[coloradogal]

I know we are all familiar with the dreaded weight gain so many of us have experienced with bipolar meds. Got a question. . .But first a little history. .

After my "*** was on fire" (as my psychiatrist likes to say ) I was put on Zyprexa in the psych hospital after a suicide attempt from ODing on Ambien approximately two years ago. I gained 40 pounds. I stopped the Zyprexa and slowly lost 20. I didn't have a psychiatrist for about a year and half and so was not on any meds except prozac from a general doc. As Im bipolar 2, that didn't work so well. I finally got disability and insurance, found a great psychiatrist who put me on a great cocktail which included Risperdal.

I started working out 4 months ago like crazy (6 days a week) and eat less than 1500 calories a day but have only lost a grand total of 2 pounds. I have always been thin and this is driving me crazy!!

Do you think the Zyprexa could have permanently altered my metabolism? Is it the Risperdal? Anyone else in the same boat? It's causing me major depression. It would be different if I were not trying to hard to lose weight, but I am doing all I can.
Thanks for reading; sorry for the length. Any insight would be awesome!!

[sideblinded]

HI coloradogal

I do not believe that the Zyprexa has permanently altered your metabolism because the literature for Risperdal states that it has a high rate of people gaining weight on it. Look up RX List. It is a great site not affiliated with PC but it shows the percentages of weight gain for its different med profiles. The link is below.

Risperdal (Risperidone) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions - Prescribing Information at RxList

Hope this helps.

[*Laurie*]

I am struggling with major weight gain from Seroquel. Psych meds and the weight gain issue are an enormous problem. It seems to me that meds could be invented that don
t cause such weight gain.

My expewrience with various p-meds and weight gain is that the meds cause weight gain no matter how hard I try to keep my weight down with exercise and healthy eating. It's very discouraging.

[Victoria'smom]

My metabolism is shot not because of Zyprexa but an eating disorder. Now I'm eating like a human apposed to a toddler and gaining a pound a week. I'd try changing the resperdal to abilify or geodon (sp?) Or your anti-depressant to welbutrin or both.

[coloradogal]

Thanks for all of the replies. It does stink that so many of the psych meds that help us cause weight gain. And it seems that across the board I hear so frequently that it's not necessarily because our eating habits change. That is what is so frustrating! Now, it's true that while I was on Zyprexa that was not the case. I would eat anything that didn't move
The only reason I was thinking it changed my metabolism somewhat permanently is because I have been off of it for so long and yet still have not returned to my normal weight; despite working out like a maniac. Oh well.
I will keep at it.
And I think I will ask my doc about geodon. Ive seen on these boards and other places that it is weight neutral. I'm currently on lamictal, topamax, neurontin and adderall. (already mentioned the risperdal) Maybe he will get rid of the risperdal and add the geodon.
Is geodon good for mania? I know lamictal is what he put me on for depression. He and I decided antidepressants are not good for me as they trigger mania.

[BlackSheep79]

Couple years ago I quickly gained 40 lbs on Depakote, came off the Depakote and went on Seroquel as I completely did a 180 with what I ate and how much but my weight stayed the same. Then a couple years later I found out my thyroid was off was put on medicine lost 35 lbs and then my weight would not budge. Well then the seroquel caused me to be pre-diabetic and off the charts triglycerides so last March I came off the seroquel and instantly went into a mixed episode. I tried several APs between March and July but was allergic and had a horrible reaction to latuda. During that time of being off of seroquel I lost 30 lbs. Well anyways unfortunately I had to go back on Seroquel well because I was scared of gaining weight my pdoc put me on Topamax in August. Well I began to have major cognitive problems and I have been weaning off of the topamax and my weight has stayed the same. I honestly do believe seroquel messes with the metabolism because when I'm on it my weight doesn't budge and when I'm off of it I lose a ton of weight?

[electricbipolargirl]

Originally Posted by coloradogal

Thanks for all of the replies. It does stink that so many of the psych meds that help us cause weight gain. And it seems that across the board I hear so frequently that it's not necessarily because our eating habits change. That is what is so frustrating! Now, it's true that while I was on Zyprexa that was not the case. I would eat anything that didn't move
The only reason I was thinking it changed my metabolism somewhat permanently is because I have been off of it for so long and yet still have not returned to my normal weight; despite working out like a maniac. Oh well.
I will keep at it.
And I think I will ask my doc about geodon. Ive seen on these boards and other places that it is weight neutral. I'm currently on lamictal, topamax, neurontin and adderall. (already mentioned the risperdal) Maybe he will get rid of the risperdal and add the geodon.
Is geodon good for mania? I know lamictal is what he put me on for depression. He and I decided antidepressants are not good for me as they trigger mania.

Geodon is great for mania. I have not had a manic episode in four years thanks to Geodon. And it hasn't made me gain weight. The only problem I had with it at first was it caused akathisia. But my pdoc then prescribed Cogentin (an anti-seizure medication) and it went away. I highly recommend Geodon.

[coloradogal]

Thanks for the reply Electric! I will ask my psychiatrist about it next appointment. I just feel like once I lose these last 20 pounds it will make me feel like I have returned to normal. The episode that landed my butt in the psych hospital was hugely traumatic and I want to get all of that behind me. Being back to 'normal' would be a huge goal met.

[~Christina]

Psych med weight gain can be some very tough stuff to lose, As previous said there are "weight neutral" medications out there.

As mentioned thyroid can be a problem as well. If you haven't had a complete physical along with blood work done recently, then get a whole workup done...

Sit down with your Pdoc and discuss your options. Some pdocs are so focused on Bipolar being level they don't also keep an eye on your weight and general health while being on Psych meds.

Weighing yourself weekly is a good idea. You have to be Proactive to get the best care that is going to be good for all of you not just dealing with a MH issue.

Welcome to PC

[JumpingJacks]

I've had issues with this too. I gained about forty pounds when I started taking Lithium and have gone off of it because of that and had very big problems. I've gone back on it and I feel much better and was able to lose 20 pounds of the weight by switching to vegan and running regularly. It took a while and has been hard work and I still can't lose the last twenty. It's very frustrating and I don't feel "normal" like someone else mentioned. I can't see myself going back off of it again though because I finally feel at peace in my mind after struggling with meds for so long. I should probably bring it up to my doctor again. I've mentioned it a few times and he never says much about it.

I wonder if it's a kind of trade off. It would be nice if we could have all of our problems magically fixed by the doc but I feel like once you've tried so many meds you kind of run out of options. If you have a lot of things you haven't tried then maybe there's still something out there.

[coloradogal]

Thanks Christina,
I had a physical a couple of months ago and all was fine. I think my pdoc isn't terribly concerned about me losing these 20 pounds because technically I am not overweight. I am naturally (well, I was thin) so these extra 20ish pounds or so aren't unhealthy. He just says that I am now two years older and maybe this is just the way things are going to be for me. Well I don't think I can accept that. I have a goal, and I do weigh myself weekly at the gym, I work out 6 days a week, eat less than 1200-1500 calories, etc etc.
It's frustrating to hear that so many other members can't seem to lose weight either, despite their best attempts. That makes no sense to me metabolically/physically! I will keep trying.

But in the meantime I can only wear 2 pair of FUP's. That is codename for FatUglyPants. HaHa.