Lamictal - has anyone had more headaches and fluid retention in legs and ankles and weight gain ?

"Very common (10% or more of users): Dizziness (38%), headache (29%)"
"Common (1% to 10% of users): Weight decrease, weight gain"
"Rare (less than 0.1% of users): Bilirubinemia, peripheral edema"

I am on Lamictal and it has given me my life back. I've gain weight but don't know if it has anything to do with Lamictal. I couldn't eat when I was so anxious and depressed so I lost 30 lbs. I'll take the weight back because I am feeling so good.

I didn't know water retention was a side effect of Lamictal. I surely would have had a fit and told my doctor I wanted off of it if that happened to me: / ( I am so weight conscious). Fortunately, I wasn't on it for too long (I take meds for Epilepsy), I developed a bad rash on my arm, which is one of the signs of allergy, and had to go off of it immediately. After reading the above posts, I'm happy that I was allergic to it!

When I was on Divalproex,my ankles were swollen,my feet and my hands. I stopped taking it because of that. Since i've been on Lamictal the swelling has gone down.

Whenever someone tries to minimalize your symptoms Or complaints I think it's time to seek out another doctor. You won't get the truth from the pharmaceutical company. Don't let anyone tell you what you know and feel is the truth Influence your decision to at least discuss it with a doctor. I have had the same problems myself. Hope this helps. If you can't even discuss your side effects with your doctor There's a problem.

I don't remember gaining weight when I started taking it. I did gain about 40 pounds within the last couple years, but never connected it to lamictal until now, that I'm slowly cutting it down. First of all, I STRONGLY recommend to change doctors. My former psychiatrist prescribed it as a "mood stabilizer that would help with anxiety" (I do have a Generalized Anxiety Disorder), and it made me sick while starting to take it. I have now informed my new shrink that I wanted it out of my system and I've been dropping it by 25mg every two weeks... I had already started to lose weight before, but I literally lost 6 pounds last week as I cut down another 25mg... Most of it has obviously been water. If I see a(n even more) noticeable weight and water retention weight as I continue to cut it down and get to stop taking it, I will let you know.

I started lamictal about 6 months ago. Water retention was horrible. I gained 12 lbs. I since stopped (approximately 1 week ago), have dropped over 3 lbs and can finally remove my rings!! I whole heartedly believe this medication causes water retention and possibly weight gain!

I have gained about 35 pounds since I started taking Lamictal about 3 years ago. I also just visited my doctor because of headaches and fluid in my legs. I know I'm over 40 now, but I really don't eat alot so I am definitely gonna talk to my pdoc about changing from lamictal to something else. I'm kind of scared to get off the lamictal because it has been working very well with my Bi-Polar and I haven't had any severe depression since I been on it.

Hello Rhonda62. In regards to weight gain, between 1 to 5% of people taking Lamictal for Manic Depression/Bi-polar Disorder saw an increase in thier weightt. People taking Lamictal for seizures saw no weight increase. In regards to headaches, close to 29% of people taking Lamacital, reported headaches as a common normal side effect to taking the drug.. All of the above are results from clinical studies. Regards, pledge

Anything is possible with those types of meds. When I was on 2000 mg of Depakote, I gained 25 pounds of water weight in two weeks. I looked like a marshmallow and felt awful. It took a month of lasix to get rid of the weight AFTER I stopped the med. My doc told me the chances of weight gain on Lamictal are less, but as I said any adverse reaction is possible at any time. You might want to call your pharmacist to make sure you are not having a drug interaction with any other meds you are on. Then call the neurologist and make an appointment so he can see your situation. Might be your best best. You are paying him well for his services. You deserve answers.
Do what thou must to get his attention.
Peace and great luck.
Sweet Hippie

I would call the pharmacist and ask him if it can cause fluid retention. I didn't find that in the list, but maybe he knows more. Headaches is a side effect. Lamictal usually causes weight loss. Your neurologist takes the prize for jerk of the day on his answer. If the pharmacist says no fluid retention, I would call my primary and make an appt. See what he says. It may be unrelated.