HELP! Massive weight gain in the past 6 months

I am on 200 mg of effexor, 300 mg of wellbutrine, and 30 mg of abilify and 2 mg of atavain. My weight has gone threw the roof. Now matter what I do, I gain weight. I also don't have much energy. I just don't know what to do. I am tired of having to buy bigger and bigger cloths. Also the extra 100 lbs I've put on can't be good for my body. My PDOC says the meds I am on can't be causing the weight gain.
I am at wits end!

Rather bold of the pdoc to make such a statement imo.

I guess the first place to begin is with a food diary. Don't beat yourself up over what you eat, but write everything down, no leaving anything out. At the end of the week you can review it...and go from there.

I gained 18lbs in 5 weeks on a medicine...and it took me almost a year to lose that weight! Grrrrr

Hi Sam,
Like most people I get frustrated with some doctors giving false info to patients. Effexor will be the most likely cause of the weight gain, it's a well known side effect - for most people at doses above 150mgs. Abilify can also cause weight gain. I can understand, the excessive weight gain won't be helping your overall state of mind. Starting any med, it's done one at a time so the side effects can be monitored, then the problematic one can be changed or reduced to resolve the issue.
Have you tried any other anti-dep before effexor? Lexapro?

Oh boy. I totally understand. I have been on psych meds for over 10 years and when I turned 30, I started to gain a TON of weight and no matter what I do, I can't lose it.

However, my p-doc says part of it is attributed to medication and its interaction with my changing metabolism and body (as I got older)

Have you had your thyroid checked? That would be my first suggestion, because hypothyroidism can cause weight gain.
Also, please don't listen to your p-doc. You can simply google those medications and find information about weight gain as a side effect in some of them.

The other issue - have you started drinking more? Sometimes these medications cause thirst and people start drinking more, high-caloried drinks.

I wish I had some better advice. But it sucks.
There have even been class action lawsuits against some meds because of the weight gain and increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. But the p-docs are very quiet about that.

Boy, what nerve & your pdoc is WRONG! I've been on 25 mg Abilify (& other things) for 8 years & have put on 50 lbs. Now have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insulin resistance & my self-esteem is in the pits.

Been decreasing the Abilify--now on only 5 mg. Lost 10 lbs. in the last month. Don't tell me Abilify doesn't cause weight gain. Just come to my support group & ask that question & see all the raised hands.--Suzy

I am glad to hear I am not as crazy as the PDOC made me out to be. Its time to look for a new doc I think. My faith in docs keeps going down!

When I was on Lexapro, Wellbutrin, and I think the other was Abilify I gained so much weight! I went on a strict diet, exercised a ton...basically I tried everything under the sun to lose that weight! Guess what--I didn't lose a freakin pound!

Some meds are horrible for weight gain.

Well I have decided to go off of all my meds. I can't take it anymore.

Sam, I gained 30 lbs on my Zyprexa and Depakote. Its doing horrible things for my self-image, as if their wasn't big enough problems there.

I had to go off in October due to insurance issues, and am now back on. I didn't lose any of the weight while I was off of them, and had a whole lot of additional psych issues because I didn't have my meds.

I wish you peace of mind with your decision.

I think you should be careful going off meds. It should be medically supervised & if you start to display symptoms of a relapse (which you may not be able to recognize--often, friends or family members do--listen to them if they tell you that!!), it is important to get to the doc (hopefully, you'll find a good, knowledgeable one you trust) for a consultation. Meds may be advised.--Suzy