Bipolar Meds make you gain weight?

2

Replies

  • red_road
    red_road Posts: 761 Member
    i was on anti depressants. i gained 30lbs in a very short period of time, it wasnt so much that the meds were making it hard to lose weight but rather that they made me feel like i was starving all the time. Perhaps monitor your food intake and hunger levels and if you find your medication is not working for you, talk to your doctor about an alternative medication, there are many to choose from. I am currently on Zoloft now (dont remember what the fat pills were called) and i find that they have no bearing on my weight whatsoever unfortunately i have experienced an insane loss of sensitivity. So it is a toss up but atleast ill be a thin zombie! Im curious to know what anti depressant drugs have worked for other people without these two side effects.
  • kittyhasclaws
    kittyhasclaws Posts: 446 Member
    I'm on 300mg of lamotragine nightly. With it, I haven't really noticed any weight gain. It actually helps me function better, so I find it less difficult to lose weight since I'm no longer a zombie from previous medications I'd been on. I can now be more active since I'm not sobbing in a corner or raging out on my family.
  • kittyhasclaws
    kittyhasclaws Posts: 446 Member
    I'm sure that this is not the advice that you are looking for but here goes....

    You can cure Bipolar with diet. I did. Plus binge eating disorder, severe anxiety, and a long list of very serious phsyical illnesses. Malnutrition, which can occur even when one is eating too much, has many effects on our body. The brain is especially impacted by poor nutrition and inadequate healthy dietary fat.

    (Yes, I have been on a bunch of meds and suffered many effects from them. I also just "toughed" it out for years and years and don't know how I survived.)

    Oh, the weight loss issue (but I'm not on meds)-please see my ticker below. Lost the weight, and still losing, without craving or struggling with hunger. If you are curious about what I am up to feel free to read my profile and food diary.

    There is so much wrong in this response. Bipolar cannot be cured through diet There are different severity levels of mental health diagnosis and it is irresponsible and potentially dangerous to make such a suggestion to the OP. This may be your approach, but something tells me there must be more to the story if you "toughed" it out for years and now magically experience no more symptoms.

    I hate this argument, too! If bipolar was that easy to cure, it would be awesome. However, it's not. I've always eaten well. My brother had also always eaten well. We just passed the 4th anniversary of his suicide, so you can take your "diet is the cure" advice and shove it.
  • stratusphr
    stratusphr Posts: 87 Member
    I am not bi-polar, but I too have family members that are. My grandmother gained weight on Lithium, that was the drug of choice back when she was living. She passed away in '81. There are drugs that can make you gain weight, if nothing else, there are drugs that make you hungry. I am on a beta blocker now, and am being tapered off, not only am I tired, it's making me hungry! That is NOT acceptable. My surgeon says the first thing he asks when a patient comes to see him if they're gaining weight is "Give me a list of the medication you're taking"

    Also, diet and exercise will not cure bi-polar, it cannot be cured, it can be managed and controlled if a person stays on their medication. My grandmother would start feeling better and stop taking her lithium, she'd be in a hospital until they got her stable again. It was a vicious cycle. There are so many meds now, many of which do NOT cause or contribute to weight gain, and like someone else mentioned, there are some meds, prescribed off label that some people even lose weight while taking it. The three I know of are all anti-seizure meds. I took all three at different times trying to find a good one for migraine prevention. When I was reading about them, that is when I read that they are also prescribed for bi-polar disorder and a few other things as well. I took Lamotrigine, Topamax and Zonegran. I never lost a dang pound taking any of them, but I have a friend, who was thin to begin with, she's lost 40 pounds taking Topamax. You can find something else to take, it just may be trial and error! Good luck!

    ** I never gained weight with any of them either **
  • massage_gal
    massage_gal Posts: 76 Member
    I'm on one of the bipolar meds that make you gain, but it hasn't affected me that much. I just pressed on, stuck to the plan and lost. You can get over drug interactions just by exercising and eating according to the 1 lb per week plan. It did affect me gaining so much in the first place, I think. And I get these awful plateaus like the one I am at now, but I only have 14 lbs until goal weight achieved, so I am still keeping on.
  • abble_pie
    abble_pie Posts: 144 Member
    I have Bipolar, and have been on a few medications that have made me gain weight. The worst was Zyprexa! I gained over 30 pounds on that one. Through much trial and error, I am on 2 medications and since I have started MFP, I have lost 6 pounds. I am exploring switching one of my meds to Topamax, which my pdoc said would help me lose a little bit of weight. I think it is a lot more difficult to lose weight with this disease, but making small changes toward a healthier lifestyle will ultimately pay off. I am hoping to lose at least 60 more pounds, and though it may take a while I know I can do it!
  • Concedo
    Concedo Posts: 9
    I have Bipolar Disorder and currently take Lithium,Seroquel, Lamictal and Depakote. It has been a great combo for me and I am currently stable with almost no side effects.. except for weight gain! The culprit for me is Depakote, since it is the most recent addition. I have put on almost 15lbs. in just a few months. I hate to give it up because it got rid of my mixed states.

    The Depakote just makes me hungry all the time. I keep thinking that if I white knuckle it and keep track of every calorie then that hunger/ increased appetite will go away.

    I am happy to read about those of you that have lost weight on this drug. It's not easy.

    Wanted to add that I tried Topamax for a couple of months. It didn't work and I had way too many side effects.
  • lynn7211
    lynn7211 Posts: 2
    I am so happy to find this thread/community. I have bipolar disorder and the first drugs they put me on were lamictal and Zyprexa. The Zyprexa made me gain about 40 pound in 3-4 months. I have not been able to get rid it even though I am now on Seroquel and Abilify instead. As other posters have mentioned, the drugs make me hungry all the time. I am working with MFP to get a sense of other foods that will make me less hungry and help fill me up but it is definitely a journey. The Abilify is also helping to combat the sluggishness and this helps me to exercise more.

    And as to the question about diet and exercise "curing bipolar" - this is a dangerous and untrue statement. Med compliance is a huge issue for people with bipolar and suggesting someone should go off of their meds is irresponsible. Healthy habits can help the drugs work better and regular routines are helpful to mood stabilization but for most of us, pharmaceutical intervention has saved our lives/keeps us alive.
  • musycnlyrics
    musycnlyrics Posts: 323 Member
    I have to say:

    I have had Bipolar disorder my entire life, I was diagnosed at 18

    After trying several different combinations of meds, (abilify, depakote, wellbutrin and several others) I realized that I hated the Zombie feeling I got from them. I had small children at the time and I never wanted to play with them or spend time with them; I just wanted to sleep.
    My doctor's advice:
    more meds

    No. I put my foot down and I went off my meds after a long talk with my doc. For the last 6 years, I have been unmedicated successfully and monitored closely by my psych doctor.

    I spent a year on meds while I was pregnant with my son 3 years ago (the pregnancy did a doozy on me and my doc recommended I resume medication until after birth) and havent had anything since.

    Do I recommend this for anyone else? No. It may not work for others, but it definitely works for me.

    I learned to recognize cues and I work with my psych doctor and my therapist and I havent needed the meds. I know that if my condition worsens or if I feel too "out of sorts" that I will need to be medicated again until I regain control.

    Diet and exercise have definitely helped me throughout this process.

    I always recommend that if you have a doctor that is willing to work with you, then be open, honest with them and make sure that the method of treatment (medication or otherwise) will be sufficient.
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    I'm sure that this is not the advice that you are looking for but here goes....

    You can cure Bipolar with diet. I did. Plus binge eating disorder, severe anxiety, and a long list of very serious phsyical illnesses. Malnutrition, which can occur even when one is eating too much, has many effects on our body. The brain is especially impacted by poor nutrition and inadequate healthy dietary fat.

    (Yes, I have been on a bunch of meds and suffered many effects from them. I also just "toughed" it out for years and years and don't know how I survived.)

    Oh, the weight loss issue (but I'm not on meds)-please see my ticker below. Lost the weight, and still losing, without craving or struggling with hunger. If you are curious about what I am up to feel free to read my profile and food diary.

    You need to stop spreading misinformation, such as it's possible to CURE bipolar with diet. This is irresponsible and dangerous advice.
  • sarahkatara
    sarahkatara Posts: 826 Member
    Hey! I've dealt with rapid-cycling bipolar since I was 13 (26 now). I was on a medication at one point, Zyprexa, that made me binge and gain weight rapidly. It was really difficult. I was taken off the medication because at the time I was also suffering with anorexia and the weight gain was a major trigger. After that, I also discovered I have hypothyroidism (slow thyroid, slow metabolism) and was put on Synthroid which helps keep my levels even. If you're experiencing out-of-the-ordinary symptoms of ANY kind, definitely sit down and talk to your doctor. See if there's a similar medication you can try that may not give you the same side effects. May I ask what medication it is that you're taking?
  • SchroederNJ
    SchroederNJ Posts: 189 Member
    You can cure Bipolar with diet.

    ^^^ Not this - don't stop taking medication without consulting a doctor

    I would agree with previous posters about the SSRI drugs making a person lethargic or unmotivated. Workout and diet can help by naturally increasing seratonin but it's not the end all, be all for everyone.
  • sarahkatara
    sarahkatara Posts: 826 Member
    I'm sure that this is not the advice that you are looking for but here goes....

    You can cure Bipolar with diet. I did. Plus binge eating disorder, severe anxiety, and a long list of very serious phsyical illnesses. Malnutrition, which can occur even when one is eating too much, has many effects on our body. The brain is especially impacted by poor nutrition and inadequate healthy dietary fat.

    (Yes, I have been on a bunch of meds and suffered many effects from them. I also just "toughed" it out for years and years and don't know how I survived.)

    Oh, the weight loss issue (but I'm not on meds)-please see my ticker below. Lost the weight, and still losing, without craving or struggling with hunger. If you are curious about what I am up to feel free to read my profile and food diary.

    You need to stop spreading misinformation, such as it's possible to CURE bipolar with diet. This is irresponsible and dangerous advice.

    Agree- this is complete misinformation and puts so many people in danger. Bipolar individuals tend to have problems staying on their medications anyway and to tell them it is "curable" in any way is downright untrue. Bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance in your brain. You do not make the necessary chemicals to keep your moods even, etc. Bipolar patients NEED medication and ongoing psychiatric care. I've come off my medications before because I was "better" and I could "control it" through "willpower". several weeks later I was suicidal and completely out of control. I wouldn't go back on the meds and suffered for 3 months from the worst bipolar episode I've ever had. Please do not put your experiences out there as normal. Chances are if you "cured your bipolar" through diet and exercise, you aren't actually bipolar.
  • sarahkatara
    sarahkatara Posts: 826 Member
    I have to say:

    I have had Bipolar disorder my entire life, I was diagnosed at 18

    After trying several different combinations of meds, (abilify, depakote, wellbutrin and several others) I realized that I hated the Zombie feeling I got from them. I had small children at the time and I never wanted to play with them or spend time with them; I just wanted to sleep.
    My doctor's advice:
    more meds

    No. I put my foot down and I went off my meds after a long talk with my doc. For the last 6 years, I have been unmedicated successfully and monitored closely by my psych doctor.

    I spent a year on meds while I was pregnant with my son 3 years ago (the pregnancy did a doozy on me and my doc recommended I resume medication until after birth) and havent had anything since.

    Do I recommend this for anyone else? No. It may not work for others, but it definitely works for me.

    I learned to recognize cues and I work with my psych doctor and my therapist and I havent needed the meds. I know that if my condition worsens or if I feel too "out of sorts" that I will need to be medicated again until I regain control.

    Diet and exercise have definitely helped me throughout this process.

    I always recommend that if you have a doctor that is willing to work with you, then be open, honest with them and make sure that the method of treatment (medication or otherwise) will be sufficient.

    Really great advice! Everyone is different. You made some great points and I am glad you are not opposed to medical help when you need it!
  • sarahkatara
    sarahkatara Posts: 826 Member
    I take Lamictal (Lamotrigine) for my Bi-Polar II condition. I have not gained any weight on this drug, as a matter of fact I lost some weight. But I regained 12 lbs belly fat through my own fault, eating big yummy Jumbo Drumsticks and McDonald's Oreo McFlurrys. My Shrink who controls my meds told me I have an incurable disease due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, he also told me I was born this way, but I can live a good life on a stable medication and vitamin regimen plus exercise to help with my self esteem. I attempted suicide and damn near succeeded, and that can't be fixed by diet. I was miss diagnosed for 15 years with simple depression and I went the entire cycle of anti depressants 5 different times. After 6 months they would stop working so my doctors (internist) would change it up to another one. After the 5th go around, I was referred to a shrink, who saw it for what it was and once on Lamotrigine and tweaking the dosage to where I am now my bi-polar is under control. I do have a motivation problems though, but I make myself go out of the house, exercise, and do things to keep me active. Exercise and activity is good for this. ,Just keep you chin up, things will get better.

    Thanks for sharing this story. I can definitely relate and this- "My Shrink who controls my meds told me I have an incurable disease due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, he also told me I was born this way, but I can live a good life on a stable medication and vitamin regimen plus exercise to help with my self esteem"- is so completely true.
  • LaGioconda57
    LaGioconda57 Posts: 9
    I don't think the meds do that. Youre probably eating way too much.
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    Yes, they make you gain weight. Most of them give you that ravenous hunger that is extremely difficult to satisfy. It can be controlled, but it can be a rocky adjustment period. There is one called Geodon that actually makes you lose weight, but I am not sure if they still prescribe it. This is my issue with psych meds. Every week there is a problem and a lawsuit against a different one. I have 3 psychiatrists in my family, so I get a lot of therapy that I don't need and never asked for. Lol.
  • JennyLisT
    JennyLisT Posts: 402 Member
    Honestly, being properly medicated has helped me lose weight. I would not have been able to develop such a functional routine before I got my meds sorted out. I currently take 1200 mg of lithium carbonate extended release, and my weight gain occurred before everything else fell into place.

    Rapid cycling is hell for healthy eating and exercise. And sleep. And just about everything else.
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    You can cure Bipolar with diet.

    ^^^ Not this - don't stop taking medication without consulting a doctor

    I would agree with previous posters about the SSRI drugs making a person lethargic or unmotivated. Workout and diet can help by naturally increasing seratonin but it's not the end all, be all for everyone.

    Agreed. Also coming off of bipolar meds is accompanied by some withdrawals, and sometimes it isn't pretty.
  • MrsYoungIII
    MrsYoungIII Posts: 41 Member
    I have been on 1600mg of Lithium (Priadel) for well over a year now. It suits me just fine with no side effects. I never noticed if the weight gain was due to the medication or me bingeing again. I saw my pdoc today as I have started to cycle again. He wants to add a medication. Another mood stabilser or something like Quetiapine (which I took before and made me worse). He is sending me info on both so I can decide for myself. I just needed to hear that although some meds may make you hungrier it can be managed by healthy eating and exercise - which is what I am doing! Thanks a lot! :)

    I am on the Lithium. This is my 2nd time on it. My first time the Dr just kept increasing the Lithium and I had horrible side effects and gained over 50 pounds. It's been about 11 or 12yrs since my first attempt taking Lithium. I had 2 children blah blah blah my body completely changed and none of the other meds would work. I have a different Dr now whom doesn't bump my dosages unless my levels and my moods are showing that I need it. Since starting it in Jan. I gained 15 pounds but I'm 100% sure that was my emotional eating. I've lost it since I've been on MFP. I try to drink between 8-12 glasses of water a day. Being that Lithium is a sodium it can cause major water retention which I get often if I go over the sodium or don't drink enough. Wanna talk more feel free to message me. :)
  • musycnlyrics
    musycnlyrics Posts: 323 Member
    I have to say:

    I have had Bipolar disorder my entire life, I was diagnosed at 18

    After trying several different combinations of meds, (abilify, depakote, wellbutrin and several others) I realized that I hated the Zombie feeling I got from them. I had small children at the time and I never wanted to play with them or spend time with them; I just wanted to sleep.
    My doctor's advice:
    more meds

    No. I put my foot down and I went off my meds after a long talk with my doc. For the last 6 years, I have been unmedicated successfully and monitored closely by my psych doctor.

    I spent a year on meds while I was pregnant with my son 3 years ago (the pregnancy did a doozy on me and my doc recommended I resume medication until after birth) and havent had anything since.

    Do I recommend this for anyone else? No. It may not work for others, but it definitely works for me.

    I learned to recognize cues and I work with my psych doctor and my therapist and I havent needed the meds. I know that if my condition worsens or if I feel too "out of sorts" that I will need to be medicated again until I regain control.

    Diet and exercise have definitely helped me throughout this process.

    I always recommend that if you have a doctor that is willing to work with you, then be open, honest with them and make sure that the method of treatment (medication or otherwise) will be sufficient.

    Really great advice! Everyone is different. You made some great points and I am glad you are not opposed to medical help when you need it!

    Meds have saved my life on more than one occasion. The key for me was to recognize that this is a lifelong condition and that taking meds do not make me weak or less of a person; armed with that information, I have been able to stay unmedicated successfully
  • Gkfrkv
    Gkfrkv Posts: 120
    If it's a side-effect (which it sounds like) you should talk to your doctor about it.
  • starfire12345
    starfire12345 Posts: 7 Member
    I went through almost the same experience before I was diagnosed with being Bi-polar. Numerous rounds and cocktails of antidepressants. I'm also on Lamictal now and I love it! it works so well for me. Although I have gained about 10 lbs since this whole debacle of meds, hopefully I will loose it soon.
  • Gkfrkv
    Gkfrkv Posts: 120
    I have to say:

    I have had Bipolar disorder my entire life, I was diagnosed at 18

    After trying several different combinations of meds, (abilify, depakote, wellbutrin and several others) I realized that I hated the Zombie feeling I got from them. I had small children at the time and I never wanted to play with them or spend time with them; I just wanted to sleep.
    My doctor's advice:
    more meds

    No. I put my foot down and I went off my meds after a long talk with my doc. For the last 6 years, I have been unmedicated successfully and monitored closely by my psych doctor.

    I spent a year on meds while I was pregnant with my son 3 years ago (the pregnancy did a doozy on me and my doc recommended I resume medication until after birth) and havent had anything since.

    Do I recommend this for anyone else? No. It may not work for others, but it definitely works for me.

    I learned to recognize cues and I work with my psych doctor and my therapist and I havent needed the meds. I know that if my condition worsens or if I feel too "out of sorts" that I will need to be medicated again until I regain control.

    Diet and exercise have definitely helped me throughout this process.

    I always recommend that if you have a doctor that is willing to work with you, then be open, honest with them and make sure that the method of treatment (medication or otherwise) will be sufficient.

    You did it the right way, you talked to your doctor and you did it monitored by medical professionals. And you're not saying that you are cured.
  • sarahkatara
    sarahkatara Posts: 826 Member
    I've been on most of the bipolar meds; if I list them I'll be typing until morning. Depakote and Seroquel are the worst for weight gain. I was always skinny, went through rounds of different bipolar meds and didn't have trouble with weight until I started taking Depakote and Seroquel 10 years ago. Then I stopped taking them because both the doctor and I wanted to see if I really had bipolar disorder-I lost the weight (through healthy eating and exercise). Unfortunately, I became severely ill again (confirming the diagnosis), and I did not want to go back on the meds that made me fat, but nothing else worked for me. I'm back on them, and I blew up again--this time I put on nearly 50 pounds in 4 months, it was utterly ridiculous how fast the weight poured onto me and I was devastated. Anyone who says that it's your fault you are gaining weight while you are on these meds can suck it-they don't have a clue. If anyone can keep their weight down through sheer willpower of healthy eating and exercise, it's me-.and I haven't been able to drop one pound, despite 8 months of hard work exercising. I literally could not stop eating, the meds made it impossible. My family doctor, in coordination with my shrink, has put me on a daily half-dose of Phentermine, as I now have pre-diabetes and thyroid issues due to these miserable meds. I cannot stop taking Depakote and Seroquel-stopping bipolar meds is a no-no, and you can't manage bipolar through diet and exercise, I tried that route and made myself so sick I nearly ended up in the hospital. I resisted taking Phen for many months, I DO NOT LIKE the idea of a pill, but the doctor was adamant that I need a diet aid, I have too many evils against me to lose weight on my own. So far, the Phen is not killing my appetite, but it's making it normal, so I don't want to eat an elephant every 5 minutes! I get hungry when I should get hungry, and I'm able to eat healthy foods and stop after one serving. I am losing weight, but I worry about when I have to go off the Phen, I'm afraid the Depakote and Seroquel will sabotage me and I'll just gain it all back again. It's really a vicious circle.

    I'm so sorry to read about your experience with Seroquel and Depakote. Those are the two medications that work for me consistently. If I miss even two days of one of these medications, I immediately notice a difference in my mood/ability to cope. I agree that you cannot fully control bipolar with diet & exercise but it's important to remember It does help keep your moods even! My (amazing) pysch doc has always told me, "Sarah, you need to lead a boring life." What he means by this is not that I need to deprive or limit myself in life, but that I need to concentrate on the following: getting plenty of sleep; not abusing alcohol/drugs, exercise for the endorphins and for keeping my body healthy so my mind can be healthy too; eat good foods because low-quality food makes me feel slow, fatigued, and heavy, even if i'm not overweight; keep the main things in life predictable and reliable (by following a schedule, etc) so that my brain doesn't get overloaded and when things do happen out of the ordinary, I have the strength to deal with it; ASK FOR HELP; etc etc. I love my life. It have fun, I stay active and healthy, but I respect my limits. I know that I can definitely go out and party hard once in awhile- but I can't do that multiple times per week and I have to make sure I have time to recuperate afterwards. It's about forethought and planning.
    It sucks to hear about the thyroid/diabetes problems the meds have caused. I never considered that my hypothyroidism could b related to medications, but it's certainly a possibility. Are you taking anything for your thyroid, like Synthroid?
  • sarahkatara
    sarahkatara Posts: 826 Member
    Would anyone be interested in a new bipolar group to receive/give support? The response to this topic surprises me and makes me so glad to see others who know what i'm going through! I created a group awhile ago but it never got off the ground. I would really love if everyone joined and maybe we can have a little support group :)http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10405-bipolar-disorder-support
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    I'm sure that this is not the advice that you are looking for but here goes....

    You can cure Bipolar with diet. I did. Plus binge eating disorder, severe anxiety, and a long list of very serious phsyical illnesses. Malnutrition, which can occur even when one is eating too much, has many effects on our body. The brain is especially impacted by poor nutrition and inadequate healthy dietary fat.

    (Yes, I have been on a bunch of meds and suffered many effects from them. I also just "toughed" it out for years and years and don't know how I survived.)

    Oh, the weight loss issue (but I'm not on meds)-please see my ticker below. Lost the weight, and still losing, without craving or struggling with hunger. If you are curious about what I am up to feel free to read my profile and food diary.

    Bipolar can never be cured if it is a true diagnosis. It is for life, and it can only be managed.
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    Several of my medications for my bi-polar did cause weight gain. The truth of the matter is that I have to see it as part of the trade-off, elsewise I won't want to stay on my meds.

    I'd rather lose weight more slowly than go insane very quickly.

    At least that's how I have to think of it. I did read that a medication that puts on a 10% weight increase can be considered an adverse reaction to meds, so thats always something to keep in mind when discussing with your doctor.
  • JennyLisT
    JennyLisT Posts: 402 Member
    I'd rather lose weight more slowly than go insane very quickly.

    I have been known to say something similar.
  • DivaLuvsDisney
    DivaLuvsDisney Posts: 75 Member
    I was diagnosed as Bipolar II in 2005. I used to be on all kinds of medicinal cocktails to keep me stable and have been hospitalized three times. Right now I only take 200mg of Seroquel at night. I want to throttle people that give out misinformation like "it can be cured with diet". THERE IS NO CURE!!! However, over the past year I've learned to better manage my symptoms through diet and exercise. I've discovered just by logging foods in MFP and keeping track of my moods that certain things in my diet were triggers for me. I do much better if I avoid processed foods since the chemicals in them seem to have an effect on me. I don't think I ever would have made the connection had I not wanted to lose a few vanity pounds. Going to the gym is one of my favorite times of the day now. I usually suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, but last winter I made it through just fine and I really think it's because I was eating better and exercising. I'm thankful to have found MFP!

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