Medication makes me gain weight what to do?

[Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain]

I’m recently put on these medicines Phenenergan Promethazine hydrochloride, mirtazapine, solifenacanan, diazepam for severe anxiety, severe depression, insomnia and suicidal thoughts. Was hospitalised for a total of a month.

However I’ve gained weight and definitely want to eat more when I’m on these medicines. What can I do? Who should I ask?

Is gaining weight and wanting to eat more really an issue? More of an issue than suicidal thoughts?

If the medication is helping, I wouldn't change it.

Mirtazipine in particular can cause weight gain. It is very good for sleep though. I take a different anti depressant (citalopram) which doesn't have any effect on my appetite/weight. Maybe you could try a different one if the weigh gain reaches a point where it is counter productive. I can cope with fluctuating by a stone but more than that I feel sluggish.

I found they all made me eat. I share your desperation.

Ask your psychiatrist if a different med would suit you. Some cause more weight gain than others.

Mirtazapine has made me put on lbssss

To be fair, I think I’d feel better if I wasn’t gaining weight as the depression and suicidal thoughts though are still there to a degree they’re certainly able for me to deal with, at least I think so.

I don’t want to have to buy larger size clothes unless I really need to.

I think I will ask this.

as well as @blackcherryconserve says some in particular make you pile on weight. I’m roughly. a size 12 but increasing in size I just don’t think would help my mood.

Boight plums (as well as chocolate stuff), such a pity the plums aren’t as tasty as the non tasty stuff.

I have this.

What I am doing:

Drinking if I feel hungry
Only one glass of not water per day
Lots of flavoured water - tea, herbal tea, amerjcano, lemon and fruit in water

Trying to eat on a routine.

Can't say I've lost weight but not gaining,

I’m trying to do what you’re doing but the temptation is there.

For me it certainly doesn’t help at all if k need carby things to help me sleep with the meds at bedtime.

Ive gone up to 17st on mirtazipine and im only 4ft 10. Been taking it for two years and roughly gained a stone a year.

What a combination of drugs-may I ask whether you're in USA? It certainly looks like it from that list... you'd rarely get that combo of drugs prescribed in the UK - I'm surprised you can function?
Mirtazapine is a nightmare for weight gain. I knew this before I tried it for chronic insomnia, and was determined I would be able to not eat too much-but it beat me! The cravings for food were horrendous. Putting on weight depresses me so I had to come off it, albeit it was a great anti anxiety med and sleep med.
I hope you can find a solution.

The main culprit is probably the mirtazapine. I was on it a few years ago and had to change as just wanted to eat carbs all the time as it was the only thing that satisfied my hunger. Are you on a high dose of it?

It’s used for animals that have no appetite so no wonder!

@abracadabra1980 I wonder too at the amount of meds. OP, can I ask which each one is expected to do?

I’m on 30mcg of mirtapazine and yes I’m in the UK.

But luckily I have a community nurse come once a day who monitors how I am and I can ask questions.

I’m supposed to be reduced certain tablets at certain times, eg 2 diazepam a day in 2 days rather than 3 etc.,

I have raised weight gain queries as I feel I could probably come off mirtazpine sooner rather than later with a doctor’s support. Th reasons for my condition are based around menopause, something which happened which triggered my anxiety and depression etc. so it’s not been with me for years and untreated.

I think the various meds from what I gather from the nurses are to help with sleep, prevent psychosis, help anxiety and depression. Which they are doing so I can’t fault that!

Yeah I often wake in the night with pain.

I make a large cup of tea and take my painkillers with two biscuits.

I have got this down, it used to be a lot more biscuits.

Having the carbs with the drugs do a help protect my stomach

i’m on 30mcg of it. I’ve no idea if that’s high or not.

I will ask if I can change it or maybe even come off it altogether.

What would worry me is that, despite all those meds, you’re still needing carbs to help you sleep. That won’t help with your weight gain and I’m wondering if it’s the Mirtazapine doing that?

Sorry you’re struggling.

I'm on similar meds and the GP has put me on metformin to help with the weight problem.

That's because the meds are working Iv gained weight since being on meds but I honestly don't care if it means never feeling like that again

Sorry don't know why that was underlined.

It’s not that I need carbs to help me sleep it’s what we were told at hospital to do at night. Have supper at say 9pm then meds after them. I’m just copying that but will ask the nurse if I do need to do this tomorrow.

The mirtazapine has definitely not increased my appetite. I don't enjoy eating at all.

It’s worth asking OP. I get that you don‘t want a weight problem to deal with and it’s a fine balancing act with taking care of your mental health as well as your physical. Maybe you could ask your CPN if the Mirtazapine could be reduced to a smaller dose and see how that goes?

Thanks for the suooirt, it’s honestly been the worst 6-8 weeks of my life so far! But im
through it, staying with parents for now but then heading back to my own place soon.