[shattered_angel]

we have been on mmany diferent types of meds but one thing most of them have in common is weight gain.. how do you deal with iit on top of your mental health issues..how do you deal with the misunderstanding and criticism of it that seems to come with it?

I am glad you've created this thread, because I've recently started a med that commonly causes weight gain, and I'm scared about it. Anybody's advice/responses would be greatly appreciated.

[Evening]

I was on some medication a few years ago to treat my non-existent bi-polar. I had been put on all these different depression meds since I was 10 or 11 and they did nothing, so after 10 years my doctor decided he'd put me on a different class (it took him 10 years to work out one class of medication wasn't working for me).
He decided I might have bi-polar and put me on these meds to see if they worked because he was the kind of doctor who liked to find the answer with drugs).
Well about 7 weeks into taking these meds I couldn't fit into my clothes, I had to tie a jumper around my waist to disguise the fact I couldn't actually do my pants up. I went to the doctor and told him I was getting fatter so he weighed me- I weighed 15 kilos (maybe 32 pounds) more. In 7 weeks.
I used to be like a stick when I was younger so this sudden weight gain was rather noticeable to people, it was humiliating. Even my own mother said to me I looked like I was pregnant and perhaps I should try doing sit ups. I tried to starve myself (but I am a sucker for food because I was neglected as a kid and rarely ate), I even stole some laxatives from the shops (I can't believe I did that).
It was so hard for me because I had gone so many years hearing that I needed to GAIN weight because I was too thin, then when I DID gain weight I was treated like a freaking blimp, and then when I lost the weight people were like 'oh why are you losing weight, you look healthy now.

Although I've lost a lot of the weight, I haven't lost all of it, and it definitely took it's toll on my body. My stomach especially sticks out, and only 15 minutes ago when I was getting out of the bath I noticed I'm getting rather pudgy looking on my back. If I don't start sorting myself out soon I'm going to have love handles and my *** dragging on the floor.

And all this only to find out I actually have PTSD and didn't need meds at all...

[DePressMe]

It's hard to manage your weight when you're on some of these meds. I was on a 23 month long diet. It was tough to drop my weight but I managed to stick with it and fight my way through the diet. I'm now down to my "normal" weight. And, yeah, it's hard to deal with the people who act like you're gaining weight on purpose. EEErr...

[la doctora]

I have been taking Zyprexa for about a month now. I was warned that weight gain could be a significant side effect. I have gained about 7 pounds in the last few weeks. I know that's not that much now, but I want to stop this before it goes any farther. I can feel myself getting fatter and my clothes fitting tighter. I hate it. I hate it so much that I think I would rather be unstable than take something that makes me gain weight. A good figure has always been something that I was proud of, and I refuse to let it be taken away. Am I too vain? Would anyone else sacrifice their mental health to prevent weight gain? Surely there has to be something else that can help me...

[billybee1993]

I was on zyprexa and gained almost 70 lbs in three weeks, I was astonished! The Doc took me of and I have been on Respiridon for many years, apparently the weight gain on Respiridone isnt supposed to be so bad, though when I went off of it for a little while I lost 35lbs. I find that on the Anti Psychotics I love to eat anything starchy or sugary, though I try and control this as best I can. Iam now working toward eating mostly Organics and trying to stay away for things like sugar and Carbs. It seems to help, its too early to tell if I hve actually began to lose weight. Between the SSRI's and Anti Psychotics people tend to but weight on. Though I have seenn people who lose weight.

Good Luck, people!

[Evening]

Zyprexa, I think that's the one that made me gain weight! Boooooo!

[mcflooze]

I've been on Seroquel for 5 months and have gained 30lb in that time - with NO change to my diet or activity levels whatsoever.

I've never been thin, and always hovered just above the top end of the healthy BMI, so this weight gain now puts me in the obese category. I used to think I carried my weight quite well, but now I'm just plain fat.

I also suffer from bulimia and have done (on and off) for 15 years, so obviously I was terrified that this kind of weight gain would trigger me quite dramatically (and it did, for a couple months).

So my GP has put me on Xenical. I have quite a healthy diet (apart from the b/p) anyway, so thought the excess weight would drop off me.

Nope. At best, I'm maintaining - and that's with the icky 'treatment effects'! I'm relieved I don't seem to be gaining anymore, but I still flinch when my boyfriend - or anyone - hugs me. I also want to wear a badge saying "No, I didn't eat all the pies - it's my drugs!!"

For me, that's the worst. I work in an office where everyone gossips about everyone else, and I live in fear of people whispering behind my back about how much I've let myself go.

Sorry for the long post - needed to vent

At least we all know we're not alone with this.

[mamaJenof5]

Originally Posted by billybee1993

I was on zyprexa and gained almost 70 lbs in three weeks, I was astonished! The Doc took me of and I have been on Respiridon for many years, apparently the weight gain on Respiridone isnt supposed to be so bad, though when I went off of it for a little while I lost 35lbs. I find that on the Anti Psychotics I love to eat anything starchy or sugary, though I try and control this as best I can. Iam now working toward eating mostly Organics and trying to stay away for things like sugar and Carbs. It seems to help, its too early to tell if I hve actually began to lose weight. Between the SSRI's and Anti Psychotics people tend to but weight on. Though I have seenn people who lose weight.

Good Luck, people!

I was on risperdone for about 2 years and I wet from 105 to 150lbs and it was the best working med for me and my moods and cycling but I couldn't stand the weight I have always been small(and I have 4 kids) so for 2 years I was depressed and living in pjs and not liking myself but feeling calm I would risk my mental health for the weight sad to say but its true. I went off it and been trying other things and now the only med that has been working i lamictal and I gained 7lbs the first week and 5lbs the second I had just got my weight downto 115 and now I see myself just going right down the tube again ...thats another I pushed for the adderall b/c I heard it would drop the weight quicklets hope

And I know that others may look at my 130 and be like "I'd love that" but for me I'm so short that I look huge and much like a pear