Does Lamictal cause weight gain?

Question

Has anyone taken Lamictal and gained weight? I have taken it for about a year and have just slowly gained 22 extra lbs!!! Anyone else? It is supposed to be weight neutral.

Answer

Supposedly, Lamictal does not cause weight gain. Ha! My psychiatrist began switching me from a different mood stabilizer to Lamictal about 3 years ago, and I gained seventy pounds in the first 3 months that I was taking it How does anyone gain that much weight that quickly? I was 57 years old at the time, and had been a size 6 throughout my entire adult life. I have never eaten compulsively for any reason, and at the time of the weight gain, there had been absolutely zero change in either my food intake or my exercise regime. When I discussed the problem with my doctor, he “guaranteed” that lamictal had absolutely not caused the weight gain. But there had been no other medication changes for a couple of years and, as I said above, zero eating/exercise changes. I have had an under-active thyroid for years, but my levels continued to check out as normal.

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I actually had several people – including my doctor! – suggest that it was simply a metabolism change due to age, and I might have been able to consider that explanation, except that 70 pounds in 3 months is so far beyond what an aging metabolism could explain! And I tried everything to lose the weight! As I have no neurotic attachment to food, it was easy for me to make significant calorie cuts (down to about 1,000 calories a day), and I doubled the length of my dog’s brisk, twice-daily walks (my primary source of exercise these days). Nothing I did made the slightest bit of difference. I finally insisted that my doctor switch me back to my old mood stabilizer, while he continued to insist that it absolutely was not the lamictal. By the time I was completely weaned off of the drug, about 2 1/2 years had passed, and the weight was still there. Now, I have been off of the lamictal for about a year, but the weight still won’t budge. I am a scientist, and I know that the laws of physics dictate that, even if I had been strapped down – completely immobilized – and force fed pure fat for 3 months, it would be extremely difficult – if not impossible – to experience that much weight gain in that short a time! I have bipolar ii disorder, and suffer from nearly constant depression. This obesity had aggravated that situation to the point that i’m embarrassed to have anyone see me – even my grown children – like this, and it’s still excruciating to see myself in mirrors. My depression has grown substantially in both prevalence and severity, and it seems that, whatever the lamictal did to me, has proven to be irreversible. Even after 3 years, I still feel like i’m living in someone else’s body. It’s a nightmare.

Answer

I was put on Lamotrigine 100 mg a day. 50 in the morning and 50 in the evening. I gained about 4 pounds. Then, he upped me to 200 mg. 100 in the morning and 100 in the evening. I have now gained 4 pounds in 3 days! A week and a half ago, I cut out all sweets and salty snacks. For supper, I eat a yogurt and a half hour after that, I drink a Slimfast. I'm still gaining weight.
The medicine is really working well for me except for the weight gain. Very flusterating.

Answer

I was questioning if Lamictal (Lamotrigin) was causing my weight gain. I have taken it for about 6-7 years. Within those 6-7 years i have gained 70 pounds. It was a slow and gradual progression. I began to notice when every year i would visit my provider for a check up on the medication and every time i would gain 10 pounds. I also noticed it has lowered my sex drive dramatically. Often people have different reactions tho. Other wise it has worked really well to stabilize my mood swings.

Answer

I have been on Lamictal for almost 3 years and I have managed to put on 35 pounds. I dont eat alot. Iam 43, but I have got to talk to my pdoc about this at my next appt. I have got to get this weight off me!!! I also heard that it was weight neutral.

Answer

I have taken Lamictal For 5 years I am also on thyroid medicine I have lost 2 lbs a month since I Started but I am old and had gain 50 lbs when I turned 48. I have never felt better. I don't sleep much but I really don't think I need that much sleep. I do drink a lot of water.

Answer

I have taken Lamictal for five or six years to treat Bipolar I. I have not had a problem with weight gain except when I took an anti-psychotic for a short time. After I was off the anti-psychotic I lost 70 pounds while on Lamictal and another mood stabilizer. I do believe it is a matter of the individual and what works best.

Answer

I have been a very small dose of Lamictal, 50mg once a day and noticed no weight gain. In fact it suppressed my appetite and i have lost a total of 8lbs over the past 8 weeks. Albeit, the dosage is miniscule and may not even be a factor.

Answer

i recently switched from geodon to lamictal for bi polar disorder. in the past 3 or so months i have been taking it, i have put on at least 15 pounds. this would not be a problem if my activity level were sendentary or my diet was poor; however, i am vegetarian and work out 2 hours daily 5 days weekly. i will be discussing alternative medications with my dr. at my next appt. because the weight gain has been so dramatic and bothersome to me.

Answer

All drugs affect people differently. My daugther takes 200 mg lamictal 2x daily so 400mg per day along with tegretol and topimax and has not had any weight gain. Lamictal does not list weight gain as a side effect.

Answer

I just started lamictol about 4 1/2 weeks ago and I have gained like 8 pds. I work out a lot but then again I eat all day long. I feel like lamictol has made me have more of an appetite not less of one. I also used to be addicted to adderall though so obviously I have an appetite now since I had to go to NA (narcotics annonymous) for taking it so much. I am on stratera now (a non stimulant ADD medication) it does not supress my appetite (unfortunately) ha. Anyway, I dont know if lamictol has caused me to gain weight or my inability to stop eating! Oh well, I am just going to do what the doctor says and trust the process for once and not take the meds my way (which is take as much as I can) I'm such an addict. Anyway, thanks for all the answers to this question. Bye!

Answer

YES ME TOO! OMG... I've gained about that much in the 6 months I've taken it... and I've been trying to lose weight the whole time... I am SO frustrated.

Answer

My first year on lamictal i gained a LITTLE weight but didnt really notice it compared to the extreme weight gain from other drugs. However for the last 9 months I have been working out daily and dieting pretty hard and I can NOT seem to lose weight. I fight tooth and nail every day eating under 1500 cal and over an hour of hard core cardio and still nothing. My Dr asked me whats different than when I have dieted before and the only difference is lamictal. My experience is that it has to be affecting me somehow.

Answer

Hi Im Bipolar, Im 41 and I have been on lamictal (lamotrigine) 300mg in the mornings for 3 or 4 years ( no side effects 4 for and I train 5 days a week).

Although everywhere you read one the most common side effects is the loss of weight... well I have done plenty of research and found that in a very small % it can cause weight gain and that is why it is not listed... ask your doc

Lamictal and Weight Gain: Suggestions

If you are noticing unexplained or bothersome weight gain while you are taking Lamictal, there are some things that you can do. Some suggestions include:

* Exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.

* Eat a heart-healthy diet. This diet should include:

* Lots of fruits, vegetables, grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products (heart-healthy foods)

* Lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts

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* Limited amounts of foods with saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium (salt), and added sugars.

* Limit your intake of alcohol or even better dont drink.

I hope this helps u!

Votes: +4

Answer

I was given Lamictal to counter the other meds that I am one since they all caused me to gain weight and was adding to my depression. They could not give me the tradional weight/appetite suppressent since I have an addiction problem so this medication works great for me. I also gained alot of the weight from Seroquel which someone else mentined so being given the Lamictal was a good choice for me. I would look into it and discuss it with your doctor since everyone reacts differently and what works for one may not work for someone else. Good luck.

Answer

I have been on Lamictal for about a year and a half. I was told that it does not cause weight gain which attracted me to it. Before Lamictal, I took Seroquel and I gained 40 pounds. Since taking Lamictal, I have actually lost around 20 pounds. Without trying. AND I'm a girl so that's pretty impressive. To be honest with you, I don't think it carries much risk. If it does, it isn't much. If you exercise and eat right, I'm sure it won't cause a problem.

Does Lamictal cause weight gain?

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