Medication weight expectations - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

Inflatable · 05-22-2006, 10:36 PM

I've been battling depression for some time now, but only recently decided to get some help. Last July I went to my GP to discuss my "feelings" and over the course of 8 weeks he got me up to 300 mg Wellbutrin XL and 225 mg Trazadone. With combined psychotherapy and GP coaxing, I started seeing a PDOC 3 weeks ago. She has since weaned me off of the Trazadone, added Ambien and has me currently up to 1500 mg of Depakote a day. She said that once my Depakote levels stabilize, she's going to add an SSRI like Paxil, Prozac or Zyprexa. Since August, I've lost about 30 pounds and I'm down to about 145 or so (at 5' 9"). She (the PDOC) said I was at great risk for gaining a significant amount fo weight. So far nothing has happened and I was curious of other's experiences on these meds with respect to weight gain. Are we talking a few pounds or do I expect to blow up like a balloon? I've never had a problem before other than keeping my weight up...

trg247 · 05-22-2006, 11:17 PM

In my experience the two worse ones are effexor and zyprexa. Between the two I have gained close to thirty pounds and it has been very difficult to get rid of it.

take care
trg247

*Lai* · 05-23-2006, 07:47 AM

Hi, i'm sorry to hear about you being depressed, its a horrible thing to go through, i suffer from it most days.

I'm on depakote (for Bipolar), i was perscribed 1000mg, but i reduced it to 500mg myself because i cudnt take the side-effects. I let my pdoc know i had reduced it.
Unfortunaley for me, i have gained up to about 40-50 lbs whilst being on this medication (yes i know its awful), and i have become very depressed because of it.

But its different for everybody, i dont think you will gain as much as i did. I think mine was so much because i lost alot when i was unwell, so when i was put on depakote and i started eating again, it just piled on.

I think at the most you might gain upto 30lbs, i dont know, i'm just assuming that from other posts i have read and people i have spoken to.

If you do find yourself gaining weight, the best advice i could give you (i wish i did this) is to make sure you get enough exercise and eat as healthy as possible (i know that sounds difficult).
Depakote made me quite sleepy and drowsy, so i was eating and slepping alot, ask you dr if you could take most of it at night, it might help.

I'm not sure about the other medication. I'v heard you can lose wieght on Prozac, but then i had a cousin who gained weight whilst on it. I was also on effexor, and i lost loads of weight. I think it is different for different people, but with Depakote, i gained loads of weight and i'm depressed more because of it.
I wish you all the best with everything and hope you stay gud n well.

xx

Inflatable · 05-23-2006, 10:52 AM

I'm quite interested to see what happens for myself. I have read support groups and discussions from people who have gained anywhere from 30 to 150+ pounds on either or a combo of the meds. I guess I'll just have to wait (no pun intended) and see what happens.

Emerson80 · 05-24-2006, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trg247

In my experience the two worse ones are effexor and zyprexa. Between the two I have gained close to thirty pounds and it has been very difficult to get rid of it.

take care
trg247

I agree on Effexor, because of all of the side effects I am going off of it and onto Lexapro.