Possibly Bipolar warned about weight gain

passenger79
passenger79 Posts: 257 Member
edited November 19 in Health and Weight Loss
Sooo...I 've struggled with anxiety and depression for a very long time. Year and a half ago I finally went to gp and been on 5 different meds with not much difference and she has recently referred me to mental health team they contacted me today nurse is wanting me to see pdoc asap and said she wants to start me on mood stabilizers and they are likely to cause weight gain. Now I already piled 20 pounds while feeling *kitten* I lost a couple,I'm logging on MFP and exercising some days are harder than others work full time too. I'm also hypo but it's not a pity me post. I'm looking for advice from people that have been on antipsychotic or epilepsy drugs she suggested and what are my chances to keep losing? I know tablets don't magically make you put on weight but feeling like I am day to day makes it alot harder. I'm running my first 5k tomorrow I want to make this work just drugs she mentioned do scare me as I have no idea what ll do to me. Please be kind this is all very new to me and I am worried.

Replies

  • Panda8ach
    Panda8ach Posts: 518 Member
    I've been on Antidepressants and anti epilepsy drugs for a long time now... Agree with @elphie754 they do increase your appetite! I'm 45 days in and I'm losing weight :) It can be done... Feels like another struggle until you start to see/feel the difference and then it really is a mood booster :#
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,565 Member
    edited June 2017
    I've been on quetiapine (seroquel) and lamotrigine (lamictal) for over 7 years now. I've gained and lost weight while taking them. In my case I did notice an increase in hunger in the beginning (more like that feeling of never being satiated), but after a while it went away and didn't have any impact on my eating habits. Like Psychgrrl said above, being aware and having a plan is the way to go.

    eta: The mood stabilizers made all the difference in my quality of life, and allowed me the space and concentration to do the work I needed to do to be able to live my life in the moment instead of fixating on past failures and stressing about the future to the point of being unable to make even small decisions.
  • jennybearlv
    jennybearlv Posts: 1,519 Member
    As long as I log every bite I lose. If I don't I gain. Some drugs are worse about increasing your appetite or causing lethargy and demotivation than others so do bring up your concerns with your doctor. Mine was happy to work with me towards finding a more weight neutral AAP and as long as I log and exercise regularly the weight just falls off.
  • passenger79
    passenger79 Posts: 257 Member
    Thanks everyone this really helps. Day has gone bad to worse so it's great to hear some positives.
  • VintageFeline
    VintageFeline Posts: 6,771 Member
    I also was on quetiapine, it's especially notorious for weight gain but it's the lethargy and increased appetite doing it. I started losing while I was on it. Now I'm on lamotrigine and it didn't do anything to my appetite.

    As said, as long as you keep track of your intake the meds will have no impact on your weight.

    And good luck! I'm only 3 years post diagnosis, it's a long old road figuring out what works, what combo etc.
  • RosieRose7673
    RosieRose7673 Posts: 438 Member
    I'll echo what everyone else has said- watch what you eat and it won't be a problem.

    I'm on lamotrigine currently and haven't noticed an increase in appetite. I have also been on abilify, geodon, topamax (briefly) and a flurry of anti depressants and sleep aids. To be honest, I don't recall feeling any hungrier than usual but some did give me some extreme fatigue.

    Regardless, I've gained and lost weight on these meds. When I've gained, it definitely can be attributed to me just not caring about food choices and enjoying high calorie foods frequently. Not due to any specific medication or them making me hungrier.
  • jlscherme
    jlscherme Posts: 157 Member
    I've been on many different combinations of APs, ADs and mood stabilizers. Some I've gained, others I lost. But as others here have already pointed out, being aware of what you are eating and how much is the biggest factor in whether you will gain.

    You should definitely ask your pdoc for a weight neutral med. APs to ask about: Geodon, Saphris, Abilify... ADs: Wellbutrin. Mood stabilizers: Lamictal, Topiramate.

    I just started Lithium myself, along with Abilify. Within this month alone I've gained 7-8 lbs, but its probably water weight as Lithium is a salt element. Recently the more water I drink, the more water weight seems to be getting pushed out.
  • markrgeary1
    markrgeary1 Posts: 853 Member
    MY wife put in 45 pounds after being put on them. Her doc told her she would gain.

    Then a few years later we changed what, how much we ate and she lost the 45 and 15 more. Her doc was shocked.

    For her CICO worked perfectly. Good luck.
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