[BPandMe]

I wanted to share this after taking Divalproex since August and gained 20lbs! For someone like me who has already suffers and obsesses with my weight and appearance, having body image issues and low self esteem. This weight gain was leading me back into depression and giving me days of anxiety.

The doc, after finally seeing my weight and my clear feelings of distress, prescribed Metformin- meant for type II diabetes to help prevent further weight gain.

Well, since starting Metformin on monday, I have lost my appetite completely. Only wanting homemade soups instead of carbs, chips, chocolate. It worked almost instantaneously. It has now been a week, and the weight is finally coming off.....rather quickly too.

The downside is a bit of an upset stomach and diarreah (which he said should dissappear after a few weeks when my body adjusts).

I just thought I'd share because weight gain seems to be a huge factor with BP meds.....I refused to take no for an answer.

My blood sugar wasn't checked, it was the docs call to give Metformin a try to counter act the revenous hunger that Divalproex caused me.

This is only my story, everyone is different, but I'm glad he listened.....I'm very persistent when it comes to my care and wellbeing.

This post is for information purposes only.

[punkybrewster6k]

My daughter is on500 mg. Yes it works somewhat for her. She is told to take it at suppertime. When do you take it?

I am wondering of taking it earlier in the day will help her loose her appetite for every meal better..
Thoughts on this?

She has gained almost 100 lbs in 2 years from her meds. We dont have junkfood in the house either. Very frusterating.

Btw, cogentin for tremors seems to worked well too for her appetite but both of these meds seem to loose their effect after a while. She is always hungery again! (sigh)

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[1776]

I'm glad Metformin is working for you. It's not doing a thing for me.

[monochromatic]

I hear it's a toss up - either it works or doesn't work.

OP - did you pdoc prescribe it? or your general doctor?

[BPandMe]

Originally Posted by monochromatic

I hear it's a toss up - either it works or doesn't work.

OP - did you pdoc prescribe it? or your general doctor?

My Pdoc prescribed it. Thankfully it's working....or I may have chosen to go off Divalproex, that woukdn't be a good thing.

[BPandMe]

Originally Posted by punkybrewster6k

My daughter is on500 mg. Yes it works somewhat for her. She is told to take it at suppertime. When do you take it?

I am wondering of taking it earlier in the day will help her loose her appetite for every meal better..
Thoughts on this?

She has gained almost 100 lbs in 2 years from her meds. We dont have junkfood in the house either. Very frusterating.

Btw, cogentin for tremors seems to worked well too for her appetite but both of these meds seem to loose their effect after a while. She is always hungery again! (sigh)

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I take 2x 500mg at 6am then the same dose again at 7:00pm. Thankfully it's working. I hope your daughter finds something that will work for her too. I kept pushing the doc to keep trying. the feelings associated with weight gain from meds is extremely frustrating as you know from your daughters experience. Good luck with finding something that works for her. Thinking of you both. One Mom to another.

[Jcon614]

Originally Posted by BPandMe

I take 2x 500mg at 6am then the same dose again at 7:00pm. Thankfully it's working. I hope your daughter finds something that will work for her too. I kept pushing the doc to keep trying. the feelings associated with weight gain from meds is extremely frustrating as you know from your daughters experience. Good luck with finding something that works for her. Thinking of you both. One Mom to another.

Does anyone else here think that it is time for the pharmaceutical companies to work on developing some Meds that don't cause this massive weight gain? For BP, almost all cause tremendous weight gain. That coupled with the crippling effects of dealing with bipolar itself doesn't make me wonder at all why there is such a high rate of suicide associated with bipolar. Something is wrong here, if you ask me.

[Tapering]

I read about that in an article and wanted to try it. My podoc would not prescribe it and my primary was going to prescribe it for me, but did some bloodwork and I was not sick enough for her to be willing to prescribe. I was bummed out. So I am going off the Abilify with the help of my pdoc , so I can lose weight.

[Tapering]

Jcon. I agree that the drug companies should make better drugs. The do not seem to be doing enough r & d right now. They are waiting for the patents to run out on all these atypical's. Abilify is still only available in brand name. They have some new meds (atypical's) that are said to be weight neutral in reputation, but they say on the drug info that they can cause the same problems of the older ones.

[Jcon614]

Originally Posted by Tapering

Jcon. I agree that the drug companies should make better drugs. The do not seem to be doing enough r & d right now. They are waiting for the patents to run out on all these atypical's. Abilify is still only available in brand name. They have some new meds (atypical's) that are said to be weight neutral in reputation, but they say on the drug info that they can cause the same problems of the older ones.

Latuda is one and it's cost is astronomical. It is very discouraging.

[punkybrewster6k]

Originally Posted by BPandMe

I take 2x 500mg at 6am then the same dose again at 7:00pm. Thankfully it's working. I hope your daughter finds something that will work for her too. I kept pushing the doc to keep trying. the feelings associated with weight gain from meds is extremely frustrating as you know from your daughters experience. Good luck with finding something that works for her. Thinking of you both. One Mom to another.

Her pdoc is not a fan of it but it is a very misunderstood treatment. When she was discharged from the hospital this last time last month, I finaly got an answer to how it worked. I will talk to her pdoc about her taking it 2x a day instead of at supper. Pre diabetics take it at supper. She is not pre diabetic..yet. Thank you!

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[punkybrewster6k]

Originally Posted by Jcon614

Does anyone else here think that it is time for the pharmaceutical companies to work on developing some Meds that don't cause this massive weight gain? For BP, almost all cause tremendous weight gain. That coupled with the crippling effects of dealing with bipolar itself doesn't make me wonder at all why there is such a high rate of suicide associated with bipolar. Something is wrong here, if you ask me.

My understanding is...along with helping a person not be psychotic, these AP's stop the signal from the stomach to the brain you are full.
That being said.....you literally and honestly think and feel that you are hungry. All. Day. Long.

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[punkybrewster6k]

Just got a letter from insurance. They will npt allow her to be subscribed metformin for appetite because there is nor enoigh evidence of appetite suppression. I am disgusted.

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[BPandMe]

Originally Posted by punkybrewster6k

Just got a letter from insurance. They will npt allow her to be subscribed metformin for appetite because there is nor enoigh evidence of appetite suppression. I am disgusted.

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I'm disgusted too! Can the MD prescribe it for borderline diabetes....if you find a compassionate MD?

[punkybrewster6k]

Doc tried having it authorized 3 times by the insurance company. Nope. Oh well.....she has medicaid.

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[BPandMe]

Originally Posted by punkybrewster6k

Doc tried having it authorized 3 times by the insurance company. Nope. Oh well.....she has medicaid.

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I have just been switched from Divalproex to Tegretol. It appears that Tegretol is one of the few that don't cause weight gain in the majority of people. I know everyone is different, but I'm willing to give it a try. Possibility?

[Speed3]

I have been on Seroquel for a number of years. I requested my PDOC but me on Metformin at the same time. I had read that it protects you from getting Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome that are common side effects with all the new anti psychotics.

It did not stop the weight gain though. I gained 90 pds.

I have just lost 30 pds over the last 4 months by following the Chris Powell diet plan and exercising a little more. I have tried many diets on seroquel and this is the only one that has worked.
It is based on Carb Cycling alternating low carb days with higher carb days.