Bipolar Medication Weight Gain Worsened My Depression
The Weight Gain That Comes with Bipolar 2 Disorder
If there is one bipolar medication side effect that irritates me the most, it is the weight gain that comes with bipolar 2 disorder. Weight gain is a common side effect of many bipolar medications. It's important to acknowledge such a relevant topic that for many, including myself, has us questioning treatment.
Gaining Weight from Medication Increased My Bipolar Depression
After my diagnosis of bipolar 2 disorder, finding a stable routine of medications was a priority. Gaining weight from some of the medications prescribed to me increased my bipolar depression. I remember thinking to myself, "Great! Now I am depressed and obese." The most weight I gained off a single bipolar medication was 35 pounds. You can imagine my anxiety when the number on the scale kept getting higher and higher, even with consistent exercise and dieting. I felt out of control of my mind and body. Gaining weight from bipolar medication caused me to question receiving treatment.
Finding a Way to Medicate and Maintain My Weight
As someone who has had an eating disorder in the past, the bipolar medication side effect of gaining weight is just simply out of the question (Accepting Weight Gain in Bipolar Disorder). I had to find a way to medicate and maintain my weight. I told my doctor that I could not be on any bipolar medication that made me gain a substantial amount of weight. She agreed, and we began to experiment with different routines of medicines. It did not happen overnight, but within a year, I was on medications that allowed me to get back to my healthy weight. Dealing with the side effects of medication is part of living with bipolar 2 disorder. However, I am fortunate that I do not have to sacrifice my happiness and my body to receive effective treatment.
I'd like to hear about your experience with bipolar medications and weight gain. Do a response video and send it into info@healthyplace.com, or leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
APA Reference
Blum, H.
(2017, May 2). Bipolar Medication Weight Gain Worsened My Depression, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, November 2 from https://www.healthyplace.com/living-with-bipolar-blog/bipolar-medication-weight-gain-worsened-my-depression
Author: Hannah Blum
Oh yes, it was like a cruel joke. My dr put me on Zyprexa and after a few adjustments to my dose I was doing fine. Prior to that I could barely get out of bed and felt absolutely nothing most of the time so when I suddenly felt good enough to join a gym and start dating again I thought I had finally turned a corner and maybe, there really was hope. Then despite going to the gym religiously and watching what I ate I just kept packing on the pounds...42 overall. I went from feeling great about life and myself to feeling horrible. I was so disappointed. I knew I needed to have something, but it just couldn't be that. So, after much debate my dr switched me to Wellbutrin XL and not only did I drop the weight(in 3 months no less), but I also feel better than I have in so so long. I also take a mood stabilizer and in the beginning there was some watchful waiting from worries about it possibly triggering manic episodes, but I've never had any issues with it. I can see why some people wouldn't benefit though. If you were manic more often than depressed or your mania was extreme it would probably not be a good fit, but I think since my depressive episodes are so severe that it worked well for me. It's a lot of trial and error though. I hate that part, but the way I see it is at least I'm trying and that's still something.
Wow hun I understand what are you going through I am a very petite woman ordering 410 and I remember the last time I was at the mental hospital because of his Maniac episode I can't about 45 lb I went to the hospital being a size 2 and left being a size 11 the Depression was horrible it took me a long time to talk to my doctor and be able to get back to being active to be able to get back to my normal weight I also suffer from fibromyalgia so having the extra weight in my body and only affect my depression from the bipolar disorder but it also affects the fibromyalgia causing more pain which causes more depression so I do try to maintain a healthy weight and stay active try to exercise and also trying to eat in moderate portions portion control I think it's the key I don't believe in diets I believe in watching how much you eat and to be able to get the satisfaction of being able to eat the things that I like but also it helps with my mental health