| sneecie
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I just searched for "bipolar disorder" and read all the postings everyone has sent in on this.
I have bipolar disorder and was thinking of starting a new thread for others who are struggling with this illness, especially the weight gain from the medication, as well as the ups and downs we have, and yet are still going ahead on SBD.
Any contributions and thoughts will be greatly appreciated! |
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Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:47 am |
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| scoers
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| Welcome to the forum and good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:23 am |
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| RedRox
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| Not a problem, but moving it to the Health and Medical forum here and leaving a clickable "shadow" thread as it seems to be a broader topic than simply a P2 discussion topic. |
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Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:13 am |
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| Dolfyn
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Hello,
I have slight bipolar II. I am on Seroquel, and it works fine, but boy the weight it packs on. Hear a rumor about a class action law suit that adresses the elevated amount of weight gain not mentioned in the side effects. also without a good perscription plan it can run over $400.00 a month (Yep my insurance hates me and even called to see how long I thought I would need the medication because they red flagged it for cost ) :x I think there might be other options out there that I have not dicussed with doctor, but playing around with other meds and changing somthing that works to an unknown is scarry. This med is an obstacle for us but we now have "the Beach" to overcome this.... :D |
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Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:53 pm |
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| AnonyMouse
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Hello All..
I just started back on Zyprexa (which helped me with a 60 pound weight gain :shock: when I first started it). With the exception of the weight gain, it's really been a "magic bullet" for me. I tried Abilify for a year and BOY did that disagree with me!! I am struggling with SBD right now, but I am determined to make it work.
If I were asked to explain how the medication effects my eating, I would say that no matter how much I eat, I still feel hunger pangs. So I am trying to learn to eat portions (eat with my eyes), and not my stomach. Because if I followed my stomach, I would be eating constantly!!
:wink: |
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Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:54 pm |
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| Dolfyn
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Hello,
I agree my med makes me feel hungry all the time, even when I know this seems impossible. Am also in for the 60lb pack on. :( Wonder if there is a med for this without the weight side effect. What were the circumstances with Abilify? Is that new
Melissa |
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Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:16 pm |
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| AnonyMouse
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Ughhh Abilify!!! It is somewhat new, and I didn't like it AT ALL. You're supposed to be able to lose weight on it, and still get the Bipolar benefits.. That's why my doc decided to try me on it.. In the hopes that the weight would just "drop off" like it had in some of her other patients.. So I was all kinds of excited about it.. until... I couldn't sleep, AND I had this problem that I called the "stand up sit downs"... I would want to sit down if I was standing, and stand up if I was sitting.. I was in constant discomfort. There's a name for it, I think it's askthesia or something.. But the doc told me to take Benedryl to help with the no sleeping and askthesia, and it did help, but only a little. And I had anxiety really bad too.. I was so determined to lose weight that I stayed on it for a year!! Now that I am back on Zyprexa, I can see even more how miserable I was. I'm sure Abilify is good for some patients, but not me!!!
As far as meds that work, but don't make you gain weight.. I tried the anti-convulsives..After taking about 3 different variations of these types of drugs, I had not gained weight BUT my brain wasn't properly functioning. I couldn't remember simple numbers, I had to read sentences over and over.. So that was when I came up with this mantra "I would rather be fat and smart, than thin and stupid". I am sorry to report that in my past 6 years of undergoing treatment, I have not taken a medication that works as well as Zyprexa that doesn't have terrible mental side effects. I am determined to make this work for me.. as my stomach grumbles, after I just ate a large nectarine and a laughing cow cheese.. LOL.. How long have you been diagnosed? |
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Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:06 pm |
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| Dolfyn
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| Well only about a year for for low level bi-II. Before that it was dysthima and meds for depression then they brought out anxity, an up and down roller coaster for 8 years untill my psycopharmacologist decided to change my GP doctors "assessment". It worked. At first I did not know if to be angry or sad over all the years and meds for a wrong assessment. Never been on anything bet 600mg Serquel taken at night, so far I have not had any of the effects you describe (except the 60lb :( ) Thanks for the info on Abilify, will avoid it like the plague if I ever have to switch. Been working SB well, and for the most part don't crave sugar, but find the temptation ohh so much higher during an "upswing". Like fighting the I want it and I want it now to heck with the aftermath. Then off to the other side, :( |
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Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:49 pm |
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