For those that are bipolar and/or medicated for life on antipsychotics and antidepressants and have gained a lot of weight like me. Have any of you started on weight loss medication as well?
Not sure my thoughts on it! But may consider an appointment with my doctor to chat about options. I’m body neutral and don’t hate my body completely, I’m really thankful to be stable due to meds. I’ve been tiny my whole life, so to keep having to buy a new wardrobe each year is frustrating. My stomach is the worst part and I always look pregnant! (I’m not).
Side effects to consider?
Wouldn’t be a light decision at all.
Thanks xx
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Isabella5991
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I take antipsychotics that have piled me on the pounds. I am now overweight after being slim all my life. Only recently, now I’m feeling a bit better, have I been able to think about regular exercise and healthier eating. I am managing to at least keep my weight from increasing further, but it is a lot of effort on top of everything else, especially if I go into crisis, which keeps happening, then my weight shoots up again.
If I continue to struggle to be at a healthy weight I might consider something like ozempic in the future, mainly because I’m so aware of the risks of type 2 diabetes etc for those on weight-gaining antipsychotics.
I’ve heard there can be unpleasant side effects to weight loss meds. I’m already taking meds to counteract side effects of psychiatric meds and am reluctant to get into taking more meds to counteract more side effects.
For now though I think I’ll keep trying best I can with the exercise and eating when I’m well enough to concentrate on it and see how I go.
Have you found any perks to the weight gain? I’m enjoying having curvier boobs n butt lol, and getting some new summer clothes on Vinted in my new size!
I could write a book on my struggle with antipsychotic meds. My number one objection to them was weight gain; I gained 100 pounds over the course of 20 years. (Was always a normal weight before that.) My STRONG advice to you is to do whatever you have to do to avoid that. Gaining that much weight destroyed my body, particularly my joints. You can learn to love a curvier body and the way you look, but you CANNOT be obese and stay healthy as you age. You will be fine at 29, you might still feel pretty good at 40, but as you age, obesity will slowly kill you and make your life miserable.
I’ve written about this before, so you’ll know that I’ve gone off antipsychotic meds over a year ago and lost 55 pounds with diet and exercise. I am much healthier and more able to live a comfortable life, and that keeps me motivated. My cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure are now in the normal range. I was well on the way to becoming diabetic. I’m stronger now and more able to walk and do everyday tasks like clean, shop and garden. However, my joints are permanently destroyed from that weight. Both my knees are bone on bone. My left foot is so arthritic it is next in line for surgery. I’ve also got arthritis in my lower back and hips. Perhaps because of being obese, I got breast cancer when I was 44. My cancer was hormone receptive and obesity can be a cause. Although I have survived the cancer, I have gone through hell with cancer treatment, mastectomy and reconstruction issues. I have permanent nerve damage and tremors from the chemo drugs. As we speak, I am recovering from a surgery to close an open surgical wound related to radiation treatment. The list goes on.
I tried EVERYTHING over the years to lose weight and never could get a good handle on it. A few pounds a year doesn’t seem like much but it adds up. Eventually my weight did stabilize at 250 pounds but that’s not a comfortable or healthy place to be. I was so desperate to lose weight that in 2021 I went through the whole year long program to get bariatric surgery, but at the end I decided it was too risky and backed out. That led me to the decision to stop taking my antipsychotics come hell or high water. I did get a prescription for weight loss drugs but was unable to get them because of the shortages, so I never started. In that time frame I started a fitness program and discovered that I could lose weight with diet and exercise, so I never took the injections.
In addition to my fitness program I’ve been doing the Weight Watchers food program. WW also prescribes the weight loss injections as a special part of their program, for an extra fee of course. (They do here in the US, that is.) They’ve talked and talked about it here in the US and it’s very controversial because no one can quite figure out whether they’re just trying to make money on it or if it’s a healthy thing to do. I did read a research article somewhere saying that these meds can work for people who take antipsychotic drugs. If I can find it again I’ll post it here. Lots of people say these meds are safe for diabetes, so they should be safe for weight loss, but you’re right to be cautious. There are some serious documented side effects and I have not yet seen long term studies on people using it for weight loss; it’s so new. Personally I will avoid taking them as long as I can maintain my weight loss without it. But I will never allow myself to become 250 pounds again and I’d take the shots to avoid that if I had to.
I could sit down with you and talk for hours about this but I’ve wearied you enough. I think you’re right to take this issue seriously and wish you luck with the decision. I have heard that you must change the way you eat to lose the weight and if you go off the drugs you will most likely gain it all back. Those are some serious things to consider. I’m curious, does your NHS pay for these or do you have to pay out of pocket? It’s all out of pocket for those drugs in the US. Good luck with whatever you decide.
PS please send up some prayers and positive thoughts for my recovery from surgery here. I’m in somewhat serious condition and starting to worry I might actually not survive this. Thanks
I just read your message and am sending you a huge truckload of positive thoughts and warm wishes across the miles - I'm so sorry to hear things are so hard in recovery after your surgery.
I do hope you have good support around you, I can only imagine what you've been going through and the worry you're experiencing.
I'll hold you in my thoughts and hope you see some improvement very soon.
Thank you. It has been a difficult year and none of this was expected. The frustrating thing is, I have worked so hard to get healthier and had applied to become a peer support coordinator for PP at PSI. I was working on the training when all this happened and just sidelined everything. I've come so far only to get stopped by a stupid infection. Thanks for all your positive thoughts and it really is a comfort to know there are people who care.
I got a midline IV catheter placed today and will be on IV antibiotics at home for two more weeks. I pray it goes well and this wound heals. Another set of complications I feel like would just finish me off. So praying hard for the best.
That's good to hear you have further treatment in place. Don't lose hope - you have overcome so much and can overcome this too, and hopefully in the future will be able to pick up where you left off with the training 💜
Thank you Jenny. I’m in the ER right now with a possible antibiotic reaction. I think all will be fine but some days I’m not sure. It’s so ironic that when I was struggling with mental illness for so many years, all I thought about was dying, but I now I want to live and don’t know if I’ll get to. If I can just get this wound healed I feel like I’ll be ok. I appreciate your support and good thoughts, keep them coming. 😊
Oh I am sorry to hear that, I’m glad you’re in the right place to get sorted though. Try to stay positive and I hope the miracle of medicine gets to work quickly xx
So sorry you are having to cope with this infection, I hope the treatment will work, without any other complications. Are you still in hospital? Thinking of you,
You are so giving of yourself with warmth and empathy to everyone here. I’m so sorry to hear of your recent surgery and will hold you in my thoughts and prayers for a good recovery. Take care to rest as much as you can. 🌻
Hello Survivedwithcolor, I am sorry to hear about your recent complications. Sending you best wishes for a good recovery, you have been through so much, take good care, hope it all goes well at the hospital
Wow what a message! Bless you, I’m so sorry for all the pain and struggles you have gone through in life. What an actual nightmare. Thank you for explaining all that you’ve gone through. Weight gain from antipsychotics is no joke.. how awful you’ve had so many knock on effects as well.
How do you feel medication free? Are you bipolar as well? Xx
I’ve been unlucky with health but blessed in many other ways. I have a home and enough to eat and a wonderful husband and family. Ive done things I think are important and if I died tomorrow I’d still consider it a life well lived. I’m hoping for more time with my grandson and time to work with other women who are suffering from PP, but we get what we get.
Yes I am bipolar, bipolar 2, and I still take Lamotrigine and Wellbutrin for that. My mood is well controlled on those. I have no remaining psychosis. During this health stuff I’m going through now my anxiety has been bad at times, but I’m finding ways to manage that. Exercise and not too much caffeine helps my mental state tremendously.
Thanks for your support and well wishes. I am home today and soldiering on.
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