lamictal and weight changes

All the atypical antipsychotics have the potential to cause metabolic imbalances that often lead to weight gain and can create the changes that lead to diabetes, Abilify, Fanapt and Saphris being the 3 with the least of this potential. Eating a proper diet of course can help strongly but it still can be a problem.

s not a whole lot of weight for such a long period of time and might indicate some changes in how you eat and exercise might negate it. Just something to consider, because it's not that easy to find a drug that works. Also, don't get bogged down in the BPII diagnosis. Basically, you suffer from depression that manifests itself in a way that has come to be labeled a certain way to make it easier to give you anti-psychotics when you're not in fact suffering from a psychotic illness.

Everyone has to increase the dosage of lamictal (lamotrigine) slowly starting at 25mg. I have been on as high as 400mg but had to drop back down to 200mg because it is an antiseizure med and I am having ECT and 400mg would interfere with that. I have been on it for years and didn't see any difference in weight with it. Other drugs I am taking are not so weight friendly. I am now exercising and trying to diet but little success. How did you lose your weight?

I just started it. 150mg at bedtime. Right now I'm at a healthy weight of 120 and am 5'4. I also take 300mg of lamictal and 2mg of clonazepam as needed. Did serequel make you gain? I'd rather not gain weight.

I went off Depakote as soon as the vision problems occurred, and had to totally discontinue the Lamictal until the vision problems went away (resulting in a mixed bipolar episode). I went back on Lamictal, and soon returned to a stable state. A few days ago, I went on a run and pushed it hard. When I stopped and took off my sunglasses, I had double vision again - I walked back - and it took nearly an hour for my vision to return to normal.

Did anyone took Lamictal for anxiety and depression? Did it work,and how soon did it started working? Did anyone started feeling normal and had their old life back? Did anyone felt the itching, and how long it lasted? I am very worried, i need this med to be working for me soon because i going through very tough time in my relationship. If anyone know anything about it, pleaselet me know. It willbe veryhelpful.

Hmmmm, I wouldn't think that medication was the culprit since you haven't changed anything but honestly it's a good question for your doc. I'm wondering if stress/anxiety may be contributing since you've recently stopped Clonopin. I know you said it's been a couple of months since it's stopped... but you were on it for 10 years. I don't know, just my best guess. In 2012 I had a myriad of neurological symptoms that scared the hell out of me.

I am desperated with this condition. I am on Lamictal, Effexor, Clonazepam and Amitriptiline. Sometimes I think nobody and nothing can change this, so sometimes I want to stop this condition in the only way I know it would stop. I had a Deppression diagnosis for 13 years and a new pdoc now thinks I've got a bipolar condition, so added Lamictal to my med list. I ve been encourage to wait and see what happens, only time can tells. I hope my best wishes to you.

I would suggest you check out what your cap is and see if it is feasible for you to get these meds. I had to go off the Lamictal and remain on the Dilantin because of this and from the posts above wish I was able to try the Lamictal.

I would talk to your doctor about adding Lamictal and possibly reducing or eliminating the Keppra.

It sounds like you are on too much stuff. No wonder you are probably gaining weight. Maybe you should just start over and do what I did and just try Topamax all by itself.

And after 6 months the risk goes down. Long term Lamictal has a very good side effect profile as per weight gain and metabolic changes (which basically don't happen) plus there are no blood tests required. Anyway, its a first line FDA approved mood stabilizer and an effective one so if you are allowed to start it I think it makes sense.

Ive been on lamictal for around 5 months. added to depakote and has changed my life (diagnosis bipolar). i can actually get off the couch. I have been trying to lose weigth for a while with no avail. Started lamictal: nausea and some light cramping. although hungry, sometimes I can't eat. Am down from 118# to 112# and continue to fall without effort. even eating chocolate. just wondering if I should be concerned something else is going on.

I wish your daughter well, I too am on Keppra 375mg twice daily and have started lamictal 50mg per day. I am also very irritable and tired. My doc wants to wean me off Keppra and slowly increase my lamictal. Luckily I have not had a reaction this far with it but its only been two weeks. He wants to switch due to the irritability from Keppra. I was taking Wellbutrin for depression but am not any longer, did feel I need it haha.

But meds that affect brain neurotransmitters often cause sweating and temperature changes and weight gain. Effexor is a very stimulating antidepressant, and as such isn't usually used for primary anxiety, as it can cause anxiety and some of what you're experiencing. On the other hand, since you've been on it for so long, I'm assuming these effects are new -- quite frankly, for weight gain, 30 pounds over 16 years is mild for antidepressants -- many gain a lot more in a year.

I've done okay with lamictal, but lamictal and celexa, not so good. And now lamictal with wellbutrin, not so good. At least I think it's not the lamictal. I know my PsychNP put a big no in her notes regarding me and celexa.

I'm a little confused. Your suffering a major clinical depression and your worried about gaining weight? When I was suffering from this disease at it's worst, even if taking an AD medication ment that my hair would fall out and would cause me to gain 400Lbs, I would have still taken it. That's how bad I wanted the pain to stop. They all have side effects without exception.

3 times the highest human maintenance dose (on a mg/m2 basis) during the latter part of gestation (days 15 to 20), maternal toxicity and fetal death were seen. In dams, food consumption and weight gain were reduced, and the gestation period was slightly prolonged (22.6 vs. 22.0 days in the control group). Stillborn pups were found in all 3 drug-treated groups with the highest number in the high-dose group.

I have a couple of questions. I am on Celexa 20mg and Lamictal 150. I have been on them for a couple of years. Started off with Celexa and then added the Lamictal. I started to gain weight before I got on Lamictal. I gained 50 pounds in two years, since then I have been the excat same weight(for the past two years). I also just found out I have hypothyrodism. I started medication for that and go back shortly to test my TSH.

s appointment I will be asking (for the second time) for topomax instead of the lithium and lamictal...or at least instead of the lithium....lamictal I am not sure about the weight with that. I only lose my appetite if I am upset (which has always been my habit) but with these pills I have increased appetite. Risperdal was the worse for me....

I lost weight when I switched from lithium to lamictal (I had gained 50 lbs on lithium and lost about 10 after the switch). I more recently stopped taking zyprexa and have lost the rest of the weight. I am living in a developing country, so being away from fatty american foods is part of it, but I didn't loose weight here until after I went off of the zyprexa.

Was reading your comments regarding Lamictal. About a year ago I started Lamictal and was also on seroquel. I started out on Lamictal 50, then 100, then 150, then 200. The seroquel was at 200. I totally flipped my lid and after 23 years out of a hospital ended up in one. Got out on this still. Was at originally 200 Lamictal and 50 Seroquel doing great then this incident. The doctor in there had stopped 5 other psych meds previous which I am grateful for. But home half a day thrown back in.

I have a feeling at my next psych appointment she's going to recommend a med switch. I am not in disagreement, since I am honestly not okay right now, so the Lamictal is not doing it for me anymore... We have discussed Depakote - I was on it in college. It was the best med hands-down I have *ever* been on. However, it was also the reason I avoided any psych help for 6-7 years. I gained roughly 50lbs (I was a little under 120 when I started taking it, and in 6 months got up to 170).

I did a little research on Lamictal. Some say that it can cause weight gain and some muscle problems. I take lexapro and it helped a lot for depression. Do your own research, but apparently you can take both together. I have taken Wellbutrin and my husband does for bipolar (him) and we did not gain wt. on it. It just did not work for me, so I switched to Lexapro. It helped me in less than a week. I have been on it for several years and actually lost wt. while on it.

I take Lamictal, Seroquel, Zoloft and Wellbutrin. Lamictal works VERY well. I'm really pleased with the medication. Lamictal is a rashy drug - so don't be concerned if you get a rash. Chances that its the toxic rash are VERY VERY low. Only be concerned if you get a rash and a fever together. CrazyMeds website explains this all pretty well. The only side effect I get from Lamictal is the stupid "Lamictal Headache." Which can be a bother.

Lamictal and weight changes

Common Questions and Answers about Lamictal and weight changes

lamictal