[Moose72]

http://bipolarhallucidations.blogspo...hotic.html?m=1

[tecomsin]

that's fascinating. thank you for posting.

[Aviza]

Awesome thanks for sharing. So glad to hear it. I gained 70 lbs in 6 months on meds.

[Blueberrybook]

But I wonder why do some gain on them and others do not? I have taken Seroquel 2, 3 years now maybe and not gained, and I wasn't on Adderall with it (have not been on Adderall long at all); mostly, I was on Lamictal, Buspar, Klonopin, trazodone, hydroxyzine. IDK, I know it's been shown how people with an eating disorder like anorexia have brain functions that can override the feeling of hunger (believe me, I still felt hunger when I weighed 80 lb., but I ignored it even if I dreamed of consuming food a lot of the time when I actually managed to sleep and woke in severe panic thinking it had really happened). But maybe it plays a role here? And I didn't always exercise this much while on it. That is recent too, at least within the last 2 years, maybe longer.

There was a point at which my weight jumped up (to low normal), but that was about a year before I had that perforated ulcer. I didn't know I had a ulcer, but with the type I had (duodenal), symptoms were often relieved by eating, so maybe I ate subconsciously. I do remember I was nauseous a lot, but I am also prone to nausea with my cycles, and ever since my daughter was born, my cycles are stupid short, like 21 days, so I'm dealing with wild hormones most of the time.

Although there was one drug I was on, Remeron (an antidepressant though, not an AP), even I gained a lot of weight on it. Practically everybody on it does. I once read vets have used it to treat lack of appetite in cats & dogs. All I wanted to do on Remeron was eat and sleep.

[BipolaRNurse]

I know what you mean about Remeron. When I was a unit manager in a nursing home, I'd get residents' doctors to order it for them if they were depressed and not eating. Solved the weight-loss problem and made them feel better. Me, I stay as far away from that sort of medication as I can!

[Unrigged64072835]

Same with Remeron and a lot of APs.

A writer I used to follow mentioned limiting histamine in food as well.

[Wild Coyote]

Hey Moose!

Thanks for sharing!
It was fun to see your blog again!

It would be great if there were meds w/o weight gain!

WC

I hope the scientists have made some progress finding safe adjunct meds to counter med weight gain.

cln1812 makes an interesting point. Not all patients gain weight on notorious weight unfriendly medications. Though Lithium gave me about 10 undesirable side effects, weight gain/increased appetite was not one of them, like it is for most people. I did have some quick weight gain/appetite increases on some antipsychotics, but not all. I wonder, too, if in some cases the more extreme weight gains were exacerbated by depression and sedation. I've taken about 600 mg Seroquel XR for quite a while now. I've gained a little, but only 10 lbs in over a year. I have to also look at other factors, like family history and my lifestyle. I can honestly say that I only weigh a bit more now than I did once 17 years ago before taking any meds. But I did lose 20 lbs then (while still not on meds). I lost almost 40 lbs from my highest weight ever (after a couple of years on weight unfriendly meds and a year plus of depression) taking meds.

I'm not debating that some antipsychotics weren't weight unfriendly. Zyprexa, Risperdal, Invega, maybe Trilofan, and Seroquel ir (to a degree) surely were. However, Seroquel XR, I'm not sure about. On this med (after losing the Depakote, Invega, and depression weight 8 years ago, has kept me the thinnest person in my immediate family.

[Blueberrybook]

I am never taking Remeron again, and I flat out tell pdocs if they prescribe me a med that causes uncontrollable weight gain or even just never letting you feel full, they can be 100% certain I will not take it because of the ED. I only wanted to eat (never felt full) and sleep on it. I think especially if you are recovering or have had an eating disorder, it is important to recognize when you are full. You can't do that on Remeron.

[raspberrytorte]

Remeron made me gain too. There was one day where I ate eight bananas and still felt hungry! It was too bad. It worked great as a sleep med.

[*Laurie*]

Before going on Seroquel I weighed 110 lbs. I have gained 125 lbs. over 3 years on that poison. I am currently working to go off the stuff because I truly fear for my life if I stay on it.

Thanks for the link, Moose.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Before going on Seroquel I weighed 110 lbs. I have gained 125 lbs. over 3 years on that poison. I am currently working to go off the stuff because I truly fear for my life if I stay on it.

Thanks for the link, Moose.

I went on it maybe 6 weeks ago and pdoc said it was only temporary- that we'd switch to Haldol at my next appointment (which is this Thursday). I hope she keeps her word!