Meds & Weight GAIN!

We have an exercize room in my apartment.....the trouble is having the will to get out of bed and go down there (I am in a Depressive stage of my BiPolar II)

Good luck to you.....good luck to me...

Kittycat you are soooo right - I hate when docs write these meds!   Ahhhhhhhh! They are fine and dandy for clinical depression, I'm glad those people can have them.  They almost always cause hypomania, I just learned recently from the doc that frequents this forum, whom I respect immensely, that now there is a warning for doctors to screen for bipolar before prescribing it, because can be DANGEROUS.    Our brain chemistry is completely different from other people, what works for other people usually affects us differently or opposite.  We get wired at the drop of a hat.   Then, you have to come down eventually and the depression is even worse.  Nice drug.  I've been on them, too and can attest to thier bad effects, not to mention how much I have seen!  Why can't they just write the preferred, Lamictal and/or wellbutrin for BP??    Works much better, much safer for us.  Of course, tooo much wellbutrin can cause mania, but it's not common at all on reasonable doses.

Ok, off my soapbox!   Thanks for listening.

That does change the scenario tho, I was referring to bipolar disorder only.  I'm just speaking from personal and professional experience, also there is a new recommendation to the prescribing MDs on all SSRIs that the patient be screened for bipolar disorder because of the risk and probablity of hypomania occuring.  

But what is ultimately important is that it works for you.  If you are doing well on that combination, that's great and really all that matters.  

Shannon 

I'm sure it's because of the change in mood.  Many depressed people have no appetite, or too much of an appetite, then when they feel better, they either eat more or less.  Mood has a LOT to do with appetite; SSRIs aren't known for weight gain, actually prozac was being prescribed for appetite  reduction, not sure if that was an actual indication from the manufacturer tho. 

The old ADs, tricyclics like Deseryel (trazadone), Elavil, Tofranil, Anafranil, etc. caused a voracious appetite for sweets, so people gained a lot of weight on them, similarly to Zyprexa and Risperdal, two of the atypical antipsychotics.  Lithium and Depakote cause weight gain, too.  I am lucky enough to have found a combination of drugs that do not affect weight, I can't deal with that!  I'm a fitness and health buff, so my 55 pound weight gain in the first few months on zyprexa and depakote were not too pleasant!   Took a lot of work to lose it!  

But like I said, all these meds affect everybody differently, what increases appetite in one decreases it in another, it's crazy!

I wonder if your tumor has some bearing on your moods?  Where is it located?

Sorry about the post before, Debbie, wrong thread!!!

I totally agree with you about the weight loss, gain, junk and sweets go to fat much faster than healthy food, meat, fish, chicken, whole grains and fruits and veggies.  Energy is quality energy and lasts longer without the "crash" you get from the junk.  Exericse is a must for losing weight, no getting around it!

See the thread "meds and weight gain" if you didn't already read my accidental post to you, it explains it better.   BTW how much Lamictal are you taking?  Did you maybe increase it too much?  (More than 25 mg) 

When I said more than 25mg at a time,  what I meant was did you increase it by too many mgs.  Of course you experienced what you did!  200 or 400 to 600 is way too much too soon!!!  (Regarding BP moods that is), it may be fine for people with seizure disorder only.  I am speaking strictly from a psychiatric standpoint.

And I am aware of the effects on overweight vs. not, most meds are like that and I am also aware the half life is actually 26 hours, but thanks for the info!