Sanity or Obesity? - The Dilemma of Psychiatric Medication-Induced Weight Gain

When I look in the mirror or I get dressed in the morning, I'm often upset by what I see. Since I began treatment for depression, anxiety, and ADD, I've gained nearly 80 lbs. It was a deadly combination of depression-induced apathy and Zoloft-induced, ravenous hunger. Attempts to get off these medications have failed; every time I've tried switching to something else, I either become severely depressed again or the new meds just don't agree with me and I feel sick. Losing weight is like pulling teeth. The pounds never seem to come off, or if they ever do, it's when I've starved myself dieting. The meds make me crave carbs like you can't imagine! The worst part, though, is the feeling that everyone thinks you're fat because you eat bad or don't exercise, even when you are genuinely trying to be healthy.

My frustrating predicament isn't an isolated incident. Rates of obesity among the chronically mentally ill, especially those being treated with antipsychotics, is higher than the general population. It hasn't been until fairly recently that drug companies have really warned us of these side effects, either. Sure, it said "weight gain" in small print under "weight loss" in the long list of possible side effects, but the true extent of the problem was never advertised. It's entirely likely that the drug companies didn't know how bad it could be - after all, these drugs are usually tested in 8-to-12 week clinical trials, which isn't nearly enough time for a patient to gain a significant amount of weight, much less attempt to lose it.

So now, many of us are given a simple choice - we either simply accept the weight gain, or we switch to a different treatment. For some, like myself, it's essentially a choice between sanity and obesity. No alternative treatments have worked, and losing weight seems like a lost cause, especially when you deal with anxiety every day.

While personally I have yet to find a solution to this problem, it's my hope that others in my situation can talk to their doctors about a potential solution. I'm scheduled to see a nutritionist and a weight loss specialist at my local hospital. Another option someone like myself could seek out is joining up with Weight Watchers or another weight loss support organization. Most importantly, though, psychiatric patients like myself need to exercise. It's not only good for our bodies, but it's good for our minds, too. (Though I'm sure you've heard the same thing from your psychiatrist by now, so I understand that it's easier said than done!)

In the meantime, I implore those of you just going on these meds to talk to your doctors about ways to combat these weight issues. Believe me when I say it's much easier to lose 5 lbs than it is 80! There are ways to prevent this problem, and there are drugs that are less likely to cause them.

If you've already gained the weight, remember that you're not alone. You're not fat because of something you did, per se; you simply have a lot more working against you than the average person. And you know what? That's okay! As much as I hate being overweight, I'm just glad I'm not depressed anymore. If I were, there's no way I'd be nearly so motivated to tackle this problem.