I am diagnosed with bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and disturbed attachment. I was on Sertraline 50mg, Lamictal 75mg, Lithium 1200mg Olanzapine 30mg, Loxapinze 50mg.
I saw a nutritionist who told me to reach out to another psychiatrist for a second opinion especially on the Olanzapine which made me gain 44kg over a year. The nurse was infantilizing and told me in general people only gain 5kg with antipsychotics. What a bunch of bullsh*t. My psychiatrist only tried Risperdal and Quetiapine as others solutions and told me “well it didn’t work so we go back to Olanzapine”. I can’t afford the other psychiatrist I saw so I sent an e-mail telling her I refuse to take another antipsychotic ever again.
Thing is the other psychiatric I saw prescribed me mirtazapine and I am already on Sertraline which also plays a huge role in weight gain
I’m just tired I used to accept I preferred being on the bigger side and being mental health vs being thin and ill. But I don’t think like that anymore my physical health is as much important as my mental health. I want to fuck shit up and stop everything but I know I’ll end up in the hospital or dead because of the withdrawal. So I patiently wait for my next psych appointment to see if she is willing to make the changes.
For those who both were on antipsychotics and antidepressants, which is the worse for weight gain? Is it more manageable on antidepressants?
The antipsychotics are more likely to cause weight gain. There are plenty of combinations of antipsychotics and antidepressants that can reduce this. I was on all of the ones you were on but not all at once. Many of the less weight gain producing meds are somewhat expensive like Abilify. They told me Zyprexa was bad for my diabetes but I told them I would just watch my diet (I didn’t) the trade off is better, in other words the benefits outweigh the risks, weight is easier to manage than MH. The problem with some psychiatrists is they sometimes will pile on meds. I like one or two at a time (I am diagnosed with schizoaffective bipolar). You are entitled to as many second, thride etc opinions as you llike. Keep going until you get one that you agree with. Try telehealth as well if you run out of places in your area.
