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Weight Gain Caused By Medication for Schizophrenia

June 29, 2017 Elizabeth Caudy

Weight gain caused by medication is a cruel side effect. After fruitlessly fighting weight gain caused by my schizoaffective medication, I now choose not to.Weight gain caused by medication is a reality. I have schizoaffective disorder, which is a combination of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. I take an atypical antipsychotic medication for schizoaffective disorder that causes extreme weight gain. Although many people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who take medications similar to mine make heroic efforts to fight the weight gain, I’ve come to accept it—although it’s been harder to accept that I need the medication in the first place.

Weight Gain from Medication Is a Cruel Side Effect

Make no mistake, extreme weight gain due to medication to treat schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder is a cruel side effect. I’d always effortlessly been a size two before I went on this medication. Now, I’m a size 14. My body weight almost doubled from 100 pounds to 175.

The hardest thing about dealing with this side effect is that doctors side with the medication. It’s not that I don’t want to take it–I am in control of my life with the help of these remarkable drugs. And it’s not that I haven’t tried different medications, with the help of doctors. It’s just that no doctor has ever leveled with me and said, “I know it stinks that you have to deal with the weight, I know it stinks that you have to deal with this illness.”

So, without much help from doctors, I’ve come to terms with the weight gain caused by my condition and treating it. It’s been a long and continuing process. In my 20s—when I was in college and graduate school—my doctors tried medication after medication to find one that worked for me and didn’t cause weight gain. We didn’t find a single option that took care of both.

I have a great psychopharmacologist whose testimony was instrumental in winning me Social Security disability benefits. It’s just that, well, she’s a doctor. She prescribes the medication, but she’s not the one whose body and brain has to deal with the effects of it for my mental disorders. I have had other doctors without her level of expertise, doctors who almost flippantly told me I had more to worry about than weight gain.

I'm Angry About Weight Gain from Medications

One thing I really like about my psychopharmacologist is that she’s a feminist. And feminism has been crucial for me to develop a positive body image while remaining overweight. Well-meaning people ask me why I can’t “just” exercise and balance my diet. I try to get out and exercise and to decrease my sugar intake, but I don’t want to become a slave to the diet industry. And even those efforts reduce my weight by a mere few pounds. Feminism is what allows me to make the positive distinction in my life choices.

But, feminist or not, I’m angry. I’m angry I have schizoaffective disorder. I’m angry people don’t understand my disorder and ask me offensive questions about how I manage it. And, to be perfectly blunt, I’m angry that my life is beholden to doctors who can walk away from my problems at nights and on weekends when I can’t walk away from having schizoaffective disorder.

Yes, I am grateful to my psychopharmacologist. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’d rather not need one.

APA Reference
Caudy, E. (2017, June 29). Weight Gain Caused By Medication for Schizophrenia, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, November 4 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/creativeschizophrenia/2017/06/weight-gain-caused-by-medications-for-schizophrenia



Author: Elizabeth Caudy

Elizabeth Caudy was born in 1979 to a writer and a photographer. She has been writing since she was five years old. She has a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA in photography from Columbia College Chicago. She lives outside Chicago with her husband, Tom. Find Elizabeth on Google+ and on her personal blog.

Keisha
October, 7 2023 at 10:29 am

Yes, I have had the same experience. I have been on two different antipsychotics that didn’t cause weight gain. Geodon and Latyda. With Latua I had to stop from movevements. I’ve been in Geodon for a year and a half and have slowly gone from a size 14 to 6. There is hope. I’m claiming the medication will stay effective.

October, 9 2023 at 2:00 pm

Dear Keisha, Thank you for your comment. I have tried different antipsychotics that made me lose weight, but they didn't address my schizoaffective disorder very well. I'm glad you have found one that works for you. Best. Elizabeth

Aine
October, 3 2023 at 4:13 pm

Originally was taking risperdone, but changed to ziprasidone. Loss 40lbs based on a medication change.

October, 4 2023 at 2:13 pm

Dear Aine, Thank you for your comment. I switched back and forth between different antipsychotics looking for one that didn't cause weight gain. The ones I tried may have caused weight loss, but they didn't keep me mentally stable. I found that, for me, it was a choice between mental stability and being thin. I chose the former. But I'm glad you found one that works for you. Best, Elizabeth

Veronica Kelly
July, 18 2023 at 8:33 am

I have been classes as a schizophrenic for over 20 years. I have taken anti-psychotic drugs. I used to be a very slim sporty person. I went from 9 stone to 17 stone over the years. I feel really bad about it. I try and cut a lot of things out my diet. nothing seems to help me lose any weight at all. I've been told by the doctor's that they want me to lose weight. It never happens.

July, 18 2023 at 2:15 pm

Dear Veronica, I know exactly how you feel. I've gained a lot of weight from anti-psychotics and mood stabilizers. I, too, used to be very skinny. As I get older, though, I care less about it. Take care, Elizabeth

Lila Ewing
November, 15 2017 at 10:46 am

I also have schizoaffective disorder and have gained 40 pounds on my med that got rid of my voices

Emma
September, 17 2017 at 10:51 am

I have bipolar,bdd,bpd.i was a size 8 then,aended to a 14 form all my meds.i do work out but only shed a few kilo.it is still a struggle dealing with the body change,even 7 yrs later.

Micha
July, 12 2017 at 10:58 am

I gained 9 pounds in 4 days on my anti-psychotic drug!!

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