do antipsychotics cause weight gain?

No. They don't "cause" weight gain. They might mess with your appetite a bit, but if you work to stay at your maintenance, you won't gain. Weigh out your food and log it to make sure you aren't eating at a calorie surplus.

Edited for typo

The antipsychotics don't themselves change the way you metabolize food. They may have some effects on your mood that might have side effects on your weight.

More importantly, your ocd and depression can make it hard to eat rationally. If you have a weight problem it will probably be from the illness. Sometimes as people's condition improves, some of their habits get worse--when they were depressed, they wanted a donut but it was too unthinkable to leave the house and actually get it. Once they start to improve, they have the energy to get the donut. So you can see how a person could transiently have worse eating habits as they are climbing out of a well of depression.

"Psychosis" in a medical sense doesn't mean what it does in common usage. People tend to think "psycho killer", but what it really means is difficulty in testing which thoughts or perceptions are true and which are false. So a person can have "depression with psychotic features"--be out of touch with reality--because their mood is so dark that their perception of the world seems totally divorced from the consensus reality. The neurochemistry of severe depression can also cause hallucinations and illusions. So it's not uncommon for docs to throw a mild, modern antipsychotic into the regimen for a depressed person.

I hope you feel better soon. If you are able to stick to your diet plan you should have results similar to everyone else, but your illnesses might make it hard for you to recognize or believe that you are succeeding at a normal pace.

I hope you also have counseling with your meds. Bring this up with your counselor and they may be able to help you stay on track with your diet.

There is anecdotal evidence that low-carb diets help some schizophrenics maintain remission while on their drugs--avoid breakthrough psychotic events. It's unclear whether this would be true for other conditions like depression, but I mention it because it suggests diet can interact with your illness or with your meds to affect your mental health results. As you diet, be alert to whether biasing your diet toward a particular macro-nutrient has effects on your mental health. If a particular strategy (eg: low carb, low fat, vegan...) makes your illness worse then try a different one.

The antipsychotics don't themselves change the way you metabolize food. They may have some effects on your mood that might have side effects on your weight.

More importantly, your ocd and depression can make it hard to eat rationally. If you have a weight problem it will probably be from the illness. Sometimes as people's condition improves, some of their habits get worse--when they were depressed, they wanted a donut but it was too unthinkable to leave the house and actually get it. Once they start to improve, they have the energy to get the donut. So you can see how a person could transiently have worse eating habits as they are climbing out of a well of depression.

"Psychosis" in a medical sense doesn't mean what it does in common usage. People tend to think "psycho killer", but what it really means is difficulty in testing which thoughts or perceptions are true and which are false. So a person can have "depression with psychotic features"--be out of touch with reality--because their mood is so dark that their perception of the world seems totally divorced from the consensus reality. The neurochemistry of severe depression can also cause hallucinations and illusions. So it's not uncommon for docs to throw a mild, modern antipsychotic into the regimen for a depressed person.

I hope you feel better soon. If you are able to stick to your diet plan you should have results similar to everyone else, but your illnesses might make it hard for you to recognize or believe that you are succeeding at a normal pace.

I hope you also have counseling with your meds. Bring this up with your counselor and they may be able to help you stay on track with your diet.

There is anecdotal evidence that low-carb diets help some schizophrenics maintain remission while on their drugs--avoid breakthrough psychotic events. It's unclear whether this would be true for other conditions like depression, but I mention it because it suggests diet can interact with your illness or with your meds to affect your mental health results. As you diet, be alert to whether biasing your diet toward a particular macro-nutrient has effects on your mental health. If a particular strategy (eg: low carb, low fat, vegan...) makes your illness worse then try a different one.

very well said!

Sorry about the layout of my response, half of my keyboard doesn't work.

They may make you retain water but they don't create a reflex that forces you to put food in your mouth against your will.

with various mental health illnesses come various symptoms including;
low energy
poor appetite or increase
poor sleep or increase
increased energy

my point is don't rush to point the finger at the medication if it's also helping your illness because some issues may hve been pre-existing. maintain your calorie intake diary and if after a few weeks you're still gaining despite maintaining your calorie allowance and exercise - then re think things,

No. They don't "cause" weight gain. They might mess with your appetite a bit, but if you work to stay at your maintenance, you won't gain. Weigh out your food and log it to make sure you aren't eating at a calorie surplus.

Edited for typo

^^^^ This drugs don't make you magically put fat on from nowhere. They can effect appetite and hunger signals and that will make you eat too much. So as with any weightloss its just a case of monitoring your calorie intake

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Give your doctor a call. Many people find it hard to manage their .weight on .zyprexa.

Yes, one of the worst side effects with Zyprexa is weight gain. And no, you don't have to be psychotic to have it prescribed. It's used a lot if a person is having problems focusing their thoughts as well.

But the weight gain - yeah, that's a problem.

Yes, one of the worst side effects with Zyprexa is weight gain. And no, you don't have to be psychotic to have it prescribed. It's used a lot if a person is having problems focusing their thoughts as well.

But the weight gain - yeah, that's a problem.

This.

zyprexa is notorious for weight gain. google "zyprexa" and the first thing that pops up is a list of symptoms, one of which is weight gain. I took it myself and also gained a lot, talk to your doc, there are other medications out there. Good luck to you!

I've been struggling for over a year to lose the 30+ pounds I gained from being on Depokote for just a few months. I hear you

you people are silly to blame drugs for your poor ability to monitor eating or stop yourself from overeating.

Take some accountability and responsibility and put the spoon down. Nothing makes you gain "actual" weight besides overeating. Nothing.

There are actually several ways to gain weight without overeating. Don't believe me let me introduce you to several doctors, mine as well as those of several family members. They will give you proof as to those ways, including not eating enough. I have always had healthy, whole foods, eating habits.While I don't always eat I, more often than not, eat very healthy, heavy on the veggies, meals. My weight gain was, in fact, due to the medication. I did not eat greater quantities, or less healthy, and I had a very physically demanding job. In fact I was probably eating less because I had less desire to cook and I HATE to eat out. Not to mention, I don't believe in microwave "cooking" as it does not yield edible food, in my opinion.

thank you all for your replies,what i failed to mention in my initial post is that i have been diagnosed by 2 different psychiatrists with a very serious psychiatric illness that i don't even want to mention because deep down inside,i know that i don't have it. i was previously on Haldol,Geodon and Abilify but all of those meds caused involuntary muscle movements. The Zyprexa has not caused me any of those issues,it's just that i am very very hungry all the time while on it.

I admit,i have not been eating the best..i eat microwave foods,frosted flakes cereal,potato chips,fried chicken,subway pastrami sandwiches and sometimes a Carl's JR burger. i also drink Cactus Cooler Soda. i live all alone and have no friends/family,and i can not cook so it is hard to me to diet properly. i feel depressed because all of my hard work is slowly being washed away.

2 years ago i was 298 lbs and i was down to 215 lbs 3 weeks ago. without my basketball sneakers on,i am 5'10.5 and i weigh 225 as of today but i still crave food all the time. i want to know,can i take Zyprexa and make my goal weight of 180 lbs. by next year? i am a fat person trapped inside a skinny person's body. my bones are long and thin but i love to eat. i feel like if i drank water and was a vegetarian,i could easily be 160 lbs. when i graduated HS i was 5'9 and 150..now i am 33 and i really just want to lose the abdominal fat and not be depressed and have OCD....thanks.

Yes, stop the soda and switch to water. That is the most important change you can make.
Several mechanisms in the body work with the antipsychotic to trigger intense hunger signals.
A small number of people can keep their weight down (or lose weight) by drastically cutting carbs and doing daily exercise, Otherwise, we now have studies that say that "tradition foods"( non processed stuff) helps with mental health.
Get enough sleep. Keep to a routine.
Talk to the pharmacist. Most times, they know more about the medications than the prescribing doctor does.