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Default May 25, 2022 at 01:12 PM
  #1
I've been taking antipsychotics for several decades. Now I have symptoms of metabolic syndrome -- a little bit of high blood pressure, high glucose, high cholesterol, and obesity. Now I've been told that I have a fatty liver, which can accompany metabolic syndrome.

My diet is fine according to a dietician. I just started exercising regularly, so that will eventually help. But I don't have faith that diet and exercise will help. I've been trying to lose weight and maintain weight loss for as long as I've been on APs. Nothing has worked. Even faithful calorie counting didn't work. Working out regularly in a gym -- doing an hour of cardio and weight lifitng -- didn't help me lose weight. I really think that the meds are biting me in the *****. I think that the only thing that will help is gastric bypass surgery.

I'm at my wits end. I'm very discouraged. Has anyone successfully dealt with metabolic syndrome? I can't go off the AP. I've tried before and terrible things happened. The AP I'm currently on -- Latuda -- is supposed to be weight gain neutral, but I must be one of those people who gain weight anyway.
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Default May 25, 2022 at 01:33 PM
  #2
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Originally Posted by therealstacy View Post
I've been taking antipsychotics for several decades. Now I have symptoms of metabolic syndrome -- a little bit of high blood pressure, high glucose, high cholesterol, and obesity. Now I've been told that I have a fatty liver, which can accompany metabolic syndrome.

My diet is fine according to a dietician. I just started exercising regularly, so that will eventually help. But I don't have faith that diet and exercise will help. I've been trying to lose weight and maintain weight loss for as long as I've been on APs. Nothing has worked. Even faithful calorie counting didn't work. Working out regularly in a gym -- doing an hour of cardio and weight lifitng -- didn't help me lose weight. I really think that the meds are biting me in the *****. I think that the only thing that will help is gastric bypass surgery.

I'm at my wits end. I'm very discouraged. Has anyone successfully dealt with metabolic syndrome? I can't go off the AP. I've tried before and terrible things happened. The AP I'm currently on -- Latuda -- is supposed to be weight gain neutral, but I must be one of those people who gain weight anyway.
You're far from alone in struggling with negative effects of antipsychotics. I take medications to control some of mine. I am overweight, but luckily not obese, though once several years back I almost reached that level.

Your dietitian says your diet is fine, but you're not losing weight? I can't help but wonder if she/he has suggested different diet approaches. Calorie counting definitely doesn't work for everyone, nor does low fat dieting, or certain others. Have you tried low carb dieting? I lost about 42 lbs on a low carb diet, in the past. That was actually the biggest loss I ever had, and it was directed by a dietitian. At the time, the loss normalized all of my blood test results. It's been 15 years since, and though I have regained a good amount, I haven't regained all of it. And that's also being back on a weight unfriendly AP (Seroquel XR) as of about 10 years ago. For the first 5 years I retained the loss quite well. I was never a fan of low-carbing, but what worked worked.

I'm sure any decision on your part to have a surgery will be well thought out. It should be, as it's a big commitment. My sister had such a surgery and has done quite well since. Her diabetes is in remission.

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Last edited by Soupe du jour; May 25, 2022 at 01:46 PM..
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Default May 25, 2022 at 01:42 PM
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Soup du jour, I haven't tried low carb dieting. The dietician focuses on an intuitive eating program where you learn to listen to your body's cues, eating only when you're hungry and choosing healthy food. I've always been a fairly health eater. She doesn't know about the fatty liver yet so that might change things.

i know a few people who've been successful with bariatric surgery and a few who've gained back the weight. I'm encouraged that you were able to lose weight while taking your AP. That gives me hope.
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Default May 25, 2022 at 01:50 PM
  #4
Stacy I’m another that it doesn’t matter which AP I’m on ( latuda also) I gain weight. If I quit the AP I start losing weight without changing anything. I’m in an aqua fitness class and a fitness class, except for one daily soda what I eat is healthy enough though I could use more fruit. But it’s the AP. My dr was going to give me deit medicine but the insurance wouldn’t cover it. He did say surgery was an option but no. I know if I quit the AP it will resolve all issues. But I can’t quit either.

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Default May 25, 2022 at 02:47 PM
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My story is one I've often told here. My normal weight was 110lbs. I'm 5'6". I didn't have an eating disorder, I was just thin. I danced (ballet), bicycled, did some running, and loved working with weights. I also loved to roller skate. I was prescribed Seroquel and after 7 years of being on it my weight had increased by 125lbs. I have metabolic syndrome; my health is truly in danger. I can honestly say that I eat a decent diet - and I don't overeat. For six months I bicycled as my sole form of transportation (I purposely sold my car). I did not gain weight during that time - but I didn't lose a single pound.

Now it's hard to exercise, and I don't feel very motivated because I doubt I will lose much. I will say that within 5 months of going off Seroquel I lost 20 lbs., even though I hadn't changed my diet or exercise.

I so wish I had a more encouraging experience to share. And of course, everyone is different - although I have never met anyone who has been on a long-term atypical AP and has not gained weight from it.

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Default May 26, 2022 at 03:06 PM
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Nammu, I'm glad I'm not alone in this, but I'm sorry you have had to deal with it.
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Default May 26, 2022 at 03:12 PM
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Beth, I know what you mean about riding your bike and not losing weight. No exercise I've done has led to weight loss though it is good for other things.

Aren't we lucky? Haa. Do you ever deal with people who tell you "just exercise" or "just go on a diet? I want to explain the difficulty to them but would never reveal that I'm on an AP. I wouldn't want to even bring up that my med causes it. Then the next question might be "what med"! It's best to say as little as possible.
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Default May 26, 2022 at 04:15 PM
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My GP has been the cruelest and least understanding about my weight gain from Seroquel. Stupid woman obviously hasn't bothered to study what psych meds are about.

I have gone so far as to bring a photo of myself prior to Seroquel to appointments with psychiatrists or therapists. When they actually see the difference in my weight the situation seems to really sink in.

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Default May 26, 2022 at 04:31 PM
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I gained 60 lbs because of meds.

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Default May 26, 2022 at 07:25 PM
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I gained 60 lbs because of meds.
I hate to admit how much I've gained. I can't blame every pound on APs, but they're certainly a factor.
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Default May 26, 2022 at 07:31 PM
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I hate to admit how much I've gained. I can't blame every pound on APs, but they're certainly a factor.

Just please know that you are not alone. And don't minimize the possibility that every pound gained actually was caused by an AP. They cause people to feel so hungry, and if you don't eat you feel starved, even sick. Obviously, they screw with people's insulin, or ability to process glucose properly.

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Default May 26, 2022 at 08:12 PM
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Just please know that you are not alone. And don't minimize the possibility that every pound gained actually was caused by an AP. They cause people to feel so hungry, and if you don't eat you feel starved, even sick. Obviously, they screw with people's insulin, or ability to process glucose properly.
Thanks, Beth. :+>
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Default May 27, 2022 at 07:54 AM
  #13
Personally I think if you’re already eating healthy and calorie counting doesn’t work then bariatric surgery may not work either. Anti psychotics can make people gain weight regardless of what they do or don’t do.
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