Can you gain weight on Lamictal
Lamotrigine
Lamotrigine is used alone or with other medications to prevent and control seizures. It may also be used to help prevent the extreme mood swings of bipolar disorder in adults.
Does Lamictal increase your appetite and cause weight gain?
Unlike most mood stabilizers, though, Lamictal is less likely to cause weight gain. In clinical trials, less than 5 percent of those taking Lamictal gained weight. If you take Lamictal and have gained weight, the weight gain may be an effect of the disorder itself. Bipolar disorder can increase your appetite or change your metabolism.
Can Lamictal help you lose weight?
Those taking Lamictal lost more weight than those on the placebo (about 2.5 pounds versus about one-third of a pound), and they did have significant improvements in their blood sugar and cholesterol lab test results. However, the Lamictal didn't seem to affect other aspects of their binge-eating disorder when compared to placebo.
Will you have weight increased with lamotrigine?
could it be the latuda? even though it's weight neutral for a lot of people, it could make you gain weight. some people gain weight on meds that aren't widely known to cause weight gain. it might be worth looking into.
Why does lamotrigine cause weight loss?
- Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
- chills
- cough
- dark urine
- diarrhea
- fever
- general feeling of discomfort or illness
- headache
- itching
- joint pain
Does Lamictal speed up metabolism?
Lamotrigine metabolism also exhibits the phenomenon of “autoinduction” (increase in its own metabolism during the course of therapy) [104], similar to the first-generation AED carbamazepine, with an approximately 20% reduction in steady-state serum/plasma concentrations if dosage is not escalated.
Can Lamictal be used for weight loss?
While more research is needed to determine if Lamictal might be beneficial as a weight-loss treatment, current research suggests that the medication may not cause significant weight loss that is common with some other bipolar medications.
What mood stabilizers cause weight gain?
Mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorder include lithium (Lithobid), valproic acid (Depakene), divalproex sodium (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro, others) and lamotrigine (Lamictal). All of these medications are known to increase the risk of weight gain except lamotrigine.
How much weight do you lose on lamotrigine?
Conclusion. Lamotrigine was effective and well tolerated and appeared to have no effect on body weight when given as monotherapy or as adjunctive therapy with valproate, antipsychotics, lithium, or antidepressants to outpatients with bipolar I disorder in a 12-week open-label study.
What mood stabilizer does not cause weight gain?
They include: Lamotrigine (Lamictal, Lamictal XR, Lamictal ODT). This anticonvulsant isn't linked to weight gain.
What happens if you take Lamictal and are not bipolar?
So the drug can be used in people with conditions besides bipolar I disorder. If you take Lamictal and don't have bipolar I disorder or certain kinds of epilepsy or seizures, you're still at risk of side effects from the drug.
What mental health drugs cause the most weight gain?
Olanzapine (Zyprexa) and clozapine (Clozaril) are the top two offenders; studies have shown that on average these drugs cause patients to gain more than eight pounds in just 10 weeks.
Which psych meds cause most weight gain?
Psychotropics with the greatest propensity to cause weight gain include various antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline, mirtazapine), antipsychotics (eg, olanzapine, clozapine), and mood stabilizers (eg, lithium, valproate).
How can a bipolar person lose weight?
Ultimately, you have to be taking in fewer calories than your body is burning in order to lose weight. Strategies include setting yourself a calorie cap per day, checking that your portions actually match the recommended serving size, and keeping track of everything you eat in a food diary.
Is 300 mg of lamoTRIgine a lot?
However, the dose is usually not more than 400 mg a day. Adults and children older than 13 years of age taking valproic acid (Depakote®)—At first, 25 mg of lamotrigine once every other day for 2 weeks, then 25 mg once a day for 2 weeks. After this, your doctor may gradually increase your dose as needed.
What happens if you drink on Lamictal?
lamoTRIgine food Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of lamoTRIgine such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with lamoTRIgine.
Why does epilepsy medication cause weight gain?
Anti-Seizure Medications. Anti-seizure medicines like Depakene and Depakote (or valproic acid), treat seizures in epilepsy. This particular type of medication increases your appetite, causing you to gain 10 or more pounds.
How much weight did Lamictal lose?
Those taking Lamictal lost, on average, a little more than 10 pounds.
Does lamictal cause weight gain?
If you're concerned that taking the medication Lamictal (lamotrigine) may cause you to gain weight, there's good news. It probably won't affect your weight much at all. If anything, you're more likely to lose weight because of Lamictal than to gain weight, but either way, the changes will probably be pretty small.
Is Lamictal a good medication for bipolar?
Therefore, if you're already overweight, you and your psychiatrist may want to consider the possibility of additional weight gain in determining your medication regimen for your bipolar disorder. On that basis alone, Lamictal may be a good choice.
Is lamictal good for obesity?
Lamictal As a Treatment for Obesity. Lamictal also has been studied as a possible treatment for obesity in people without epilepsy or bipolar disorder. In a small clinical trial involving 40 people conducted in 2006, researchers randomly assigned the participants to receive either Lamictal or a placebo for up to 26 weeks.
17 Answers
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.
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
What is lamictal used for?
Lamictal (lamotrigine) is an anticonvulsant medication prescribed for the prophylaxis and/or management of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. Research suggests that Lamictal modifies neurochemistry by: inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels, blocking various calcium channels (L-type; N-type; P-type), antagonizing sigma and 5-HT3 receptors, upregulating GABA signaling, and suppressing the release of glutamate and aspartate. Through the aforementioned mechanisms of action, Lamictal effectively prevents seizures and stabilizes mood.
How much weight did lamotrigine lose?
An analysis by researchers determined that, on average, lamotrigine users exhibited an average weight loss of 2.64 lbs. (1.2 kg) over a 52-week span.
What are the variables that influence weight change?
Variables that may be most likely to influence weight change among Lamictal users include: baseline weight (body weight prior to using Lamictal); adjunct substance use; Lamictal dose; duration of Lamictal use; prior medication use; and/or lifestyle/genetics of the user.
Does lamictal cause cognitive impairment?
Cognitive impairment: The inhibitory action of Lamictal might cause mild (or perhaps substantial) cognitive impairment in a subset of users. Changes or impaired cognitive function might decrease self-regulation (i.e. willpower) around food – and could lead to overeating.
Does lamotrigine cause weight gain?
Merideth noted that, unlike most mood stabilizers, lamotrigine isn’t associated with weight gain. Because lamotrigine doesn’t generally cause weight gain, Merideth organized a trial to determine the effectiveness of lamotrigine compared to placebo for the induction of weight loss among adults with obesity.
Does lamictal slow metabolism?
Conversely, if Lamictal slows your metabolism (compared to pre-treatment), you might gain some weight as a result of decreased energy expenditure.
Does lamictal cause weight loss?
The good news for prospective Lamictal users is that, according to research, Lamictal is unlikely to cause significant weight change – and if weight change does occur, it’s most likely to be modest weight loss.
4 Answers
Hi, Fakingit! You're absolutely correct. ALL psychotropic drugs have the POTENTIAL to cause weight gain.
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
Lamictal basics
If you have bipolar disorder, epilepsy, or seizures, your medical professional may recommend a prescription drug called Lamictal.
Does Lamictal have side effects?
Most medications, including Lamictal, may cause side effects that can be serious or mild. To give you an idea of what might occur with Lamictal, we’ve listed some of the medication’s more common side effects below. We haven’t included all the potential side effects.
What should you know before taking Lamictal?
Some important things to discuss with your medical professional when considering treatment with Lamictal include your overall health and any medical conditions you may have.
What do you use Lamictal for?
If you have bipolar disorder, epilepsy, or seizures, your medical professional may recommend a prescription drug called Lamictal.
Can you overdose on Lamictal?
Yes, it’s possible to overdose on Lamictal. It’s important that you don’t take more Lamictal than your medical professional recommends. Taking more than the recommended dosage can lead to severe side effects.
How do you take Lamictal?
Your medical professional can help explain how to take Lamictal. It’s important to follow the instructions they provide. Be sure to follow your medical professional’s instructions. Below are common dosages, but it’s recommended that you always take the dosage they prescribe.
How much does Lamictal cost?
Lamictal is a prescription drug. The costs of prescription medications may depend on several factors, such as your insurance coverage and the pharmacy you use. To find current prices of Lamictal tablets near you, visit GoodRx.com.
Results
Research
- The effect of Lamictal on weight has been studied quite a bit and various clinical trials have found a minimal impact gain. In fact, some researchers even have looked at the drug as a possible treatment for obesity and as a treatment for binge-eating disorder. This information should be reassuring to people with bipolar disorder since so many medications used to treat the conditio…
Medical uses
- Lamictal is an anticonvulsant medication that can be used to treat seizure disorders, such as epilepsy. It's also used as a mood stabilizer in bipolar disorder.
Epidemiology
- In the first clinical trials involving the drug, 5 percent of adults with epilepsy lost weight while taking Lamictal, while between 1 and 5 percent of patients with bipolar I disorder gained weight while on the drug. The researchers didn't disclose how much weight the patients gained or lost.
Prevention
- Weight gain from drugs used to treat bipolar disorder is unfortunately pretty common. Certain mood stabilizers commonly used in bipolar disorderspecifically, lithium and Depakote (valproate)carry a high risk of weight gain. Therefore, if you're already overweight, you and your psychiatrist may want to consider the possibility of additional weight gain in determining your m…
Adverse effects
- In addition, the atypical antipsychotic medications Clozaril (clozapine) and Zyprexa (olanzapine) tend to cause significant weight gain in people taking them. Finally, some antidepressantsspecifically, Paxil (paroxetine) and Remeron (mirtazapine)are associated with weight gain.
Effects
- Those taking Lamictal lost more weight than those on the placebo (about 2.5 pounds versus about one-third of a pound), and they did have significant improvements in their blood sugar and cholesterol lab test results. However, the Lamictal didn't seem to affect other aspects of their binge-eating disorder when compared to placebo.