does anyone take an antiphsycotic (zyprexa) that causes weight gain???

I've suffered for bipolar and  depression for 15 years, i guess about 3 years ago after taking every antidepressant out there my doctor put me on zyprexa and it was like a miracle drug for me, i felt so much better, but the only problem is that it is linked to obesity and i gained about 50 lbs!!!  i've tried different medications, but none have been as good as this one.  i was just wondering if anyone has had any similar experiences ..... thanks

My extremely skinny daughter gained a ton of weight when she started it. I had never seen her like that since she was a normal chubby toddler. She was able to lose it, though. Many of us have meds that cause weight gain and we have to adapt to it and try to lose even though it may be harder. I once started a med that caused me to put on 50 lbs. too. Of course for me when I stopped taking it I only lost 8 of them. I was eventually able to lose but I didn't try for quite a while.

The point is that there is a risk/benefit ratio with any medication and it sounds as if Zyprexa is the one that you need and it is better to have the bipolar under control and weigh more or lose harder than the alternative. My hubbie is facing the same type of situation right now with two of his meds. The docs both agree that it would be far worse if he eliminated them than the side effects they are causing, even though another specialist wants him off all of them. He said one day recently that the bipolar has the chance of destroying everything that is important to him and he would not take that risk for anything.

I wish you well, but don't let weight gain control and define you. You are worth being mentally healthy as well as physically. Do what you can and forget the rest.

thanks for the encouragement. I know i have a love/hate relationship with the zyprexa, but i know i need it to stay mentally stable....thanks again

 I too have bi-polar and am on zyprexa.  It works wonders for me too.  When I started loosing weight my psyc. switched my med. to something else because of the weight gain issue- can't for the life of me remember the name of what he switched it to, it's in the same family as zyprexa.  Well, it was horrible.  I got very depressed and couldn't sleep to save my life.  We went back on the zyprexa at the next visit.  I don't think I am real sensitive to the weight issue, don't believe I gained while on it, and going off didn't seem speed weight loss.  I agree with others, your mental health being stable is what's most important.  It may be harder, but you can get to a healthy weight even on zyprexa.  Good luck and take care of yourself!