Lamictal and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 2)

• div...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 27, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal worked at 25 mg. Seems like every 6 weeks it's time to up the dosage, currently at 250 and raise to 275 in a week. Is there anything out there I can take with Lamictal? I don't want to gain weight. An antidepressant is a med I take also."

• Jen...
• February 23, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal gave me two ulcers, failed a drug screen for one of the best jobs around (said I had PCP in my system), debilitating headaches, and gained an immense amount of weight. I was hospitalized for attempted suicide, and my doc got mad when I weaned myself off. Having said that, I know lots of people that have had great success with it. I guess it all depends on the individual. Not all bipolar cases are the same."

• Zac...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 15, 2018

For Epilepsy "I take 500 mg a day (have 2 separate prescriptions since it's above the maximum). Taking it for the last 5 years. It's been almost a year since I've had a seizure. At first, while I was increasing the dosage, it gave me extremely lucid dreams (like, wake up thinking that it was real kind of thing). After you're on it for a while, it's pretty much just life. Only bad I can think of is how irritable I get when I'm hungry, and I feel crummy when my blood sugar is low. It's made me put on some weight, which I hate. Can't wait to get off this stuff and have no seizures and lose weight!"

• sha...
• March 12, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I have recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and have found Lamictal (lamotrigine) to not only balance my mood but to elevate me back to feeling human. This is profound and very refreshing. Having experienced mild to very severe depression all of my life, I have also had acute and moderately severe manic episodes. Over the past two months, I have worked my Lamictal dose very slowly up to 200 mg of Lamictal coupled with 25 to 100 mg of Seroquel (primarily for insomnia and secondarily for mood). Side effects have included memory loss, word recall problems, and distinct weight gain (even though I exercise often and rigorously). Overall, I would say this is a wonderful medicine."

• Lin...
• June 11, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on this medication for 1 year or even 2 years with 300 mg. I still have extreme mood swings, and it doesn't help at all. I want lithium or other bipolar medicine - this doesn't work at all for me. I'm really scared to gain weight while on some other medication because I already gained 20 kg from an antipsychotic medicine before, but I can live with this. My bipolar illness gets worse and worse, I still have a good medicine 'base,' though. It's not as extreme as a couple of years ago, but I'm only 19 years old, so I'm looking forward to trying something else."

• tay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2021

"I'm prescribed Lamictal for Borderline Personality Disorder. Since I’ve been on it, I feel like I’m less impulsive and making better decisions. I think I’m more level-headed, and the combination of therapy and Lamictal seems to be helping a lot. People said they have noticed a completely different me. I feel a lot better than I did when I was on antidepressants. The mood swings are much better. No weight gain, improved mood, and more motivation to do things. I haven’t had an intense depressive episode or anxiety. I feel more in control of my emotions. This seems to be really helping me with my BPD."

• Nur...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 9, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I like it. I have stopped it once before, and I regretted it. It doesn't necessarily work for me by itself, but it is a good medication with lesser side effects compared to atypical antipsychotics, such as weight gain and diabetes."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication has changed my life. While I have noticed that I've gained a few pounds, that's nothing compared to me being able to live happily again."

• cra...
• January 13, 2008

For Seizure Prevention "I have taken Lamictal for over a year. It helped with the seizures and the headaches and also my anxiety. Problems I had were memory loss and weight gain, but all in all, it was a good medication."