doctor and psychiatrist won't prescribe me metformin!

[sleepy borderline]

Today I went to go see my GP for a check up, I brought up metformin because I need to lose weight, and it's not coming off, like at all! I'm 20 pounds away from my goal weight

 

current medications are: Seroquel 50 mg

and Prozac 20 mg

 

I know it's the Seroquel causing me weight gain-- I have gained 30 pounds on it. I can't exercise as much as I used to since I have been on it because it slows me down and makes me more tired--- my Pdoc wants me to stay on Prozac b/c it has really killed my depression. I have no choice but to take these meds. The Seroquel is the ONLY drug I have tried so far ( out of many...) that has put me to sleep and kept me asleep.

 

I can't take Trazadone because it didn't work for me at all. Without Seroquel I can't sleep at all-- not a single hour!

 

I can't take Topamax because I was on that for years and it made me stupid

 

I can't take wellbutrin because I had a bad reaction to it when I was put on it a couple years ago..

 

So I'm stuck. When I asked my Pdoc for metoformin, she told me she didn't want to give it to me because it was used for diabetes or PCOS. So I have to get fatter and get diabetes first for it to be prescribed to me?

 

I exercise as hard as I can 4 days a week, I cut out all carbs, I eat ALL healthy foods and I'm starving and I still can't lose weight... not a pound. I'm sick of it. I'm SO mad. I had a friend who is on Zyprexa and ALREADY SKINNY get it prescribed to her! A lot of my friends get it prescribed to them and they don't even work out or try or eat healthy... It's not fair!!!!

 

Then I asked my GP today and she said NO too-- she said it was only used for diabetes and PCOS, parroting my what my Pdoc said. Is that true? Aren't there people on here who just take it for weight loss? I'm so MAD ... obesity runs in my family... my dad has the same problem... he has to eat under 1000 calories a day to even maintain his weight... WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SO UNFAIR! I already have PTSD from being teased ALL though school for being fat and I have BPD symptoms that make me sensitive to what other people think about me  and I had just lost 60 pounds by working out ALL THE TIME and eating perfect and then I have a relapse and had to go back on SEROQUEL after 5 years of being off of it and now this is happening to me! I am doomed to be FAT forever!

 

sorry if this post is long and I am ranting

[sleepy borderline]

Sorry again to rant --- I realize I might come off as whiny and insensitive in post -- sorry if I offended anyone... I am just so frustrated from trying to lose weight and I'm not losing anything-- I realize a lot of other members here struggle with their weight-- does anyone have any advice about what I should do?

 

I realize first I should rule out anything else that might be wrong-- I'll be getting my test results back from the GP office in a few days-- if it is normal what should I do then? See another GP about something to aid me in losing weight? Take an over the counter supplement? I don't want to give up on losing weight-- it's not just about looks but health too-- I am not too overweight right now but I don't want it to get worse ( I have been very overweight on and off my whole life)

 

Is Metaformin worth asking another GP about? I'd like to hear from other members who have taken it just for weight loss?

[Savannah]

I took metformin for weight lose due to anti-psychotics. It did not work at all.

Edited August 13, 2014 by Savannah

[dianthus]

Metformin isn't going to be a miracle drug-- it may help you lose a little bit, but in my experience and from what I've read, the benefits are subtle at best.

I found that a low carb (not no carb), high fat diet helped me the most along with exercise, but I still had to eat enough-- you can't starve yourself or you'll stop losing altogether. As well, you can still overeat on a low-carb diet, it's just harder to do so.

You may want to enlist the help of a nutritionist if the weight is being that stubborn coming off.

[sleepy borderline]

Thanks for the advice Dianthus, looking into a nutritionist is something that might work, and you are right about low carb and not no carb-- I think the lack of carbs ( and fats) and too much exercise is making me feel more irritable as well--- I haven't posted anything on CB in a while-- and when I do it's to rant about the injustice of med induced ( IMO) weight gain.

 

I also just thought about it some more and realized I would rather sleep on Seroquel and be stable -- mood wise -- then thinner and miserable and tired.

 

gaining weight ( or REALLY trying and not losing any) is just my hot button issue, I think, as someone who has struggled with past eating disordered behaviors. My parents both suffer with weight/eating issues and that combined with teasing from shallow classmates was what led to my first mental break.... it's holdover from issues I have been dealing with since high school...

[dianthus]

You cannot cut out fat when you cut out carbs. That will really fuck up your body. The high fat is what keeps your metabolism going. Having done all of these diets on and off meds to various success, that's my biggest piece of advice to you. You absolutely need fat in your diet for your brain and your body if you're cutting carbs drastically.

I have ED stuff going on, and I completely understand what you're going through. I have chosen sanity over being thin for now. It's fucking annoying and a shit decision to have to make. But such is life.

[Wooster]

I'm sorry you're frustrated, sleepy borderline.

 

Finding what works for you, whatever that is, is really important. All the information I read about AAP-associated weight gain said basically two things: track all of your food intake (weigh and measure EVERYTHING with a food scale and write it down) to help you meet intake goals (most effective), and metformin (less effective on its own, most effective in combination with #1).

 

I gained 40# on slurroquel and have been slowly losing it over the last 4 years. I've trained myself to eat differently and I'm not gaining weight back when I'm not actively tracking.

 

What helps me is a reasonable amount of carbs, but in the form of whole and unprocessed grains, increased vegetables (especially leafy greens and cruciferous) and fruits (especially berries and melons). Reducing refined sugars and processed anything. But also not eliminating any food all together. Portion control, moderation, and mostly healthy is what seems to be working for me as well as increasing my physical activity.

 

I did consult a nutritionist a couple times, and also took a college level nutrition course (for a different reason, but was still really informative). The nutritionist was ok, but I really found that I learned more from the class.

 

I hope you find what works for you.

[melissaw72]

 

You cannot cut out fat when you cut out carbs. That will really fuck up your body. The high fat is what keeps your metabolism going. Having done all of these diets on and off meds to various success, that's my biggest piece of advice to you. You absolutely need fat in your diet for your brain and your body if you're cutting carbs drastically.

 

^^THIS.

[saveyoursanity]

Also, I'm pretty sure metformin gave me (or accelerated) chronic diarrhea.  That is not a side effect you want to have.  Trust me.

[lysergia]

i understand your frustration.  i also was refused metformin and was pretty ticked about it.  i couldn't stop the weight gain except to virtually stop eating anything, and that was triggering my eating disorder stuff, but i didn't want to admit that either.

 

thankfully i'm off the latuda that was making me gain so much.  but i still continued to take seroquel for sleep, making weight loss possible but VERY slow and difficult.  it took me four months to lose eighteen pounds - and that was with a drastically increased level of exercise and the use of My Fitness Pal to track what i'm eating.  i'm learning to be more patient - when i was not on AAPs and starving myself the weight dropped off SO FAST.  it's not happening like that now.  but i'm also not sick and weak and mentally worse off - my new diet and exercise make me feel better, not worse.  so i guess slow and steady really is the way to go.

 

what i think helped more than anything was the exercise.  and i don't go to the gym or do anything complicated.  i have a few injuries that get in the way of doing anything too strenuous.  but i started walking every day (even when i hate it).  i do yoga at home via youtube whenever i can muster the motivation.  but that's it.  i noticed that when i stop walking, the scale stops going down.  so i have to keep moving.

 

the above advice re: carbs and fat is great.  as well as the idea of everything in moderation.

 

i hope you are able to take something from this thread that helps.  everyone needs to do things a little differently, i think, and i hope you find "your way" that works.

[JustDucky]

I struggled with weight gain as I too do not sleep without seroquel. I had MANY sleep studies and all of them pointed to very little REM sleep to NO REM sleep. Taking 25 milligrams at night has been a life saver however the side effects of seroquel really suck so I went looking for ways to workaround them

I found that that writing down everything I put in my mouth. We don't buy sugary drinks or junk food so it's not easily available

I went to see a nutritionist at the hospital where I work and she gave me ALOT of helpful strategies with dealing with food and my changing schedule

After 3 weeks of writing everything I had eaten for her review , she stated that she wasn't into these popular fad diets but that there was one that was nutritionally sound and that was " sugar busters" .

As a family this eating style has helped with all of the members of the family and we aren't hard core about it with the kids but it has resulted in everyone in the family losing weight which has really helped the self esteem of the kids

I walk an average of 3-5 miles a day at work . But we started walking as a family or riding bikes every night and we catch up with each other . When I am working the family continues to do this . I walk/ run every day I can between 3-5 miles . Believe me it started with walking to the end of the driveway and progressed from there. When I returned from afghan I was hurt and exercising was not on my list of things I ever wanted to do again

I also went to see a physical therapist and was given great advice on strengthening . Simple exercises with bands and small weights really work and don't cost much

I tried to stay away from fads or gym memberships that for me I knew would not work

Good luck on finding things that work for you!

Giving up the seroquel like you is not possible right now so I just work around it and try new strategies that are healthy

[sleepy borderline]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I will continue to eat healthy and start eating more fats and good carbs and take care of myself. I feel more positive about losing some weight on Seroquel hearing these stories-- I guess that the Metaformin is not that necessary to lose some weight, it doesn't sound like the side effects are that great anyways...

 

I definitely need Seroquel to sleep right now. I hadn't taken it or slept yesterday when I wrote the original post, last night I took it again and slept -- I feel much more clear headed today. I think a sleep study would be a better idea as to why I am having these severe problems with sleep. For now I will continue to take Seroquel to feel better.

[sleepy borderline]

just curious @ Wooster and Lysergia: did you guys lose the weight though when you while you were still on the Seroquel? So it IS possible to lose while on a low dose of it, right?

[lysergia]

yes, i was still on the seroquel until a few weeks ago.  so it is possible!  just painfully slow.

[dyslexic]

all meds are fat meds  , its the pay off of treatment . you only have to look at the box of remeron  and your fat has a pig.    Taking diabetic meds is wrong  jesus  

[Savannah]

I tried it and I didn't lose a pound.

[Wooster]

all meds are fat meds  , its the pay off of treatment . you only have to look at the box of remeron  and your fat has a pig.    Taking diabetic meds is wrong  jesus  

 

 

This is really not helpful. It is condescending and inappropriate. Repeated posts of this nature will earn you a time out from CB. Taking metformin is a researched and validated way to help lose or mitigate weight gain associated with atypical antidepressants, particularly when combined with monitoring of caloric intake and increase in physical activity (http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1380162).

 

It's true that sometimes meds come with unwanted outcomes, like weight gain. And it definitely sucks that sometimes we have to choose between sanity and healthy weight. However, some meds are weight-neutral, and other meds have a tendency to cause people to lose weight.

 

 

 

Back to your question, sleepy... I didn't really make a concerted effort to start losing weight until I was off the slurroquel, so I don't have information relevant.

[sleepy borderline]

It's okay Wooster, I'm seeing a new P doc next week, and I think I am going to ask him to take me off Seroquel. It's just too hard for me to lose weight on it.

 

I think I need a an anti-psychotic still maybe, hopefully one that won't cause as much weight gain, abide at a higher dose of what I am on of Slurroquel ( haha). I'm thinking of changing to maybe Abilify, Geodon or Latuda

 

If I don't sleep on those, I'll hope to add something weight-neutral for sleep.

Edited August 23, 2014 by sleepy borderline

[dyslexic]

WOOSTER    don't threaten me because I tell the truth . tell me a med that's weight neutral  apart from WELLBUTRIN which is virtually an amphetamine in all but name , all ssri,s   are fat makers to most even if it says weight neutral on the box that is a marketing ploy and you no it. EFFEXOR  may be weight neutral but is a terror to get off.  all  ANTIPSYCHOTIICS  are fat meds has there usually taken in combos ,I have been on meds for 45 years and I can tell you the worst but I wont. 

[dyslexic]

METAFORMIn     has 675   drug reactions     . the weight you loose is usually  through Diarrhea     DOCS IN ENGLAND WILL NOT GIVE A SCRIPT JUST FOR WEIGHT LOSS

[melissaw72]

Not all antipsychotics are "fat meds."  Everyone's body reacts differently to different meds.  ie, Abilify for me is weight neutral.

[jt07]

WOOSTER    don't threaten me because I tell the truth . tell me a med that's weight neutral  apart from WELLBUTRIN which is virtually an amphetamine in all but name , all ssri,s   are fat makers to most even if it says weight neutral on the box that is a marketing ploy and you no it. EFFEXOR  may be weight neutral but is a terror to get off.  all  ANTIPSYCHOTIICS  are fat meds has there usually taken in combos ,I have been on meds for 45 years and I can tell you the worst but I wont. 

 

First of all, it's not cool to talk to an admin like that - ever. Continuing to do so will result in a warning or suspension or both.

 

Secondly, read the studies for any given med. They will say how many percent in the study population gained weight from that med. I guarantee you that it is not 100% even for the meds notorious for weight gain. So while it is certainly true that some people gain weight on some meds, it is a far cry from all people gaining weight on all psych meds. 

[olga]

Please moderate your tone and reply politely.  Your original reply was indeed inappropriate---a sweeping generalization with no scientific evidence.  Also, replying in all capital letters is shouting, and there is no need to shout.  It's rude and childish.

 

olga

[dyslexic]

first off  I said most meds are fat meds to (MOST)   not all??? this is true , second ANTIPHSYCHOTICS  are the same and I said in combos , third I am  dyslexic has my post name implies, if I start to write a post and look up from the computer and I have left the caps lock on I carry on because its an ordeal to start all over , not because I am shouting  . METFORMIN  does cause gut problems diaorrhea  major  to most of course you loose weight with diaorrhea  .  I have a great rappor with my doctor that why I am the only guy in the surgery on 6mg of Ativan a day. If I am going to be castrated for telling the truth then this forum is not truthful . the amount of moderators that leapt on little old me is bullying  . you have one member  DIANTHUS has a giant vibrator has a Avator   come on give me a break I can help nobody with all the mods on little me.

[LunaRufina]

first off  I said most meds are fat meds to (MOST)   not all??? this is true , second ANTIPHSYCHOTICS  are the same and I said in combos , third I am  dyslexic has my post name implies, if I start to write a post and look up from the computer and I have left the caps lock on I carry on because its an ordeal to start all over , not because I am shouting

First:

 

all meds are fat meds  , its the pay off of treatment . you only have to look at the box of remeron  and your fat has a pig.    Taking diabetic meds is wrong  jesus

 

Second:

Not all anti-psychotics are the same. There are "typical" and "atypical" antipsychotics. Seroquel is not  Abilify is not Haldol.

 

Third:

Fine, you are dyslexic. If your tone was slightly better in combination with the caps- that is you didn't imply everyone was out right lying, perhaps you might not have gotten the negative response that you did. But you used a bunch of caps and basically said that everyone was wrong about everything.

 

Also, if you actually read what anyone else wrote, you'd see that others noted the GI side effects.

 

And yeah, an admin [not member] does have a sex toy for an avatar. So fucking what? That doesn't mean you should be an outright dick and blatantly cite misinformation.  Not ALL meds promote weight gain. Not ALL antipsychotics are the same. many medications can list hundreds and hundreds of possible side effects- but many of these "side effects" are listed because it is difficult to tease out whether they are by correlation or causation and some are listed after market. They could be due to demographic/cohort factors OR medication factors but it is very difficult to tell.

 

Maybe take a few breaths and start over here.

Edited August 23, 2014 by LunaRufina

[jt07]

first off  I said most meds are fat meds to (MOST)   

 

Apparently, you did not read my response or willfully disregarded it. No matter what you might think you know, the fact is that there are studies out there for every single med which says exactly what percentage of people experienced weight gain while taking it. You don't have to guess, and your opinion doesn't matter. Science matters, and according to the studies, a certain percentage will gain some weight on a particular med, but usually a much larger percentage does not gain any weight or gain a negligible amount. You can actually look up the PI sheet online to get this information.

 

I have taken a ton of meds, and my experience was that I gained weight on only 2 or 3 of them, and they were the ones which were notorious for causing weight gain. I didn't even gain weight on Risperdal. I have been pretty lucky and don't hold myself out as typical, but as I said, you can refer to the studies. However, I don't think you will because the science disagrees with your particular world-view.

 

No one is bullying you. We don't walk on eggshells around here are not afraid to call bullshit what it really is. You are coming on these boards and misrepresenting the facts to suit your own opinion, and then get testy when you are called on it.

[dyslexic]

lunarufina   do you have to fuck and blind at me have you no respect for yourself,   most meds I will join in your (dirty speech)   fuck up your metabolism do you not agree  , causing weight gain Anfetamin  works the other way and makes you thin. Anxiety makes you thin it burns fat off like a flame thrower. cure anxiety  with a med you get fat your not burning it up so the med made you fat, same with near on all meds do the same thing , if you feeling better your getting fatter,  I am 66 and been in and out mental hospital most my life so I do no a little more than you no matter how good you can fuck and blind. REMERON was given to ANORIEXIC,S when I was in hospital , why do you think that was?????????   not everyone will get fat a small % are natural thin and will never be anything else , read through my posts not fuck and blind its not cool. 

[jt07]

dyslexic, reel it back in before you earn a suspension.

[WinterRosie]

REMERON was given to ANORIEXIC,S when I was in hospital , why do you think that was?????????  

 

Perhaps because, in IP, they treat all conditions that are present? So if I were in IP I could expect to be treated both for my eating disorder as well as any other symptoms from my other diagnosis? Since, yes, that's how that works. 

Honestly you're just implying that you're an idiot, at this point. 

[LunaRufina]

lunarufina   do you have to fuck and blind at me have you no respect for yourself,   most meds I will join in your (dirty speech)   fuck up your metabolism do you not agree  , causing weight gain Anfetamin  works the other way and makes you thin. Anxiety makes you thin it burns fat off like a flame thrower. cure anxiety  with a med you get fat your not burning it up so the med made you fat, same with near on all meds do the same thing , if you feeling better your getting fatter,  I am 66 and been in and out mental hospital most my life so I do no a little more than you no matter how good you can fuck and blind. REMERON was given to ANORIEXIC,S when I was in hospital , why do you think that was?????????   not everyone will get fat a small % are natural thin and will never be anything else , read through my posts not fuck and blind its not cool. 

 

I have such a high amount of respect for myself [and even for you though it's really an undeserved gift at this point], that even though I am a whole 31 years your younger I don't resort to making fun of you. I said you were being a dick for very specific behaviors you demonstrated, and even gave you pass- assuming that you were behaving so as a one off and suggested you maybe step away and take a few breaths. I'm not sure why, if you are coming here for support, you are choosing to attack and attempt to demean someone who actually was giving you the benefit of the doubt.

 

If you reread my post to you, yes it was full of correction and yes I swore, but at no point was it as low as what you have written here. You may not be able to help being dyslexic, but you can help whether you try to tear others down and you can certainly help what you claim as fact or not.  Personal experience is helpful, but studies and trials will always hold over that in terms of what can b expected for side effects.  If you bothered to look at any of the PI sheets- which actually show the side effects that you claim metformin has- they show the percentages of how often the side effects occur in the population, and in population subsets. [And that's quite confusing, you are familiar with the huge number of possible side effects of one medication but seem completely ignorant of the concept of frequency or percentage of side effects in general?]

 

Regardless, maybe you should actually step back as suggested. [i'm going to do the same at this point.]

 

Oh, and stop sending rude PMs. That would be nice too.

[crtclms]

Luna swore? Are you fucking kidding me? For Christ's sake, Luna, stop the goddamn swearing, and control your filthy fucking mouth.

 

And now, back to the OP: I've started walking the dogs more, because now we have two. Our first one only needed to be walked once a day. But our new one needs two walks, playtime in one of a couple of parks, and backyard play. I'm losing enough weight that I don't want to say how much, and jinx it. And,except when being dragged around like a rag doll, all this exercise is just walking.

 

Good luck.

[sleepy borderline]

thanks for the advice everyone. I don't think ALL anti-psychotics are the same. I have been on four in my life : Risperdal, Abilify, Seroquel, and Zyprexa. I lost weight when I was younger on Zyprexa, but only because I had an eating disorder. This past year I was on it again and gained 10 pounds on a very small dose.  I gained weight on it very fast too. I  have gained weight on a small dose of Seroquel too, but at a much slower rate.

 

I think Abilify might be a more weight neutral option. I tried Remeron in the last year too but It didn't make me gain any weight, I wasn't on it long enough to tell. It did make me very hungry though. I have heard Geodon and Latuda and some of the older ones are more weight neutral then Seroquel and Zyprexa.

 

If anyone here knows of some weight neutral sleeping medications I could take every night please let me know. I might give Trazodone another shot. I don't think I took a high enough dose of it last time. My current P doc won't prescribe benzos to sleep. Maybe the new P doc I am going to will. Does anyone here take a low dose of a benzo everynight to sleep?

[koa]

For me I've found latuda very weight neutral, although that has been the only atypical antipsychotic where that's been the case for me.

[melissaw72]

 

Does anyone here take a low dose of a benzo everynight to sleep?

 

I dont take a benzo specifically for sleep, but taking them in general relaxes me enough that I can fall asleep.

 

Melatonin didn't work for me.  I actually gained weight on it because it made me sleep-eat.  I'd wake up and realize I'd eaten without knowing it.

[crtclms]

Like Koa, I have found Latuda to be weight neutral, and I've even lost a bit while on it, because I am actually getting off my ass.

[forgetmenot220]

Saphris has been weight neutral for me, as well as Abilify.