Weight gain from drugs for bipolar/psychotic/mood disorders?

I have trouble with horrendous mood swings. I am a 47 year old female. They had diagnosed me as bipolar, but lithium, depacote, nothing worked, but I gained weight like crazy. I didn't really fit the profile for bipolar other than mood swings (no spending sprees, no promiscuity, etc.). The doctor tried Risperdal and it worked! I felt normal for the first time in years. Then they took a prolactin test, it was 37.7, and normal is 1-20, so he took me off and put me on Seroquel. I am on a therapeutic dose, no relief, still mood swings like crazy and MORE weight gain. Some days I eat nothing at all, and I still gain (and still act crazy). I would like to go back to Risperdal if that number is not completely out of the question. At least if I have to be 30 pounds heavier, I don't have mood swings with the Risperdal. Anyone have any luck with these or other drugs for mood swings, and what did you do about the weight gain? I feel HORRIBLE!

I take the seroqual and they gave me Tofranil Pm, Its a mood stabilizer. I have had great results with them. unfortunatley, most antipsycotics/antidepressants cause weight gain. It sucks. I haven't gained much weight but then again I don't get hungry either. But NOT eating can actually make you gain weight. Talk to your doctor about your concerns at your next visit. As far as loosing the weight I drink alot of ice tea (its a natural diuretic- loose water weight) and I try to eat small meals through out the day, even if i'm not really hungry.... Good Luck!

I'm just on anti-depressants, but I did gain weight. I've been going to Curves gym and it's been helping. I really hope you find a medication that works for you - I just wanted to convey my best wishes. I remember how hard it was to find the right medication, but once I did, I felt so much better. Hang in there.

I know it is hard to think about but it sounds more like you need to see a gyn and get on hormones. Mood swings at 47 are more indicative of the need to replace hormones. I know.
I was diagnosed a little over a year ago as being bipolar and was sent to a therapist who told me I was not and that I was just depressed. So, get a second opinion on that too.
Go for walks when you feel like eating and or swinging out at the world.
Get some healthy snacks. Join a women's league of some sort, it will also get your mind working somewhere else.

I AM BIPOLAR AND I ALSO TAKE SERIQUL AND I HAVE GAINED ALMOST 50 POUNDS IN LESS THAN A YEAR.I WAS ADMITTED INTO A PHYSIC WARD AND WAS PUT ON GEODON/CYMBALTA/SEQUEL/VALIUM/LITHEM AND TODAY ALL I TAKE IS 900 MILLS OF SEQUEL AT BED TIME BECAUSE IT WAS MAKING ME TO TIRED DURING THE DAY.TRY ASKING YOUR DR. TO BE PUT ON MIRIAM IT IS A DIET PILL AND SO FAR IT HAS WORKED (NOT AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE)

I am a nursing student and I just finished my psych rotation. My impression was that Risperdal was the drug of choice and obviously very effective. But it was always used in conjunction with another drug. Ask your doctor about adding another drug or to try again with Risperdal. Insist that u feel Risperdal helps and u want to get back on it. Try it and see if the prolactin test is the same again- if it is, try another option. Unfortunately, weight gain is a frequent side effect of antipsychotic drugs. The only way to solve that problem is to deal with it- lose weight like everyone else- work out and eat right.

If you were not having any side effects related to the prolactin elevation many professionals believe that it probably isn't necessary to stop the Risperdal. You may also consider a lower dose if you are very concerned about this blood prolacatin level.

Half the damn psych meds out there put the weight on you. Seroquel is notorious, as is Depakote (aka Depa-bloat). I take Lamictal (lamotrigine) as a mood stabiliser, and that is weight neutral, although I also take Zyprexa, which did make me gain weight. I don't know about prolactin levels, but you could do worse than ask around at http://www.crazyboards.org