Advice - what would you do - I'm desperate

[Andrea73]

Just a bit of background. I had my gastric bypass successfully on October 2009 and lost over 6 stone I have a history of depression and anxiety and the specialist doctor put me on a drug called Olanzapine. Well this is the problem. The med works really well but has horrible side effects and one of them is weight gain brought on by increased appetite. I didn't think this would affect me much since I'd had my bypass but it has and I now find myself nearly 2 stone heavier. I am so depressed over this. What do I do? Continue on the med and continue to put on the weight or ask to find another.

My gut feeling just now is that I want to come off it but I'm so scared for my mental health. Mind you its not good just now anyway so can I get any worse.

I understand you'll probably just be thinking well just eat less or exercise etc etc. I do eat well. If you google Olanzapine maybe you can read and give me your opinions.

Thanks for reading x

 

[chrisa]

Think Andrea may be you should have a chat with your doc or pyschiatric nurse to discuss these problems and see what they come up with, if this is making you unhappy then surely that is adding to your problems and there should be something else they can try surely. Hope you get some answers, and its difficult when you had done so well and now the meds are doing more ahrm than good, seek good helpful medical advice x

 

[Andrea73]

Thanks Chrisa, I have spoken to them but they think oh well she's doing good on the meds but really I'm feeling fatter and fatter and this is making me so low .

Thanks for replying tho

 

[chrisa]

YOu do need to tell them how bad this is making you feel other wise you are cretaing a vicious circle thta will never end, put a stop to it now make an appointment and write down how you feel and what you think could be done ie change meds or ask for suggestions you could even demnd a 2nd opinion. xx There is always more than 1 way, you'll find the right way eventually, think you have been through enough already so time to get things moving again make an appointment Monday xx

 

[Big an Bouncy]

I would ask for a reveiw of your meds and ask for a different one such as Prozac,I no longer have depression but have been on Prozac throughout my weightloss journey.It seems to keep your mood even and less likely to start comfort eating etc.Best of luck.Maz x

 

[Andrea73]

Aw thanks guys. I'm going to phone them on Monday . I'm already taking Prozac this other nod is for the anxiety.

 

[chrisa]

Well you'v got the whole weekend to feel positive about this and then armed for the docs when you can get an appointment, best of luck xx You'v come tooo far to lose it all now xx

 

[amanda577]

Hi andrea
I have bipolar disorder coupled with depression and was on olanzapine for over 3 years, in which time I put on over 5 stones... When I was on the list for a gastric bypass, my psychiatrist changed me from olanzapine to a similar drug called abilify (aripiprozole). He said that this unlike olanzapine would not cause weight gain. I was very upset with him as he could have given me this one in the first place rather than the olanzapine and caused me such horrific weight gains. But anyway!! its worth talking to your psychiatric team, and asking them about abilify as it really is a good alternative, it has worked for me.
Hope this helps xxx

 

[chrisa]

Thats great sound help and advice Amanda hope the doc agrees n changes it for her. We go through these things and suffer and then help someone else out where it didn't work for us, but cna make a big difference to some one else. Wonderful really encouraging for Andrea x

 

[emma-louise]

Hi

I was in a very similar situation as you,I had to an anxiety/mood stabiliser drug called deprokte.
It caused me weight gain after my bypass.
I was so upset I had my meds changed,and I lost the gained weight.
You need to ask about other meds to try.

 

[Evenstarr]

Just an idea, but I know CBT can be effective in treating some anxiety disorders, perhaps you could get some sessions through your GP?
I had CBT a couple of years ago and it really helped me, although it wasn't for an anxiety disorder, it did help me bring my occasional panic attacks under control.
Lots of luck ((hugs))
Em xxx

 

[amanda577]

If you need to talk or want anymore advice andrea you are more than welcome to pm me. I know how debilitating olanzapine can be. I am just as stable on abilify as I ever was on olanzapine but without this awful weight gain problem.. xxx

 

[MrsSAFC]

whats more important? also this med might increase your appetite, but you chose to eat...


soz xx

 

[Cicca]

whats more important? also this med might increase your appetite, but you chose to eat...

soz xx

Strange response! I read back trying to see where it fitted in but can't see it.

Anyway, def see the GP again, they could try something else. Weight gain in itself is a worry, if you could get back in control im sure it would help you feel better all round. I'm a alternative therapist believer, ask the GP for anything else they may offer.

Anna x.

Sent from my iPhone using WLSurgery

 

[MrsSAFC]

sorry - responding to - gaining 2 stone since the meds? meds are needed for other reasons then thats fine, but putting weight on is our own doing. cant say increased appetite due to meds, which may well be the case, but to gain weight means over eating.

been a foody all me life, probably always will be just chosing not to over eat. had depression on off for years as well, it can be a vicious circle if i let it. only i can change it. like above, only Andrea 73 can change it

 

[OOnion]

sorry - responding to - gaining 2 stone since the meds? meds are needed for other reasons then thats fine, but putting weight on is our own doing. cant say increased appetite due to meds, which may well be the case, but to gain weight means over eating.

been a foody all me life, probably always will be just chosing not to over eat. had depression on off for years as well, it can be a vicious circle if i let it. only i can change it. like above, only Andrea 73 can change it

Absolute rubbish!! Sorry but weight gain from Olanzapine is not just down to eating more...if it was that easy then I don't think Andrea would not have become fat in the first place.

Would you say to a diabetic - "only you can change it" - no when there is a chemical imbalance in the body you often need the assistance of drugs to re balance things - which is clearly the case here. People are not put on Olanzapine without very careful thought and consideration as it is known to be a drug with a lot of unwanted side effects.

Andrea I would def go back and talk to the MH team, there are lots of alternatives now, OK some a lot more expensive but you should push for them to change you to one of the newer drugs with less side effects.

Good luck xxxxx

 

[amanda577]

Okay!! Let me say that olanzapine does not just increase the appetite. It also alters the bodys metabolism, and affects the way the body breaks down glucose and all sorts. In fact in the usa there are law suits against the manufacturer of olanzapine for instances where the drug has caused diabetes and in some very rare cases even death. I researched olanzapine very well when I realised what it was doing to me, and found out that there has been a lot of controversy surrounding it.. The scary thing is that even if you stop olanzapine, if it has affected the way your body deals with glucose etc then that usually is not reversible.. So Im sure andrea is like me, and needs to change from that drug to maximise her weight loss chances.. Its a shame the doctors don't think before prescribing such a life altering drug, when there are comparable alternatives without such side effects..

Sorry but Olanzapine is something I feel strongly about as I suffered such a weight gain through it when in truth it was so unnecessary...

 

[Andrea73]

If only it was that easy taking the olanzapine and being able to lose weight. Unless you have had experience if this drug and what it does to your body then you can't understand.

Thank you very much for the support

 

[MrsSAFC]

I have had experience of this drug. And I had decided enough was enough. Stopped it of my own accord. I Continued to over eat and gain weight. I was part of a study in 2004 for this drug. I can pm you the study if you l would like.
Ive been on risperidone as well which has higher effectiveness rate at 78% but done nothing for me what so ever! ( olanzipine being 74%)

The side effects being weight gain is due to lack of exercise, using the drug or not over eating will cause weight gain. Not everyone who uses this drug is over weight, or gains weight, the studies have shown its a cycle, gain weight don't exercise, gain more weight as they can't exercise and going round in circles. Weight gain being 117 out of 1000 people. Hyperglycemia is more likely to happen when people have pre existing conditions ( known or unknown)

Also it is unfair to compare this to diabetes

Apologies if my original response was abrupt or not what you wanted to read, however that is my true opinion, only the person can make changes, whether that's to the meds, the GP, or whatever is the individual

 

[OOnion]

MrsSAFC I respect the fact that you noted you original message was abrupt. However I still have to disagree - it is exactly like diabetes - there is a chemical imbalance meaning your body/mind is not functioning as it should be - just the same! This can be helped by major lifestyle changes and some medication - ditto!

We should call mental health problems - "Diabetes of the Brain" LOL ! There are also pre existing conditions linked with major MH problems - the pre existing conditions in diabetes are often the cause of the diabetes...forgive me but just same as pre existing conditions are often the cause of mental health problems??!

xx