end of my depressive state in my leg. Had to go on Cumidin. Got off Zyprexa 6 months ago. My weight has not gone down. However it is stable now. Gained 10% weight or 20 LBS.

[~Christina]

I refuse to take any meds that cause weight gain. The " fat but stable " mentality is beyond my understanding.

My Pdoc feels exactly the same way.

[Victoria'smom]

I refuse to take any meds that cause weight gain. this

I've gone from an 18 to a 26 I'm huge and I hate it. But, I'd rather be fat and on meds than skinny and crazier than now, if that makes any sense? I have to stay stable for my child as much as is possible but I hate that my child see's a fat mum as it's not a good example to set. I've tired "diets" and going to the gym but that gives me a whole new set of problems.

I'm really worried about this. I gained weight on seroquel went off, that pdoc was awful I was taking it for sleep when I could have been taking benadryl but she wasn't having any of it. Now I take visteral which is like benadryl. Could have avoided so much.

I've had to up my risperdal recently and I'm gaining the weight I had lost. I'm calling pdoc first thing Monday, I'm not willing to develop diabetes or any other health issues bc of meds.

I gained more than u though it sounds like.

[Otter63]

I battled for a year and a half in 2007 to lose 80 lbs. and I kept it off till 2010 when I went manic and gained some of it back (meds). I went manic again in 2011 and gained back the remainder of what I had lost.

I hate where I'm at, but I don't know how to get my brain to go back to weight loss mode.

[~Christina]

It's not always the Voracious hunger that causes the weight gain.. The medications can cause changes in your system that will have you gaining weight regardless of diet and exercise.

[Perna]

What helped me with my weight was reading Amazon.com: A Fistful of Sky: Nina Kiriki Hoffman: Books

[Bobbarita]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I refuse to take any meds that cause weight gain. The " fat but stable " mentality is beyond my understanding.

My Pdoc feels exactly the same way.

I worked as a psych nurse and dispensed the meds to patients. I saw them admitted, and if they were within a normal weight range they bloated up by 25 to 50 lbs. Much of the medication I dispensed was lithium, along with anti-dep and anti-psychotics. Since patients were weighed regularly I got the idea to compare weight gain/medication and did my own little "study". Of those on meds, the patients taking Lithium gained the most, (also in the shortest period of time). There was no one taking Lithium who had not gained weight. Understand this was my personal investigation not any official documented medical study.

In 2007 I was dx'd BP1. I went to the ER (self-admit) in a manic phase then to a private mental hospital, I stayed there a short time to stabilize (5 days). Lithium was the DOC. I refused it. Then Depakote--I couldn't take it because I had a bad reaction. I don't remember what I left on but I'm stable now (for the most part) on Lamictal and Wellbutrin.

My weight varied my entire life. I was never happy fat. I cannot be fat and happy. G-d bless those who can but I'm not among them. My p-doc understands my weight concerns and I'm compliant with my meds. So far so good...

[Bobbarita]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

It's not always the Voracious hunger that causes the weight gain.. The medications can cause changes in your system that will have you gaining weight regardless of diet and exercise.

Yes. You are right. Many meds alter normal metabolism and/or thyroid function. Unfortunately, it sometimes seems the alteration in metabolism (slowing down) continues even after a medication is discontinued.

[~Christina]

Lithium is a weight neutral drug for me.

The AP's and AAP's are usually the worst offenders in weight gain.

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by Bobbarita

I don't remember what I left on but I'm stable now (for the most part) on Lamictal and Wellbutrin.

.....I wasn't Bipolar....just major depression reoccurant & very suicidal at the time......one of the meds I was put on was Prozac.....I lost so much weight I ended up in an ED treatment center & in & out of the medical hospital for over a year needing IV nutrition.....the Wellbutrin I was changed to after the Prozac did the same thing.....there were other things that were also causing the anorexia....but the meds were the major starting trigger.....I had lost almost 30lbs & I was already small to start with.

If they can develop the drugs in the first place, they should be able to develop them without the weight issues involved IMO. I had other horrible side effects from other meds they tried me on....I won't even consider drugs at this point after everything I went through just being a guinea pig.