If you are a person being treated for bipolar disorder , you may have often wondered, "Why am I gaining so much weight?" This is not just a problem for you. Many people who are being treated for this condition experience this problem. Don't worry, it's normal. So today, let's talk about why this happens, and what we can do about it.
Why do these medications cause weight gain?
Doctors use a variety of medications to treat bipolar disorder. The main goal of these medications is to control your symptoms. However, like all medications, they can have some side effects. Weight gain is a common side effect.
Simply put, these medications can affect the way your body functions in different ways.
- Slow metabolism : Some medications can slow down your body's metabolism, which means that even if you eat normally, your body can't use that energy and it starts storing it as fat.
- Increased appetite: You may not have had much of an appetite before taking the medication. But with this medication, your appetite may increase significantly. It is normal to feel hungry all the time and want to eat more.
- Increased cravings for certain foods: You may have an increased craving for foods that are especially sweet, fatty, and high in carbohydrates (e.g. rice, bread, biscuits).
But you should also remember this. These side effects do not occur in the same way for everyone. Some people may not experience any of them, while others may have all of them. It varies from person to person.
Medications that can cause weight gain
Many medications used for bipolar disorder have the potential to cause weight gain. To give you a clearer understanding of this, let's take a look at what those medications are. The table below lists some of the most commonly used medications.
| Drug Category | Common Medications |
|---|---|
| Mood Stabilizers | Lithium, Divalproex sodium / Valproic acid (Depakote), Carbamazepine (Tegretol) |
| Antipsychotics | Olanzapine (Zyprexa), Quetiapine (Seroquel), Risperidone (Risperdal), Clozapine (Clozaril), Haloperidol (Haldol) |
| Anxiolytics | Medications such as Lorazepam (Ativan) are sometimes used |
| Antidepressant-Antipsychotic combos | Olanzapine and Fluoxetine combination (Symbyax) |
Important: Don't be afraid to take a medication that is on this list. These may be essential for managing your condition. Most importantly, do not stop taking this medication or change the dosage for any reason without talking to your doctor.
Is the medication the only reason? Are there other reasons?
No. It's not just the medication that causes weight gain. The nature of bipolar disorder can also contribute to this.
Depression Periods
In bipolar disorder, you have periods of high activity (manic) and periods of severe depression (depressive). During these depressive periods, many people don't even want to get out of bed and have no interest in doing anything. This leads to a complete lack of exercise. They also resort to comfort eating to cope with the sadness and loneliness. When these two factors come together, it's not uncommon for weight gain to occur.
Binge Eating Disorder
Some people may have this condition along with bipolar disorder. This is when they eat large amounts of food in a short period of time without control. They feel very sad and embarrassed about it afterwards. This is also a major cause of weight gain.
So what do we do? Ways to control weight
The good news is, there are many things we can do to control this. While you can't control the side effects of medication , you can change your lifestyle.
1. Talk to your doctor first.
This is the most important step. Talk openly with your doctor about your concerns about your weight gain. He or she can give you the best solution for you.
- Switching to another medication: There are other medications that cause less or no weight gain. For example, the drug `Lamotrigine (Lamictal)` is not associated with much weight gain. Also, some antipsychotics such as `Aripiprazole`, `Latuda`, `Ziprasidone` do not have much of an effect on weight. If it is suitable for your condition, your doctor may switch you to such a medication.
- Adding other medications: Sometimes, studies have found that the diabetes drug metformin can help with weight control when taken with bipolar medication . Your doctor will decide if this is right for you.
2. Make simple lifestyle changes
Rather than trying to make big changes all at once and getting overwhelmed, start with small things and make it a habit.
- Healthy diet:
- Include as many vegetables, herbs, and fruits in your diet as possible.
- Protein- rich foods (fish, chicken, eggs, chickpeas, green beans, peas) reduce your hunger and help you stay fuller for longer.
- Reduce sugar, flour, and fatty foods (cakes, biscuits, sweet drinks, short-eats) as much as possible.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Sometimes we can feel hungry even when we are thirsty.
- Make exercise a habit:
- You don't have to go to a gym. Just walking briskly for 30 minutes a day is enough.
- Set a goal to exercise 3-5 days a week. Do something you enjoy. It could be dancing, running, or cycling.
- Exercise not only helps control your weight, but it's also very good for your mental health.
The hardest part is just getting started. Start small and keep going. Get the support of your doctor, family, and friends on this journey.
Take-Home Message
- Weight gain is a common side effect of some medications used for bipolar disorder. Don't worry about it.
- Most importantly: Never stop taking your medication or change the dosage without first asking your doctor. This can be very dangerous.
- Talk openly with your doctor about your weight gain. There may be other medications or solutions that can help you lose weight.
- A healthy diet and daily exercise go a long way in helping to control weight.
- You are not alone in this journey. This is a problem that many people face, and with the right support and guidance, you can manage it successfully.
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