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Hi everyone,

I was started on 300mg of lithium after hypomania in January of this year. Unfortunately this episode spiraled into mania after two weeks and I spent some time inpatient, where my dose was increased to 600mg lithium. I also take 300mg Wellbutrin and 25 hydroxyzine.

Lithium has changed my entire life for the better. It really feels like night and day. I can maintain relationships, wake up early and go to bed at a reasonable time, think about decisions before I make them, not lash out at people I love, manage stress, and for the first time in a long time, I feel stable, happy and excited for my future.

However, I have gained nearly 20 pounds from February to now and I’m not sure what to do. I know that the common cause is lithium-induced appetite and thirst (for high calorie beverages), but this is really where I’m at my wits end with the scale continuing to climb up and up because the weight gain does not make sense.

I am an avid runner and weight lifter. I get on average 15,000 steps a day, run 25-30 miles per week with 9+ mile long runs, lift weights 3 times per week for 30-40 minutes each session, am vegetarian, eat very healthy. Never eat out, only drink water, seltzer, and decaf coffee. No alcohol or weed. My calorie intake has not changed since February and if anything my activity has increased, and I never drink anything with sugar or calories. It just doesn’t make sense. I got my thyroid tested and it was high in March but was back down to normal a few weeks ago after another test.

In fact, Wellbutrin is supposed to DULL appetite cues. I’m so confused and really frustrated every time a new pair of pants don’t fit. I know when people say “I don’t know why I’m gaining weight” and are eating above their calorie limit, but I genuinely feel like I’m going crazy. I regularly burn 1000+ calories a day. The weight gain makes no sense, especially not 20 pounds. Sure, maybe 5 pounds from mania-induced not eating much to normal appetite but every time I weight myself the scale just goes up and up. It really sucks, as someone who puts so much time into my health and fitness.

What do I do? I now feel like I can’t live without lithium as it has made my day-to-day so wonderful. My doc suggested metaformin. Has anyone else tried this? Or do I suck it up and accept the 20+ pounds as my new normal because every other aspect of lithium is so great for me?

Thanks for reading. Sorry for the long text. Wanted to give full context.

Weight gain on lithium

Hi everyone,

I was started on 300mg of lithium after hypomania in January of this year. Unfortunately this episode spiraled into mania after two weeks and I spent some time inpatient, where my dose was increased to 600mg lithium. I also take 300mg Wellbutrin and 25 hydroxyzine.

Lithium has changed my entire life for the better. It really feels like night and day. I can maintain relationships, wake up early and go to bed at a reasonable time, think about decisions before I make them, not lash out at people I love, manage stress, and for the first time in a long time, I feel stable, happy and excited for my future.

However, I have gained nearly 20 pounds from February to now and I’m not sure what to do. I know that the common cause is lithium-induced appetite and thirst (for high calorie beverages), but this is really where I’m at my wits end with the scale continuing to climb up and up because the weight gain does not make sense.

I am an avid runner and weight lifter. I get on average 15,000 steps a day, run 25-30 miles per week with 9+ mile long runs, lift weights 3 times per week for 30-40 minutes each session, am vegetarian, eat very healthy. Never eat out, only drink water, seltzer, and decaf coffee. No alcohol or weed. My calorie intake has not changed since February and if anything my activity has increased, and I never drink anything with sugar or calories. It just doesn’t make sense. I got my thyroid tested and it was high in March but was back down to normal a few weeks ago after another test.

In fact, Wellbutrin is supposed to DULL appetite cues. I’m so confused and really frustrated every time a new pair of pants don’t fit. I know when people say “I don’t know why I’m gaining weight” and are eating above their calorie limit, but I genuinely feel like I’m going crazy. I regularly burn 1000+ calories a day. The weight gain makes no sense, especially not 20 pounds. Sure, maybe 5 pounds from mania-induced not eating much to normal appetite but every time I weight myself the scale just goes up and up. It really sucks, as someone who puts so much time into my health and fitness.

What do I do? I now feel like I can’t live without lithium as it has made my day-to-day so wonderful. My doc suggested metaformin. Has anyone else tried this? Or do I suck it up and accept the 20+ pounds as my new normal because every other aspect of lithium is so great for me?

Thanks for reading. Sorry for the long text. Wanted to give full context.