I am hoping to get started on a diet soon. I still struggle with low mood. I've gained a lot since starting zyprexa last year. Are there any success stories out there?

Hi, just thought I would put in my two cents for what it is worth.

First the bad news: Zyprexa does cause weight gain.

Second the better news: the weight gain caused by Zyprexa usually levels off by six months.

Third the good news: the weight gain can be controlled and even reversed with close attention to diet, exercise, and lifestyle.

Fourth more good news: the close attention to diet, exercise, and lifestyle can reap the additional rewards of helping smooth out the highs and lows of Bipolar Disorder.

I know it is very frustrating to be taking a medication that can dramatically affect your weight but for many the alternative of not taking the medication and the subsequent results can be much worse.

I would encourage you to research and seriously consider a low carb way of eating!

Good Luck!

Thanks for replying! I am considering low carb diet but I fear the days when my mood is low that I wont be able to stick to it.

i WAS on zyprexa till i gain almost 30 pounds and now we are trying lamatical i have lost all the weight i gained plus 7 pounds.i have got to be on meds cause i am bipolar and without them it is a bad scene.good luck and you will be fine.

I've never heard of lamatical. What group of drugs is it from?Do you have to take anything else with it? I'm taking prozac along with Zyprexa.

yes i SUPPOSE to take 900 mg of lithuim and 20 mg of geodon a day plus the lamital 200 mg a day.i usuallt take the lithuim every other and the lamital daily.i was on zypexa and celexa and xanax but this on is kinda of it in one.i hate the lithuim it makes me sick thats why i dont take it.

Hi Powerrev

I Have a mother -in -law who is also Bipolar. She battles it daily. She also has went from a small frame of about 105lbs....to around 200 in less than a year. (Unsure of the names of the meds she's on ???) She has mentioned that the Doctor told her it was indeed because of the meds she is taking. Knowing that she can never go off the meds totally she asked the Doctor the most effective way to lose the extra weight. His awnser......LOW CARB...
He went on to tell her to read the book Sugar Busters (Which we both went and bought, right away) He explained to her that people who are on low carbs diets ...naturaly have less mood swings....Kinda makes since....Ever gave a child all the candy they could stomach? Frist they get on a sugar high and bounce off the walls....then on the downer they wanna lay around and pitch fits and cry...(LOL)
She has been on the diet since Jan, and lost 55lbs. ( I'm trying to get her to join in on this awesome web site!!!)
Long story short......Her mood swings have been less drastic than in the past! Her Meds are cut in half now....
Thats something to chew on..... Keep the postive attitude that you won't give up till YOU feel the way YOU wanna feel!!!!!!

Hi, I'm a new mwmbwe. I am also bipolar and have taken Zyprexa in the past. I am currently taking prozac and risperdal. I am having a lot of trouble becoming motivated.

I know this is an old post, but if you are still around...
I am BiPolar & have been on may drugs. I have been on Prozac, Lithuim, Celexa, Zyprexa & a few others before being put on Wellburtin & Topamax together. Nether of them cause Weight gain, in fact both of them have a side effect of weight loss. The combination is okay for me. I was stitched to Topamax for the main reason for a new drug & I cried to my doctor that I was tired of drug that mad me gain so much weight. It only made me more depressed. I struggled with eating disorders so being Bipolar on meds that made me gain so much weight was horrible! I stayed with them because they didn't make me gain any more weight & like I said they are okay. I have to keep increasing the Topamax every 6 months. You could always ask your doctor if these drugs are for you. What is good for me may not be good for you. I have been dealing with ManicDepression since I was 10 years old it was passed down from my grandmother to my mother & aunt & then to me. Some day I hope to be Medication free but till then...

Candice

I suffer from major depressive disorder and one of the meds I am on is Zyprexa--I am feeling better now that Wellbutrin has been added--Tommorow shen I see my doc I will ask if we can drop back on the Zyprexa. I still feel that it help with the racing thoughts I was having. I am hoping this will help in the weight loss arena. I am to the point where if I can find something that works I am a little less concerned about the weight loss. But being over weight doesn't make me very happy