Extreme weight gain

Weight gain is a common symptom in PCOS, with 4 in 10 sufferers being overweight. It's thought to be due to insulin resistance, where corresponding high levels of insulin produce weight gain. There's no simple cure for this weight gain, a diet and regular exercise are usually recommended.

In addition, some of the drugs used to treat bipolar disorder can cause weight gain. Lithium in itself isn't known to cause weight gain (I think) but it can interfere with thyroid function - you can have a thyroid function test to rule out hypothyroidism - a common cause of weight gain. There are some drugs which are sometimes used for mania which are notorious for causing weight gain and diabetes, particularly Olanzapine and other atypical antisychotics. It's worth having regular blood tests for diabetes and anaemia, although I'm sure you have regular blood tests with the lithium.

Now, there are some medications which are given to overweight diabetics. They are quite new and expensive and I don't know the guidelines off hand, but Orlistat is one of them and Rib-something-or-other and they reduce the amount of fat absorbed by the gut. They're available, but as I say, I don't know the guidelines, and I think I remember the drug reps saying they can cause depression so would be contra-indicated in this case.

Hope that helps a little, although you have my sympathies.

Quote: Completely_Underwhelmed

yep, apparently the most advanced endocannabinoid receptor antagonist in clinical development! (according to http://www.drugdevelopment-technology.com/projects/rimonabant/)

which means that it probably screws around far too much with the central nervous system for anyone on other medication to take

*nods*

Xenecal (Orlistat) is what's normally prescribed.

I'm yet to study if it works or not.