Psychiatric Meds and Weight Gain Fear-- Seroquel and Lithium

Hi all,

  I've been using the calorie tools and logs on this site since Aug '08 but haven't actually posted before. I have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder II (a milder form of bipolar) after years of being treated for depression only, which made matters worse (antidepressants destabilize bipolar disorder). I've been on Lamictal for past year (and Klonopin PRN), which has been awesome but it's recently become apparent that it may not be enough. Lamictal fortunately has few side effects. However, the others that Doc and I have looked at seem depressing with regard to weight gain. I can't take any of the SSRIs or other ADs b/c of hypomanic risk, so its either another mood stabilizer or an atypical antipsychotic. The Dr gave me 25 mg of Seroquel to take at night a couple weeks ago when I was having an increase in symptoms due to tapering off an AD. (I know 25 is a small dose but I'm petite and and quiet med sensitive). The Seroquel was great for sleep and the symptoms but I was scared of weight gain so we tried Abilify beginning 5 days ago-- unfortunately, I'm having trouble tolerating it-- makes me feel like I'm on speed. I want to ask to go back to the Seroquel but I am terrified of weight gain-- as irrational as it may seem. I know its a low dose but I've had ED tendencies before-- when I took my first psych med Zoloft 3 years ago, it triggered some purging behavior because I was so scared of the remote possibility of weight gain. And that was just Zoloft! I'm 5'5, 120-123 lbs, 25 y/o female-- I count calories during the week to a maintenance level or slightly lower, not so much on weekend since I like to go out to eat and have a couple days of not being neurotic. I exercise 4 x per week. What's other people's experience with weight gain on Seroquel, esp at a low dose of 25mg?

    Also, the Dr doesn't want Seroquel to be the longterm med of choice-- mainly due to diabetes risk (I'm in excellent health with virtually no risk factors, but it's good to be safe.) What he wants to put me on eventually is Lithium. That scares me even more. What's people's experience with Lithium and weight? Thanks.

Sam

I'm on Seroquel and it's been a hard road. I'm on 400 mg a day for PTSD. I've gained a lot of weight from it (about 30 pounds) and it's driving me nuts. It makes me want to eat, but not because I'm hungry. I've tried not taking it, but that just makes me bounce off the walls and not sleep for days. I've found it's great for the mental symptoms, but physically, it sucks. I'm going to see if my doc will give me something else. I'm on Celexa for depression, but that just doesn't seem to be working at all. I have no physical side effects from it though. I hope this helps a bit.

Wow, our stories are scarily similar.  I've had anorexia for 7 years, major depressive disorder for 10 years and just a few months ago I was diagnosed with Bipolar II. I've been on all the SSRI's, SSNRI's, antipsychotic and most atypical antipsychotics and more drugs.  Nothing helped at all until one doctor put me on Lithium.  I too am quite petite (15 years old, almost 5'4" 105 pounds) and I take 1200 Lithium (lithobid [there are 2 kinds] twice a day, 600 mg in AM and PM).  It helped tremendously.  It has not effected my weight at all.  The only side effect I complain about is a tremor and being thirsty all the time.  But a few months later I was hospitalized again after another suicide attempt and was put on Seroquel.  I too greatly feared the weight gain side effects.  I'm on 400 mg Seroquel and I have an awfully hard time maintaining my weight, even.  My doctor told me there was a small study done on those with eating disorders & Seroquel, testing whether or not they would gain weight.  They didn't.  Seroquel has helped my mood so much.  I'm able to function (but I'll still probably need ECT) and things are going pretty well.  Please don't refuse to take this medicine out of fear of weight gain.  They are both very, very effective (and life-saving) drugs.  

I only have experience with lithium here and I really can't say how it's affected my weight - I've been on it a long time and so much has happened. I think swimfan's experience is relevant here. I WILL say that I can't imagine weight control while being hypomanic so effective treatment is a must. You need stability.

Hi. I am on serequel too along with many other similar meds. I am also in recovery from anorexia. I guess for me I try to stay in the day because everyone responds different. Also weighing the pros and cons. If this can really help your mental state or what ever it is used for and give you a better quality of life if you do gain some weight it may be more acceptable to you because you will be feeling better overall.

I was on lithium for a while and it was the most awful experience of my life.  I don't remember the weight gain as much as how it made me feel, extremely DAZED.  I couldn't think straight or walk without having to hold on to something.  I had the dr. take me off of it asap.  I'm sorry that abilify doesn't work for you, it has been the best thing for me.  It took me trying abilify three different times to find I did the best with it.  I don't think I gave myself enough time for the side effects to pass before I would stop taking it.  I now have been on it for a year and no weight gain as a matter of fact I have lost weight with it and wellibutrin.  Good Luck