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Is Weight Gain While On Latuda A Concern?
Question: Thank you for your answer to my question regarding the side effects of Latuda. You stated that a possible side effect could be weight loss. Since I started taking 80mg daily i have developed a voracious appetite gaining 8 pounds in two weeks even though for the previous eight months I have been trying but not always successfully, to limit my calorie intake to no more than 1500 calories per day and losing approximately 44 pounds over a period of approximately 11 months by diet alone. I am 6 feet tall and in January I weighed 282 pounds and by November I lost down to 238. My BMI is 35.4. Do you think the Latuda is playing any part in this weight gain? If not do you have any ideas as to what could be causing this weight gain. I keep a daily log of everything I eat and the calorie content?
Also after dinner I have a ravenous craving for something sweet and this is very strange because before taking Latuda I never ate a dessert or anything sweet with my dinner. To satisfy this craving I eat a margarine and honey sandwich on white bread.
What do you think could be causing this craving? Could the dinner be causing a sudden drop in my blood sugar and my body is trying to raise this blood sugar leve
Also after dinner I have a ravenous craving for something sweet and this is very strange because before taking Latuda I never ate a dessert or anything sweet with my dinner. To satisfy this craving I eat a margarine and honey sandwich on white bread.
What do you think could be causing this craving? Could the dinner be causing a sudden drop in my blood sugar and my body is trying to raise this blood sugar leve
Brief Answer:
Latuda can be the cause of your weight gain and food craving.
Detailed Answer:
hello
I read carefully your concern.
As we seid in our last discussion LatudaLatuda (generic name lurasidone HCl) is a Japanese antipsychotic medication originally developed for treating schizophrenia and and depressive episodes in Type 1 Bipolar disorder.
The good think is that this drug has a milder side effect profile (sleepiness and weight gain) than other antipsychotics( for example :Seroquel, that you have used before).
Among most medical professionals, this drug is considered “weight neutral”, but Latuda has NOT been found to be weight neutral.The reality is that weight gain is clearly listed, as a Latuda side effect.
Some potential causes of weight gain whe you use Latuda are:
-Appetite boost:( you can become hungrier after eating the drug.This is probably an individualized reaction. Some patients may notice that their appetite increases once their symptoms are properly treated. Assuming you were depressed and lacked appetite, taking the drug may bring back your appetite and you may gain some weight.
-Food cravings:Taking antipsychotics and any psychiatric medication can lead some people to crave food,expecially if your appetite increases.
-Side effects: People that experience depressant-like side effects such as fatigue, lethargy, and drowsiness may gain some weight.
-Hormone levels: Over time, it is suspected that Latuda(like all the others antipsychotics)may change levels of naturally produced hormones. This can lead a person to gain weight.
So, my answer is : Yes, i think that,latuda can be the cause of your weight gain and food craving.
But dont worry,for the minority of people that experience weight gain on this drug, it generally is marginal and short-term.
Latuda can be the cause of your weight gain and food craving.
Detailed Answer:
hello
I read carefully your concern.
As we seid in our last discussion LatudaLatuda (generic name lurasidone HCl) is a Japanese antipsychotic medication originally developed for treating schizophrenia and and depressive episodes in Type 1 Bipolar disorder.
The good think is that this drug has a milder side effect profile (sleepiness and weight gain) than other antipsychotics( for example :Seroquel, that you have used before).
Among most medical professionals, this drug is considered “weight neutral”, but Latuda has NOT been found to be weight neutral.The reality is that weight gain is clearly listed, as a Latuda side effect.
Some potential causes of weight gain whe you use Latuda are:
-Appetite boost:( you can become hungrier after eating the drug.This is probably an individualized reaction. Some patients may notice that their appetite increases once their symptoms are properly treated. Assuming you were depressed and lacked appetite, taking the drug may bring back your appetite and you may gain some weight.
-Food cravings:Taking antipsychotics and any psychiatric medication can lead some people to crave food,expecially if your appetite increases.
-Side effects: People that experience depressant-like side effects such as fatigue, lethargy, and drowsiness may gain some weight.
-Hormone levels: Over time, it is suspected that Latuda(like all the others antipsychotics)may change levels of naturally produced hormones. This can lead a person to gain weight.
So, my answer is : Yes, i think that,latuda can be the cause of your weight gain and food craving.
But dont worry,for the minority of people that experience weight gain on this drug, it generally is marginal and short-term.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
Answered by
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