I think my meds are causing weight gain

I think I would live with it if it was just these 9 lbs.  But you know, at first it was just 3 lbs.  Then 5, then 7, and now 9.  So I'm afraid I'll just keep gaining.

Kelly,

Just my experience, but I'm on abilify for depression and it has helped tremendously.  I have stopped cycling with the depression and am fairly stable.  I take abilify with cymbalta and concerta.  I am questioning whether the concerta is effective anymore, but otherwise I am stable now. I had a period in the first few weeks following surgery with increased depression, but that has leveled out.  I also have not had any weight gain on abilify.  When I  I first started taking lyrica I had a huge weight gain, but eventually that stopped and I lost that weight prior to surgery.

I would hold off on stopping the abilify.  It took three medication increases for me to get to a therapeutic dose for me.  I would definitely talk to the doctor about your concerns though.

I am sorry you are going through all this.

You're saying you had to increase the Abilify three times before it helped?

No, it helped before three increases, but it took three increases to get me where I am now.  My depression improved at the first dosage level, but I still had cycling.  It took the next two increases to stop the cycling.  For me, it has been worth it, but then I did see a fairly quick improvement, within a couple of weeks, and I didn't have weight gain.

You have both my sympathy and my empathy - going through the same damned thing.  Abilify + Seroquel = 20 pounds.  I'm pissed about it.

Wow, I'm sorry Kelly. Do you really trust your doc? I'm thinking if it's not helping, you shouldn't be taking it anyway regardless of weight gain. Does the doc understand what an issue weight is for you (us)?

The first med for depression my pcp gave me caused weight gain and diabetes!! Both my parents are diabetic which is a major reason I had the surgery. When I found out about the meds I freaked and quit taking it. Then I found myself a pychiatrist...

Good luck and chin up!!

This is a psychiatrist.  Does he understand what an issue weight is for me?   I dunno.  He was my doc when I had RNY so he should understand it.... but I'm not sure he does, no.  And do I trust him?  I dunno.  I guess not fully.  And I have to agree with you, there's really no point in me taking it if it's not helping.... and I really don't think it's helping.

I think you need to make a field trip to Kentucky.  My psychiatrist is great!  He saved my life/sanity a couple years ago.  I was very lucky in that the first drug he tried really worked well for me.  I know that I am very, very lucky though. 

So if you ever come to western Kentucky, give me a holler and I'll set you up! 

I really do pray you find relief. 

No advice since I have no experience with this, but sending lots of sympathy and HUGS!!!! Hope you figure it all out soon.
Jan

 About 7 years ago I was put on a drug that was known for weight gain.  It was the only thing that helped me at the time.  I did start gaining weight and I went through years of going off the med, hitting the pits of depression and going back on it.  By last July I had regained 100lbs.  I don't know how much of it was the med but I do know that I was hungry all the time and eating non stop, especially carbs.
After my surgery even the med didn't help the depression, although I was losing weight and not over eating.  I was finally able to see a new doctor and was put on new meds.  I know what it is like to need to take a medication in order to not be severely depressed but then the weight gain would cause depression.
What is funny is that at one time they tried to replace the med I was on with Abilify but that didn't do a thing to help me.
If it isn't even helping the depression then I would definitely get off of it.  What I am taking now doesn't seem to have any side effects and it is working, at least for now.
I am taking Cymbalta and Wellbutrin and I seem to be stable right now.  I have been diagnosed with chronic treatment resistant depression so I know what a struggle it is.  Medication has a history of losing it's effectiveness for me after a time so I will be going through this again I know.