When I was on clomipramine/abilify I gained 25lbs so we switched meds. On lithium/cipralex/risperidone I've gained another 15 and counting. I am beyond upset.

I am tall and all the weight went to my stomach. I've had 2 people ask me if I'm pregnant in the last week to which I just say no I'm just fat. I feel so disgusted with myself and want to throw up every time I eat. I'm starving all the time and eat almost nothing, but still gain. To make matters worse my favorite hobby is pole dancing and I feel like the most out of shape person in my classes.

Basically my self esteem is crap right now. I know I shouldn't be hard on myself and I would never criticize someone else the way I talk to myself. I don't think I can live without these meds. I just came out of the worst depression of my life and it took me a year. If I have to do that again, I think I won't survive it. I also can't picture my life if I keep gaining weight. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. Upset.

Can anyone relate or give me any advice?

Sorry you are struggling!

I know that some people use metformin to keep the weight off. Is that an option for you?

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Sorry you are struggling!

I know that some people use metformin to keep the weight off. Is that an option for you?

I haven't, but I'll look into it. I'm open to anything. Thank you!

[Wild Coyote]

I am sorry you are having a hard time with weight gain, it's so prevalent with so many psych meds.

I have to count calories in order to lose weight.
I calculate my basal metabolic rate (calculators found with internet search) and keep daily intake below that daily caloric intake calculation.
I have lost 25lbs. in less than three months by doing this and still losing each week.

I have stayed on many meds while losing.


WC

[wildflowerchild25]

I'm in the same boat. I gained 70lbs on invega because of high prolactin caused by the drug. On Jan 2 I started a low carb diet and lost 15 pounds but plateaued. Because of the plateau I became frustrated and have fallen off the low carb wagon, probably gains ten of the fifteen back.

My only options to switch are latuda (which causes high prolactin) and vraylar (which causes weight gain). I NEED meds to be stable. But I can't be physically healthy on meds. So it's either my mental health or my physical health. Apparently I can't have both.

I completely understand your frustration. I have yet to find a solution. After Easter I'm planning to do low carb again and see if I can get further in my weight loss this time. I'm also going to an endocrinologist to see if there's any way to bring my prolactin down.

[99fairies]

I'm on Invega as well and have gained 50 pounds since starting over a year ago. My doc is halfing my dose. I'm praying it helps. I feel your frustration.

[vjdragonfly]

I am also struggling with weight gain. I've gained 30 pounds since I started olanzapene (generic name). My pdoc is trying to put me on latuda and wean me off the olanzapene once my mood stabilizes.

I struggle with this too....my current med isn't packing the weight on yet though. The only advise I have is probably something you already know and that is not to drink your calories (unless it's healthful drinks) ive never been a soda drinker but a few times when on meds I began drinking them and the weight piled on fast. Lots of fruits, veggies and nutritional stuff, no simple or low simple carbs, limited complex carbs. Basic nutrition stuff. I'm going to ask to see a nutritionist if my meds start bad weight gain. Do you have access to a nutritionist?

[dog daze]

I gained weight immediately when I began taking meds. The vicious cycle started of feeling bad about myself then getting depressed and giving up and gaining more weight. At some point along the way I just stopped struggling and accepted my weight and I bought a new wardrobe full of pretty and flattering dresses. I'm a big girl now, but I still do my makeup and hair and make myself feel attractive.I'm sure I should be at least walking for my health, but that is sometimes too much for me to do after work. I am so depleted when I get home from a very social job. So I try to accept who I am. I might never be a normal weight again. But my mental health scares me to death. Really. I am afraid I would sink too far into my depressive episodes and disappear. So I am fat. Big deal. I eat healthy and watch portions most of the time, although I do binge occasionally. So that's where I am. I know I am judged harshly by society and that makes me uncomfortable and self-conscious, but I can't change how people see me. So I try not to care what they "must" be thinking.

I'm one of those who uses Metformin to manage my weight. I lost some while on it and now have managed to stay relatively the same for a year now. I didn't lose enough to put me back to my original pre-medication weight but the loss was significant - two clothing sizes. I've been able to maintain this.

There are some side effects. I'm not troubled badly but, how shall I say this?... um, er... people get the runs from Metformin.

[wildflowerchild25]

Originally Posted by dog daze

I gained weight immediately when I began taking meds. The vicious cycle started of feeling bad about myself then getting depressed and giving up and gaining more weight. At some point along the way I just stopped struggling and accepted my weight and I bought a new wardrobe full of pretty and flattering dresses. I'm a big girl now, but I still do my makeup and hair and make myself feel attractive.I'm sure I should be at least walking for my health, but that is sometimes too much for me to do after work. I am so depleted when I get home from a very social job. So I try to accept who I am. I might never be a normal weight again. But my mental health scares me to death. Really. I am afraid I would sink too far into my depressive episodes and disappear. So I am fat. Big deal. I eat healthy and watch portions most of the time, although I do binge occasionally. So that's where I am. I know I am judged harshly by society and that makes me uncomfortable and self-conscious, but I can't change how people see me. So I try not to care what they "must" be thinking.

Honestly I'm working on being the same way. I already know I'll likely never be 150 again. My problem isn't so much with my appearance. It's that because of the extreme weight gain I have developed prediabetes. I don't want to be diabetic. My father was diabetic (type 1 though) and he had heart problems, kidney failure, and his leg amputated before dying at 47. I don't want that. Yet I have such a huge problem with emotional eating. I comfort myself with food.

I really want to work on being healthier, not just a number on the scale. But I have to commit. If I don't lose weight then so be it but if I can at least reverse the prediabetes I'll be happy.

My endocrinologist is talking about adding metformin if my blood test shows insulin resistance, as well as increasing the bromocriptine to combat the high prolactin. We will see.

[wildflowerchild25]

Originally Posted by 99fairies

I'm on Invega as well and have gained 50 pounds since starting over a year ago. My doc is halfing my dose. I'm praying it helps. I feel your frustration.

You might want to get your prolactin checked just to see if it's high. My endocrinologist says that is the reason behind my weight gain.

[Guiness187055]

I am on zyprexa and it is notorious for causing wait gain. What I have done over the last few months is eat a low carb diet which I should be eating anyway being that I am diabetic. I have also started walking a few miles each evening good for my metabolism plus it gets the dogs out. I also weigh myself every morning and every night. I fluctuate between 174-180lbs but I really stay on top of it. This is what works for me. Good luck!

[99fairies]

I did get my prolactin levels checked since I haven't had a period since I started the Invega and the prolactin levels were very high.

I've gained another 10 pounds since starting this thread. I'm starting a low carb diet and hoping for the best!

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

I'm in the same boat. I gained 70lbs on invega because of high prolactin caused by the drug. On Jan 2 I started a low carb diet and lost 15 pounds but plateaued. Because of the plateau I became frustrated and have fallen off the low carb wagon, probably gains ten of the fifteen back.

My only options to switch are latuda (which causes high prolactin) and vraylar (which causes weight gain). I NEED meds to be stable. But I can't be physically healthy on meds. So it's either my mental health or my physical health. Apparently I can't have both.

I completely understand your frustration. I have yet to find a solution. After Easter I'm planning to do low carb again and see if I can get further in my weight loss this time. I'm also going to an endocrinologist to see if there's any way to bring my prolactin down.

Both Abilify and metformin can reduce the prolactin effect of risperidone which is metabolized to invega so maybe one of the two would work for you in addition to the invega? Metformin has the added bene of weight loss.....

[Unrigged64072835]

I'm on Metformin and I've lost 20 pounds so far. That being said, it's not a silver bullet. I've had to have it adjusted twice because my blood sugar was too low.

I mentioned this in another forum, but I've accepted the body I have now. I have high cholesterol and diabetes due to all the weight gain from meds, also from the meds themselves. I'm doing the best I can to lose weight but it comes down to acceptance as well.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

I am sorry you are having a hard time with weight gain, it's so prevalent with so many psych meds.

I have to count calories in order to lose weight.
I calculate my basal metabolic rate (calculators found with internet search) and keep daily intake below that daily caloric intake calculation.
I have lost 25lbs. in less than three months by doing this and still losing each week.

I have stayed on many meds while losing.


WC

I am still losing with this approach, fortunately.
I am on psych meds and prednisone (every day).
Low carb and calorie counting. 35 lbs so far.
Keeping my fingers crossed.

These meds -- uggh.

Love to all,

WC

For anyone with Netflix, especially women there is a documentary called Embrace I recommend. I struggle so much to accept my body and taking meds can be hard because of the weight gain side effect. Earlier today I typed "how to accept my body" into google and all that came up was a bunch of thinsperation fat shaming memes which were far from helpful and very discouraging rather than encouraging......I put on Netflix hoping to find something to calm my mind and the documentary Embrace was in my recommendations so I watched and glad I did. We are so much more than our size....we are beautiful even if not a size 2, 12 or 22. All sizes are beautiful and being thin doesn't equal happy OR healthy. I really need to keep reminding myself of this. I thought I'd share in case this documentary could help someone else whose struggling to accept themselves. Seeing how the media lies to us, it's nice to be reminded of reality. (((Hugs to everyone)))

[ladytrixa]

I was doing the low carb thing. Lost 20+ lbs. Lost my mental stability and at the same time fell off the wagon. I've started gaining weight back. So I'm contemplating redoing the low carb thing. Also, I need to get into some physical activity. Being sedentary isn't doing me any favors. It's hard to keep my life together when I lose my mental capacity. *sigh*

[Sunflower123]

Originally Posted by TheSadGirl

When I was on clomipramine/abilify I gained 25lbs so we switched meds. On lithium/cipralex/risperidone I've gained another 15 and counting. I am beyond upset.

I am tall and all the weight went to my stomach. I've had 2 people ask me if I'm pregnant in the last week to which I just say no I'm just fat. I feel so disgusted with myself and want to throw up every time I eat. I'm starving all the time and eat almost nothing, but still gain. To make matters worse my favorite hobby is pole dancing and I feel like the most out of shape person in my classes.

Basically my self esteem is crap right now. I know I shouldn't be hard on myself and I would never criticize someone else the way I talk to myself. I don't think I can live without these meds. I just came out of the worst depression of my life and it took me a year. If I have to do that again, I think I won't survive it. I also can't picture my life if I keep gaining weight. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. Upset.

Can anyone relate or give me any advice?

Thanks for the heads up on Abilify. I am on 5 mg so maybe it won't be so bad. Was thinking of asking my doctor to increase the dosage but I won't now. I know how you feel. When I was on Zyprexa, I wasn't eating any differently but gained a lot of weight. Very depressing.

[wildflowerchild25]

Originally Posted by 99fairies

I did get my prolactin levels checked since I haven't had a period since I started the Invega and the prolactin levels were very high.

That's probably why you gained weight then. I have the same problem. My endocrinologist told me elevated prolactin can raise the risk of osteoporosis in the future. I just got blood work done today so I'll be able to see if the bromocriptine is helping at all. I think it is a little because I got my period back, albeit sporadically.