I take 20mg olanzapine and 1000mg Depakote. The consultant told me they would probably make me put on weight, but at the time I was really unwell and in hospital and knocking the illness out was the priority.
I've put on a ton of weight since I started them about 18 months ago, which is putting me at risk of all sorts of nasties (diabetes, cancer etc). I need to lose the weight, but the professionals say I have to do it on the drugs because the drugs are keeping me the most stable I've been in a long time.
Has anyone successfully lost weight on this stuff? I am hungry constantly. I need to do it though, for my health's sake. I was thinking Weight Watchers or Slimming world or something, but I'm not sure. Experiences welcome.
“Our defeats are softened and our victories are sweetened because we did it together.” - Toby Ziegler.
I'm currently trying to lose weight on 20mg olanzapine, although they want to change it to aripiprazole to help with losing weight. I've lost a bit of weight in the last week. But like you I get so hungry especially in the evening after I've taken the olanzapine. My mum suggested having chopped up celery so if you get really hungry you can munch on that as that burns more calories eating it than it puts on. I'm just trying my hardest to ignore the hunger at the moment, but it is so hard. Can you think about switching to another med in the same family as olanzapine, but one that isn't so bad for gaining weight?
"Never be a spectator of unfairness or studpidity. The grave will supply plenty of time for silence." Christopher Hitchens
'When words fail, music speaks'
I am transsexual and homoromantic and proud to be.
Hey Oliver. Thank you for responding and responding so quickly. :) It is hard to ignore the hunger, isn't it? I get so frustrated.
I don't like celery, but perhaps carrot sticks would be similar? I could do that. I quite like raw carrot. I like fruit, but it's not crunchy enough to satisfy me. I don't know if that makes sense.
I don't know about trying something different. I've tried risperidone, aripiprazole and quetiapine before, but they've either not worked at all or not worked enough. The MH people are really reluctant to try something else, and I'm not sure what else there is other than some of the older APs and they have side effects of their own...
“Our defeats are softened and our victories are sweetened because we did it together.” - Toby Ziegler.
I have never had this problem personally, but my partner has had similar issues. She lost a very large amount of weight, bringing her 'morbidly obese' bmi back to a healthy one over the last 2 years, though the last 9 months she's been roughly maintaining.
She did this with Slimming World, its hard work, but the lifestyle change has made such a difference.
I'd suggest you think about Slimming World, and start up an exercise regieme, something manageable and sustainable. My partner started with walking, at first she had to sit down every 5 minuites or so, but gradually we began having 1-2 hour walks. She started using the Wii fit dance games too to boost the weight loss. She found eating alone could not get the weight off in decent amounts per week and she needed it to come off steadily for it to keep her motivated.
I did all the Slimming World cooking/recipes and to start with things were very simple but I would suggest getting lots of different spice mixes and adding them to lean meat instead of anything processed. Lots of fruit and veg, always snack on fruit or veg as a first choice inbetween meals.
Cucumber sticks and carrot sticks with extra light philidelphia as a dip works well!
Could your team refer you to a dietician maybe?
It sounds like your meds are working, I believe it is possible to loose weight on meds like these, but it takes organisation, commitment and lots of support; do keep posting and ask for professional advice too. I know someone who got leaflets from their CMHT about weight maintainance/loss whilst on Olanzapine and they also saw a dietician too.
I've lost a little bit of weight this week, I've been trying to lose weight for a while, but never really got anywhere, but now I have a date for my chest surgery and the surgeon has told me I need to lose some weight it has given me a goal. Do you have a goal to aim towards, as I find it is helping me to resist the urges to binge or eat snack on bad food. Like I haven't had any chocolate, biscuits or crisps this week, which may not sound like long, but for me it is.
Also yeah you need to combine healthy eating with exercise. The NHS couch to 5K is a good plan if you are not very fit or new to exercise, as it starts with running and walking section and builds you up to running for 30 mins over 9 weeks. You can get the podcast on itunes for free and there are other things frmo the nhs like a strength and flexibility plan. They may be worth looking at.
"Never be a spectator of unfairness or studpidity. The grave will supply plenty of time for silence." Christopher Hitchens
'When words fail, music speaks'
I am transsexual and homoromantic and proud to be.
I don't do much exercise at all, shamefully. I'd like to get back into swimming though, as it's something I really enjoy. The swimming pool is walking distance, so it won't be difficult to get going again.
I will definitely look into Slimming World. I think getting weighed every week would be really good motivation.
I did couch to 5k some time ago, but it would be good to get back into it. I'll probably have to start from the beginning again, but that's no bad things I suppose. At least I'll be doing it.
Dietician might be an option. I could ask my GP at my appointment on Thursday.
That's great that you've lost some weight, Oliver. :) It is good to have a goal. I don't really have one other than I want to be healthy. There is a history of heart disease in the family and I'd rather not get poorly like that. It's too risky to stay this weight.
“Our defeats are softened and our victories are sweetened because we did it together.” - Toby Ziegler.
yeah swimming is great exercise. I go swimming once a month with a trans group.
Starting at the beginning of couch to 5K is probably good, build it back up again slowly.
Yeah I decided to buy myself some scales to weigh myself and it gives me the motivation to keep going, as long as you don't get obsessive and weigh yourself everyday, I have to stop myself weighing myself too regularly. But once a week is a good amount.
do you have family or friends who can motivate you? I find it good to have the support of my sister and mum to ask if I've been to the gym and what I've been eating.
"Never be a spectator of unfairness or studpidity. The grave will supply plenty of time for silence." Christopher Hitchens
'When words fail, music speaks'
I am transsexual and homoromantic and proud to be.
Exercise Definitly helps as it will increase your metabolism making it harder for you body to hold on to the calories you consume.
But I think that a weight loss group, as suggested above, would be a good idea. It will provide peer support and better food education.
Also filling up on fruit and veg between meals is a good option as it mean you can still eat but not consume as many calories meaning in the long run you will loose.
All the best with this x
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