http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20080108/fighting-antipsychotic-weight-gain
2 Likes
I take a long acting version of metformin two times a day to combat antipsychotic weight gain from my latuda. I can’t really tell if it helps or not. I’m slightly overweight by about 20 lbs. could it be worse? Yes it could. But is it good now? No it is not.
To suggest exercise to a person on antipsychotic medication is disrespectful. It’s like putting a weighted vest on a dog and expecting him to wanna play fetch. My advice to any doctor who tells you to up your exercise regimen like mine does is to take this medicine yourself and tell me if you feel like jogging of weight training afterwards.
Sounds pretty unlikely doesn’t it?
2 Likes
I don’t exercise but do diet.
1 Like
I’ve been eating like a pig, so I’m not helping my situation but Metformin is doing a good job at controlling my blood sugar levels regardless.
2 Likes
I might talk to my pdoc about this. I’m really unhappy with the 10kg I’ve put on since starting invega. I’m still in the healthy BMI range, but I’m not in the happy range if you get what I’m saying. I’m pushing overweight with a feather (and my rotund gut).
3 Likes
It really isn’t. It’s a good suggestion and the antipsychotics alone do not make it impossible. But doctors should understand that sticking to a workout regimen can be very challenging. Especially if you struggle with motivation.
2 Likes
That’s an entirely different story. The motivation aspect. I think that the meds make that worse too.
I used to be an avid runner and gym rat. I would run 5kilometers a day five days a week. On the days that I had to take off I would feel guilty for not running and wouldn’t know what to do with myself.
Ever since I have been on antipsychotics I struggle to get out of bed. I’m not in the hospital and haven’t been in a year but exercise is almost impossible to run. I get no pleasure (runners high) from it.
I’m really sad about this because my weight is up, I don’t look like I want to and I’m stiff and slow all the time so what’s the point of exercising? One reason that people exercise is to see changes in their energy levels, flexibility and overall health. I feel the antipsychotics block this phenomenon.
And of course make it difficult to get motivated
1 Like
I’ve run half marathon every 3 months plus several in training on clopixol depot
I’ve done yoga 3/ 4 times a week done teacher training and for six months worked in the fields on organic veg farms 3 x a week 8 hr days all that on olanzapine
I’ve cycled 60 miles London - Brighton on a night ride, swam, skied, went gym
My depot week I struggled… when it was effectively strong dose I’d struggle to run 3 miles 2 / 3 x a week
Yes I’ve also spent Years on the couch
I hear where you are coming from now after re reading
In early sz after a first episode don’t expect to do much apart from recover for a good 2 / 3 years
It’s gonna come back - some of the skills you have lost like habit of exercise - will come back
Seems like with the internet everyone has a voice and etc, I just read books and went out to work in a charity shop once a week
That is part of recovery
Staying compliant is all you can do if you want to improve over a number of years
Don’t judge the illness or the meds if you are just a year after first psychosis
2 Likes
I take my hat off to you, for being so active. I just got home from the park. I walked two miles. I’m on 40 mg of latuda and I could hardly breath. I haven’t done anything in the way of cardio in about a year but I’m majorly upset about this. I don’t have pure sz but I need antipsychotics to avoid episodes. I’m heartbroken that I have to take this type of medication. It makes me fat, stiff and overall uncomfortable in my body. You are truly an inspiration as someone who can see past these issues. Maybe I’m not as strong as you are. Yes it’s been a year since I had a major psychotic break. I feel like all this illness does is steal years off of our lives. I’m going to continue with my diet and try to exercise as much as possible, but I pray for the day that they have better treatments. I just hope I can hang on till then.
1 Like
I don’t know much about latuda
I’ve only ever heard of it on here
It’s true all it does is take
I don’t think there are any positive things about it making optimism the only way out
I’m lucky with the support I’ve had my mum was basically my coach but only with the running
How old are you ?have you had one break?
Residual symptoms?
I was on metformin to help me get pregnant. It helps with PCOS. Maybe I should talk to my pdoc about getting back on it. I could use all the help I can get in the weight gain department.
2 Likes
It’s a tough med to take but every time I get fed up and scale it back I start to experience powerful symptoms returning.
I’m 39. Got sick at 24. Had this illness for 16 years and I’ve been on and off medication over that time period. I’ve had Drs not know what I have, some have said it looks like anxiety and OCD and taken me off meds and I’ve gotten psychotic. I’ve had about 9 major breaks.
I’m really not cut out for this anymore. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve breathed my last breath in my mind. Unless they come out with some type of miracle drug I don’t know if I’m gonna make it.
I tried it for a month and saw no weight loss
There are probably meds you haven’t tried
My saviour ended up being one of the typical ones
Nothing like good times after bad - always worth it
X
1 Like
After reading up on metformin I decided to give it a shot, very interesting drug. I’ve lost tons of weight 6 years in a row, however now my body ‘refuses’ to lose fat anymore (for over a year!). I’ve been told by a dietitian that your body may stop losing fat at some point after losing much weight so many years in a row no matter how much you diet or exercise. Well I guess my body is at that point.
No one else on metformin that diets and exercises and lost weight?