Saphris Question

I just started taking this. Picked up the prescription this morning. I read one of the side effects is weight gain. I'm very worried about this. I've worked hard over the last year to lose 40 pounds. I exercise every day (sometimes 2x's a day) and keep myself on a strict diet. My pdoc said she doesn't want me on it long term.

My question: is this a common or potential side effect? Is it true weight gain or water gain/increase hunger like prednisone? If I'm not on it long term and put on weight will the weight come off easily or will I be back to square one?

I have read a lot of people gain weight but not everyone of course.

I took one dose and sent me to the hospital with a huge asthma attack

I've never heard of that one, but meds vary.

I'm on Seroquel. Tons of people gain weight on it, and I haven't. I exercise regularly but don't have a super strict diet. I also didn't gain weight on Effexor, which many do as well. Only one med ever caused me weight gain - Remeron - and the weight gain side effect is so bad, it is not widely prescribed any more. I read once that in the veterinary practice they even use it as an appetite stimulant in cats & dogs needing to gain weight. But the weight I gained on it was because it made my super hungry so I ate more and very tired so I exercised less.

I think if you keep exercising and keep to your diet, you'll be OK. Though exercising twice a day is a bit much maybe? I don't know. I guess it depends on the type of exercise you are doing.

You don't usually just gain weight on a med. It tends to make people hungry, so they eat more and gain weight. But if you are on it short term and keep exercising (though don't over do it) and eat a normal healthy, diet, I think you will be fine.

I didn't gain weight on it. I found out to take it when I'm going straight to bed. If i took it before i went to bed I'd eat the kitchen. Most of the time I'd take it and it'd knock me out within 5 mins anyways.

I don't exercise twice everyday. When I do it is a run in the morning and either yoga or weights in the evening.

According to what I've read and been told by pdocs is that certain meds do increase hunger, but also change the body's metabolism. Add that to the tiredness caused by many psych meds and it's the perfect storm for weight gain.

It did make me super tired, especially when I was really bad and had to take it in the morning. When I take it at night I'd take 10-20 mg at the time and I'd sleep 11-14 hrs. It was really hard to wake up. Another point in time I was taking 5 mg at night and would sleep 10-12 hrs. I'm on nuvigil which helps with the tiredness during the day most of the time. For me though it was an amazing medication and got me out of a mixed episode I had been in for a good 6 months. They added it the 3rd hospitalization I had that period of time. The second time I took it I was manic asf and it knocked it out in a week. I keep a stockpile on hand in case something comes up. I can take up to 25 mg a day, which I have had to do before. Lately I just take 5 mg for a while to get over things. Tbh I'm stockpiling all my meds just in case something happens. I just use saphris as a PRN now, since I'm on geodon as well. Idk why saphris works so well for mixed and manic episodes, but hey. I feel pretty good now.

edit: It also works well for anxiety. Not quite sure why.

I'm glad you are feeling well at this time.