Antipsychotics and Antideprssants

[JulyBaby2010]

Hello,

I am new here. I am taking Abilify as an antipsychotic but have noticed lately that I might need an antidepressant. I am mostly depressed and down about all the weight gain that my antipsychotic has caused me. Lately I feel it has gotten worse to the point where I dont even want to go to the gym anymore becasue I feel fat. I am tryin got eat healthy and go to the gym but get so depressed over it. I really need to be honest with how I feel inside and not hide it. I feel horrible after gaining 50 pounds over the past 5 years.

I have spoken with my psychiatrist and she wants to put me on an antidepressant. I am worried but hopeful but I dont want weight gain. She says some of them have the opposite effect, meaning they have a tendency to lose weight. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated right about now. I really hate how I look and feel horribly depressed about it inside but I never let anyone know how I truely feel. Is it time to treat this depression?

[JulyBaby2010]

I actually dont have bipolar. I am undiagnosed. I know I had major depression twice but I tend to have a little mild depression all the time. Its hard getting motived to do things. To put it simply, lives a drag.

I have had hallucinations and dillusions. The hallucinations were auditory and visual as well. The come and go, but on the abilify they are gone. My GP just SUGGESTED it was aggitated depression...which would explain the hallucinations and dillusions. I am in the U.K now and they are reviewing my charts. In American they dianosed me with schizophrenia, and late with bipolar, but they found out it was wrong. They finally agreed that I had schizoid affective disorder. Anyway, there is no clear route yet and all of them seem wrong to me. I have had dillusions that I am someone else, that people are following me, that the mafia is after me things like that. I have also had illusions of grandiose (sp?). Its a very complicated thing...and to answer your question I dont have a clear diagnosis as of yet.

The abilify has done wonders though. Its like a miracle drug.I feel like myself again,  and I dont ahave major problems like the ones I just mentioned when I am taking it. I feel totally and completely normal. So I know that is a good match. But I still have anxiety and depression. I tend to worry about the future and plan things ahead because I worry things will be late or not get done in a timely manner. Yet I feel depressed and lack the energy to do anything about anything. I m a really complex case..I cant seem to figure myself out. My undergraduat is in psychology too...go figure. But still I cant get a clear view as to what is going on with me or what has happened to me.

Any suggestions, comments, answers?

[LeftCoastChick]

What was your diagnosis? Whast is Bipolar? Being on a MS is an indicator of that. Can you give us a bit more information? It's pretty normal to have some anxiety with depression, more then one would think. It's important you speak to your psychiatrist and researh the net. Most SSRI/SNRI's can cause a bit of weight gain because you get extra cravings not that the meds just pack on the pounds. So if you are careful with your diet, you should be fine. Do you have refractory(hard to treat) depression? If you don't and have BP a mood stabilizer is your best best and an anti-psychotic (not used at one though) will bring down your anxiety and hypomania. But I'm just taking a stab in the dark.

[JulyBaby2010]

I have also noticed that with my depression I have slight anxiety. That is I have anxious thoughts. I know often times, anxiety and depression go hand in hand. What is a good drug that treats anxiety and depression, without making me gain weight? I already have that going for me thanks to the moodstablizer Abilify.

Any suggestions?