I am on a similar med, I've gone from a size 6 to a size 12 since starting the med I'm on. I talked to my shrink about it, and she was more than happy to work on dosage and changes to my other meds to help me not gain as much, because it was affecting my mood so badly. I'm losing the weight now, eating lots of protein, and working out.
Talk to your doctor, and tell him/her how this is affecting you. They will help.

Beth Ditto scares me. I saw The Gossip once about 10 years ago and the show ended with her running around in her underwear through the crowd. It didn't help that she referred to herself as "Lunch" at the beginning of their set. But the part that was so unsettling was when my buddy and I realized that the attendees were predominantly lesbian/gay. Mostly, I wish I could remember the name of the opening, local band. They were like a pre Sleigh Bells type of female singer/male guitarist duo, only not as hardcore.

This really cheered me up. I hope LW is able to adjust her meds so she can slim down a bit. Confidence is super sexy though.

"Cutting calories and exercising will not change this..."

Yes it will. There is not a medication on earth that will make your metabolism stop. You may have to exercise more, and eat differently, but your body can still gain and lose weight after it achieves a new sense of homeostasis. This is a basic tenet of nutrition—and anyone who tells you that you can't shed weight that you've put on through manipulation of caloric intake/outtake is incorrect.

I am reluctant to second-guess the LW without knowing all the details, but there are alternatives to nearly every antidepressant, anticonvulsant, and antipsychotic out there. Sometimes even a swap between two very similar meds can result in lessened side effects. (The statistics are a good starting point, but you may be an outlier for any given side effect. Never know until you try.)

There's also a middle ground. The medication that works best for me causes weight gain, so I use the second-best med and another to treat remaining symptoms. It took a lot of experimenting. My doctor truly understands that weight gain is not a tolerable side effect for me unless the medication is saving my life. Some people also take things like Topamax on top of antidepressants to make them eat less.

I have friends who have had to work out similar issues with fogginess, fatigue, and lowered libido. One was told by her doctor that she needed to stay on her current meds and might have to give up DRIVING! The doctor was considering her medical condition exclusive of her quality of life overall. She ultimately got a new doctor and a new medication that didn't cloud her brain. You may have to get aggressive with your doctor or even find a new one.

But perhaps the LW has already been down this path and resolved that this med is the Holy Grail for her, and (obviously) has concluded that weight gain is preferable to whatever she is dealing with.

I'm just throwing this out there, because people forget that doctors aren't perfect.

I'm loathe to admit it but that Beth Ditto pic on the cover of Love magazine on Wikipedia is somehow .. sexy. Still, I am definitely not a 'body diversity' advocate and generally don't like big women.

I agree with Insufficient Poison's advice. Should maybe even consider a second opinion if your current doctor has no sympathy.

Nor am I a body diversity advocate, but I must admit that all of my fat girlfriends (there are many) found men and are in happy relationships. I would have once said "no chance," but I was completely wrong.

I'm going to throw in one more piece of unsolicited advice, because it's my first day back to work in two weeks and I've forgotten how to do my day job:

I hope the LW is seeing a bona fide psychiatrist if she is treating a mental health condition--not a GP or an APRN. Psychiatrists have the latest studies at their fingertips and generally have more experience mixing and matching crazymeds. They can even try older meds that aren't commonly prescribed anymore but that might be a perfect match for the LW.

I have known GPs to dole out meds like Abilify that have serious potential side effects with only a "loose" diagnosis and no consultation with the patient about the risks. They don't necessarily know to start with the lowest-risk meds first and change one variable at a time while cooperating with the patient's therapist. I have friends with prescriptions for serious f***ing meds who have no understanding of how they work.

I'll echo what others above have said . . . after being diagnosed with a seizure disorder, I was put on a drug (Depakote) that caused me to gain 50 lbs. And made it really, really hard to lose that weight as it made me slow, stupid, and fuzzy-headed. It took me years of having my meds messed with, drastically upping my cardio, and otherwise tweaking my diet and exercise, but I've finally lost the weight. As one of the commenters above said, the drugs don't stop your metabolism. They *do* often slow or alter it, so you just have to work harder. Go for a run every day. Cut out *all* bad carbs. That sort of thing. And definitely work with your doctors to fine-tune meds. They're often loathe to switch because everytime you switch meds you can have new side effects, setbacks, etc., but there are lots of drugs out there and a good doctor will work with you to get the right balance.

-They tell you to watch yourself running your hands up and down your bare skin, tell yourself, "I'm sexy," and really mean it, feel it

Damn straight. And learn belly-dancing, whatever your weight. See if that doesn't make you feel sexy and strut-worthy.

I accept the fact that some medications can certainly make you more suceptible to gaining weight, but saying medications cause you to gain weight is unadulterated fertilizer.

You cannot gain more than you take in. I'm on the antidepressant Celexa, which is said to cause weight gain (although, as noted above, I don't agree with that phraseology). I adjusted, and the pounds I gained came right off, pretty much as quickly as I gained them.

I also recognize that weight loss is harder for women than men, but -- just like the antidepressant causes weight gain theory -- that's simply another excuse. And in no way is this helpful to weight loss.

Bottom line: if you gain fat, take it off again.

If a medication causes you to gain weight with no other change in diet or exercise, then I think it's fair to say it can "cause weight gain." Some people put on 80 pounds in six months on antipsychotics. You couldn't do that without pharmaceutical assistance even if you had a Twinkie and Dr. Pepper IV. They get off the medication and the weight falls off.

True, there are some drugs that cause new /habits/ that cause the weight gain (person is less depressed and eats more, person is fatigued and can't exercise)...

With others, though, it's apparent there are physiological changes like the with the functioning of the pancreas. Weight gain with Seroquel was observed in patients on bed rest who were on an IV drip for sustenance. They lost the weight when they came off the meds. No change in activity, no change in diet.

How would you phrase this other than "can cause weight gain"?

"but saying medications cause you to gain weight is unadulterated fertilize"

WRONG WRONG WRONG Patrick. I was on an anti psychotic that made me gain 80 lbs in 4 years (no I am not the LW). I've been 100lbs my whole life, I took it and every year I gained the same amount of weight (20lbs). As I lowered the dose, my weight came down. I did not make any other change but the medication. I know people that gain 200lbs in 3 years, 40 lbs in 6 months, and others that loose weight.

There are several theories on this, but remember an anti-psychotic is NOT the same as an anti-depressant or any other kind of medication. For example if I take an anti-depressant I go bat shit insane.

This is a misconception again an ANTI-PSYCHOTIC IS NOT AN ANTI-DEPRESSANT.

The unfortunate thing about medications, is that few people are on just one. If you take more than one drug, you, and you doctor are left guessing, what is causing the side effects and weight gain.

My daughter took birth control pills when she was younger, and gained a lot of weight. She got off them a few years ago, and last year went to a more physically active job, and lost half the extra weight.

She started taking Zoloft again, six months ago, and lost the rest of the weight.

Small things, like cutting the carbs, and being more active can make big differences over time. If a drug makes you lethargic and less active, it is only indirectly causing weight gain, no matter what someone's anecdotal evidence indicates.

Insufficient Poison is right. I was on Seroquel, I’m tired of this misconception that people on anti-psychotics are undisciplined and we turn into fat fucks because we are not dieting. I was a 100lb waif my whole life that suddenly turned into an obese person because I didn’t count calories/fat? Please.

Keep in mind that nobody knows exactly how any anti-psychotics work and that they only work on *some* people suffering psychosis. We know how anti-depressants work, and how every other form of medication works better than anti-psychotics. Why do they work on some and not others? No idea. Why they cause diabetes in some and not others? No clue. Hell the most potent anti-psychotic of all, Clozapine, has been found to kill white blood cells. Nobody knows how any of it works, just that it works sometimes and in some doses on some people. Great diagnosis, huh? And keep in mind weight gain was not the only side effect for me. Parkinsons like twitching at night? Check. Eyes locked in an upward position? Check. High cholesterol? Check. High blood sugar? Check. Difficulty focusing eyes? Check. And I was one of the lucky ones with few side effects.

I even got cystic acne when I was lowering the dose. (I'm the type of person that NEVER gets any acne). Who the fuck knows what is going on? Nobody!

One more thing, because this hits close to home.

An anti-psychotic is messing with your brain in more ways than any other medication. Your hormones will change, pancreas function, so will your kidneys, your urinary tract, eyes and even your heartbeat.

You are at a very HIGH RISK of developing diabetes within 5 years simply because you are taking an anti-psychotic. Tell me what medication is known to cause diabetes in otherwise physically healthy individuals?

I feel like most of the advice and comments here would be more applicable if the weight gain was smaller--say 15-20 lbs. Yes, a gain of 15-20 lbs could have been caused by indirect side effects (ie lethargy, bigger appetite) rather than directly by the medication itself. Yes, you could probably lose the 15-20 lbs if you really, really tried, even if that meant an insanely restrictive diet and draconian exercise regime. It's also possible that a low carb diet could lower your "set weight" 15-20 lbs thus neutralizing the impact of the medication. And yes, you are certainly capable of loving your body, finding love, and living a full and meaningful life 20 lbs heavier than what you're used to, so perhaps the best solution is simply to accept it.

But 80 pounds is SO much weight. That's the equivalent of putting on a fifth grader. What about the impact on your knees, joints, and heart? Quality of life and mobility issues? Increased possibility of high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart trouble? Self confidence is important of course but you can't love yourself out of a wheelchair or a heart attack. And now the LW is dealing with depression issues too--will that require more medication with its own set of side effects? Where does the cycle end?

(As far as the comments implying that the medication is just an excuse for weight gain, and the LW probably just isn't exercising enough-seriously? I doubt most people could gain that much in a short period if they ate like their lives depended on it, let alone by accident. Something else is going on and it's a pretty safe guess that this something is the medication.)

My point is that it's hard to fathom that this is the best possible outcome, or that there's no other solution than to resign herself to constant starvation or living 80 lbs overweight. I have no experience whatsoever on the topic so maybe I'm wrong, but it just seems like there's got to be a better alternative out there. Otherwise where do you draw the line of creating a bigger problem than the one you've hoped to solve?

Great points Shannon.

The thing is that weight gain is seen as an itty bitty problem when it comes to anti-psychotics in the medical community. There are worse things that can happen to you because of the medication, and remember people that are taking anti-psychotics are not taking them because they are "depressed".

If you are depressed you take anti-depressant and feel better *hopefully*, if you are in psychosis and take an anti-depressant you will start hallucinating, have paranoia and mania. It will make your life worse.

(I've experienced mania and depression at the same time! It's called a mixed state and it feels like you are dying).

Seroquel saved my life, I can tell you the first day I took that little pill was the best day of my life. I remember gaining the weight and thinking "there were worse feelings than being fat."

Trust me, I know schizoprenics who thank the gods for seroquel despite the weight gain.

If she needs the medication to function, then she has clearly weighed the lack of normal functioning against the potential for weight-related health issues and decided the mental functioning takes precedence. Since she can't lose the weight, all she can do is change her attitude about the weight.

As for wearing "clothes that hide the weight": I hope she's not wearing "fat clothes." I wore clothes two to three sizes too big when I was in college. (I didn't have a weight problem. I had a body image problem.) I deluded myself into thinking my tent-size clothing hid the weight. It didn't. It made me look like I was smuggling a baby seal across state lines. Wear attractive clothes that fit you.

I love seeing the medical advice from non-medical professionals who know next to nothing about the person in question, especially the one that blames the patient for a side effect of medication. I didn't know you could just STOP having side effects by wishing really hard!

Weight gain can be caused by MANY things. I had a friend who gained a hundred pounds on some meds. Her diet did not change, nor did her activity level. when she had to change meds her weight promptly returned to normal.

Websites to improve your outlook: Dances with Fat, Health at Every Size.

Lots of men like big women. Confidence and Enthusiasm are beauty.

This is becoming an ugly hallmark of libertarians. Because we care so much about personal accountability, we start assuming that everyone's problems are their own fault, and that they could fix them if they weren't lazy and "making excuses."

When you start taking one of these meds, it's in the hopes you'll be part of the group that DOESN'T experience each side effect. Even if you are, you may still need to take it if it keeps you "functioning" and you can't identify an alternative. By functioning I mean able to take care of your kids, keep a job (which you need to pay for treatment), or stay out of an institution (where they will put you right back on it). The emotional torture caused by bipolar disorder or schizophrenia can indeed be "80 pounds' worth."

Sadly, almost all patients will gain weight o n second-generation antipsychotics: drugs commonly prescribed for those diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The "-apines" (olanzapine, zyprexa; quetiapine, seroquel) are notorious for inducing weight gain, increases in blood sugar and blood fats. The "-idones" (risperidone; risperidal, ziprasidone, geodon) marginally less so, but still bad. A newer "-done," lurasidone (Latuda) is seeming less problematic in early studies, but remember: study participants are cherry-picked perfect patients monitored for 8-, 12-, or 26-weeks, not real people living real lives. (And, a 26-week study is a rarity.)

If possible, find a psychiatrist at an academic medical center. These docs are, not surprisingly, on the cutting-edge of disease management. First, consider slowly lowering your daily medication dose. While a high dose may be necessary in acute illness, people often do very well when managed long term on significantly lower doses. Because side effects are typically dose-related, this might help. Ask about being prescribed metformin (a drug used in managing blood sugar) or bupropion (an antidepressant that acts on the brain's dopamine system [well, that's the abbreviated version]). Avoid topiramate, Topamax, aka dopamax: people complain of cognitive impairment. Definitely eliminate simple carbs from your diet (common sense advice for everyone).

Good luck - keep the faith - it gets better.

hey nineteen, where are you getting "almost all patients"? I believe that the infamous Study 15 showed 23 percent for Seroquel. Twenty-three percent is non-trivial, but that is not "almost all patients." Do you have other data?

Insufficient Poison,

I believe there have been several studies showing a link between schizophrenia and diabetes. It does provide a clue as to why atypical anti-psychotics exacerbate the problem.

The patients that trip me out are the ones that loose weight or......

the ones that take the highest doses of the most potent stuff and it has 0 effect on them (whether good or bad).

Purplepen, I agree the connection has been proven, and I agree with you. I was just disputing the generalization of "weight gain in almost all patients," because I want to speak correctly about this subject of which I'm so protective.

Oh yeah I'm with you. Some people loose weight (and this is under reported, who the fuck does not want to loose weight anyways?).

Anyone read the Times yesterday?

The other thing about a lady being fat is how the structure under it is built.

Years ago, I took my lady to a water physical therapy evaluation at a hospital. The therapist was in the 225 pound range at about 5'6". She was wearing a one piece bathing suit that left nothing to the imagination. But she didn't have cellulite, and from what we could see she wasn't a flabby fat.

I wasn't interested in her -- but it definitely makes a difference in how a guy would look at her if it is pure flab rather than extra weight over muscle.

@Balooned,

I'm sorry to see you have gone through this. It hits close to home... my wife had ovarian cancer in 2006, in our second year of marriage, and her oncologist told us that she would gain a great deal of weight. She is 5'7", just as you, and is over 80 lbs heavier than when we married.

Here's some advice, from a male perspective of someone married to someone who faces a situation similar to yours (although, it is a bit different, since we were married before this happened). This is a case where you must accept what you cannot change, and change what you can. You're weight may be largely out of your control, but there are two things you can control to keep in mind.

How you present yourself is first. You can keep yourself clean and stylish, and above all be pleasant. Don't assume you are a turn off to every guy, and a pleasant appearance and attitude will add a lot to how attractive you are to someone.

Second, how you look at men is important. How you feel about your weight is how many men feel about their physical attributes that are beyond their control. Many high quality men get disqualified over their height, their receeding hairlines, etc. Put character standards ahead of looks standards, just as you want a guy to do for you. Ironically, you may find a great husband that exceeds your character standards that you otherwise wouldn't have even dated if your outlook wouldn't have changed.

Take care of yourself, and I hope you keep us posted on how you are doing. This is a challenge, and a tough one, but it isn't the end of the world, and may even be the beginning of a new and better one.

Best,
Trust