Recently I’ve been losing weight I wish I could say it was as a result of healthy living or willpower but sadly not…
To treat my Bipolar condition I take a mood stabiliser called Depakote. One of the side effects is weight gain and another is liver problems so I’ve had to watch my diet and have regular blood tests.
A second drug I have to take is an anti-depressant called Venlafaxine, the side effects of which can either be weight gain or weight loss. In my case it appeared to be weight loss as the combination of Venlafaxine and watching my diet to counteract the weight gain from Depakote has resulted in a 2 stones weight loss recently. 
However, (why does there always have to be a ‘however’) I just been prescribed Risperidone (an anti-psychotic drug) to take alongside the other drugs, and guess what….? The major side effect of taking it is, yes you’ve guessed it, rapid weight gain 
Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, and so it would appear is Martyn I work for a couple of charities on a voluntary basis, both of which promote exercise as a therapy for mental health conditions. One of the charity projects teaches people to bake pastries and cakes whereas another project encourages people to use bicycles for fitness, etc.
My work for the charities (apart from fishing) is firmly sitting on my backside, building and maintaining their websites. As an office worker I regularly get to sample their cakes but have yet to sample one of their bikes…. but this has been offered/threatened as part of my therapy.
Perhaps if I take Venlafaxine to counteract one weight gain drug, then I’m going to have to get on a mountain bike to counteract the weight gain from Risperidone Watch this space – if I suddenly start supporting Lycra Louts instead of lambasting them then you’ll know I’ve been lured to the darkside and they’ve got me to start exercising on a bike 
