[grandmaof3]

I've been feeling really depressed about the way I look and I've decided to go off Zyprexa. I've gained 40 pounds over the last 4 months and I blame Zyprexa. I think that if I can lose this extra weight I'll feel better about my self. I also joined a weight loss program that promises you'll lose 20 pounds in the first 6 weeks or your money back. It was $394 dollars which my husband was upset that I spent but I'm excited about the prospect of getting rid of these extra pounds. Just the idea that this might work is lifting my depression. The only thing I worry about is what's going to happen to my mental state without Zyprexa. I was taking it for psychosis and hallucinations. I don't really have a pdoc right now so I'll be doing this on my own. I've got prn Haldol if I need it. I don't think there is anything else I could take that is weight neutral. I really need to lose 100 pounds. I've got diabetes, degenerative disc disease and I've had 2 heart attacks and I'm only 48 so being fat is really detrimental to my health. Wish me success !

[Skitz13]

Originally Posted by grandmaof3

I've been feeling really depressed about the way I look and I've decided to go off Zyprexa. I've gained 40 pounds over the last 4 months and I blame Zyprexa. I think that if I can lose this extra weight I'll feel better about my self. I also joined a weight loss program that promises you'll lose 20 pounds in the first 6 weeks or your money back. It was $394 dollars which my husband was upset that I spent but I'm excited about the prospect of getting rid of these extra pounds. Just the idea that this might work is lifting my depression. The only thing I worry about is what's going to happen to my mental state without Zyprexa. I was taking it for psychosis and hallucinations. I don't really have a pdoc right now so I'll be doing this on my own. I've got prn Haldol if I need it. I don't think there is anything else I could take that is weight neutral. I really need to lose 100 pounds. I've got diabetes, degenerative disc disease and I've had 2 heart attacks and I'm only 48 so being fat is really detrimental to my health. Wish me success !

Good luck yo you. That's the drag with these meds Weight gain

[Flummixed]

Have you maybe checked into bariatric (spelled wrong I'm sure) surgery? I would think someone who's already had 2 heart attacks as well as diabetes at the age of 48 would not have a hard time convincing the insurance company that it'd be a good idea. Good luck with your quest to get healthier. You'll get there one way or another.

[BipolaRNurse]

Whatever you do, DON'T go off your Zyprexa cold turkey. You're on a high dose and need to taper gradually with the knowledge and supervision of your prescriber. I don't know how long you've been on the Vitamin Z but if it's any longer than a few months you'll need to be careful. Please talk to your pdoc before you do anything. I know the weight gain is a pain in the @$$....and back....and feet....but then so is being in the hospital because you went off a heavy-duty medication without help. You are also on large doses of anti-depressants, and if those aren't decreased too you'll more than likely get very, very manic.

Best wishes for a successful weaning off Zyprexa. Have you asked your doctor about using one of the newer anti-psychotics, like Latuda or Saphris? These are supposedly weight neutral, as is the Geodon you're already taking.

[grandmaof3]

I'm still between pdocs right now but I have some 10mg Zyprexa and some 5mg so I thought I would go down to 15 for a few days then 10 then 5 and then nothing. I've been on the Zyprexa for about a year. Before that the rest of my meds were the same as they are now. I started the Zyprexa for psychosis and hallucinations. I've got some Latuda that was my daughters. She took it for a few days but it made her really nauseous. I might try it in the meantime. I've got an appointment with a new pdoc in a few weeks. Hoepfully he will work out.

[~Christina]

I say wait the few short weeks before you d/c anything .. You have too many meds and health concerns to take such a big risk.. Its really unsafe on so many levels

Stay safe

[Nammu]

When you get a Pdoc ask about latuda and other APs that are more weight neutral. I agree with brnurse and Christina it's really dangerous to adjust meds without supervision.

I do understand about the weight and how it makes things worse but the program promised results so you should let them see what they can do without dropping a medication first. It might just work and you get to stay on meds that are working.

[swheaton]

Don't change anything without a doctors help! I agree with what's been said: you have other health concerns!

[Sometimes psychotic]

Have you ever tried metformin...it's a diabetes drug but helps with weight gain associated with anti-psychotics.

[grandmaof3]

I am on metformin 1000 mg twice a day. I am diabetic and when I first started taking it I lost maybe 10 pounds but that was it.

[BipolaRNurse]

Metformin didn't really do anything for me weight loss-wise, either. I did lose about 25 pounds after switching out Zyprexa for Geodon about a year and a half ago, but have gained most of them back because I had to go back on the Zyprexa after all. I take the metformin for diabetes too.....I was diagnosed with DM the year before I was diagnosed with BP. Two devastating diagnoses almost exactly one year apart.