weight gain and eating disorder - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

melly3407 · 08-05-2007, 07:35 PM

I need some advice. I have Bipolar 2 and have dealt with depression all my life. Through out my life I have also struggled with and eating disorder.We all know that most of the drugs cause weight gain. That is one of my biggest fears. I have stopped taking my meds at times in my life so i wouldn't gain weight.

My doc just put me on Abliify and she said it is extremely rare to gain weight on it but I have already started doing things to prevent weight gain. Can anyone help????

seaturtle · 08-05-2007, 08:10 PM

Hi,

I can sympathize; I've struggled with an ED, too, most of my life. I am trying to get better still, even after many years of it.
Do you have help for the ED? I've told psychiatrists that I cannot tolerate meds that will put weight on me.

Yoiu can ask your pharamacist is weight gain is a side effect of Abilify. I'm on Lamictal, no gain at all.

On the other hand, it's not worth it to continue suffering from BP. BUt I know that with an ED, that doesn't make much difference.

Good luck. I know what a tough one this is.

Dee-nah · 08-06-2007, 05:22 AM

I suffer the same problem, my pdoc has me on Geodon since it doesn't make you gain weight..

Good luck with Ablify, I was on that as well but had to stop due to hypertension. It is a good drug so I would continue taking it...

NutshellNutter · 08-06-2007, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melly3407

I need some advice. I have Bipolar 2 and have dealt with depression all my life. Through out my life I have also struggled with and eating disorder.We all know that most of the drugs cause weight gain. That is one of my biggest fears. I have stopped taking my meds at times in my life so i wouldn't gain weight.

My doc just put me on Abliify and she said it is extremely rare to gain weight on it but I have already started doing things to prevent weight gain. Can anyone help????

Hi melly,
I understand your position. I am BP and 'recovering' anorexic - though I don't think we ever recover (it's always in my head - I just fight it better these days). Luckily I was under the care of the same psych for both conditions, and hospitalised for both under the psych too. So, he understands how much the idea of weight gain frightens me - enough to make me sto taking my meds if I see any weight going on when I switch meds!!!

From this, my psych closly monitors my weight when meds are changed... we are of the same understanding that if weight goes on, the meds are chanegd again. It is the one side effect that I can't tolerate - he understands this.

I think it is important to stress exactly how important this is to your psych. After all, if weight gain will make you stop taking the meds - then your psych needs to know. If both of you are looking out for any weight change, and you both have a plan 'B' ready - then that should give yu the comfort that you need to 'try' the Abilifly. Remember that it is worth trying this med, if the weight comes, then (after discussing it with your psych) you COULD stop the med, and the weight would come off again (mine did!). So, the weight isn't permanent - if it comes at all.

I do hope this helps, I so understand your dilemma.

Nut.
ps- I'm on Mirtazapine and Tegretol. The tegretol (mood stabiliser didn't affect my appetite at all, the mirtaz (anti-dep) did make me a gain a little weight at the very start, although I did need it as this was when I was hopitalised for ana - after couple of months my appetite was steady again).

CarenR · 08-06-2007, 09:10 AM

I am on Zyprexa, and I watch what I eat carefully. as many have gained weight on his medicine.

ps this helps according some nutritionists... if you eat a sweet treat , then eat fiber within an hour... like a celery stick or raw carrot.. apple, etc..