Weight gain with AD's and AP's

x-Silvermist-x · 03-03-2012, 11:03 AM

I currently take 2 anti-depressants (Agomelatine and Duloxetine) and an anti-psychotic (Aripiprazole) I've noticed that I have put on quite a bit of weight as of late. I didn't think the medication that I am on caused weight gain but I can't work out any other reason for me putting on so much weight. I've not long come out of a specialist IP unit and there I lived off lettuce sandwiches so it's not like I've been eating loads. Is it possible the medication is to blame? I do have issues around weight/food and sometimes go for a few weeks without any food and this is really making me want to stop eating again. I'm currently refusing my medication but because I'm on a section 3 they are saying they can force me to take them.

Tig · 03-03-2012, 11:49 AM

Do they have a dietician attatched to the ward? Could you ask for a referral to speak to them? It could well be medication related - a lot of medications unfortunately do have that as a side effect, but the dietician may be able to offer some advice on how to make this as little as possible.

Don't stop taking your medication or stop eating. I can appreciate both are attempting. Like you, I have issues with food and have gained weight on medication and sometimes I have stopped eating or stopped my meds but it's just not helpful in the long run. You don't want them to be forcing you to have your medication. If you stop eating, it's not going to help for long and you are going to be even more vulnerable. x

NoAngel · 03-03-2012, 01:33 PM

i can sympathize, am in the same boat. Was on olanzapine which reportedly does cause weight gain and it doesnt matter what i eat the weight just seems to stay on. ive just been changed to aripiprazole so hoping this will be better.

inblack · 03-03-2012, 03:45 PM

It is definitely possible that they are responsible for the weight gain. This would be something to talk to the doctors about. I would say don't stop taking them, if you can keep taking them and talk to your doctors about your concerns and ask what your options are. Then slowly maybe you can either switch meds, add meds to help with the weight gain issues, or look at other causes of the weight gain. Doctors are usually more happy to work with you if you make them think you are co-operating with them. I try and make them think I'm open to their ideas even when I'm not by saying things like "I'm not totally going to discount that idea, and I would definitely be open for trying it, however I strongly believe that this other method would work better because blah blah blah" I know its tough to even have to do that, but it works best if you can work as a team with the doctors.

x-Silvermist-x · 03-03-2012, 09:56 PM

Thanks for the advice. It is really getting me down. Hopefully I will see the psychiatrist on Monday and can tell him about the weight gain (if he hasn't noticed!) and ask whether it is related to my medication.

DollyPOP · 04-03-2012, 11:23 PM

i recently had AP's and they made me gain a ton, so now i'm refusing to take them. It can raise your appetite and some can play with your metabolism. I'd advise talking to your Dr. Mine just said, "well no-one is making you take it, at the end of the day you're the one putting it in your mouth and swallowing it" so I applied this logic rather than the, "i'm just trying anything to help myself"

god knows what's going to happen because it helped, but i'm not happy about the weight gain even more.

they may be able to offer an alternative though.

x

x-Silvermist-x · 05-03-2012, 12:08 AM

The nurse on duty today asked why I was refusing my AD's and AP's and I told her the reason. The nurse said if you watch what you eat and exercise regularly the medication won't make you put on weight.

I'm not sure whether to believe her or not.

Cedrus · 05-03-2012, 12:09 PM

I was on clozapine (AP) and put on a hell of a lot of weight! But, it's notorious for that, I noticed others in the hospital who were also on it were, erm, large, but there were others who were slim. My mums on it and is pretty darn slim!

I'm on aripiprazole, olanzapine and sertraline and I've managed to lose some weight. I think you should take your meds, it is possible to lose weight but also, they (hopefully) will make you well and my thinking is that, if you're well it will be easier to make healthy decisions and hence lose weight.

Thinking of you.