Any bipolar friends out there trying to lose weight?

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derbygirl_11
derbygirl_11 Posts: 21
in Health and Weight Loss
My meds make me constantly hungry, even if I've just eaten something. There has to be somebody else out there that feels my pain!!
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  • derbygirl_11
    derbygirl_11 Posts: 21
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    Nobody?? :(
  • Vune
    Vune Posts: 672 Member
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    My doctor wants to raise my blood pressure so he can put me on propranolol for migraines and anxiety. Not exactly the same, but still an uphill battle.
  • maggs155
    maggs155 Posts: 258
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    I am on trileptal it actually decreased my appetite. I feel for u i told my doctor im trying to loose weight so she try's the ones that give the least side affects of cravings and the ones that dont affect ur metabolism. Dont know how long u been on ur med and dont know what one u are on. Does the meds u r on help for ur bipolar?
  • CaddieMay
    CaddieMay Posts: 356 Member
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    Yep. The Seroquel makes me eat like a savage. And I'm only on 50mgs. Doc put me on it for sleep, so I am able to cut it in half, or even in quarters, to go with my Ambien. It helps when I only take about 12.5mgs, but sometimes it's hit or miss. I can be really good with my eating all day long, but I never know what these meds will make me do once the lights go out! :grumble: However, I have seen a difference with my weight loss since joining MFP and since I've been logging my calories. You can always talk with your doc about different meds or dosages, but mental health is so important, and being stable is key to overall health. My doc doesn't "believe me" when I tell her about the Seroquel munchies. She tells me to keep carrot sticks on my nightstand. HA! Can you imagine being satisfied with carrots in the midst of a Seroquel binge?

    The best advice I have is to watch your calories during the day and save some extra for any med-causing eating you might do. I try to leave about 200 calories just in case. Good luck! :smile:
  • desiree911
    desiree911 Posts: 1
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    I totally feel ya. One of my meds makes me hungry another one lowers my metabolism.
  • tracyschreier
    tracyschreier Posts: 81 Member
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    I'm on a slew of meds for bipolar, and they've been changed a number of times (increase the dose, decrease the dose, change the med). I absolutely will not take anything that 1) causes weight gain and 2) increases appetite. With all the medications available today, there is most certainly a medication you can take that won't increase your appetite. Tell your doctor and demand a change.
  • roxy415
    roxy415 Posts: 29 Member
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    well..... If it helps..... i think i am crazy -lol-- i have constantly been diagnosed with depression but i do not like taking antidepressant medication..... Its like sometimes i feel on top of the world and nothing can bring me down and i suddenly dont know why i bother with the darn meds... so i stop.... then as time goes by - i fluctuate so much between so happy- and sooooooo friggin sad.... I wish i could find that happy medium..... i wanna see what everyone else sees in me--ALL THE TIME--- I have lost 100 lbs, done well with school, and have a good job..and people tell me what an inspiration i am... but i only see this fat, unknowing, indecisive chic that needs direction.......i do see that i have had accomplishments.... but they seem so insignificant..... Ughh im lame sorry-- I really dont feel so negative about myself all of the time-- just sometimes.... am i bipolar>>>?? eh who knows!?
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
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    Confused because the only medication for bipolar I'm aware of is lithium and lamictal?

    I'm on lamictal and Klonapin. Doesn't make me gain weight but definitely has made me feel like "screw it" most days. :P

    Ah, guess I'm wrong. I'm one of those take an SSRI and experience full blown mania types.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
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    well..... If it helps..... i think i am crazy -lol-- i have constantly been diagnosed with depression but i do not like taking antidepressant medication..... Its like sometimes i feel on top of the world and nothing can bring me down and i suddenly dont know why i bother with the darn meds... so i stop.... then as time goes by - i fluctuate so much between so happy- and sooooooo friggin sad.... I wish i could find that happy medium..... i wanna see what everyone else sees in me--ALL THE TIME--- I have lost 100 lbs, done well with school, and have a good job..and people tell me what an inspiration i am... but i only see this fat, unknowing, indecisive chic that needs direction.......i do see that i have had accomplishments.... but they seem so insignificant..... Ughh im lame sorry-- I really dont feel so negative about myself all of the time-- just sometimes.... am i bipolar>>>?? eh who knows!?

    See a doctor. You may have a mood disorder. From what I know bipolar requires manic or hypo manic stages. Not just your typical ups and downs.
  • LaurelM17
    LaurelM17 Posts: 4
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    In college I was incorrectly diagnosed as bipolar. In one appointment, after 10 minutes. The doctor put me on Seroquel immediately and it made me huge. My first big weight gain- about 70 lbs. within four months I saw four other specialists, the diagnosis was rescinded, I was given an official apology by the college and the doctor was suspended. But I'd already gained 70lbs! I lost some of it by taking Topamax, which is a drug for headaches but they also use it for bipolar and many other things. I would recommend getting off Seroquel and trying a safer option. It's truly an awful drug famous for weight gain.
  • derbygirl_11
    derbygirl_11 Posts: 21
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    I'm on a slew of meds for bipolar, and they've been changed a number of times (increase the dose, decrease the dose, change the med). I absolutely will not take anything that 1) causes weight gain and 2) increases appetite. With all the medications available today, there is most certainly a medication you can take that won't increase your appetite. Tell your doctor and demand a change.

    I would, but I'm very stable now and it took me a year of different combinations of medications to get to this stage. Basically I'm afraid a change of medication will allow me to slip into an episode again, which I don't want. Thank you for the advice though! I suppose I'll just live with the ravenous appetite.
    I am on trileptal it actually decreased my appetite. I feel for u i told my doctor im trying to loose weight so she try's the ones that give the least side affects of cravings and the ones that dont affect ur metabolism. Dont know how long u been on ur med and dont know what one u are on. Does the meds u r on help for ur bipolar?

    I'm on Trileptal, Trazodone, Abilify, Klonopin for anxiety, and Straterra for lack of concentration. I'm on a very high dose of Abilify, which probably is what makes me so hungry all the time. I don't know much about the others and hunger.
  • tracyschreier
    tracyschreier Posts: 81 Member
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    Off the top of my head bipolar is treated mainly with lithium (which is the ONLY drug specifically for bipolar); but most antipsychotics (Geodon, Seroquel, Abilify, Haldol, etc., etc.) are used for bipolar as well, as well as other anti-epileptic medicine. Depakote would probably be the second drug tried if lithium failed, but it has a lot of side effects (as they all do), and the one that I couldn't tolerate (major hair loss). I've had bipolar since my late 20's, but I've also been a psych nurse for 15 years. When a patient can't tolerate a medicine, even if it's WORKING, the medication can be easily changed if the side effects are just intolerable. I was on Geodon for three years and it's the best medication I've ever taken for mania, but it also caused diabetes (and even though I'm not on it anymore, I still have diabetes!). I think the balance of medicines is trickier than balancing calories and carbs!
  • CaddieMay
    CaddieMay Posts: 356 Member
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    Off the top of my head bipolar is treated mainly with lithium (which is the ONLY drug specifically for bipolar); but most antipsychotics (Geodon, Seroquel, Abilify, Haldol, etc., etc.) are used for bipolar as well, as well as other anti-epileptic medicine. Depakote would probably be the second drug tried if lithium failed, but it has a lot of side effects (as they all do), and the one that I couldn't tolerate (major hair loss). I've had bipolar since my late 20's, but I've also been a psych nurse for 15 years. When a patient can't tolerate a medicine, even if it's WORKING, the medication can be easily changed if the side effects are just intolerable. I was on Geodon for three years and it's the best medication I've ever taken for mania, but it also caused diabetes (and even though I'm not on it anymore, I still have diabetes!). I think the balance of medicines is trickier than balancing calories and carbs!

    I agree! Finding the right med "cocktail" for each individual is a matter of trial and error, combined with researching side effects, etc., and the willingness to go the distance. It took a long time before I found the right combination of meds/dosages that kept me stable for a long period of time. I had to become my own best advocate by reading everything I could about these meds as well as my diagnosis. I was lucky to have doctors along the way who were grateful (for the most part!) to have a patient who took the time to educate herself about her own treatment. Yes, I was a pain in the *kitten* at times, but at this point in my treatment (almost 20 years in) I am so glad that I fought for different meds/dosages. I didn't win every fight, but I won the really important battles. :drinker:
  • jaina08
    jaina08 Posts: 561 Member
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    What medications are you taking? I gained so much weight when they put me on depakote! My appetite was so crazy. I gained about 40 pounds because of this, but so far I lost 30. I don't take depakote anymore, I'm taking trileptal and navane.
  • PiecesOfTheHeart
    PiecesOfTheHeart Posts: 21 Member
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    I'm on Depakote and Zoloft but can't say whether it effects me or not since I have always been an emotional eater and been overweight for AWHILE! Also had a baby 18 months ago so that can throw things off too. I feel you on the hunger though. Some days I would like to blame it on the meds because I eat all sorts of veggies and what not still feel super hungry. I noticed that since I have started working out more I am super hungry. Dunno but it is nice to see others on here with the struggle as well.
  • dixiewhiskey
    dixiewhiskey Posts: 3,333 Member
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    I have Mood Disorder otherwise specified.. been labelled Bi-Polar II four years ago. I don't take meds likely because I don't have a solid diagnosis and it's not severe. The weight gain and hunger are the biggest turns off for me in regards to meds.. Just wanted to say that you are not alone, a lot of people out there have stated increased hunger and weight gain from taking the medications named in this thread,
  • dixiewhiskey
    dixiewhiskey Posts: 3,333 Member
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    In college I was incorrectly diagnosed as bipolar. In one appointment, after 10 minutes. The doctor put me on Seroquel immediately and it made me huge. My first big weight gain- about 70 lbs. within four months I saw four other specialists, the diagnosis was rescinded, I was given an official apology by the college and the doctor was suspended. But I'd already gained 70lbs! I lost some of it by taking Topamax, which is a drug for headaches but they also use it for bipolar and many other things. I would recommend getting off Seroquel and trying a safer option. It's truly an awful drug famous for weight gain.

    This!!!

    That happened to me four years ago and that's why I refuse to take meds! I'm not bi polar at all and in 30 minutes, doctor says try Seroquel... yeah, no thanks! Exercise, St Johns Wort are my go-to now since I refuse to take something that may not be meant for me!

    All I've ever seen of Seroquel are increased hunger and weight gain!
  • mssgeni
    mssgeni Posts: 83 Member
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    Ugh, I feel ya. Last year I was diagnosed as bipolar and was given zyprexa and lamictal... I'm not sure which one but I was always so hungry craving to eat everything. Normally I could have gotten away with eating bad things since my metabolism was good I guess, but over the course of 3 months I gained 50 pounds!

    Also, before with minimal effort if I wanted to lose weight I could lose 2 pounds a week easily. I know my eating habits aren't awesome as of late but even if I try I lose like a pound or two per month with exercise and proper eating. It's really frustrating. :(
  • pkgirrl
    pkgirrl Posts: 587
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    Seroquel definitely made me gain I felt like I physically could not stop eating. My doctor has me on Zeldox and Ablify now, and truthfully we're still working on dose, because I haven't exactly been stable. (I'm one of those super lucky ultradian cycling types) , BUT, losing the weight I gained on Seroquel has been a breeze because my appetite is appropriate and maybe a bit lessened that "normal," and my energy levels are actually good. BIG fan on the physical effects of Abilify, but have yet to see if a proper dose would make me more stable.
  • ficklesoul
    ficklesoul Posts: 54 Member
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    I'm on Lamictal + Wellbutrin. While it gives me extra energy and does not make me gain weight, I do struggle to shed off the extra pounds I've been putting. :( My weight has not been budging much lately and I'm always losing sleep and sometimes half an hour after a workout I feel severely depress(only after. During workout I'm fine). Previously when they put on Effexor, I could easily lose 2-4lbs a week but then the medication wasn't helping me so much with my depression, if anything it made me felt worst. Before they switched me to Lamictal and Wellbutrin I was off medication for several months and then gained abt 12lbs :((((( Right now I'm trying to be as good as possible with exercising and eating clean. I have heard that Seroquel is a very good drug for depression but I was reluctant to my doctor about it because I've heard that it will constantly make you feel hungry.

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