Does Lamictal cause weight gain?

I was placed on Lamictal 2+ years ago. I am on 250 mg./day. I gained about 15 lbs the first year, then I lost about 3-4 lbs the second year, and seem to be evening out--my weight varies a couple pounds, but not much.

I was told that Lamictal has no risk of weight gain, and there is much scientific literature that says that there is no 'significant' weight gain vs. placebo, but I have not found it to be so. I have increased my exercise level the last year, and I think that doing so has allowed my body to even out and stabilize, but I think there is something going on either metabolically or in terms of cravings and one's ability to control cravings that has been a side effect. I definitely eat more than I did before.

However, the benefits, for me, have been like night and day than before. I have tried a couple other drugs (wellbutrin, prozac, zoloft) that either made me so tired that I felt like a zombie or made me agitated and changed my personality. On Lamictal, I have had none of these problems. I am freed of the debilitating depressive moods and don't get so high with the mania, but still feel a healthy range of emotions. It's been worth it to me.

Don't believe everything you read that may be to the contrary to your experience--everyone is different, everyone's body reacts uniquely to chemical changes introduced by medication. I wish doctors would take that more into consideration before hiding behind the 'facts'.

Take care, and let me know how it's going for you.

I have not taken that drug but I can tell you that there are many drugs available that say they do not cause weight gain, but they most surely do. I was on Zoloft for many years, it says it doesn't cause weight gain, but I and many others who have taken it gained weight and then of course, if we switched or stopped Zoloft, we lost it again.

So don't be surprised when any drug causes weight gain.