[hamster-bamster]

I wondered as of recently, why weight gain is not called a tardive side effect. I cannot shed weight and my personal trainer who has had medical training immediately spotted that my belly fat looks and feels much different - tougher - than post baby belly fat, so, she guessed, it must be from psych drugs. I assured her that after each of three kids, I lost weight without trying. She said that the drugs are still there on a cellular level. I don't know what that means. Her point was that such fat is much harder to melt.

I know a lot of people on here similarly struggling. Enough to qualify this side effect as tardive.
New Injectable Antipsychotics May Be No Better Than Older Meds | Psych Central News

This article finally talks of weight gain and involuntary movements as two types of persistent adverse effects. Involuntary movements are one example of tardive dyskinesia. In essence, they are saying that weight gain is often tardive.

Now we just need it printed in red ink on top of the list of possible Side effects:

- weight gain, which is likely to not go away even if the medication is discontinued

[venusss]

That is disturbing on some many levels (and none of them are "vanity").

[Twigs92]

Seriously?! What the hell? My psychiatrist is having a hard enough time trying to get me to take meds. I refuse because I don't want to gain weight (I've ad ED issues as well), and, well, I know my life would be better with them if they could stop the mood swings but I really really can't if it's going to do that.

[venusss]

If your main problems is mood swings, than you should try other drugs then APs first. They are very heavy duty drugs.

[Victoria'smom]

Twigs92- I really suggest just a PRN anti-psychotic if you have eating disorder issues.

drugs appeared to cause weight gain in the following order: olanzapine>clozapine > immediate-release quetiapine ~ risperidone ~ paliperidone > ziprasidone, asenapine, or aripiprazole according to US National library of medication.

[Resident Bipolar]

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

Twigs92- I really suggest just a PRN anti-psychotic if you have eating disorder issues.

drugs appeared to cause weight gain in the following order: olanzapine>clozapine > immediate-release quetiapine ~ risperidone ~ paliperidone > ziprasidone, asenapine, or aripiprazole according to US National library of medication.

Oh, Onlanzapine. I gained so much weight! There was even a scheme for a Olanzapine to have free/reduced cost access to gyms to lose the added weight.

Out of all the meds, Olanzapine was definitely the absolute worst for me.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I gained about 35lbs from meds, and it took me forever to lose the weight! I never lost it all (but that is actually a good thing since I was underweight from being anorexic and I am now at a healthy weight). In order to go back to my pre-med weight, I would have to engage in dangerous activities health wise.

However, I've been on multiple AP's, and the only one that made me gain weight was Zyprexa. I've been on that, Abilify, Geodon and Seroquel. I wasn't on Abilify long enough to know if I would gain weight on it or not (it was only about 2 weeks)...but I was on Geodon for probably about a year, and I've been on Seroquel for almost 2 years (was on it from July of 2012 to April of last year and then again from July of last year until now). Both were completely weight neutral for me.

[Twigs92]

VenusHalley: I get really delusional when I'm stressed, or sometimes out of the blue. Originally she was going to prescribe me Depakote, but then changed it to Seroquel which scared me as everywhere I hear people gain weight. I exercise a reasonable amount but people say that doesn't matter when it comes to this?

Miguel'sMum: thanks for this, I'm seeing my pdoc today and I'll ask. I'm going to have to google a PRN anti-psychotic.

I'll keep in mind that it's different for everyone, I'm just scared of the risk. I know I can't keep up with this depression much longer, even last year before I was diagnosed BP I told myself that. Thank you for all this information, you's don't know how much I appreciate it.

[Skitz13]

Originally Posted by Twigs92

Seriously?! What the hell? My psychiatrist is having a hard enough time trying to get me to take meds. I refuse because I don't want to gain weight (I've ad ED issues as well), and, well, I know my life would be better with them if they could stop the mood swings but I really really can't if it's going to do that.

I hear ya. In the last year I was off Seroquel and Lithium. In that time I was able to lose 100lbs. Now that my symptoms are back of course my doc wants me to go back on the meds. I refused Lithium and not crazy about Seroquel either but I'm not sleeping.
So in my case it's a little vanity but also I live such a healthy lifestyle that I know Seroquel is going to interfere with that.
So I don't even know what to do. What i do know is that I need to stop this cicle. I really wish they could come up with psych meds that work on your brain but keeps you physically healthy

[catsrhelm]

All I know is Abilify has caused me to gain weight. I have tried losing it without success. So, I have just decided to live with being a little fat, because I'd rather be fat then moody. I wish someone would come up with a psychotropic drug that made you lose weight.

[Twigs92]

My pdoc has just prescriped me seroquel. She says thats one of the ones that doesn't cause as much weight gain. I'm starting at 25mg and she wants me to eventually go up to 100-200mg :S.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by Twigs92

My pdoc has just prescriped me seroquel. She says thats one of the ones that doesn't cause as much weight gain. I'm starting at 25mg and she wants me to eventually go up to 100-200mg :S.

Um...what?? Seroquel is notorious for weight gain...

I have been on up to 700mg/day and it has never caused weight gain for me personally, but it is definitely NOT a drug you should take if you are super worried about weight gain.

25mg is a baby dose, and even 200mg isn't all that much -- generally the absolute minimum for being a therapeutic dose.

I take 25mg PRN for anxiety rather than always popping a benzo...and even in my best state, I have never been on a dose less than 200mg for actual bipolar management. I also didn't start small. I think I started at 100mg and within a week was up to 200mg.

I hope it helps you! Good luck!!

[Skitz13]

Originally Posted by catsrhelm

All I know is Abilify has caused me to gain weight. I have tried losing it without success. So, I have just decided to live with being a little fat, because I'd rather be fat then moody. I wish someone would come up with a psychotropic drug that made you lose weight.

I agree, It's hard enough dealing with the low self esteem related to BP but weight gain on top of it is very difficult.
When I was off meds I did really well in terms of weight loss and now lead a very healthy lifestyle. I started back on Seroquel a week ago and have gained 3 lbs that I don't feel I can afford. I'm torn between a healthy body and a healthy mind

[Moreta]

I'm on geodon right now, and I've been losing weight since I started dieting. I plan on adding exercise, once my hip bursitis clears up, or they pump me full of cortisone. I'm going to get a pass to the public pool so I can start swimming every day. I hope that won't be so hard on my hips, cause I can barely walk a mile right now without excruciating pain. Hopefully I'll lose more weight then. I've gained over 100 lbs over the years from all the psych meds. It's not that fun.

[Twigs92]

Reading this makes me want to cry. I appreciate everyone's input about meds, I don't like being this untstable/depressed but I don't want to gain weight like that. Why is she recommending seroquel is so many have such a hard time with it? She also suggested seroquel XL?

Just read apparently a side effect of seroquel XL is higher cholesterol, and suicidal ideation, I think I'm more scared of meds than I am delusions and mood swings.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Originally Posted by Twigs92

Reading this makes me want to cry. I appreciate everyone's input about meds, I don't like being this untstable/depressed but I don't want to gain weight like that. Why is she recommending seroquel is so many have such a hard time with it? She also suggested seroquel XL?

Just read apparently a side effect of seroquel XL is higher cholesterol, and suicidal ideation, I think I'm more scared of meds than I am delusions and mood swings.

You might not gain weight. I've essentially been on Seroquel for almost 2 years and I have had zero weight gain from it, and it has been a very good medication for me.

As for why she is recommending it -- the truth is, there are no meds that are 100% side effect free, and Seroquel has proven to be effective, just like many other medications. And just because lots of people have problems with it doesn't make it bad. I for one can't take Lamictal which my pdoc is one of the most highly tolerated BP medications. And medications specifically for sleep such as Lunesta and trazodone have the adverse effect on me.

And other than price, I haven't noticed a ton of difference between Seroquel IR and XR, and I've been on both. I do prefer XR by a small margin because I can take more in the morning without feeling like I need to go right back to bed and I feel a bit more leveled out...but it's not a huge difference.

[HopeForChange]

Thanks for this hamster-bamster! I can totally believe it--I'm ashamed to say that I gained over 100lbs on Seroquel and am having a terrible time losing it even though I'm no longer taking Seroquel. I see a dietician and exercise regularly, but the weight comes off a lot more slowly than it went on, that's for sure. I'm not trying to abdicate responsibility for the weight gain--I mean, I'm the one that put the food in my mouth, after all--but the meds just made me so hungry, and I was so dizzy if I didn't eat continually. I used to be anorexic, so the weight gain is especially upsetting.

[grandmaof3]

My big weight gain was from Depakote. I switched to Geodon and lost most of the 80 lbs I gained on Depakote but now that I also take zyprexa my weight is starting to creep back up. I'm careful about what I eat and I swim everyday but that doesn't seem to make any difference.

[irishgirliexo]

Hi all I have been on and off APs since 2007. Abilify has been the worst one for me as for gaining weight. Was on and off that one the most. At that time I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. So from 2007 until 2010 I had gained well over 100 pounds from being on and off of it. The only way that I have lost weight was going on a mostly vegetarian diet for months. That first time I lost 20 pounds. Then in 2011 I was diagnosed with Bipolar I and put on Geodon. Not too much more weight gain from it... Luckily I was taken off of this last year. And from Feb 2013 til present I have lost 42 pounds so far. I had severely changed my diet again but mostly vegetarian meals. Limiting calorie drinks to a minimum throughout the day. Using Water and vitamin water as a substitute, also Hint Water (zero cal). I just joined a gym so hopefully I can lose even more weight now. I had to train myself to eat a lot less. Lucky for me (not really) Lithium makes me excessively thirsty all the time. There is almost no time throughout the day where there is not a drink next to me. Oh and before APs I had NO trouble with my weight....So its very very frustrating. I wish you all the best for your troubles with weight loss and to solve them!