Bipolar Support Group

Is anyone gaining weight while taking Lamictal??..my doc says it doesnt cause weight gain..but I have gained 10 lbs. within the first 2 months of starting it..she says that its because of the BP that Im gaining it..but Im not so sure.

Hi, emotional, I've not been gaining weight from the med, and have been on it since august of last year, could it be you've just slowed down some from where you were before? if you had been running 110 full manic and now you are calmer that could be it.

I'm not on Lamictal, never have been, but ever since I started taking meds I've been gaining like crazy. I do believe it to be the meds, I have always been thin and I do believe they made me hypothyroid which I've never been either 'til now. I'm on Invega and Depokote. I used to be on Respiteral (hope I spelled that right) but I didn't want to be on it anymore because it felt like my brain was burning.

Punky, have you talked with the doctor about your medications having weight gain side effects? they could be the problem.

Also, I've managed to loose about 11 pounds because I am able to function better.

Yes Carmen, they both do (it says so in the little papers it comes with) and I have been screaming this to my doctor since the beginning. She wouldn't listen to me and everytime I saw her she'd get mad at me for gaining more weight. She made it seem like it was all my fault. Then we found out that I have hypothyroidism....she changed her tune. She then said it was because of my thyroid that I still continue to gain. I believe the pills to have caused all this havoc. I don't want to be on these horrible pills anymore, but I have to. My illness is like schizophrenia. I need help...a good doctor, one that listens and understands what it's like to be this ill. And one who cares.

I've been on Lamictal since December and no weight gain. I was told that it's not like Cybalta and weight gain is not a side affect. I gain weight when I'm eating to squelch the pain. BP has definitely exagerated emotions and I don't drink or smoke or do drugs or gamble, etc so I've used food to anesthetize, but it's not the meds that make me gain, it's the comfort of food.

Post edited by: lobo, at: 07/05/2008 14:24

(((((((((((LOBO)))))))))))))) How ya doin hun???

Post edited by: KrissyH, at: 07/05/2008 14:25

PM sent krissy.

i see where you are coming from lobo.. i guess i have been using food to soothe the pain and just not realizing it. Coupled with being so exhausted and unable to get any excercise,is more than likely causing the wieght gain, which all of this is more than likely attributed to the BP, not the meds. Ya know, its funny, common sense would normally tell me that, but it can be hard to see that sometimes with this disorder. Thank you all for your support and helping to shed a little light into the darkness of this illness. (((((HUGS))))