Taking new meds with weight gain as a side effect

[spoiltmom 44]

I've suffered with anxiety and depression for years now and I've tried a lot of different meds and I still don't have a lot of relief from them. Yesterday my family doc said she thinks I have a very mild form of bipolar disorder. She got me a psych appointment but it's not until August. In the meantime the only other med she feels comfortable trying lists weight gain, increased appetite and slower metabolism as side effects. It will most likely make me gain, stall or have a much harder time losing the rest of my weight.

But if it works I could be feeling better in as little as one week.

Do I try it and risk the weight gain or wait until I see the psych doc? There are meds available that won't cause weight gain but my family doc isn't comfortable prescribing them without the psych doc seeing me first. I want to feel better but I think gaining weight back might make me feel worse:(

[Jess55 97]

I personally would nOT want to. A number of weeks ago, I tried birth control to help alleviate cramps and nausea I had during tom. The doc told me it would not cause me to gain wait, almost immediately I was up 3 lb. I also felt tired on it and just did not like how I felt. I gave it a week, and I was like I'd rather feel like crap one day, then feel like this everyday.

[laurajean1 1]

I've suffered with anxiety and depression for years now and I've tried a lot of different meds and I still don't have a lot of relief from them. Yesterday my family doc said she thinks I have a very mild form of bipolar disorder. She got me a psych appointment but it's not until August. In the meantime the only other med she feels comfortable trying lists weight gain, increased appetite and slower metabolism as side effects. It will most likely make me gain, stall or have a much harder time losing the rest of my weight.

But if it works I could be feeling better in as little as one week.

Do I try it and risk the weight gain or wait until I see the psych doc? There are meds available that won't cause weight gain but my family doc isn't comfortable prescribing them without the psych doc seeing me first. I want to feel better but I think gaining weight back might make me feel worse:(

i take phsyc meds and i am doing just fine,thoe side effects you are talking about are just possibilities,it does not mean you will have them

[Rachel412 116]

i take phsyc meds and i am doing just fine,thoe side effects you are talking about are just possibilities,it does not mean you will have them

I agree with Laura Jean. Remember that you control what you put in your mouth still! I've tried a couple of different psych meds and they've never affected my weight- I did that all by myself

[vlp1968 83]

That's great you are finally going to a psychiatrist. The know much more about issues like bipolar than your family doc. I take 2 meds for bipolar. One possibly causes weight gain but it didn't for me. I lost steadily on it. I would take the meds prescribed for a couple weeks and see how it goes. If you are doing all the right things and still don't loose than you can decide what to do. For me, I'd rather stall in weight loss for a bit than suffer with deppression/anxiety. Good luck!

[lovemysgt 4]

I think it is very important you take your pills no matter if you gain some weight. you can try to change it to Welbutrin that is what i am on it. it give you energy. but i wouldn't stop meds you need. WELBUTRIN IS A DEPRESSION PILL.

[54Shirley 105]

Well,,,,, you have lived without these pills that are prescribed by a Family Doctor wright. If your comftorable with what you are currently taking. I would waite untill I see the specialist, and let them prescribe the proper Meds.

I have Hypothyroidism, and have been on 2 of the wrong Meds for years.

I told her I want to go to a Endocrinologist. She thought about it and said your wright ! Were not getting

anywhere if these Meds are not Treating your problem.

So it took about 4 months, and he explained to me that Family Dr.'s really don't know much about this. So forget the past,

today we are starting Fresh. So I asked him what if these Meds. don't work? I'll change your Meds then.

That was 3 months ago. I see him this month, and see how things are going. (I ALREADY FEEL BETTER)

and my Family Dr. never even heard of these Meds. It goes with the Professional Field.

Put your Faith in the specialist, just like you did with your Bariatric Surgeon.

Myself I would Wait, if your good to go with what you been taking. If not,,, then make the change.

Shirley

[Pammy S Lewis 2]

i take zoloft (which is what caused me to gain the weight in the first place) and i have been able to lose with the band but it's just a little slow. you might call the the psychiatrist's office and ask them to let you know if they have a cancellation so you can get in sooner or if they can try to squeeze you in sooner.

[Papillon Princess 13]

I'm sure there must be more than 1 psych in your area...try getting into a different office. These meds are extremely important as being depressed can cause you to gain weight (IMO). I personally think you're better off trying a medication at least until you're able to go in August OR finding another dr. I have been on diff meds and 1 of them caused a lot of weight gain, but they weaned me off of it and I'm not experiencing the cravings like I was. So if they put you on it "temporarily" to relieve other side effects, that may be best.

I can't speak for you...but I know I wouldn't want to be without my meds for several months. They help me feel better and think more clearly.

[spoiltmom 44]

I started the new meds and so far, I don't know.

I was on Wellbutrin and Prozac. The doc had me stop the Wellbutrin and start taking Seroquel XR. I wasn't going to try it. I was going to wait until my Psych eval but I was researching it and kept reading how it has a dramatic effect on both bipolar and depression and I'm so unhappy that I decided I had to try it.

So far I'm sleeping better at night but that's the only thing I've noticed.

We don't have ANY psychiatrists at all where I live. You have to drive 85-100 miles to the closest one and even then they are few and far between and most don't accept insurance. The psych I'm going to see does have me on a cancellation list but I just have to wait it out now.

[mattie7632 24]

I have taken anti-depressents for 10 years. True, I did gain weight but in hindsight I don't think the meds are responsible at all.

The fact that my diet was not balanced, I aged 10 years and didn't exercise is much more likely that I gained about 10 pounds a year, doesn't everyone agree? People with anxiety/depression, even when controlled with meds, tend to be less energetic, which is another factor that contributes to weight gain.

I am still taking my meds and still losing weight so my advice, try the meds if you think you need to, they might help. But have a psychiatrist prescribe them, Family Practice MD's don't know enough about mental health meds and might end up giving you a dosage too high or not the best med for you. Good Luck!

[Ready2 4]

i take zoloft (which is what caused me to gain the weight in the first place) and i have been able to lose with the band but it's just a little slow. you might call the the psychiatrist's office and ask them to let you know if they have a cancellation so you can get in sooner or if they can try to squeeze you in sooner.

I switched to Wellbutrin and actually LOST more weight. I will never switch back.

[MollyRN 28]

I gained 15 pounds (pre-op) when I started taking prozac, in like a month. But really, I think I was to blame for half of that. I have lost an average of 12 pounds per month since being banded and the prozac hasn't interferred. I think you try to drugs and if you gain weight, it will only be a little and you can work past it. You need to feel good.

[bayareanan 24]

I used to take Seroquel for bipolar disorder. I didnt gain any weight on it and was able to lose some weight while on it. I gained my weight on lithium and depakote. Today I take Geodon and Lamictal and am making slow progress towards weight loss.

[L12 13]

i take phsyc meds and i am doing just fine,thoe side effects you are talking about are just possibilities,it does not mean you will have them

I agree with this. I take four different prescription medications (one includes an antidepressant) and suffer from NONE of the possible side effects for any of them. Just because you MAY experience them doesn't mean you WILL.