I have the same problem and suspect this is true of many of us.  The fates have NOT singled you out.  The medication(s) is a direct cause of this and not your lack of self-control, etc.  Two thoughts for you.  First, use weight--and particularly weight gain--as an indicator of problems.  For example, I will often find myself getting hungry for no reason at all except for the need for emotional comfort, etc.  Since I've always had difficulties seeing the warnings of upcoming bipolar episodes, this has proven helpful.  Secondly, gaining weight may be an indicator that you are not exercising enough.  Exercise is one of the most effective ways of dealing with bipolar problems and can ward off those problems.  This from a guy who hasn't yet taken his bicycle out of storage...

Extra weight is never a good thing, especially if you have Type II diabetes, a bad knee, poor stamina, poor self-esteem, etc, but it may be a good temporary tradeoff for the benefits of the meds.  I have been so down and so willing to seriously consider suicide that I would not consider going off my meds because of their side effects--though I wish they weren't there.  For the time being, be thankful you have some relief from your bipolar pain and go for a walk.

Good luck to you.

Hi there truleefrea,

Depakote, Adderall and a bottle of wine every night was the reason I had once put on 50 lbs.  At the time, I did not know why I gained so much weight until I read many forums.  No exercise and wine made me even more depressed. - My weight was a record high of 202 lbs and a I wore a size 18.   I'm 5'9".

Depakote is history.  Lamictal has been great.  For 2 years I have maintained 158 lbs, stopped drinking and have become very active (bicycle, walking, eliptical).  I had never exercised in my entire life (I'm 47 years old).  I take Lamictal, Adderall and Synthroid.  I am now a size 8/10.   Sometimes I think I'm dreaming.

Doesnt this sound great?  HOWEVER, I AM ALSO BIPOLAR.  Who knows where my most recent manic episode came from, but it did.  Jeez for a while there, I thought I was cured.  Yeah right.

Recently, Abilify had been added to my medicine cabinet.  I took it until I was up 3 lbs on the scale.  You could add Neurotic to my diagnosis.  I stopped Abilify immediately.  PICK ONE:  Fat and depressed or just depressed.  I wasnt waiting for another ounce of weight gain.

I stopped taking Abilify last week and replaced it with Geodon.  I would still be asleep if I hadnt stopped taking that too.  Oh my god.  I was a zombie.  That drug is history too.  VERY IMPORTANT:  I have never had severe episodes of mania or depression.

So my friend, you are not alone.  Weight loss is a concern to many women I know.  All they have to do is go on a diet.  Unfortunately, we have to try to stay sane as well.   I wanted to share my story with you so you could see that there is hope.  

My wish for you is that you become educated in the side effects of all of the drugs you are taking.  There are some that are much worse than others.  The rest of the other stuff, diet and exercise - who needs to reiterate what we already know. 

 You'll be amazed at how much better you will feel when your clothes become loose and your addicted to exercise. I promise.

Best wishes

tali

I had my first manic episode in 2005 and was put on depakoate, lexapro, and seroquel.  I had always been a size 6-8.  Within 2 months of taking these meds, i was in a 12-14.  It was bad enough to be diagnosed as bipolar, but then to be overweight on top of that.  I was too chicken to stop taking the meds for a long time.  Then of course I eventually thought I was cured and stopped taking the meds. but as we all know, i was not cured.  I thought the weight would just drop off since I wasn't taking the meds but it didn't.  And of course I had another episode.  This time i was put on atarax, symbyax, seroquel, and ambien.  I knew the wieght gain was going to follow.So I was better prepared this time.  I follow a diet similar to atkins.  I stay on induction 2 weeks then off a week and the weight stays off.

Hello

I am also one of the many who gained weight on the meds I was 160 now im 225. Yup I had lost 35 lbs on meds but its harder than heck to keep it off. We joke that I smell food and gain 5 lbs. I couldnt tell you what to do .I cut out food. Just went without. No bread , no carbs .And my depresstion went crazy trying to drop the 35 that i just gained back anyway. Know that your not alone in this. I fight it but to no end.

I also gained 50 lbs. in 8 years on Abilify.  It was great for the delusions & paranoia I had (bipolar 1), but I was getting very depressed over my weight gain plus it was causing marriage problems, health problems (now on meds for high blood pressure & cholesterol & have insulin resistance--precursor to diabetes & both my parents were diabetic).

Tried Geodon--fell asleep while driving on that.  Totally knocked me out & made me terribly dizzy--lasted 4 days on that medication.  Depakote didn't touch my depression.

Now down from 20-25 mg of Abilify (increased dose for a week or so when signs of hypo mania would appear--not sleeping, racing thoughts, etc. & it would knock it out then go back down to 20 mg) to 5 mg now & have added Topamax 100 mg that has the side effects of weight loss (lost 10 lbs. in one month) plus sleepiness (I need that, but so far still not sleeping much despite taking very sedating meds).  Hoping weight loss continues.

Also take Lamictal, Klonopin, Trazodone, Concerta & Provigil.--Suzy

I know exactly what you all mean. I was diagnosed at 18. Due to improper monitoring of my lithium levels, my thyroid gland "burned" out. So I became hypothyroid on top of all the meds. However, my p-doc I have now is great. She changed my meds in 2004 (Abilify, Zonegran, Seroquel, Wellbutrin SR, Trazodone(I don't sleep without it), and Levothyroxine(for hypothyroidism). I lost 200 pounds in those 2 years. I weighed 105 at 18 and was 398 pounds in 2004. Now I am 34 - gained 67 pounds back due to my lack of following the diet and exercise program given to me - I weigh 265 pounds. Yet I am going back on my diet(the South Beach Diet), doing Yoga again, and plan on walking whenever I get my stamina back. PLus, I need to drink LOTS of water(WATER, not diet soda or coffee). I was told to give up caffeine and drink lots of water to help my meds work better. Obviously it worked - 200 pounds gone. Although I do not think I will ever be 105 pounds again, I am have being below 200. Yet 130 would be awesome. lol

I know it is going to be lifetime of effort to keep the weight down. I work what I have that God gave me! lol Be careful about diets that dehydrate you, because with all the meds we take that is the LAST thing our bodies need.

I do best when I am in the position for intense regular exercise - but unfortunately that is often not possible.  I do the best I can  - and have to accept that I would rather be larger and sane than thinner and living through hell!

Just wondered if you found a medication yet for the bipolar that is also giving you the capability to lose weight?  I am looking for another.  I am currently on seroquel and it give me hyperglycemia.  It is very hard to find another medication.  I am thinking of Geodan.  Have you ever taken that?  I am sort of afraid of the heart-related issue.