Need to lose 11 stone due to antipsychotics.

[ladylalatub]

Was prescribed Olanzapine in 2019 and then gained so much weight that I ended up a size 30 from a size 20/22- it increased my appetite so much. Then switched to Aripiprazole and have gone down to a size 26. Need to lose 11 stone to be at a healthy weight for my height. Is this possible while staying on antipsychotic medication?

Couldn’t read and run - was on same medication (Olanzapine) for same reason and put on over 4 stone. It’s been a long journey but I was able to lose it eventually. Anti psychotic medication increases your risk of conditions such as diabetes and under active thyroid so make sure you get a thorough check over regularly. They missed my thyroid had stopped working for nearly 2 years and that certainly didn’t help with my weight problem. They wrote all my symptoms (depression/extreme tiredness/ weight gain) off as having to do with the psychosis.
I have no experience of Aripiprazole (that I can recall) but I was able to wean myself off medication entirely so please believe it can be done. Take care.

Here with you, olanzapine is the best thing that's happened to me in terms of my mental health but I've gained 4 stone in the 3 years I've been on it, which makes me thoroughly miserable as I was already massive and now I'm a size 24, it's tipped me over the edge. Despite being mindful with my eating etc I can't seem to shift it either.

I'm at a crossroads now as I desperately want to come off it because I'm scared of my weight continuing to go ups, but I'm also too scared to risk my recovery and start from scratch finding a new med.

It's horrible, I hear you. Hopefully someone will come along with advice!

Does Aripiprazole cause the same weight gain?

Weight gain can be a side effect, but not as much as with Olanzapine.

Hi, I’ve been on Olanzapine and put on about 30 pounds on it. It has felt awful so I know how you feel! I had to go running every day, and have a calorie deficit in order to lose it. I’m still heavier than I was as I put it on again when I switched to risperidone, but I’ve come off that and am now on aripiprazole and Amisulpride, which should help me lose that weight I’ve put on. I think exercising every day and eating healthily should help you lose it, as well as finding the right medication for you.

its hard but you can do it!

Can you try and get Wegovy? It's pretty incredible stuff