Medication Question: Risperdol and Lithium - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

Bellybutton · 10-31-2004, 02:46 PM

Hi,
I am looking for some answers or advice or opinions. Just a little background I have been DXD BP for 12 years. I have spent the past five months in an extreme hypomanic phase charaterized my anger, racing thoughts and chronic insominia. I have tried everything and anything and after meeeting with my pdoc this coming Thursday I might be on nothng at all.

Here is my dilemna I am currently on lithium 1350 mg and 4 mg ( well i am taking 2 mg) of Risperdol. I have put on 11 pounds and that is not acceptable to me. A brief background, as a former sufferer of an eating disorder weight gain is a trigger for me. But, I dont think anyone would be happy with the weight gain.

What have people's experience been on Risperdol. So far everyone I know has gained weight and therfore, they have gotten off it. I am not sure about the lithium though.

I want to go in and see my pdoc on Thursday and be informed. It is my understanding that lithium can make you gain weight as well so then I need to get off that too.

While I am sleeping, my mood is horrendous. I am angry though not like before I have been hit with a terrible depression. I tried to not take any risperdol last night but I couldnt fall asleep so I broke down and took 1/2 my prescribed dosage. I dont want to take it at all

Any advice, thoughts, opinions etc would be gratefully apppreciated

Ruth6:11 · 10-31-2004, 02:59 PM

I've been taking 1200 mg/day of Lithium since 1985.
I'm 5'3", weigh 125 lbs, and am 50 yrs old.
Not a weight issue for me anyway... (unless I wanted to be 110 lb and manic/depressed again!)

Bellybutton · 10-31-2004, 03:03 PM

Thanks, Ruth I guess that is where I fall down gaining 11 pounds isnt worth it to me. Call it about my eating disorder I am not sure. It is just been a huge trigger for me to put the pounds on and not know when it is going to stop. And yes, while I am sleeping I dont feel great. There has to be a better or different combination of meds out there - who knows where I have tried so much stuff these past 6 months

Ruth6:11 · 11-02-2004, 11:05 AM

I guess that the hard thing is figuring out if the weight gain is:
1) Really a side effect of the medication
or
2) Part of the eating disorder
or
3) A little of both!

I don't have the eating disorder part so its easy for me to say that I'd rather weigh a bit more and be balanced, than be thin and actively manic/depressed...
Have you thought about getting help for the eating disorder so that you can be a little on the high side of your weight category and take your meds??
Hang in there,

Medcare04 · 11-21-2004, 08:00 PM

hey belly button.. i have had the same issue as you.. i was diagnosed with anorexia inthe 9th grade i am now a freshman in high school and fully recovered.. but i still have weight and food issues.. it hink the lithium has had a huge effect on my weight.. and now i see that it can break out my face?! do you have that side effect too? if you do let me kno !