Lamictal side effects ?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-18-2003
Lamictal side effects ?
8
Thu, 07-19-2007 - 9:56am
I am new to this board. I am wondering if anyone has ever had weight gain while on Lamictal? I have been diagnosed with possible bioplar, but I haven't had a manic episode ever. I have had depression for quite awhile now, but the Lamictal has helped me. I've only been on it a few months now with good results. Any comments would be appreciated.
Avatar for chilaili
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 07-19-2007 - 10:18am
Not weight gain but sleepiness was my problem when I first started taking it. I now take it at night so I don't fall asleep at my desk :-)
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-15-2006
Thu, 07-19-2007 - 3:31pm

Hi, ivpisces, welcome to the board! I have been taking Lamictal(& recently added Abilify) for about 3 mos. When I was only taking the Lamictal, I did not notice any weight gain. (yay!) I mainly suffer from daytime drowsiness, which is less severe if i take it in the early evening.

Wonderbread77

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2006
Thu, 07-19-2007 - 3:54pm
Welcome ivpisces. I've been on Lamictal about 5 months now and have had no side effects. I am also a depressive bipolar. I have been dealing with what I thought was severe depression for many years, since about 16 and I am now 41. There is a good website that you can read that talks about depressive bipolar. The address is http://www.psycheducation.org/index.html
I hope this helps and I hope you do well on Lamictal.
Brenda
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 07-19-2007 - 6:05pm

Hi there. I've been on Lamictal for almost a year now and its been a life-saver for my depressive episodes. I'm on Lithium for the manic ones. Anyway, no weight gain from Lamictal...a bit of sleepiness, but I take it at night, so that isn't a problem.

Hugs

Keli

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-18-2003
Thu, 07-19-2007 - 8:43pm

Hi there! I want to thank you all for posting...I think I was hoping weight gain was because of the lamictal, and not because I wasn't exercising, or dieting, lol. I have to say I am so much better on the lamactil I can't believe it. I also take it at night and between it and the Trazodone and Effexor I take for depression, I do actually get about 4-5 hours sleep at the most. I am only on 100mg and I think it should be increased and will see my doctor next week.

I also have to say that I absolutely LOVE this board and the members here! It's not like alot of my family or friends understand having bioplar or the medications, etc., but it's so great to have an outlet to ask questions, for opinions, etc. Having this site along with all the others (anxiety, depression, etc) have been so helpful just knowing that I am not alone in my thoughts, disorder, etc.

Thanks so much for your imput! I guess I really do have to try to exercise :( (which means actually getting out which equals panic). I would have been so much easier I think to blame it all on Lamictil.

ivpisces

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-18-2003
Thu, 07-19-2007 - 8:45pm

Hi there.. just wondering from your reply what is Abilify? I have not heard of it before.

Hugs, ivpisces

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2006
Thu, 07-19-2007 - 11:18pm

While I believe it is an anti-psychotic, it is also used to damper manics. DS (16 yrs old) just got put on it about 2 months ago after an increase in Depakote did nothing for his afternoon into evening manics. The Abilify took the wind out of the manics and the first two nights he was on it, he actually slept 9 to 10 hrs. He has been running on at MOST 4 hrs of sleep a night since Jan for two reasons....his manics were so bad he couldn't sleep and then he was trying to keep the manic going so he was staying up as late as he could. We also had to start monitoring his pill taking as he was not taking his Semprex D which always causes a manic in him.

tk

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-15-2006
Fri, 07-20-2007 - 1:55pm

Hello again! Abilify is an "anti-psychotic". For those with BP1, it is used to
treat/prevent mania. I have BP2, with "rapid cycling". My hypo-manias are less severe
than my depressions, but when coming down from a hypomanic state, I tend to become a bit
paranoid & sort of strung out from lack of sleep, so I couple a small dose(5 mg.) of
Abilify w/ my Lamictal for mood stability. Abilify is sometimes used to treat
Schizophrenia(sp?). That kind of scared me at first, but apparently it can work well
for some BP people esp. those w/ hallucinations during manic states. That's just from my experience, though. If you want a more factual explanation, you can go to
www.crazymeds.org (I think that is the address), or you could go to the "official"
website for Abilify. Hope this is of some help, have a great day!

Edited 7/20/2007 1:57 pm ET by wonderbread77

Edited 7/20/2007 1:58 pm ET by wonderbread77




Edited 7/20/2007 2:02 pm ET by wonderbread77