Question:
What should i do????

hey fam. just me again i have decided to stop taking my mood stabilizer (zyprexa) i know it is a notorious drug for weight gain actually one of the top antipsychotic meds to cause weight gain though i know i need meds i can`t risk sabotaging my weightloss. since starting back last week i have gained almost 3 lbs!!! not acceptable.so i stopped taking it two days ago.my rationalization is that maybe i am really not bipolar and maybe i should see how i do off meds. of course logically i will make an appt. with my doc to try something else for mood stabilization, i take zoloft for the depression anybody have any suggestions on what has worked for them? something i can come to the table with when i see the doc, here is what all i have been on :depakote,trazadone,topomax,paxil,and a few others i can`t remember let me know what you think?    — nice n sweet B. (posted on October 3, 2002)

October 3, 2002
Hi! I too had the same problem when I was on Risperdal. My Doc changed my pysch med to Geodon. It does not have the bad side-effects as do the other anti-pyschotics. Has been working great for me. Good luck!
   — kb0lqx

October 3, 2002
If I were you, I would talk to my Dr. about it immediately and explain the situation. Taking yourself off meds is dangerous and could result in a nervous breakdown or something else equally damaging. Don't risk a reaction like that. I am sure you and your Dr. can find something that doesn't inhibit weight loss and which controls your bipolar disorder.
   — Jennifer Y.

October 4, 2002
I agree with the previous poster about NOT going off your meds on your own. Have you been in treatment for bipolar for awhile? Then surely you must know that this is not a good idea. I take a combo of Wellbutrin, Tegretol and Lamictal. I tolerate it well and there does not seem to be weight gain associated with any of these. Best of luck.
   — Paula H.

October 4, 2002
I am a manic depressive, suffer from severe anxiety, and I cut on myself. I take Paxil, Buspar, and Zyprexa. The Zyprexa makes me eat all the time but since I started taking the Zyprexa I havent cut at all! I love that but hate eating all the time and discussed it with my Psych and he said since I am having wls we would switch to something else afterwards that wouldnt cause me to want to eat all the time. I hope whatever he puts me on works as well as the Zyprexa. Hope this helps you. Remember, dont go off any of your meds without discussing it with your doc first. Take care and God bless you.
   — Angie L.

October 4, 2002
Hi there I just wanted to comment...I'm not bipolar but I have severe anxiety problems. I'm not a doctor but speaking from experience it actually may be the Zoloft that's causing weight gain. I was on it for 1.5 years 100mg reduced to 50mg for about 3 months. I found it wicked increased my appitite. I gained 50 lbs on it and am working towards losing it. And I got really discouraged so I stopped taking it for a while (twice actually) But each time I stopped taking it the anxiety symptoms came right back. It's really too bad cause Zoloft really worked the best for my anxiety attacks. I tried Paxil before that and it made me extremely tired. Currently I'm on Wellbutrin which is working great for weight control but it's not helping my anxiety much. I think it's more for depression than anxiety. But I'm going to the docs in 2 weeks so maybe I'll increase doseage? I have a sister who's bipolar and I definetly don't recommend you coming off the meds without dr approval. She stopped taking them for like 2 weeks and she almost ended up the hospital. So I'd ask you doctor if it may the Zoloft. Good luck to ya :)
   — mzcath