Is anyone on Meds that CAUSE weight gain?

I gained over a stone in two months on Seroxat (paxil). I've just come off that (hellish withdrawal, caused massive mood swings, electric shocks and friend loss) and gone onto Cirtalopram with seems to be allowing me to lose weight but still really slow progress. Beta blockers don't help either but I'm allowed to take them as and when I need them now instead of three a day which limits the damage. I also don't have a gall bladder which must surely affect how fat gets processed. I can't wait to be off all the meds.

I quit sertraline (Zoloft) 200mg cold turkey. O.M.G. Insanity. Had restless leg syndrom for 2 months and dry mouth and anxiety! Ugh some of these meds cause more than they fix! I quit all my meds in Feb (not recommended for anyone else) as most of my stress triggers are gone and I have been so much happier and myself, but man....those years on meds did quite a number on me!

I'm going to take a shot in the dark here but do you have pcos too? I have met several people like myself that have bipolar and hormone issues-thyroid issues falls into that. It weird how that works, certain diagnosis tends to fall together. What has helped me is Methotrexate. It leveled my hormone levels. Exercise has been a key factor in helping it as well.

Lithium cause me to have weight gain. A number of antidepressants did too. I have been bipolar since I was pretty much born. At 3 years old, I was evaluated. I didn't get officially diagnosed until I was 12. I have been on many medications so trust me when I say this. The less meds the better sometimes. Its amazing how doctors can prescribe meds, meds and more meds and eventually you dont know what is working because they cant single one out.

There was a study a few years back that had amazing outcomes.Basically a low dose of mood stabilizer like Lamictal and therapy had the most positive effect on people with bipolar. Antidepressants had a really bad one. They think it worked mostly because some people don't know if the mood swing is caused by environmental stress or if it is truly a mood swing chemical reaction. Therapy helps you define those symptoms. I hope that helps

Lamictal hasn't made me gain weight btw.

I take some medication that causes weight gain and makes weight loss incredibly hard and slow. In fact, hidden in the long list of side effects, you'll find that as a side effect and I know many people experience it. I can't speak to any particular medication but you should look it up on the Internet and look at the side effects. Generally you can still lose weight. Just don't expect the result others get. And don't get discouraged. Also, you can talk with your doctor about taking something else.

I´m bipolar as well and also gaine weight from my medication. To make it short, I agree with those saying that you CAN lose weight, but you have to be very patient! It takes more time than it does for others.

Interesting...WEllbutrin should offset the weight gain effects of those other medications. It's actually none to cause weight loss.

Known to cause it but doesn't in everyone. this medication is also prescribed to help you quit smoking but this is a rare feat. And one med cannot outweigh the effects of the other three. But thanks, I did overlook the "loss" effect. Although it has proven to be of no worth to me.

I read about it because I was going to take it for depression -- they sometimes combine it with anti-psychotics to minimize weight gain. I wasn't trying to be snarky or rude, sorry if you took it that way.

Actually, they combine metformin with anti-psychotics to minimize weight gain because most of them raise your blood sugar and cholesterol.

The weight loss side effects from wellbutrin, topamax, zonegran, etc, vary from person to person and I have never heard of any of those being prescribed to off set weight loss. And to be honest, giving an anti depressant to someone who is currently on an anti-psychotic requires close monitoring by the doctor by some people because in certain conditions, anti depressants can worsen their condition.

To the OP, i am also bipolar and currently taking Geodon and Seroquel. I have been on seroquel on and off since 2006. The first time I was on it was in 2006 at 150 mgs and I gained 35 lbs and it wasn't controlling my symptoms, so we switched to Geodon.

I am currently taking seroquel doses for the past year ranging between 100-300mgs and have not gained any weight. My p-doc still makes me get my blood sugar and cholesterol monitored.

Have you had a metabolic panel recently and checked your blood sugar?

I'm on lithium, Cymbalta, Vyvanse, and Yaz. Surprisingly, I think I got lucky because the lithium didn't cause me to gain weight at all; same with the Cymbalta and the Yaz (birth control).