[AspiringAuthor]

I was treatment-resistant and even Clozapine did not help - I was depressed on a tiny dose of 25 mg (people usually take upwards of 300 mg) and even when Wellbutrin was added.

But I do extremely well on Zyprexa, mood- and sleep-wise. On Zyprexa I am highly functional, my mind is clear and effective, and I do not have neurological side effects. But weight gain is bad.

I started on Zydis and take only 5 mg at night. I also take 1500 mg of Gabapentin to which I do not have side effects.

I am still gaining weight.

Is it true that Zydis is better?

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Have you tried metformin? It's really helped me with weight gain with clozapine. It stopped the weight gain when I started it and has helped me lose 25 lbs. since then. I weigh less than when I started clozapine (still way overweight thanks to years of psych meds) and the metformin has helped a lot with that.

[AspiringAuthor]

BtR, I am on it, but I view it as a diabetes prevention tool - in the past, when not on Zyprexa, I took it in the hopes of losing weight, and it did not help.

I am going to start using dumbbells, tomorrow - really, no excuse not to. Thank you! Glad Metformin does the trick for you. We are all different in how we respond to meds - I could not tolerate Clozapine because even 25 mg, even with Wellbutrin!!, made me depressed and non-functional.

[Rainbow Child]

I was on both Zyprexa and Zydis eight years ago, and I gained SO MUCH weight. I went from 135 to 199! (I’m 5’10”.) All in a few short months. It was the strangest thing. It wasn’t even registering to me that I was gaining weight! I’m not sure how I possibly didn’t notice, but I was in a very dark place.

I should mention that I was also on many additional medications at that time. I’m sure, however, the Zyprexa and/or the Zydis was the biggest contributor to my weight gain.

[*Laurie*]

I have found that most psych meds cause some amount of weight gain.

[still_crazy]

ugh. im gaining weight now...on Abilify ("oh, its weight neutral, low TD risk...you'll love it"). ugh. but...

what to do? :-(

i read a small abstract of a study...they used green tea extract or alpha lipoic acid in people on zyprexa or seroquel, and the antioxidants helped w/ weight gain and cholesterol levels, etc. kind of interesting, because antioxidants may also help with EPS and TD, according to the "alternative" health people.

[AspiringAuthor]

Originally Posted by still_crazy

ugh. im gaining weight now...on Abilify ("oh, its weight neutral, low TD risk...you'll love it"). ugh. but...

what to do? :-(

i read a small abstract of a study...they used green tea extract or alpha lipoic acid in people on zyprexa or seroquel, and the antioxidants helped w/ weight gain and cholesterol levels, etc. kind of interesting, because antioxidants may also help with EPS and TD, according to the "alternative" health people.

I have read that vitamin E, which is an anti-oxidant, might help with TD prevention, but the evidence is really scant. Still, I am taking it. I will get green tea extract, thank you - but will run it by my PCP first. ALA is in fish oil, no? If so, I am already taking it.