[HarrietBeecher]

So .., my dad is bipolar and he basically gained 25kg because of his meds and I am bipolar too. And well, the weight gain.....is strarting........I went from a size 12 to a size 16 and in about 1 year.....and I'm so terrified that next year I will be looking back at a size 16 and wish I could go back ,because now I am a size 24. All my clothing are really tight on my.... so its coming to the point were I will have to buy new bigger clothing

Does anyone have any experience in this?

I would love to hear any advice and your own stories
I just want to know if there is a way to make it better

Looking forward to hear from you

[BipolaRNurse]

I gained 25 lbs. in the first four weeks I was on Zyprexa, and another 15 in the months following it. I was already morbidly obese at the time so these pounds were definitely unwelcome. Fast forward to this summer, when I lost my husband and my appetite at the same time, and now I've dropped 25 lbs. without even trying. So I guess losing weight on APs is possible, if not likely. Hope it all works out for you. (((HUGS)))

I see you're a relatively new member so welcome aboard!

I gained about a hundred pounds on psych meds and went from a size 8 to a size 22. No fun. I'm dieting for the nth time and have lost 11 pounds in nine weeks. Come join us over on the 'diet anyone?' thread!

[violetgreen]

Hi and welcome! I've gained weight and my clothes got uncomfortably tight, too. I joined Weight Watchers 16 weeks ago and lost 15 pounds so far. Now my family doctor told me to go on a low cholesterol diet because my cholesterol had shot up, so I'm making more changes to my food choices. I guess that my solution to weight gain while taking an AP is to be deliberate about what and how much I'm eating and also increasing my exercise.

Sigh, yes, it happens. I was put on Metformin for a while and lost a lot of weight but a medication was added and I rapidly gained it back, dang it! It has been six months now and the weight seems stable. I am really fighting this by walking and walking and walking everywhere. I am very active and feel in improved shape but I seem unable to do no more than keep the weight gain at bay.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I'm hoping to go on Metformin next week. My dr. agreed to this months ago but then sounded like my labs are too good to try it. We'll see. For years on Seroquel I had about 10 lb range I stayed in that was too heavy but at least I never went over the top range. Since starting clozaril I've gained 10 more lbs, putting me at 100 lbs over where I was pre-psych meds. I have no other med choices so if he won't do metformin I'm stuck. I eat pretty healthily and try to take a walk at minimum daily. Low motivation is a side effect of all my meds and my pdoc and I are working to find the absolutely lowest dose that keeps me feeling better but lets me feel motivated. For a while I was exercising daily and then I had to increase gabapentin and it went away.

I know it is so frustrating. I managed to lose 60 lbs a few years ago and it was wonderful. I want to do the same so badly.

Hi, welcome. I gained forty pounds on Lithium, which I wasn't happy about - but I was in a bad mixed episode and it was the only med that could pull me out of it. After the episode ended, my pdoc put me on a weight-neutral AP and I dieted and gradually lost the forty pounds.

For now, all my meds are weight-neutral and I'm the same weight "pre-bipolar"....but I would go back on Lithium again if it was the only thing that helped me.

Basically, I've been able to work with my pdoc to create a "med cocktail" that doesn't cause weight gain for me or leave me overly sedated during the day. It took a lot of med changes to get to a combo that helps me and to avoid those to side effects, but it is possible. i currently take Lamictal, Geodon, Klonopin, Wellbutrin, and Lexapro.

I always will try a med that lists weight gain as a side effect - I've found that it's not a guarantee I will gain weight. My pdoc won't prescribe Zyprexa to his patients because of weight gain, although I have read it is a helpful med for many people.

Take care. xo

[cincidak]

I gained one hundred and twenty pounds in three years after starting taking antipsychotics for mania. My new psychiatrist has me on a weight neutral one now, along with a weight neutral antidepressant. I've lost 15 pounds in the last three months. I take Geodon, Lamictal, Prozac, Xanax.

[bizi]

congratulations on your weight loss! Please join us in the diet thread.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

[BastetsMuse]

I gained 100 pounds on psych meds and have managed to lose 50 of that through smarter eating. If only I liked exercise I'd be all set.

I also changed from Depakote and Topamax to Geodon, which helped.