Aripiprazole, Sertaline and weight gain

[Hayleynevin]

Is anyone else on the above two medications abs struggling with gaining weight? I'm normally a size 6 but since I've been on this medication I seem to just be gaining weight around my waist and on my face! It's really getting me down

[Mims2014]

I'm on aripriprizole. No weight gain that i can blame on medication, I'm just greedy! I think weight gain is a rare side effect of it in adults x

[Chaplk]

Hi, I really feel for you as I am going through the same thing at the moment, I'm on different meds to you ( risperidone and fluoxetine) but I've put on a stone since the birth of my baby and have gone from a size 8-10 to a size 12, it gets me down every day and I cry often as I just feel so horrible but as a fellow PP sufferer said to me the other day, at the moment your mental health is much more important than your physical health at the moment, you can lose weight afterwards but you can't get better mentally without the meds! I've recently installed a calorie counter on my phone to monitor what I eat and I've got a Fitbit wristband that measures how many steps I take in a day, I'm just trying to not put any more weight on by being mindful of what I eat and do exercise wise for now and I'll focus on losing the weight again after I come off my meds, I'm determined to get back in my size 10 skinny jeans!! I know it's really hard but try not to let it get you down too much, you're mental health is on the mend and that's what's important right now!

Hope this helps! Katy x

[Hayleynevin in reply to Chaplk]

Hi Katy, I feel the exact same. If we haven't got one thing to try and cope with weight gain is added on top which really gets me Down too. I don't think apiprazole was one that gains weight but there is no other excuse for it. It's not baby weight asi lost all that within weeks of having my baby. Sorry for the Moan, I guess I should just be lucky that the medication is working but I really wish the side effects weren't like this :((((

[Chaplk]

No need to be sorry but I think the fact that you're getting down about the side effects is a good sign, it means you're getting better! Everyone keeps telling me I'm not fat and I should stop moaning but it's important to me to feel good about myself and it really brings me down! How long has it been since you had the psychosis? It's been 6 months for me and they've just started reducing my meds so hopefully fingers crossed I won't gain any more weight and can start losing some soon! I think it's hard for people to understand the weight gain issue but when you're used to being skinny, getting a belly is quite a major thing! I'm just glad I'm feeling better enough to be worried about the side effects more than the illness now! Katy x

[Hayleynevin in reply to Chaplk]

Katy, it's like you are reading my mind! Yes, I hear the apiprazole isn't ment tone a weight gainer so maybe it's the sertraline, I'm not sure but it's def one of them. I'm used to being tiny, I've never had to worry about what I eat as I would always stay the same but I'm finding that I'm watching everything now. I was on olanzapine and that was even worse! Just want to be normal again, how I was used to being/feeling! Ive been suffering since last May but I've been on meds since last October. I have to stay on then till spring next year xx

[CathDuff]

I'm on Sertraline and find I have to work very hard to lose weight. I gained tremendous weight on Olanzapine over a year. Came off, joined slimming world and have lost 2 1/2 stone since....but as I'm on Sertraline, I really have to concentrate on the eating well and exercise. My doctor said aripiprazole is weight neutral. ???

[andrea_at_app Volunteer APP]

Hi all, weight gain was a massive issue for me too, it really does get you down when you're already feeling terrible! I put on 3.5stone over 2yrs, (eek!), thankfully it all came off quickly when I felt well enough to focus on getting fit & physically healthy again.

This is what the Choiceandmedication.org website says about those meds & weight gain: "Weight gain is uncommon with aripiprazole, and some people actually lose weight. It is, however, not possible to say what the effect on your own weight may be because each person will be different. If you do start to put on weight, you should tell your doctor. He or she may be able to adjust your medicine or the dose to reduce this effect. Your doctor can also arrange for you to see a dietician for advice. If you do gain weight it is possible to lose it while you are still taking this medication, with expert advice about diet." It says pretty much the same about Sertraline, so it's worth discussing it with your GP to see if anything can be adjusted.

There's an old thread here you might find interesting about PP & weight gain: healthunlocked.com/app-netw...

& there's another thread here (it's obviously a big issue for lots of us!): healthunlocked.com/app-netw...

Try not to be disheartened, even with side-effects, my meds were a real lifeline. Try not to be hard on yourself & give your self time.

[ontheup]

I'm on exactly the same medication and have gained a further stone after gaining 3 stone on Olanzapine. I'm desperate to shift the weight but it's not happening. It's horrible when our confidence has already taken a knock.

[Lilybeth Volunteer]

Hello ontheup

I'm sure you have read all the good advice here.

I think Chaplk's comment a month ago puts things in perspective, although I know gaining weight is another hurdle, as if PP mums haven't been through enough already! She said that a fellow PP sufferer told her that at the moment your mental health is much more important than your physical health. She added you can lose weight afterwards but you can't get better mentally without the meds.

Take good care.