[Crook32]

Why does it seem some times that we have to choose one or the other? I just got back from my primary care and she said there isn’t much we can do safely at this point except stop the Seroquel again. I have done this about 10 times because of weight gain but then my mood crashes. So the only med that works on my depression makes me gain 90 pounds but to lose the weight I have to stop the med and then I get depressed. I have a hard time exercising because I have a very arthritic knee and can barely walk up a flight of stairs. So now my dr gave me some diet ideas but she said I most likely have metabolic syndrome from all the meds I am on.

It is just not fair that we can’t have good meds without the terrible side effects.

[fern46]

I'm sorry you are struggling with this. There should be more options available for mental health that don't completely tank your physical health. You should be able to have both and it sucks you are having to choose between the two. One isn't more important than the other and it seems like so many people here are struggling in the same way. You're right. It isn't fair. I guess all we can do is hope more time and effort is put into better understanding our diagnosis so that better meds can be developed in the future.

I never understood how medicines that target depression can be given when weight gain is a known side effect. It seems like the weight gain would exacerbate the depression.

I agree. The only two meds that work for my psychosis are Zyprexa, and Clozaril. Both cause uncontrollable weight gain. I've gained 60 lbs since starting meds despite daily exercise and eating well. It makes me feel like a load of crap. I hate that we have to choose. I hope in years from now researchers will have discovered more options that are more side effect friendly.

[Moose72]

Yup. Preach! Some cause worse side effects than weight gain. But even with just that, I have pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol... all from antipsychotics and being overweight.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I'm sorry if I've asked this before but have you tried Metformin? I started it about 6 months after I started Clozaril. I lost the 20 lbs I had gained from it and have lost another 10-15 lbs that I gained on Seroquel before Clozaril and am still losing albeit more slowly because I"m not being as strict with my diet. My blood sugar is down from becoming worrisome to great and I have no more metabolic symptom issues. So it's been very worth it for me (and without a single side effect!).

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I'm sorry if I've asked this before but have you tried Metformin? I started it about 6 months after I started Clozaril. I lost the 20 lbs I had gained from it and have lost another 10-15 lbs that I gained on Seroquel before Clozaril and am still losing albeit more slowly because I"m not being as strict with my diet. My blood sugar is down from becoming worrisome to great and I have no more metabolic symptom issues. So it's been very worth it for me (and without a single side effect!).

I tried it once. Didn't do anything. Only thing that shifts my weight is healthier diet and upping the exercise. Still, its not as easy as it was to lose weight before being diagnosed/on meds. (First bipolar med was Depakote. Holy get fat, Batman! Then I wanted off of it because of the weight gain and they put me on Zyprexa! Like that makes any sense.....)

[Crook32]

I am just so tired of gaining weight and looking pregnant. I get winded just walking to my car after work. My muscles burn and I am huffing and puffing. I have never been so out of shape. I was a college athlete and always in great shape. Not sure a free education was worth the damage to my knee.

[Crook32]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I'm sorry if I've asked this before but have you tried Metformin? I started it about 6 months after I started Clozaril. I lost the 20 lbs I had gained from it and have lost another 10-15 lbs that I gained on Seroquel before Clozaril and am still losing albeit more slowly because I"m not being as strict with my diet. My blood sugar is down from becoming worrisome to great and I have no more metabolic symptom issues. So it's been very worth it for me (and without a single side effect!).

I take 1000mg of Metformin. It work in the hospital when I was on zyprexa but does nothing for Seroquel. I am scared to go off it though.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Yeah, fear of going off is maybe the one side effect. My dr said I could since I met my goals of weight loss and normal blood sugar but there is no way I'm stopping this unless they can prove it isn't helping anymore. I think it is anyway but if it isn't I'm still taking it.

Have you tried Topamax? It also can help with some weight loss if you can tolerate it. Some people have cognitive issues on it and some don't. I can't get to that dose but my baby dose helps with anxiety so I keep taking it at least for now.

[tecomsin]

I've not gained lots of weight and what I did gain I was able to lose.

If I take Zyprexa I become pre-diabetic even at normal weight but that normalizes when I get off. So now I just take Rexulti and only use Zyprexa if I am sleeping less than 7 hours for two nights in a row. I have a fitbit that tells me exactly how much I sleep every night and it has been more than a month since i had to take Olanzapine but there was a period in Feb/March where i was on a low dose every night just to get my required sleep. I am counting on this to keep me sane.

I've been putting off going to get a fasting blood test to see how my metabolism is on Rexulti. One thing is I want the effects from the time I was on Olanzapine every day to wear off.

At first I gained 15 pounds on Rexulti, slowly as it turned out. Then I just lost it once I started weighing myself once every day. It took awhile to loose it but I also didn't deprive myself of anything, just eliminated sugar and snack food and of course no sugary drinks.

[~Christina]

I have metabolic syndrome due to psych meds. After much research and thought I made the decision to get off psych meds. I have lost some weight and I have to remind myself to eat now.

I don’t think Big Pharma really wants to make a real weight neutral med because with all the problems with weight gain then meds are needed for HBP and cholesterol etc. They don’t cure they just ensure your a customer for life.

[Phoenix_1]

I don't know where you live, but if you can get some CBD, it will help your arthritis pain. I take 10 drops a day, 5 in the morning and 5 at bedtime. My arthritis and carpal tunnel are almost non-existent at the moment. Yesterday I sat on the floor and was able to get right back up without using downward dog like I used to have to do. That was awkward and embarrassing, especially in public. Before CBD, I could barely get down there, let alone get up again. I could barely hold a pen to write. My feet felt like I was walking on broken glass. I couldn't do stairs. I had major pain, every day. Now I'm so much better. I can do things now, like walk downtown or around the lake.

More good news is that CBD is not psychoactive, so I can take it with my Abilify, Klonopin, and Buspar. I think CBD helps my mood too.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I have metabolic syndrome due to psych meds. After much research and thought I made the decision to get off psych meds. I have lost some weight and I have to remind myself to eat now.

I don’t think Big Pharma really wants to make a real weight neutral med because with all the problems with weight gain then meds are needed for HBP and cholesterol etc. They don’t cure they just ensure your a customer for life.

*sigh*.... Truth!

[Pookyl]

I’ve got a lot of physical health conditions. But if I had to choose between physical or mental health I’d pick mental health any day. Losing my smartness and my sanity has been unbearable.
But ask me again tomorrow - my answer might be different.