Lamotrigine and Weight Gain: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Row...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2023

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I have complex PTSD, borderline personality disorder, and ADHD, and the last 5 years have been hell, constantly sabotaging when I am well and getting triggered by attachment ruptures into frenzy and terrible OCD. The worst thing is that my OCD can be around medication and what to take. I am suicidal most of the time. I have on and off taken olanzapine, but it's a strange drug, and I can never work out whether it's good for me. I become over-talkative on it, oversharing, and I put on loads of weight. I'm now in my 3rd week of Lamotrigine, now at 50 mg. Really hoping it has an effect of stabilizing me, and I'm still in bed with depression and OCD, unable to make any decisions. I'll titrate up to 200 mg and follow my psychiatrist. So hoping it will help! Will update!"

• Tee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 5, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Have others found after the first manic episode to be sensitive to meds? I started a low dose of Zyprexa and gained 10 lbs in two weeks, took a half pill of a low dose of Abilify and developed akathisia. Took 600 mg of lithium and became toxic. Now on Lamictal. I started at 2.5 mg and felt great, and 5 mg even better. At 10 mg, I became a little aggressive. Then I tried 12.5 mg and hopefully 25 mg, but I can’t get past 12.5 mg without wanting to rip someone’s head off! I cut that in half to 6.25 mg (1/4 of a tablet). I am hyper, it makes me sometimes feel like I’m on speed, but my head is clear, and I’m extremely active now. I added 5 mg of Buspar twice a day to take the edge off and reduce anxiety. It appears to be holding, but I wonder if I’m the only one sensitive like this. I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety in 1997. I’ve been on Paxil and Wellbutrin for years, but I can no longer handle them after my first manic episode. Now I am also diagnosed with bipolar 2 and PTSD. Thank you!"

• Sec...
• September 25, 2014

For Seizure Prevention "Been on: Dilantin, Keppra, and Tegretol. All for different lengths of time. Have been on Lamictal for 12 years, not had a seizure since. I did however quit my high-stress job. Truly a leap of faith for my family. I was the breadwinner. But health is number one. The side effects: insomnia. My Epileptologist added Neurontin to the mix to help combat this (so-so). Weight gain (10 lbs). Word finding. Forgetfulness. Headaches. These were all before the addition of Neurontin. I've been on the Paleo diet/lifestyle for 1 1/2 years. Never felt better. Eliminated my debilitating headaches! Lamictal gave me my life back."

• Lin...
• June 11, 2017

Lamotrigine 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."

• BPa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 28, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on lamotrigine for about 3 years now for bipolar. I have found that it regulates my mood very well without noticeable side effects. I haven't experienced any weight gain. Just remember to take it every day, otherwise, you will feel pretty groggy and out of it. In total though, lamotrigine has really helped with my bipolar II. Good luck with finding a solution that works for you"

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2022

For Seizure Prevention "Medicine side effects were horrible for me, from major weight gain, nausea, dizziness, loss of coordination, double vision, and sensitivity to light. It was supposed to help me stop having seizures, but it only felt like it was making me have them."

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

Lamotrigine "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

Lamotrigine 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."

• One...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 13, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal has really helped with my bipolar depression. I was on Latuda too, but I gained weight on it, and it killed my sex drive. Currently, I am being tapered off of Latuda, and I've started taking lithium. I feel happy and stable."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 28, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I've suffered from ADHD, bipolar 2 with major depression and anxiety for years. I have to say I've found the right combination to give me some stability. I started with risperidone 2 mg 2x a day, Citalopram 20 mg a day, lorazepam 0.5 mg a day, and 10 mg 2x a day of Adderall. While I should say that the medication worked well for my depression and psychosis. I had to stop taking risperidone because I gained 20 lbs in the first 4 months of taking it. It made me sleepy, no motivation whatsoever. So, we replaced it with Lamictal 25 mg 2x @2 and 9 pm, Adderall 20 mg 1x @6 am, Citalopram 40 mg 1x @9 am, lorazepam 0.5 2x @1 and 6 pm. So, no medication takes away from the other. Taking Adderall and Lamictal together will decrease Adderall effectiveness."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I was taking it (100-200 mg) for about two years, in 2011 up until 2015, in conjunction with quetiapine. I managed to drop my dose and come off it entirely. After that, I felt pretty good for two years. I slipped into depression again, low self-esteem, so I was put back on Lamictal (200 mg), and I immediately felt really good. But it didn't last long; depression, anxiety, losing hair, gaining weight, acne, and today I began developing a rash on my hands and a sore neck. I'm worried, but I'm afraid of taking something else."

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 27, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "My daughter was prescribed this at 16 after experiencing unrelenting suicidal ideation. We tried therapy alone for a year before adding medicine. After figuring out her dose and adding a low dose of Abilify, her severe depression lifted. I’m so excited to watch her preparing for college rather than considering ways to die. Also, this combo does not create a flat effect. Her moods ebb and flow as you might expect based on happy or sad events. Praying it keeps working. Highly recommend. As to side effects, very mild weight gain and a little bit of restless leg. It did take us a long time to hit the magic dose and medicine combo (200 lamotrigine plus 10 Abilify)."

• AFC...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 28, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "It's been over 1 year since I've been on lamotrigine, and it's been a big change. No more depression, no more antidepressants with the risk of mania, and ending up in the hospital again. I have been able to take a very hard and stressful job without it affecting my mood with lamotrigine. I am very anxious, and I have a tendency to insomnia, which is why I have had to take medication for it. I have taken olanzapine (the lowest dose of 2.5 mg) with zolpidem, now mianserin (the lowest dose does not give mania) or asenapine (lowest dose 2.5 mg) to sleep if I feel more agitated or more euphoric than corresponds to the situation for 1-2 days to prevent the mania. I can never stop thanking the person who invented this drug. No more depressions, no more undesirable side effects, no weight gain, no dull head. It should be given as the first option in most cases instead of valproic acid if your main problem is depression and not mania."

• Mit...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 5, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking Lamotrigine for 8 years. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder years ago. I have been on many different medications with disastrous results. I found a doctor to give me a DNA test to see what would work. Lamotrigine was #1. I had erratic behavior, stressed, horrible manic episodes to where I made dangerous decisions. I was self-conscious all the time. I had no quality of life and would lie on the couch for weeks. Of course, after the poor choices, mania wore off and depression set in. I started taking it (I don't remember what dosage he started me on), and it absolutely changed my life. I am never depressed, and my manic episodes are few and far between. I feel close to normal. I am on 200 mg once daily. I have experienced weight gain, and over the last year, I have developed a horrible rash that looks blistered and itches (not sure of the cause), but I will mention it to my doctor. People say I have turned cold, but I am happy. I wouldn't change a thing."

• E23...
• August 19, 2017

For Depression "I started on medication in the middle of my divorce, and I started to take Abilify. Then, I stopped since it was not covered by my insurance anymore. I took Risperdal, which messed up my hormones, and I had my prolactin levels super high, they found a pituitary tumor in my brain (adenoma). Well, I had to go for another type of treatment for that. Then, I took quetiapine for sleeping. I was not able to sleep for a very long time. Quetiapine helped me to sleep but made me gain weight, hallucinations, and bad effects for my eyes. I started on lamotrigine, since I started to take this, everything was fine, but after a while, passing a year, I noticed some changes like a red rash on my skin, they were over my butt and my arms. I gained some weight and was losing my hair."

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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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."

• eli...
• November 12, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I love Lamictal (lamotrigine). It works just like Zoloft but without the weight gain. It has reduced my depression dramatically. To me, this one is a keeper."

• Loo...
• September 8, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I feel that lamotrigine offers no difficult side effects that further impact my mood - compared to Depakote, which I took previously. Depakote caused weight gain, which increased my anxiety."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Gave me horrendous headaches, insomnia, and depression. Lack of energy. Also gained weight. Had to come off it after just 8 weeks."

• lan...
• June 4, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "Still have major depressive episodes lasting 3-6 months. Also, weight gain and itchy scalp."