Weight gain on Antipaychotics

Geodon costs me $200 with medicare. I was really surprised. Weight did sneak up on me with abilify though. But for the last 7 months or so I've been walking 5mi for 5 days a week with no results. So, for me anyway, AP are satanic.

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Sounds like you have a very helpful and thoughtful doctor there.

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I would get a new pdoc if I were you!

I gained 80 lbs in 8 weeks when I was first diagnosed and my doc put me on Depakote. It really helped with my symptoms so I took it for a few years. But then I switched to Geodon and I lost 60 of those 80 lbs but I cant seem to get rid of the last 20 lbs. I am also taking zyprexa prn for psychosis but so far I haven't gained any weight. Ive been on metformin for 15 years cause Im diabetic and I haven't seen any effect on my weight one way or the other. My bipolar daughter was taking Depakote for about a year until she got pregnant and had to go off it and it never effected her weight. I guess everyone is different.

I think zyprexa is also prescribed to patients with anorexia to help them gain weight. Lovely, I know

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It's doubtful he's going to prescribe mirapex for bipolar disorder. I also wouldn't recommend topamax, and I don't know what metiformin is, so he probably won't prescribe that ether unless it's for something else. I'd suggest latuda, lamotrigine, wellbutrin to name a few. Ritalin would help reverse some of the weight gain, wellbutrin also has a tendency to reduce weight because it's actually an substituted amphetamine, it's a β-ketoamphetamine.

Topimax is usually prescribed for headaches/migraines

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I gained about 30lbs or more on Seroquel, and then lost it plus baby weight on Geodon. I literally could barely finish half a sandwich, and I'm a food lover! That was before my second child. After he was born, I got back on it and lost my baby weight from him, plus a little more. My pdoc added Abilify with it, and I gained a little weight on that. It wasn't really working and I hated the weight gain, so we switched to Lamictal. That combo kept me pretty neutral in weight, but then I've gained 20lbs since I stopped working in August of last year. I also kept close tabs on what I ate and exercised 3-4 days a week the first half of that year. Now I just can't get back into a routine.
A coworker friend was on Topamax, and she lost some weight while on it. She said she would be a little tired from it and sometimes say the wrong word when talking. But she isn't too bad because she was able to go a year or more without any meds, and right now she's just eating clean and not having any problems. I barely made it three months off meds when we tried to get pregnant with my youngest.
And the generic for Topamax is not very expensive. I have no insurance and use a website that has coupons for different pharmacies, and it would only be $10 for the highest dose.

I don't known if it's appropriate for your symptoms, but I changed from Abilify to Latuda, and haven't had any weight gain til I started some other meds. Seroquel was the worst!

Wow, thank you so much for the info on wellbutrin. I had no idea, but I used it to quit smoking and didn't gain a lot of weight. I had heard topamax was good, but I have no idea. Metiform was for diabetes but also works for AP. I can't afford latuda or abilify, but I gained 40lbs on abilify. It just snuck up on me it wasn't in a month or anything. He
took me off aderrall, but I didn't need it bc I have high blood pressure.

Thanks for taking the time to reply

Hi,

I'm not sure if I understood you correctly. For bipolar are you only using Lamictal? I take that and elavil. I don't have kids, but a big congrats on losing the baby weight. I've heard that is very hard! You have the wrong name "Crazycat Lady" is for single women Thanks for the info on Topamax $

Take Care TnT

I am taking Geodon morning and evening and Lamictal in the evening. It wasn't hard to lose the weight when I would have trouble finishing half a sandwich! There were times I would completely forget to eat just because I didn't feel hungry.
My name is spot on...we have four in the house and 5 outside!

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Abilify is known to cause a lot less weight gain than most other common APs.

Which Atypical Antipsychotics Carry the Highest Risk for Diabetes? - HealthyPlace

My PCP has instructed me to watch carb intake while on Geodon. My first week on it, I did not. I gained three pounds ;/. So, the three pounds are now gone. I miss my carby binges

Oh my gosh!!! I know exactly what you mean. I love carbs the most. I think I'll try no white or processed carbs and scale back from there. Shoot, if I gave up carbs now it's a no brainer - I'd lose tons of weight because that's all I eat.

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I'm still getting used to this format and am so used to facebook...I'm always looking for a "like" button! Is that what the "thanks" is used for?

It's also most effective when taken with food, which makes me tired and I have to take a 2 hour nap. It can also elevate your sugar level. I get my bloodwork done about once a year to check it, and I think cholesterol? I just know glucose because diabetes runs in my family, and I'm always a little worried about it.

Yes thumbs up! I was hoping you'd see the pic because ppl would be all Whaaa? A pic of a cat and a rat okaay.

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That's all I eat too. I crave carbs. Bread is my downfall. I had a big bowl of popcorn for supper tonight. Oops.

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Speaking of carbs...I had breadsticks and pizza for dinner! But I just had a few breadsticks and couldn't finish one piece of pizza. I lowered my Lamictal from 300mg to 200mg, and I think it's helping the Geodon to help control my weight better...at least I hope so. I've gained 20lbs since September.

TnT...in the summer we always get little lizards on the walkway, and the occasional bird. It's cute how they're always so proud of their kills hahaha