what was the most you gained due to medication, which was it and how did you lose it... if you have ?

[iamjustme]

seroquel caused me to put on 45lbs. i'm really unhappy with this. the dose is lowered, meds adjusted, and i'm eager to lose this but feeling powerless. 

Edited March 8, 2014 by iamjustme

[Wooster]

I gained about 40 pounds while on slurroquel. I'm grateful the med was there when I needed it.

 

Over the last 4 years, I have been on the "slow and steady" path to changing my eating habits. I have lost about 25 pounds and have not gained any of it back.

 

What has been working for me is increasing my whole grains, decreasing refined grains, eating more fruits and vegetables and more beans, nuts and seeds, and less meat and cheese (but not none), setting clear goals about how much physical activity I want, and as obnoxious as it is sometimes, logging all my food.

 

I've taken extended breaks of several months at a time and haven't gained any weight back because I've been working hard at retraining myself to understand what reasonable portions look like, and especially distinguishing between when I'm "mouth hungry" (emotional eating) vs "belly hungry" (true hunger).

 

All the research I've done about AAP-associated weight gain says the same thing: tracking your food intake and metformin can both be effective when done separately or together, but tracking your food intake is the thing that works best for most people and has the benefit of no drug interactions or side effects.

 

ETA: I don't do anything weird or restrictive. I eat everything... for example, I just had some chocolate chip cookies that I made. My trick has been to create a slow but steady and manageable caloric deficit. There's no magic answer except persistence, and starting over again and again when I get off track.

[tryp]

To be honest, I gained probably 30 pounds on Seroquel (which I was on for four years) and immediately lost at least 20 pounds of it as soon as I stopped the medication.  I was surprised - I think that I was exceptionally lucky in that respect.

[jt07]

It's difficult to tell because I naturally have a slow metabolism and can't eat as much as others eat without gaining weight. I would guess around 30 pounds. I actually lost weight on the combination of risperidone + Wellbutrin, but I couldn't handle the side effects of Wellbutrin to stay on it.

[iamjustme]

thank you. all.

[iamjustme]

i'd really like to go off seroquel completely, and all of your suggestions seem like they can be integrated. i'm down on the dosage, but i'd really like to be on something else or maybe nothing at all if it means this much gain. i just don't want to be on seroquel any longer for the weight gain and the zombification effect it has had.

 

and yes, i was grateful for what it did for me when i needed lots of help with mania, but i'd like to change things and hopefully say goodbye at this point. 45lbs. is just too much for me.

[mjs190]

100 mg of Seroquel XR caused me to gain about 6 or 7 pounds. Minimal.

Edited March 8, 2014 by mjs190

[melissaw72]

I started a major weight gain on clozaril.  After that the weight just piled on.  Then my hip broke, and had 3 surgeries, and with the overeating and being inside for a long time I gained about 75 pounds.  Fortunately I have been able to lose some of that since then, but it took naltrexone to really help me out with that.

 

 

ETA:  I meant to mention that getting off clozaril within a month of taking it never made the enormous appetite go away.  That was why I needed the naltrexone, and still do now.

Edited March 8, 2014 by melissaw72

[Level_With_Me]

I gained 100lbs while on Seroquel give or take a few lbs. The way I got through the weight gain was first to get off the med. It is really a mind-control thing though. It's the medicine making you hungry, but you are the one choosing to overeat or eat unhealthy. I don't think that was your question though. You should be able to control your hunger better by becoming more active. I know it must be hard while on Seroquel, but you can do it. I lost 50 lbs of what I gained by just eating less. Now if I can just clean up my diet ...........

[nanna]

Hmm.. gained 30-40kg over few years partly due to different medications and partly because of the heavy depression period (which got quite a bit worse maybe because the meds were not exactly doing their job).

Been able to lose about 16kg of that in the past six months while on bupropion, both because of its effect on the appetite and because I've been able to be a bit more active.

[burial]

i've gained 20kgs with zyprexa

[rowan77]

Abilify weight neutral

I gained about 20lbs on Risperdal

I gained 40 lbs when I took Zyprexa (over 6 months I think)

I gained about 40lbs on Seroquel and because my cholesterol was high we decided I should go off it, bad move, became manic so Pdoc  decided I should go back on Seroquel as it is the AAP that works best for me and because  I was more aware of potential side effects I was pro-active in eating well and exercising. I joined a slimming club which really helped and keep a food diary. It is possible to lose weight on a AAP, it just requires a lot more effort. It has taken me almost 2 years to lose 30 lbs. I am still taking Seroquel and slowly losing weight. I always believed that I was doomed to a life of obesity whilst taking certain medications but that's not true. It's tough but it can be done

[lysergia]

there's about an 80 pound weight difference between my lowest and highest weights over the last ten years, with every fluctuation due to med changes (and some variation of activity level i'm sure).  the worst med for gaining was risperdal, followed by zyprexa and seroquel.  i've gained on latuda, and am very unhappy with it.  my heart goes out to all of us struggling with being in control of the size of our bodies.

[Wonderful.Cheese]

I've gained close to 80 lbs due to taking zyprexa long term. Not cool. And now I am on seroquel and cannot lose the weight. Ugh.

[iamjustme]

thanks for the time and replies. it makes me feel better i'm not alone.

[MisterJoshua]

I gained 50 while on abilify. I have now switched to geodon and have managed to lose ten pounds over four months. I think I have managed to lose what I've lost so far by joining a gym and going at least three times a week. It has been painfully slow going.

[iamjustme]

i hear you on the 'painfully slow going.' it seems no matter what my outlook is, the meds have slowed my metabolism down, and that's just a fact. not an excuse, but a fact. so to eat less is going to be really important, i just can't take in the same calories i could at one point.

[iamjustme]

all valid points, still ...it just crept up on me. my motivation is very low so i think the best i can do is reduce my portion size and just suffer, because food is one of the things on a very short list of things i actually enjoy.

[Wooster]

I know it's hard when you're feeling crap, but you could eat the same, or even possibly more by adding physical activity... even 15 minutes of walking.

[lisa2712]

I've been on Seroquel XR 100 mg for about 2 months and my parents have noticed that I've been gaining weight. I notice I crave sweets on this med, and it was  worse when I was on 150 mg. I read that a woman on Seroquel XR had to cut out sugar and carbs from her diet on this med, and she actually became healthier by doing this, and I just started doing this also, because I can't keep gaining weight. I'm also on Weight Watchers ( I don't go to meetings, but I still try to follow it), and we are encouraged to write down everything we eat on WW, along with it's WW points. 

 

My advice is to join Weight Watchers, and cut out (or drastically decrease) carbs and sugar from your diet. This med makes me lose control when it comes to eating sugar, so I should try to avoid it. Yesterday I told myself I would have 1 medium slice of cake (which would have been ok), but before I knew it I ate almost the entire cake.

[iamjustme]

i've been walking, and slowly cutting back on calories. thanks for the input and encouragement from you all.

[Horizons]

My doctor was impressed that I'd only gained 4 pounds in 2 months of treatment with Zyprexa. I have noticed my current combo making me crave junk, though, but I'm aware of the side-effect and am getting control over it. Not being too anxious and depressed to exercise hard helps a lot.

[domovoi]

i have been taking seroquel, both XR and IR for about 7 years in doses ranging from 200 to 800 mg per day. it's a wonder drug for me. i gained about 40-50 lbs on it. in the end i had to stop because i got hepatic steatosis from it (fatty liver disease). fatty liver is reversible with diet and exercise. but for various reasons i cannot exercise so i just have to watch my diet. but watching the diet is only part of the picture, so i lost about 10 lbs maybe but that's it. i'm trying to start exercising now but i have been very sick with my bipolar ever since i stopped the 'quel. 

[Stars]

Depokote or Ascendin ( from the early 80's ) and Seoquel. I have taken Zyprexa for brief periods and it causes me to eat until I could almost vomit.  I only use it for emergencies.

[melissaw72]

seroquel caused me to put on 45lbs. i'm really unhappy with this. the dose is lowered, meds adjusted, and i'm eager to lose this but feeling powerless. 

 

I know I've mentioned this before somewhere but have you tried naltrexone?  It is a med for addictions, so you still get hungry, you just don't constantly eat and think about food all the time.

[Planking]

Gained 100lbs breasts and a pot belly ris/thora

[exl2398]

I gained 83lbs on risperdal. Fuck that drug.

[J718]

10 pounds on Abilify, which isn't much but I'm short and it really shows. It's also been a big setback depression-wise because body image used to be a major issue for me. I find myself crying a lot. I have a personal training certification and am a total health nut but nothing has gotten the weight off. I've considered switching to Latuda--anyone had any luck with that?

[malachite]

Between Seroquel, Risperdal and Abilify (in succession) I gained between 40 and 50 lbs. When I went off AAPs, I lost over 35 lbs. (with light exercise and better diet too). It sort of melted away.

[anon0422]

I only gained 10lbs when I was on a higher dose of Zyprexa. Of course, I was only on it for about a month, so...

[mcjimjam]

I gained about 20kg/40lbs on Zyprexa. I lost it as a side effect of a two month meth binge. I don't recommend that just to be clear.

More recently I gained 10kg/20lbs on Lyrica, which I am yet to lose.

[lisa2712]

I gained at least 30 lbs on Seroquel XR 100 mg. I didn't keep track. I was on it for about 6 months. I was trying to follow Weight Watchers on Seroquel XR but I had trouble keeping on the points on the medication. When I would eat my daily point given, I would still feel famished, like I barely had eaten all day. Recently, I heard my mother crying to my father about how scared she is for me, because I kept gaining weight on  Seroquel XR and she noticed my weight gain more than I did. Also, I was obese before I even went on Seroquel XR. I recently went to a new psychiatrist and he was concerned about my obesity and my weight gain on Seroquel so he's taking me off it. He told me Seroquel XR is one of the worst medications for weight gain.

[nonuser]

Um, 40-50 lbs overall on Abilify, but how much of it was due to the med I'm not sure.  I've been on it since September of 2013.

 

I am currently weaning off it.  The weight gain is dangerous for me since I have a history of gestational diabetes.

Edited August 4, 2014 by larali

[OliverB]

60 pounds after 2 years of AP and AD. I have lost 50.

[exl2398]

82lbs

[robotxd]

10 pounds on Abilify, which isn't much but I'm short and it really shows. It's also been a big setback depression-wise because body image used to be a major issue for me. I find myself crying a lot. I have a personal training certification and am a total health nut but nothing has gotten the weight off. I've considered switching to Latuda--anyone had any luck with that?

I personally did the switch from Abilify to Latuda and lost about 10 pounds in a matter of a few days.

 

I think my result is atypical, but who knows, it might work for you.

[Schizophrenic_Sanity]

I gained damn close to 100 pounds on seroquel.  I was only able to lose the weight by getting off of it.  I tried exercising and eating healthy the whole time I was on it, but I gained all of that weight anyway.  Fuck that noise.  

[dancingteapot]

Another Seroquel victim here. Gained about 80lbs at maximum. I'm off it now but still struggle with weight.

[Flash]

I gained about 40 pounds while on slurroquel. I'm grateful the med was there when I needed it.

Over the last 4 years, I have been on the "slow and steady" path to changing my eating habits. I have lost about 25 pounds and have not gained any of it back.

What has been working for me is increasing my whole grains, decreasing refined grains, eating more fruits and vegetables and more beans, nuts and seeds, and less meat and cheese (but not none), setting clear goals about how much physical activity I want, and as obnoxious as it is sometimes, logging all my food.

I've taken extended breaks of several months at a time and haven't gained any weight back because I've been working hard at retraining myself to understand what reasonable portions look like, and especially distinguishing between when I'm "mouth hungry" (emotional eating) vs "belly hungry" (true hunger).

All the research I've done about AAP-associated weight gain says the same thing: tracking your food intake and metformin can both be effective when done separately or together, but tracking your food intake is the thing that works best for most people and has the benefit of no drug interactions or side effects.

ETA: I don't do anything weird or restrictive. I eat everything... for example, I just had some chocolate chip cookies that I made. My trick has been to create a slow but steady and manageable caloric deficit. There's no magic answer except persistence, and starting over again and again when I get off track.

The problem is that some of these AAPs, like Zyprexa, can cause weight gain in the absence of increased consumption. My pdoc said, "Yeah, it's the weirdest thing." Only it's not. The calories in vs. calories burned model is seriously flawed and is not how our bodies work. It's largely a hormone-driven process, and a calorie is not a calorie. Edited August 24, 2014 by Flash

[melissaw72]

FWIW, I found this ... not from the best source of info, but it is interesting to think about:

 

http://thelastpsychiatrist.com/2010/10/zyprexa_and_fat.html

[Flash]

Good info. I'm so glad zyprexa works so well for me that I can take it only when I need it.

[smac84]

I have gained 45-50 lbs since being on my antipsychotics.  That was almost 2 years ago and I am struggling every day to try and lose the weight... I feel like I am fighting an uphill battle

[Flash]

I gained 100lbs while on Seroquel give or take a few lbs. The way I got through the weight gain was first to get off the med. It is really a mind-control thing though. It's the medicine making you hungry, but you are the one choosing to overeat or eat unhealthy. I don't think that was your question though. You should be able to control your hunger better by becoming more active. I know it must be hard while on Seroquel, but you can do it. I lost 50 lbs of what I gained by just eating less. Now if I can just clean up my diet ...........

It does not take overheating for one to grain weight on some of these AAPs. Big food/big ag/big pharma would have you believe that it's all,calories in vs. calories burned. It is far from that simple. It is well known that a drug like zyprexa can cause significant weight gain on an isocaloric diet. That's because if your hormones tell your body to store fat, that's what your body is gonna do.

[thickntired]

I gained 100lbs while on Seroquel give or take a few lbs. The way I got through the weight gain was first to get off the med. It is really a mind-control thing though. It's the medicine making you hungry, but you are the one choosing to overeat or eat unhealthy. I don't think that was your question though. You should be able to control your hunger better by becoming more active. I know it must be hard while on Seroquel, but you can do it. I lost 50 lbs of what I gained by just eating less. Now if I can just clean up my diet ...........

I spent over a year walking 25 miles a week, doing Pilates, eating a healthy non-starvation diet while taking 100 mg of Seroquel a night. I gained and plateaued at the highest weight I have ever been in my life. After going off Seroquel, I have been able to lose weight.

[Flash]

I gained 100lbs while on Seroquel give or take a few lbs. The way I got through the weight gain was first to get off the med. It is really a mind-control thing though. It's the medicine making you hungry, but you are the one choosing to overeat or eat unhealthy. I don't think that was your question though. You should be able to control your hunger better by becoming more active. I know it must be hard while on Seroquel, but you can do it. I lost 50 lbs of what I gained by just eating less. Now if I can just clean up my diet ...........

I spent over a year walking 25 miles a week, doing Pilates, eating a healthy non-starvation diet while taking 100 mg of Seroquel a night. I gained and plateaued at the highest weight I have ever been in my life. After going off Seroquel, I have been able to lose weight. this link shows the weight gain risk of various AAPs: http://portal.mah.harvard.edu/cms/content/B7ACBE692D3340DD9CD308883BC9750B/0C73553EBE7948B3B872B93F77A49126.pdf

[melissaw72]

^^Great link!  Thanks for posting it.

[Flash]

Alas, I cannot take credit for it. It's from one of those locked threads at the top.

[lilmisse]

I gained about 65 lbs on a mix of abilify and seroquel over a course ofalmost 4 years. I've succesfully lost 60 of that with no diet involved thanks to geodon at 80mgs in 7 months.

[Gearhead]

25 pounds on Geodon. YMMV.

[schizocontemplative]

I've gained 40 lbs and I'm not sure exactly which medication it was that caused it. I think it might have been the Risperdal or the Depakote but I'm not sure which one.

[Cale]

 I've succesfully lost 60 of that with no diet involved thanks to geodon at 80mgs in 7 months.

<3 Geodon.

[crtclms]

Depakote made me lose 70 lbs, but for some reason, it suddenly stopped doing that, and I put the 70lbs back on fast. Gaining weight is far more common than losing, but that was my experience (loss, then gaining it back). This all happened while on Depakote, if I didn't make that clear.