I found an interesting statement at Straight Hair Becoming Curly with Age? Here's Why! | Epilator Authority that read:

"Medications for seizures and bipolar disorder, on rare occasions, can cause curly hair. The reason for this is still unknown, but some researchers have speculated that it has to do with how metals are processed in the body. Changes in the concentration of metals like copper are seen in the hairs of these patients."

Another article cited stress as a clear source for changes in appearance. I know that there are others, as well.

I am curious how others' appearances may have been affected by bipolar disorder, itself, or the medications we take. [Not so much general aging or familial changes in age.] I know that many people gain or lose weight. If you feel strongly about mentioning that, or it's quite relevant to other physical changes, I understand, but I am more interested in physical changes other than weight changes. I have a few I will mention in a later post. If you think of any additional ones, after posting, please do feel free to post again.

If you can easily pinpoint the causes for any physical changes (related to bipolar disorder or medications), please share them.

[FluffyDinosaur]

I know that some meds can make your hair brittle. I don't remember if it was lithium or Seroquel but definitely one of those. Also, some meds can mess up your skin (causing acne and the like).

[FluffyDinosaur]

Oh, and of course fatigue (especially long-term) won't do your appearance any good. Given that many bipolar people have sleep issues I think that counts.

Seems permanent:

• Vertical deep wrinkle between my eyebrows: This started to develop in my 20s, but deepened as I aged. I blame furrowing my eyebrows out of stress/frustration/anger. I do this less often when stable. I hide with bangs.
• Curly hair: In my youth, I had slightly wavy hair, but the curls became notable starting after Lithium hair loss. Even when my hair was restored, more curls developed. Perhaps my anticonvulsant moodstabilizers are also cause, as the article stated. I embrace the curls.
• Worn down teeth: Stress/frustration/anxiety from disorder caused daytime bruxism/clenching. I think the med Geodon exacerbated it. It has eased since going off it.
• Breast size increase: I can't complain about this, but men would. I'm sure Risperdal and Invega played a part. My bra size now is notably bigger than it was 15 years ago, at the same weight.
• Unwanted hair: I know age can affect this, but I believe Depakote really did. Years after stopping Depakote, this issue has eased a bit.

Temporary:

• Cystic acne: Lithium side effect that was difficult to treat. Months after stopping Lithium, my skin cleared up. After more time, even acne scars disappeared.
• Very dry skin: Lithium was the likely culprit. Eased after going off Lithium.
• Hair loss from Lithium: Oddly temporary (a year), then eased even while still on Lithium. My hair became fuller again, and curlier.
• Hair texture change: While on Lithium, my hair was drier, more wiry and frizzy. Off Lithium, the texture improved.
• Age appearance: My worst years aged me a bit. As I became stable, I became more youthful looking again.Stability was a cheap face-lift.
• Hardening of finger nails: I had ultra thin fingernails most of my life, except when taking Lithium. Then they were rock hard and rarely ripped.
• Injury signs: Not only does my bipolar impulsivity/distractability/irritability (hypo/manic) make me more prone to injury, but I believe my clumsiness from Tegretol XR has, too. All sorts of accidents. I've had burns and cuts of all sorts. I've injured my knees, legs, arms, ankles, hands and face to the point of contusions and swelling. These were not deliberate self-harm. Most visible signs of injury are gone. I currently have a healing burn on my left arm and two of my right fingers. A scar on a finger from a cut that required stitches is almost gone. I have always had a high pain tolerance and threshold, but believe my Tegretol XR and bipolar mania increase them further.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Interesting...definitely had the breast size increase from risperdal, actually started lactating.

At one point my hair grew very short, like shoulder length, it was just breaking off. My thyroid was on the cusp of normal and I’ve never had any clear thyroid issues so I believe this could have been due to the AP as well.

[Moose72]

My hair is still falling out even though I stopped lithium a couple years ago. Maybe its from low thyroid? I still have that and take meds for it.

[*Beth*]

I have noticed 2 outstanding changes. The first one is that my balance, which used to be excellent, gets worse and worse. It's from meds. In my teens and 20's I danced ballet and certainly had no issues with balance.

Weight. My height is 5'6" and my "normal" weight was always 110lbs. Very thin. I was constantly trying to gain some weight, but couldn't seem to, no matter what I ate (and I was never very hungry).

Meds, specifically Seroquel, caused me to be so hungry that if I didn't keep food in my stomach I literally felt sick, like I would throw up. Over the 7 years I was on Seroquel I gained 140lbs. The weight gain has caused more balance problems, and left me prone to injury and other health impairments (high blood pressure, high glucose).

Besides those 2 major changes, nothing else seems to be different, other than regular aging stuff...not having the energy I had even ten years ago.

______________________________
Oh - whoops! I just noticed that this thread is "besides weight."

Originally Posted by BethRags

I have noticed 2 outstanding changes. The first one is that my balance, which used to be excellent, gets worse and worse. It's from meds. In my teens and 20's I danced ballet and certainly had no issues with balance.

Weight. My height is 5'6" and my "normal" weight was always 110lbs. Very thin. I was constantly trying to gain some weight, but couldn't seem to, no matter what I ate (and I was never very hungry).

Meds, specifically Seroquel, caused me to be so hungry that if I didn't keep food in my stomach I literally felt sick, like I would throw up. Over the 7 years I was on Seroquel I gained 140lbs. The weight gain has caused more balance problems, and left me prone to injury and other health impairments (high blood pressure, high glucose).

Besides those 2 major changes, nothing else seems to be different, other than regular aging stuff...not having the energy I had even ten years ago.

I'm glad you mentioned the balance issue. I have the same issue, which I sort of lumped under the clumsiness category, in my post above. But I noticed it even before I took Tegretol. I have always loved to dance, and danced quite seriously as a teen (9 years of ballet) and into my 20s. I try to dance a bit on my own, but I do not have good precision (sure-footedness) anymore, which includes the balance issue. Actually, there was a two or three year period (forget which meds I was on), when I couldn't even do a grand plié, properly kneel, or stand on my toes without feeling very weak and falling back down to flat foot. That has long since changed. Though I still have the clumsiness with balance issues, I can do the plié and stand on my toes. Also regarding balance, I used to love to ride my bike. There then came a time when I felt unsafe riding. I'm sure I could ride, but I'd feel a bit nervous. There's a lot of traffic in my area, hills, and ditches. Even my distractibility, and some other manic symptoms, make riding not so safe, sometimes.

That is so horrible how Seroquel affected you, Beth Rags. Though Seroquel has not been that weight unfriendly for me, the combo of Depakote and Invega was, but I luckily did get switched off of them before too big of a gain. I then lost 40 lbs getting down to a normal BMI. My balance and foot strength improved a bit then. Maybe Depakote was the problem. I regained about 20 of the lbs over 6 years, and notice the difference again. I don't think Seroquel XR is all to blame for my weight gain. Lifestyle contributes, plus genes and age. I was about my current weight 15 years ago, before ever starting bipolar meds. I'll never be my prime ballet weight ever again. Frankly, that weight (115 lbs) would be concerningly underweight for me on the BMI scale. Even 138 lbs now would look mighty mighty trim for me, given my build. I'm not petite.

I hope you can more easily take off some of the weight. Please don't ever expect to be a ballet weight again, though.

[*Beth*]

Thank you, Birdie

No, I would never want to be ballet weight again. When I look back, I wonder if during times of depression food was repulsive to me, whereas during manias my energy was so intense that food didn't interest me, plus I was moving so much.

I first noticed the balance problem when I started taking Celexa, many years ago. It was something that was so unfamiliar to me, I remember being a bit alarmed by it.

Something I forgot to mention is blurred vision. My eyes just don't adjust well on meds.

All these side effects...how could anyone who doesn't have a mental illness, or hasn't worked closely with people who do, understand?

[bpcyclist]

I used to be known as someone who made others laugh a fair bit. Now, everyone who has known me a long time always comments on my flat affect. I almost never am able to smile or laugh. I just do not feel it. I wish I did.

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

I used to be known as someone who made others laugh a fair bit. Now, everyone who has known me a long time always comments on my flat affect. I almost never am able to smile or laugh. I just do not feel it. I wish I did.

This is a unique physical appearance change, indeed, since it isn't one that couldn't be changed in a heartbeat, if things go right.

Please do not think that your inability to laugh will last forever. You will laugh again. Trust me on this.

I used to carry a lot of weight in my legs, but now it's mostly in my gut.
Also right now I have marks all over my body from scratching because tegretol makes me itchy.
For a short while I tried minocycline for depression and it cleared up a lot of facial acne.

[cashart10]

When I’m manic I tend to dress far more extravagantly and wear more jewelry and makeup.

[cashart10]

Oh...and my hair is in tight ringlets naturally but I straighten it almost every day, except for the occasional manic episode.