[sugahorse1]

My pdoc just made a comment to me, saying we may reach a point where it may not be possible to keep me stable AND thin.
Obviously this was as a result of me complaining about weight gain as a side effect of meds.

I actually don't know what to reply. Putting on weight will make me depressed and anxious. I never had a weight issue (have been around 56kg most of my life) and have now put on 6kg in 2 months. I used to feel "sexy", and that gave me self confidence. Now I think twice about what clothes I put on, as I know skinny tops now reveal a bit of a stomach. Choosing what clothes to wear to work in the morning is a tedious task, and knocks my self-esteem.

So, I feel I need to tell her that if I have to choose, I need to rather remain "un-stable" and learn to cope in other ways. If that even is possible.

I don't know where to from here.

What a load of crap. It's totally possible to be thin and stable no matter what meds you're on. Will it be easy to lose weight? Depends on the meds. Might be very easy or extremely difficult, but it's still always possible no matter what. So for your doctor to say you may reach a point where it's not possible, that's a load of crap IMO.

How could someone in your situation lose weight? Depends on the person and the meds. You could try a nutritionist to keep you on track, or you could find ways to change your lifestyle to help keep the weight off. I don't know how you'd change your lifestyle, but it may mean you have to exercise twice as much as the average person, which totally sucks, but it could work for you.

[sugahorse1]

So, just to make me feel a bit better, with the correct diet and exercise (I have my own horses, so if I'm not riding, I'm around the barn which is also a fair bit of exercise) I can counter the weight gain due to Meds?
In my case it's either from a very low dose of Seroquel (If that even can cause weight gain at 25mg) and Sodium Valproate.

[Pookyl]

I respectfully disagree with Bluebicycle.
For some of us it is NOT possible to be thin and stable no matter how hard we try.
I was admitted into a psych hospital 5 weeks ago. I was actively suicidal at the time. And I'm still in hospital...
My psychiatrist told me that when I was well enough I would have to choose between a) carrying some extra weight and being there for my husband and children; or b) being a thin corpse.
Harsh but true.
Being thin isn't everything. And unless you're a shortie like me, 62kg is NOT fat.
Take care.

[sugahorse1]

It's not fat, but it's carrying extra around the midriff. I guess it makes me feel fat because it is a 10% increase on what I am used to. So it's all relative.
And as I mentioned - the irony is that even if I am on mood stabilising meds and am meant to be more stable, the weight gain in itself will cause depression. Damned if I do and damned if I don't.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I think it is something that you come to accept over time. At least I did. Early meds I gained some and hated it but swore I wouldn't pass a certain weight. But I didn't respond to med after med and there were fewer and fewer choices that didn't cause weight gain. So I gained weight and surpassed my limit. But by then I didn't care because it was better to have the weight gain than to be desperaely suicidal. And then Seroquel stopped and that meant clozapine which is one of the greatest wegiht gain meds there is. And I gained even more weight and again, I was ok because it was better than dying.

But I also reached a point this fall that I was able to lose some weight. I don't think I can or will lose all of it because it is very hard to trick my body into losing but I have lost about 15 lbs before having to take a break from dieting to deal with gallstones.

I do not agree that diet and exercise can prevent or control weight gain with all meds for all people (since we all react differently to meds). But achieving a point you can accept some weight gain to survive can happen and at least some weight loss is possible when you feel well enough and are able to be very patient with the process.

[RedDawn]

You may also find that as you stabilize reasonable weight gain won't cause you so much anxiety.

[99fairies]

I gained 60 pounds in the last few years. Clozapine was horrible for weight gain. But I went off it and the invega and so far I've lost 35 pounds. Just ask your pdoc for weight neutral drugs. Wishing you all the best.

I gained 50lbs. I was unhappy. My husband asked what good would it be to be skinny if I was dead. My depression was so bad that it was a fair statement. My doctor also reinforced that at least for now my mental health is the priority.

I have recently lost 25lbs though on zoloft. So sometimes a med change helps.

[annielovesbacon]

I had this dilemma too. I have an eating disorder and relapsed pretty badly this summer, and my doctor told me I either had to eat, or I had to stop taking my meds because they could give me seizures if I wasn't eating.
For a while, I chose to lose weight. It was all I wanted and I thought I would rather be thin and unhappy than not thin and stable (not necessarily happy).
But then I got through the relapse. I started taking my medicine again. We upped the dosage and now I am blissfully stable. For the first time in years, I am not deeply depressed or insanely manic. Now that I am here, I would not trade this feeling for being thin.

I understand though the anxiety that comes with gaining weight. As RedDawn said, maybe feeling stable will help that anxiety. I hope whatever you choose, it will be well for you and you are happy with your choice. And remember neither choice is permanent!

[winter loneliness]

It is a hard decision. I am already overweight, so I take anti-psychotics PRN. I told my doctor that I will not take a med that causes huge weight gain.

During a severe mania a couple years ago,I took several antipsychotics for a few weeks. I gained 15 lbs in a week and a half.

[emgreen]

I truely feel APs are necessary for me, but when I was on zyprexa & seroquel I really ballooned...Nasty stuff. I was on a higher dose of seroquel 600mg. 25mg is a very small dose, so I'm not sure how it will affect your weight. Now that I'm on Abilify, my weight has somewhat leveled out, but I'm still a fat f---.

[wildflowerchild25]

I never had a weight problem in my life. I was super skinny throughout high school and even when I gained weight (bc I actually started eating) I stayed around 130lbs. When I had my son I lost the weight fairly quickly, carrying a little extra, around 140lbs. Even with all the meds I tried I never gained weight. Then all of a sudden in 2015 my prolactin went sky high and I started gaining weight like crazy. I gained 70lbs in a year. I didn’t know it was the meds. My weight has gone up and down within 20 pounds this whole year. I can’t seem to crack the 20 pound mark.

I finally got off the weight gain drug and started to lose weight very slowly, but I’ve been completely unstable ever since stopping it. I was hospitalized in November and started on zyprexa and high dose depakote and gained 20 pounds in a month. I demanded to be off the zyprexa but I think the rexulti is doing the same thing to me. I just can’t stop eating. I just can’t. Even when I’m not hungry. I just eat and eat and eat. If I don’t eat, I obsess about eating until I do eat. I feel horrible about myself. If I get on the scale I think I will feel even worse.

I don’t know what to do. I need To be stable but I can’t afford to gain another 70lbs. I will get sick. I am already inching into prediabetes territory.

So I understand your predicament. For me, I have to be stable to keep my job and be a good mom to my son, and being non medicated does not work for me. So I’m in between a rock and a hard place.

[Wild Coyote]

It's tough to accept the weight gain. I'd lost 55 lbs on Latuda. changed to Abilify and am gaining again. I feel hungry 24/7.
That said, weight gain is better than dying and I was in a very serious depression.


WC

[Victoria'smom]

I have an ED but you wouldn't notice because of my size (large/x large clothing). My meds make me eat and drink a lot and made me gain a ton of weight. It's even bad for my health to be this large. Pdoc says "just eat fruits and vegetables" which is easier said then done. My weight has stabilized (I think) when pdoc lowered my dose of zyprexa. I still have some psychosis but I'm well enough that I can do reality checks. It's a delicate balance. Yes some of us have to pick between stable or thin. It sounds like you're doing all you can to keep the weight off but it may not be possible to keep weight off.

[sugahorse1]

If it is not the Seroquel at 25mg, then it is the sodium valproate.

I am on Lamotrigine too, so I do have the mood stabiliser base covered. Maybe just need to increase the dosage. Although I don't know how high one can go as I am on 150mg.
I refuse to go onto Lithium due to the amount of drugs that are contra-indicated.

[emgreen]

Originally Posted by sugahorse1

I am on Lamotrigine too, so I do have the mood stabiliser base covered. Maybe just need to increase the dosage. Although I don't know how high one can go as I am on 150mg...

I had to look up sodium valporate...Sounds like a mood stabilizer, but you're also on lamictal. I'm on 400mg of lamictal a day, which is supposed to be the most one should take. I'm slow, but it sounds like you're thinking about dumping the sodium valporate & increasing the lamictal? You've got room to do that, I guess...Maybe talk to your pdoc.

[sugahorse1]

Yup - 100% correct.
What side effects did you have as you increased the Lamotrigine? I know about the rash, which is not an issue, as I am happily on 150mg now anyway.
Does it slow you up cognitively a lot?

Sodium Valproate is the same as Convulex, Epilim and Depakote

[emgreen]

I've not really noticed any significant changes with my dose of Abilify, but it's hard to sort out which meds, or which part of your head is responsible for changes. I've given up trying to guess.

[Rosan7534]

I put on 10lbs when I started, but lost it on keto. My ocd keeps me tracking my carbs constantly on MFP. I lost over a hundred pounds right before diagnosed and I refuse to put anymore on.

[hexacoda]

I think my Dr said Abilify is pretty weight neutral. I'm fat but that's just because I eat too much and don't exercise. I lost a few pounds when I made an effort.