Antipsychotics and antidepressants made me morbidly obese

[AnxiousApocalypse]

Over the last 15 years or so, I have been prescribed 2 different antipsychotics and 5 different antidepressants. I am 5ft4 and am a UK dress size 26/28 currently. I can't afford to take weight loss injections and due to travelling frequently for work, I don't see how I can successfully adopt healthy eating habits such as cooking from scratch. The antipsychotic and antidepressant I'm on currently make me really tired most of the time, which makes exercise hard as well. Has anyone else experienced this?

Can you ask for a GP medical and then for a review of your medication with a psychiatrist?
Psychiatrists should want to balance your mental and physical health.

If you have a BMI of over 30 you may qualify for weight loss injections on the NHS. Anti psychotics are well known for weight gain so I sympathise with you, but there are options. Speak to your GP

It’s a well known well researched side effect yes.

No quick solution but just wanted to let you know you aren't alone. I'm currently trying to switch off an antipsychotic to lithium in the hope I can lose some weight and feel less like I permanently want a nap. But it's not been straightforward, and it needs regular bloods to watch kidney function and thyroid as well as the actual lithium in your blood. Prior to that, I tried switching to lamotrigine but my mood shot up like a rocket, hypomanic and a bit paranoid, plus terrible nightmares. But I know it works great for some people and is weight-neutral. And just in case anybody is tempted to come along and tell the OP to eat less, I can vouch for the fact that the damned meds have you virtually sleep walking to the fridge for food 30 mins after you take them.

This isn't something I have experienced, no. Maybe I am one of the lucky ones? I'm on fluoxetine 60mg, quetiapine 300mg and lithium 800mg. I have a healthy BMI but I have to work very hard at it. Lots of exercise and eating very healthy and very little. Probably not that healthy really. Sorry to play devils advocate!

I'm genuinely sorry for your struggles, but I don't accept your argument for not being able to eat below your TDEE.

(Before anyone says 'You don't know what you're talking about so button it', I used to be 30st and am diagnosed with a severe psychiatrist disorder).

How much have you managed to lose @CelticSilver?

Yes I was BMI 40 and lost six stone in a year on the injections. Doctors supportive but had to pay myself.

Starting now if chose wegovy as it's cheaper or try and access it via something like oviva via the NHS.

I'm BMI 25 now

I've been very big size 22/24.

I would say you don't have to adopt a drastic habit like cooking from scratch always.

You can make a much smaller changes. Things like "when I am at home I have 3 different types of vegetables with my main meal" this could be frozen bean, carrots, broccoli chucked in a microwave with a bit of lemon juice to finish.

Or at home I eat ... For breakfast because it fills me up.
Or when I'm travelling I'll make sure I take my own water/fresh fruit/sandwich/salad/water for the journey there.

Starting small is better than not starting at all.

I take an anti psychotic and anti depressant, I’m 5’4” and 14.5st.

My anti psychotic works best for my Schizoaffective disorder but it causes metabolic syndrome (I’m pre diabetic), and makes me hungry. I do watch my diet, I’m tired all the time too.

I’ve looked into WLI but it seems that they would increase the side effect of drowsiness I get from the anti psychotic. So I’m just trying to calorie count which is difficult.