Reader Question:The Bipolar Antipsychotic and Weight Gain Dilemma

Here is a question about the antipsychotic Seroquel and weight gain.

Hi Julie,

I have been on Seroquel for over 5 years now. I have Bipolar with psychosis. I am tired of the weight gain fight. Seroquel has been very affective in controlling the psychosis which I have frequently. Is there anything that can replace the Seroquel in controlling the psychosis without the weight gain?

Stinker

Hi There Stinker,

Here is a short answer to your question:

Maybe.

Everyone responds differently to antipsychotics.  Most gain wait on them,but some don’t. It’s very,very well documented for example that Zyprexa has an average 20 lb weight gain.  Seroquel,Risperdal,and the other atypical antipsychotics are known for weight gain around the stomach. This leads to a complication called Metabolic Syndrome- I wrote quite a great article on this last year for www.healthyplace.com if you want to read more about it. Just type in Julie Fast [ Read More ]





Twitter Bipolar Definitions

Twitter makes a person write in really,really short sentences. I decided to define bipolar disorder terms with as few words as possible. Here are a few:

BIPOLAR DISORDER:A genetic illness that makes it difficult for a person to regulate their moods. It’s not a personal failing,and though it can look like we’re a mess –we’re not!

SCHIZO AFFECTIVE DISORDER:Separate diagnosis of bipolar and psychotic disorder. When person has psychosis without a coexisting mood swing,it’s schizoaffective disorder. BP psychosis often comes with mania. 

ABILIFY:Antipsychotic (neuroleptic) used for psychosis and mania. Side effects -agitation (akathesia). Less weight gain. Has less side effects than many anti psychotics.

LITHIUM:True mood stabilizer. Anti mania drug- not anti depressant. First drug of choice in hospital. Can have little to very strong side effects. Very inexpensive. A salt.

 This is a challenge. I will have to turn this into a newsletter!

 Julie

If you’re not [ Read More ]





FDA Approved Bipolar Disorder Drugs

Here is an interesting list- the FDA (federal drug administration) has to ok a drug for use with bipolar disorder before a drug company can advertise that the drug can be used for bipolar disorder. Here is a list of the approved drugs with their initiation dates. I will write more on this topic in the next few days:

FDA:Acute Mania        *   1970:  Lithium       *   1973:  Thorazine        *   1995:  Depakote       *   2000:  Zyprexa           *   2003:  Risperdal         *   2004:  Seroquel       *   2004:  Abilify       *   2005:  Geodon       *   2005:  Equetro (Tegretol)     FDA:Acute Bipolar Depression             *  2004:Symbyax                  (Prozac-Zyprexa combo)          *  2007:Seroquel

FDA:Maintenance (for use in managing bipolar disorder in general)                *  1974:  Lithium:both          *  2003:  Lamictal:                         depression          *  2004:  Zyprexa:both          *  2005:  Abilify:both

This list can be a bit confusing- especially [ Read More ]





Bipolar Disorder Medications:What is Zyprexa? (Olanzapine)

 Zyprexa,also known as Olanzapine is an anti psychotic drug (also known as a neuroleptic) used to treat psychosis and psychotic mania.

It’s called an atypical antipsychotic as it is a new class of drugs with less side effects that the old anti-psychotics such as Thorazine and Haldol. Zyprexa is known for weight gain- an average of 20 pounds per person,but I definitely know people who don’t gain weight at all.

Zyprexa is used to treat bipolar disorder mania and psychosis – (and schizophrenia.)

I have seen it work miracles on people who are very ill.  It’s hard to find a balance between the benefits of the drug and the side effects- but for many,the benefits are what matters. I have a friend who was on the drug for two years to keep her mania and psychosis in check. It definitely kept her out of the hospital- but she felt over drugged and [ Read More ]





Bipolar Disorder and Pristiq (desvenlafaxine):a new antidepressant

I recently opened a magazine and saw an antidepressant (Pristiq) I had never heard of- so I asked my coauthor Dr. John Preston to explain the mistique of Pristiq!

Hi…Pristiq (desvenlafaxine)is a clone of Effexor…I like it because the starting dose is often the therapeutic dose (50 mg)…with Effexor you had to start low (37.5 mg) and gradually increase the dose (often up to 150-300 mg)…also Pristiq has somewhat less nausea than Effexor….but like all antidepressants is absolutely can cause mania…John 

**And as we all know…people with bipolar disorder can’t take antidepressants alone- and if they do take them- it needs to be in combination with a mood stabilizer such as lithium,depakote or tegretol!  Pristiq sounds like a resort! Who names these things!  Julie  

PS:If you view this blog from amazon.com,you can see the whole blog at www.bipolarhappens.com/bhblog

[ Read More ]





Medication Side Effects:Stomach Problems

Did you know that there is Serotonin in our stomachs? It has the second highest concentration of the neurotransmitter after our brains.

 This is why SSRI drugs such as Prozac,Zoloft and many others can cause stomach problems. As my coauthor Dr. John Preston says,“There’s no way to harpoon a drug straight to the neurotransmitters in your brain. They have to go through the whole body which is why they cause so many side effects.”

I remember being so sick I couldn’t work. I was always in the bathroom. That may be more than you want to know about me! but it’s important to know that you’re not alone if drugs are making your stomach rumble.

Side effects can include nausea,irritable bowel syndrome,bloated stomach,acid reflux,etc. etc.

Lovely!

Here are some tips on keeping your stomach happy:

1. First of all,talk with your doctor if things are really bad. It’s [ Read More ]





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