[Mountaindewed]

Then take meds that cause weight gain?

Everytime a Pdoc try’s to put me on something that can cause weight gain, if I start to feel really hungry or if I start gaining weight then I’ll go off the med myself because dealing with the bipolar symptoms are easier to deal with then the feelings I have about the weight gain from meds.

Is anyone else like this?

[BeyondtheRainbow]

No. My bipolar is too severe and too hard to treat. I don't get a choice because I have to be medicated to prevent mixed episodes and mania and there is only one AP that works for me and it's one of the top 2 biggest weight gainers. I take the med, I stay relatively stable (5 1/2 years since I was IP!!), and I deal with the weight gain. Usually it's not that bad and I stay at a stable weight but lately since my family member died I gained weight while grieving and now am losing it. I do take Metformin to help with controlling my weight.


I would LOVE if something weight neutral had worked for me or even something less weight involved. But I've accepted that healthy for me includes being overweight as strange as that sounds. We'll see how much I can lose. I'm down 2 lb in the last 1-2 weeks. I can't remember when I started seriously working on this.

[Soupe du jour]

Hi Mountaindewed. If you had asked me this question when I was in my teens, 20s, and very early 30s, I would have responded that I'd rather just try to control the illness on my own. Or white knuckle it. In fact, even after my formal diagnosis at 32, I tried without meds. Unfortunately, my illness grew so severe that a no meds approach stopped being feasible.

I am with everyone that extreme weight gain from medications is unacceptable. There are meds that may cause some weight gain, but with extra effort, need not be extreme. Some meds are even weight neutral for many. As for fear from hunger, sometimes the hunger has been more my illness than the meds, themselves. [Repeat reading the sentence before.] Other times if from a med, that hunger eased over time. In any case, I found that patience in finding the best meds paid off. I've tried many different ones and different combos over the years.

I have gained some weight over the years, but so has everyone else in my family. I have taken between 500 and 750 mg Seroquel XR for the past seven years, and am only about 10 lbs more than the highest I ever was BEFORE bipolar meds, at 30 years old. I am now 50. I know Seroquel is too much of a weight gainer for some, but we all react differently to different meds. I know of people who maintain weight on Zyprexa and Clozaril, two of the notoriously worst weight gainers. Also, it can sometimes be a lot easier to maintain or lose weight when stable, than when depressed or mixed or manic. I know that at 30 years old, that high weight was mostly mood-related. A big gain I had in my mid 20s was, too.

I lost 40 lbs in six months, at age 38. I didn't go off meds. I did switch, and also had managed to finally stabilize after years of instability. I lost all of that weight while taking 900 mg Lithium ER, 160 mg Geodon, 100 mg Lamictal, and I think up to 1,400 mg Tegretol XR, plus 0.5 mg Klonopin. Simultaneously. Those meds (incl. Lithium) didn't hinder my weight loss. I maintained most of that loss for six years. The 40 lbs didn't fly off while eating cheese burgers, fries, and chocolate cake. I had to diet (or whatever one wants to call it). But when I reached my goal, I was maintaining without tracking, but with maintenence of healthy eating habits and exercise. Learning what healthy eating means is priceless. So if I get hungry, I know what foods are best to choose. Do I always choose them? No. I like French fries and cake, too.

[MuddyBoots]

I'm like that with meds that cause severe weight gain (<10lbs is fine), and I'm lucky enough that I found a cocktail that keeps me out of the hospital most of the time that doesn't cause weight gain. I will take the weight gainers like Zyprexa for short periods of time, but I can't stay on them.

[Victoria'smom]

I have an eating disorder. (Man that was painful to say) So yes I care very much about gaining weight. In fact I gained 40 lbs in the past 20 years. The AP's took "Anna" (my ED voice) away and I was pissed. I'm not trusted to stay on meds. So I get injectables. EVEN then the day I go to get it I'm trying to talk my way out of it. I'm going to ask for the 2 month one when they get it at my center. That will allow me more time to travel and worry about it less. I'm on both an injectable AP and an oral most of the time I'm good about the oral one if I've taken the other one it doesn't take a lot of convincing. Now when I'm unstable meds are the first thing to go so I have to keep reminding myself that the meds are to help. My pdoc works damn hard to keep me on meds with no side effects. Do I except my body...Nope. Is that something I deal with in therapy...yep. Do I miss "Anna"... yeah, every day. but I'm healthier this way. I still eat very little and have to have a meal replacement if I refuse to eat 2x a day. Plus I'm on tons of vitamins.

[*Beth*]

I'm furious about the weight gain and unfortunately, it was caused by Seroquel, which never did anything positive for me except help me sleep.

As for other meds that might cause a little bit of weight gain...I'd take the meds. I believe it would be dangerous for me not to treat my BD and PTSD with medication.

[Mountaindewed]

I guess since my moods and self worth depend on my weight I feel like my weight is more important since it will ultimately cause less mental health symptoms to be at a smaller weight. My weight neutral meds do seem to be working overall to control my moods. I know back in November I was sent to IOP for med manipulation because I was trying to control my appetite. I was on remeron when all that happened and the weight gain just caused me to go over the deep end. My doctor still thinks I’m taking it actually. I’m still on a lot of meds just ones that work for both my physical and mental health.

[AutumnW0lf]

I would rather deal with my BP than gain weight. I have a very slow metabolism and type 2 diabetes runs in my family, so I can't keep gaining more weight. Fortunately I haven't gained since being prescribed Wellbutrin, which is supposed to be less likely to cause weight gain.

[Skeezyks]

This is complicated for me and I won't go into it all. But the reason I refuse to take antidepressants is because, at least to my knowledge, they all cause weight gain to one extent or another. I've worked hard to keep myself as lean as I am. And were I to start gaining weight as a result of taking some medication (an AD or other) the fact that I was gaining weight would itself depress me beyond my ability to cope.

[Ursula Shackleton]

I feel like taking almost any sort of BP medication is a tradeoff from physical health to emotional health. How much I push back on meds is based, honestly, on how I feel. If I'm in an emergency situation, I'm not pushing back. Just give me whatever works.

[leomama]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I'm furious about the weight gain and unfortunately, it was caused by Seroquel, which never did anything positive for me except help me sleep.

As for other meds that might cause a little bit of weight gain...I'd take the meds. I believe it would be dangerous for me not to treat my BD and PTSD with medication.

How much seroquel?

[leomama]

Originally Posted by AutumnW0lf

I would rather deal with my BP than gain weight. I have a very slow metabolism and type 2 diabetes runs in my family, so I can't keep gaining more weight. Fortunately I haven't gained since being prescribed Wellbutrin, which is supposed to be less likely to cause weight gain.

Is Wellbutrin all you’re on?

[mssweatypalms]

I hate weight gain due to meds. Before the pandemic, I could swim and go to the gym to maintain my weight. I tried hard to work against the side effects, but since COVID, I gained a lot. I can't stop taking them, though. I need them to do my job properly. I can't live without a steady income and I'm scared I won't be able to work without medication.

[leomama]

Originally Posted by mssweatypalms

I hate weight gain due to meds. Before the pandemic, I could swim and go to the gym to maintain my weight. I tried hard to work against the side effects, but since COVID, I gained a lot. I can't stop taking them, though. I need them to do my job properly. I can't live without a steady income and I'm scared I won't be able to work without medication.

Finally someone who works instead of on disability! I’ve worked on and off medication . Initially I stopped taking them because I was afraid of the side effects at work however not being on them produced it’s own effects from the job I have now.

[Mountaindewed]

What’s wrong with being on disability? People can’t work for a variety of reasons. Plus you can still work and get help. I’m not on disability but I get social security and I am able to work but my job didn’t handle Covid well and I felt unsafe. Then I wanted to go back during Christmas time but I was recovering from major surgery which caused bad post op depression and I ended up in a 4 week IOP program. Then I was also in the process of moving. So I didn’t want to go back in January and then have to leave. I moved in May and then I had another surgery a few weeks ago and I still am not allowed to lift anything. So I plan on going back around August or September.

[leomama]

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

What’s wrong with being on disability? People can’t work for a variety of reasons. Plus you can still work and get help. I’m not on disability but I get social security and I am able to work but my job didn’t handle Covid well and I felt unsafe. Then I wanted to go back during Christmas time but I was recovering from major surgery which caused bad post op depression and I ended up in a 4 week IOP program. Then I was also in the process of moving. So I didn’t want to go back in January and then have to leave. I moved in May and then I had another surgery a few weeks ago and I still am not allowed to lift anything. So I plan on going back around August or September.

Nothing is wrong with it.
I’m looking for people who work as we face challenges specific to working. I’ve been on disability, however I was not living with my parents. Each situation has its own challenges .

[MickeyCheeky]

i don't have bipolar so i can't really answer. i think it is important to take care of both physical and mental health. Perhaps you may try to focus on your physical health if the bipolar is being handled right now? i am not sure. Please do take care fo yourself and others. i Hope things will improve soon for everyone. Stay safe. Sending many safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @leomama, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!

[leomama]

Originally Posted by MickeyCheeky

i don't have bipolar so i can't really answer. i think it is important to take care of both physical and mental health. Perhaps you may try to focus on your physical health if the bipolar is being handled right now? i am not sure. Please do take care fo yourself and others. i Hope things will improve soon for everyone. Stay safe. Sending many safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @leomama, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!

Thanks Mickey but this wasn’t my post

[Mountaindewed]

I feel like my Valium is increasing my hunger a bit. I’m trying to deal with it by eating fruits and vegetables and lean meats. I just had a bowl of strawberries. It’s a bit unusual. Like yesterday I had a double quarter pounder with cheese and a mchicken and I rarely even get McDonald’s. It just started and I just started the Valium. So that’s why I think it’s that. But since I don’t have any other benzo and I really need them, I just can’t stop benzos the way I can with my other meds, I’m just going to have to control things.

[AutumnW0lf]

Originally Posted by leomama

Is Wellbutrin all you’re on?

I'm also on Trileptal 200 mg and Trazadone 100 mg for when I can't sleep. So far neither of them have caused weight gain.