Huge weight gain from meds

[Gma11]

Howdy, I am brand new to the SANE forums. I thought I would jump in, because I am super interested in reading about other people's experiences. 

I hit the wall with my mental health when I turned 50, 11 years ago.

I had horrendous hot flushes that woke me every 90 minutes or so. I had so many worries I would struggle to get back to sleep only to wake up in 90 min. This sleep deprivation went on for the 3 years prior to my 50th, a form of torture to send one insane!

My ex husband, who I was with at the time, had just lost his job due to bullying which caused him to have suicide ideation and severe depression. I had 2 teenagers at home and we were at the point of loosing the house. I had the CAT team on daily visits for my ex and I had to apply for hardship clauses on all our bills.

It was a hellish time and I was stretched so thin I was transparent. 

Then I ended up in a mental hospital after l had a severe manic episode and was labled as bi polar, bought on by menopause and sleep deprivation!

The Psychiatrist tried several drugs and I had a severe reaction of hallucinations on one.

I was released on mood stabilising medication in the end and sent into community care. [edited by moderator]

When I saw the Psychiatrist he asked how I was going on the mood stabilising medication, I told him I was putting on an awful lot of weight. [edited by moderator]

He said "good that means I know you are compliant".

Fantastic.

I was [edited by moderator] I'm pretty tall and I was very fit.

My weight went up in 5 months. [edited by moderator]

He changed my meds and I stayed on that for years, which increased my weight! [edited by moderator]

I have been on so many different meds since, and 2 injections I can't remember the names of. [edited by moderator]

I have twice got down but bounced back up to that weight. [edited by moderator]

It is so disgustingly depressing.

I am so hungry all the time and have claws into my brain craving for sugar and carbs. Every time the Psychiatrist has reduced the meds as low as possible I have lost weight but I end up manic.

It's the low self esteem, the shame that stops me from meeting new people or seeing old friends. The health risks of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. The inability to walk up stairs without puffing. The fatigue, the stress on my joints and feet. These factors do depress me.

I have decided to some how some way drop some weight, I don't know how, so I'm putting it out there...

What do you do? 

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Did anyone manage to drop the ks?

Are there natural mental health remedies  that do not have the side effects?

I feel very vulnerable sharing this because I don't talk to anyone about this, I am going to be brave and hit post

[rav3n]

hiya @Gma11 welcome to the forums! really appreciate you trusting us with your story. 

i can't imagine how difficult this must've been for you, it's super tricky when the meds that help up also have side effects that end up hurting us in a different way. although i don't have lived experience in this area, i have heard stories similar to yours in this community so i'm sure others will be able to sit with you and share their experiences to - you're definitely not alone here. 

it takes so much strength to reach out, and i'm so so glad that you did. i look forward to connecting with you and listening to your journey. 💙

i also wanted to let you know that i've edited medication names and specific kgs from this post as it's against our community guidelines - you're absolutely welcome to share your experiences, but we do ask that everyone 'limit detailed descriptions', as there are members with eating disorders and/or other vulnerabilities that may be impacted by those specific details. totally understand that being new, it's hard to know this stuff so i thought i'd just explain it to you here so you're not left confused about the edits. feel free to reach out if you have any other questions 😊

[Gma11]

Absolutely I understand.
I did not think of that I was aiming for honesty I guess rather than thinking about consequences

[rav3n]

absolutely no stress at all, that what us moderators are here for 😊 @Gma11 

it's not an easy thing to speak up about those uncomfy emotions - and i really admire you for doing so. i understand wanting to feel healthier, but at the same time, please know that your worth is never tied to a scale - you are always worthy of love, support and good things. that's your right as a human being 💙

[Ainjoule]

Hey @Gma11 

Welcome to the SANE forums!

Yeah, I'm having problems with this myself at the moment {{}}. I'm interested to hear what other people say. Personally, I have been working with a dietician on looking at what snacks I can eat and my general food intake. And I have decided to start with swimming after a recent psych hospitalisation caused a significant weight spike. My psychiatrist is trying to reduce the weight causing medication. I have lost the weight before but this was by ed behaviours. And I have subsequently gained it back and then some. I have sometimes lost some weight by healthy methods, but this has been modest weight loss in comparison. But I'm hoping to change the way I think about food and therefore keep it off this time. 

[Till23]

Hi @Gma11 and welcome to the forums

Great username by the way

I have found the forums to be a friendly and supportive place.

Sorry to hear that you ahve had to endure so much in last decade, so you've done well to get to here and to reach out on the forums.

I have a little bit of experience with weight gain on meds for MH issues.

I did gain some weight fairly quickly on meds, because I felt hungry.

When I realised, I changed my eating habits. One easy thing is to drink more water. I also tried to not eat near bed time, so I usually finished eating a few hours before bed. I tried to eat more protein and less carbs and of course cut out any high calorie foods but to allow something nice but small - like a chocolate biscuit each day, because whatever you do has to be sustainable otherwise you will put weight back on. It hasn't been a big problem for me though, even though I still take some meds for MH (I also now take something for cancer that may cause weight gain, it does for me and other people I know on that med). It took me a while to lose the extra kgs, but doing it at a slow rate is more sustainable, because you create habits, that can be ongoing.

[Jane241]

I am not on meds but my daughter is and has had weight gain on certain meds.  I can relate to the perimenopause lack of sleep and weight gain though. I have been on what I call a regime in the past few weeks at the gym and with a nutritionist.  I started it as a way of self care due to all the stress and worry I have for my daughter who has substance and mental health issues. I was eating compulsively and craving food all the time, putting on weight when I was trying to lose it.  This regime if exercise and diet has turned everything around for me. The diet is personalised and is designed to reset gut and insulin problems that consequently reduces the cravings to nil. It's been such a relief to be able to eat healthy meals and not have constant cravings for carbs and sugar. I don't know if I'm allowed to name the nutritionist company,  but it's Aston rx.  It is similar to a keto diet from what I can tell,  but it isn't. I recommend it because it may help your kind of situation. I do recommend trying a good nutritionist who has experience with meds and has insight into what you're dealing with.  

[Mathew76]

If you look at the label information, or do some investigation, weight gain is a side effect of almost every psychotropic medication. 

The stimulation of appetite might be the only way the drug gets its efficacy?  

[Gma11]

Fantastic I will look into them.
Good luck with your successful weight loss.
My daughter got a huge amount of support from headspace and her student well-being counsellor.
Menopause and teenagers it's a huge road you are on.
Be kind to yourself

[Gma11]

I think it's got something to do with neurotransmitters pathways.