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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 52. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Leighwit on May 17, 2002, at 12:55:38
Does anyone have experience with Lamictal without weight gain?
I am so disappointed to read all of these threads when I searched on Lamictal about people gaining a significant to substantial amount of weight!
I cannot go through that again (I gained nearly 30 pounds on Celexa and had gained quite a bit on Paxil several years ago, too). Excess weight destabilizes my diabetes (insulin dosage requirements, etc.)
I have a prescription for Lamictal (to add to the WB I've been taking for years) and have been excited to learn that perhaps the ADs weren't the answer all along -- that I might have been needing a mood stabilizer instead.
Weight gain, however, is simply NOT an option. Unstable blood sugars don't help me to feel better. I'm wondering if all the mood-stabilizers are risky for weight gain.
Help anyone?
Laurie
Posted by Emme on May 17, 2002, at 15:33:05
In reply to Lamictal=Weight Gain Hair Loss? Great...., posted by Leighwit on May 17, 2002, at 12:55:38
Hi there.
I personally haven't gained weight on the stuff. I think my PMS bloating may be worse, or I may just be having a bad couple of months (I hope). But the number on the scale is the same so far.
Emme
Posted by Leighwit on May 17, 2002, at 17:10:30
In reply to Re: Lamictal=Weight Gain Hair Loss? Great.... » Leighwit, posted by Emme on May 17, 2002, at 15:33:05
> Hi there.
>
> I personally haven't gained weight on the stuff. I think my PMS bloating may be worse, or I may just be having a bad couple of months (I hope). But the number on the scale is the same so far.
> Emme
Thanks Emme. The fact that you haven't gain any pounds gives me hope. I realize I'm looking for purely anecdotal evidence, but I simply do not trust study statistics when they're sponsored by the patent owners. I doubt very many Celexa users think the statistics on Celexa and weight gain are credible, for example.If I know that at least "some" people here are taking or have taken Lamictal without weight gain, it'll make me "feel" better about giving it a try.
Thanks again,
Laurie
Posted by Chris A. on May 17, 2002, at 17:15:13
In reply to Lamictal=Weight Gain Hair Loss? Great...., posted by Leighwit on May 17, 2002, at 12:55:38
Laurie,
I haven't gained any weight on Lamictal either and have been taking it for a long time. I did gain significant weight on a number of other meds, so it is nice to keep the needle on the scale steady.
Best,
Chris A.
Posted by Hattree on May 17, 2002, at 22:18:14
In reply to Re: Lamictal=Weight Gain Hair Loss? Great.... » Leighwit, posted by Chris A. on May 17, 2002, at 17:15:13
No weight gain or hair loss here, either. For a time I was concerned about the hair, but it was either my imagination or it stopped.
Posted by Zo on May 18, 2002, at 4:14:28
In reply to Re: Lamictal=Weight Gain Hair Loss? Great...., posted by Hattree on May 17, 2002, at 22:18:14
Posted by Leighwit on May 18, 2002, at 14:56:37
In reply to Re: Lamictal=Weight Gain Hair Loss? Great...., posted by Hattree on May 17, 2002, at 22:18:14
> No weight gain or hair loss here, either. For a time I was concerned about the hair, but it was either my imagination or it stopped.
This is sounding better all the time.
Thanks,
Laurie
Posted by jazzdog on May 18, 2002, at 20:29:32
In reply to Re: Lamictal=Weight Gain Hair Loss? Great.... » Hattree, posted by Leighwit on May 18, 2002, at 14:56:37
The weight gain thing is interesting. The info says an average of 3 pound weight gain - some people gain more, but it's balanced by other people losing. When tracked over a longer period, it's been found that the weight was gained in the first couple of months and then reversed itself. That's been the case with me. I gained 10 pounds in the first two months due to an increase in appetite, but in the last two months I've lost fifteen, and my appetite is if anything decreased. So all in all, I'm happy.
Good luck with lamictal, if you decide it's for you.
Posted by Ponder on May 19, 2002, at 12:56:58
In reply to Re: Lamictal=Weight Gain Hair Loss? Great.... » Leighwit, posted by jazzdog on May 18, 2002, at 20:29:32
Lamictal gave me the energy to start and maintain a regular walking program. I have lost 40 pounds since starting Lamictal. I am struggling with the hair loss thing. Just increased my zinc & selenium dosages and hoping for the best on that score.
Posted by polarbear206 on May 19, 2002, at 16:17:27
In reply to Weight loss, hair loss, posted by Ponder on May 19, 2002, at 12:56:58
> Lamictal gave me the energy to start and maintain a regular walking program. I have lost 40 pounds since starting Lamictal. I am struggling with the hair loss thing. Just increased my zinc & selenium dosages and hoping for the best on that score.
Ponder,
How much Lamictal are you on? What else do you take with it? That's great that you have been able to loose that much weight. I'm impressed!!!!
Laura
Posted by Ponder on May 19, 2002, at 22:21:49
In reply to Re: Weight loss, hair loss Ponder, posted by polarbear206 on May 19, 2002, at 16:17:27
> Ponder,
>
> How much Lamictal are you on? What else do you take with it? That's great that you have been able to loose that much weight. I'm impressed!!!!
>
> Laura
Laura,
I am on 150 mg/day of Lamictal. I also take Wellbutrin SR 300-400 mg/day. Ambien at night and Ativan as needed. For the sake of full disclosure, I should also tell you that I am in the VNS study (vagus nerve stimulator). I don't know what effect that may have. Cyberonics, who manufacture the VNS, say that it should not have any effect on weight the way it is hooked up. They have an obesity study underway, but for that they connect the stimulator in a completely different place and in a completely different way. They insist that the VNS as used for bipolar/depression has no effect on weight loss. To the extent that it does, it's probably just like Lamictal for me in that it gives me more energy and that allows me to be more active.It really seems to me in reviewing posts on this board that a lot of people have had great results with Lamictal and weight gain has not been as big a problem with it as with many other meds. It has been a lifesaver for me.
Posted by Leighwit on May 20, 2002, at 12:52:02
In reply to Re: Weight loss, hair loss Ponder, posted by polarbear206 on May 19, 2002, at 16:17:27
Posted by Peter S. on May 22, 2002, at 21:08:05
In reply to Re: Weight loss, hair loss Ponder » polarbear206, posted by Ponder on May 19, 2002, at 22:21:49
I'm on 300mg of Lamictal and no weight gain.
Peter S.
Posted by Leighwit on May 23, 2002, at 10:54:30
In reply to Lamictal- No Weight gain, posted by Peter S. on May 22, 2002, at 21:08:05
> I'm on 300mg of Lamictal and no weight gain.
>
> Peter S.Thanks Peter. I have decided to go ahead and start Lamictal on Monday. I'm quite nervous about it, but the comments here have been a very big help in the decision to fill the script. Hearing from people with real experience using it for depression/affective disorders is particularly helpful since that's not the basis of it's FDA approval.
There are lots of reasons patients can be apprehensive about starting new AD drugs, particularly from a drug category they haven't used before. I think that one of those reasons is the overscheduled nature of physician practices these days. My own Pdoc can barely take a full breath in between appointments. And patients feel it. There's a sense of pressing urgency to spit out what you've come to say and get the heck out so that one of the next six pour souls in the waiting room can have their chance.
I said that to my Pdoc in my last visit. She took a deep breath, changed her body language and tried to listen more calmly and intently. I was moved by her willingness to listen and respond to my complaint, but it didn't change the outcome. The waiting room was still spilling over and it would be the same way during the next visit.
This board, while not a substitute for better physician care helps us in a variety of ways. For me, it's always helped during ramp-up phases of trying different drugs. I remember when I first took Reboxetine, that I was more comfortable in the knowledge that there were people "here" on Psychobabble (living in the UK actually) who could and would share their own experience. And they did. And sometimes in a matter of minutes!
Whatever our reasons for coming and going most of us try to help each other along the way of searching for something on Psychobabble to help ourselves.
It's not just a support group or some unmoderated chat room on the web.
I can somewhat understand the furrowed brow one gets if one mentions this site (generically or specifically) to Pdocs but its increasingly apparent that ignorance plays a chief role in their disdain. Skepticism I can understand. But to summarily dismiss the role the Web (and certainly this board) plays in patient attitudes, choices, and uses of AD medications is not only ignorant, it's inane.
Laurie
Posted by BarbaraCat on May 24, 2002, at 0:55:50
In reply to Starting Lamictal Soon Thanks to this Thread, posted by Leighwit on May 23, 2002, at 10:54:30
Laurie,
Agree totally with everything you said on your post. I get to see my pdoc once every 8 weeks for about 20 minutes and it's because of this board that I've challenged my original dx, rediagnosed myself and finally received appropriate medication. Now I'm considering adding lamictal to my Remeron and lithium brew, mainly because I don't want to increase the lithium (I'm not in the therapeutic range) and because of the purported AD effects. So keep us informed of how the lamictal trial goes for you. Without this board and the wonderful combined efforts of all, I'd still be gulping massive amounts of SSRI's and getting more and more depressed. - BarbaraCat
Posted by Leighwit on May 24, 2002, at 10:39:56
In reply to Re: Starting Lamictal Soon Thanks to this Thread » Leighwit, posted by BarbaraCat on May 24, 2002, at 0:55:50
> Laurie,
> Agree totally with everything you said on your post. I get to see my pdoc once every 8 weeks for about 20 minutes and it's because of this board that I've challenged my original dx, rediagnosed myself and finally received appropriate medication. Now I'm considering adding lamictal to my Remeron and lithium brew, mainly because I don't want to increase the lithium (I'm not in the therapeutic range) and because of the purported AD effects. So keep us informed of how the lamictal trial goes for you. Without this board and the wonderful combined efforts of all, I'd still be gulping massive amounts of SSRI's and getting more and more depressed. - BarbaraCatBarbaraCat,
What a great attitude!
I'm curious: if Remeron and Lithium can be taken together, I'm presuming that they aren't very similar compounds (in the way that SSRIs, for example, are similar). I've used many different cocktail regimens, but typically they crossed categories (Wellbutrin with Serzone or Celexa for example.) Is taking them together why you're staying beneath the therapeutic range for the lithium?
Thanks again for your message. The "tone" made my morning!
Laurie
Posted by Ponder on May 24, 2002, at 11:35:17
In reply to Starting Lamictal Soon Thanks to this Thread, posted by Leighwit on May 23, 2002, at 10:54:30
Laurie, I share the thoughts in your well-articulated post. Psychobabble is, without question, one of the more powerful elements of my treatment cocktail! Without it, I would be far less equipped to tell my psychiatrist what he should do next. ;-)..............
I have decided to go ahead and start Lamictal on Monday. I'm quite nervous about it, but the comments here have been a very big help in the decision to fill the script. Hearing from people with real experience using it for depression/affective disorders is particularly helpful since that's not the basis of it's FDA approval.
>
> There are lots of reasons patients can be apprehensive about starting new AD drugs, particularly from a drug category they haven't used before. I think that one of those reasons is the overscheduled nature of physician practices these days. My own Pdoc can barely take a full breath in between appointments. And patients feel it. There's a sense of pressing urgency to spit out what you've come to say and get the heck out so that one of the next six pour souls in the waiting room can have their chance.
>
> I said that to my Pdoc in my last visit. She took a deep breath, changed her body language and tried to listen more calmly and intently. I was moved by her willingness to listen and respond to my complaint, but it didn't change the outcome. The waiting room was still spilling over and it would be the same way during the next visit.
>
> This board, while not a substitute for better physician care helps us in a variety of ways. For me, it's always helped during ramp-up phases of trying different drugs. I remember when I first took Reboxetine, that I was more comfortable in the knowledge that there were people "here" on Psychobabble (living in the UK actually) who could and would share their own experience. And they did. And sometimes in a matter of minutes!
>
> Whatever our reasons for coming and going most of us try to help each other along the way of searching for something on Psychobabble to help ourselves.
>
> It's not just a support group or some unmoderated chat room on the web.
>
> I can somewhat understand the furrowed brow one gets if one mentions this site (generically or specifically) to Pdocs but its increasingly apparent that ignorance plays a chief role in their disdain. Skepticism I can understand. But to summarily dismiss the role the Web (and certainly this board) plays in patient attitudes, choices, and uses of AD medications is not only ignorant, it's inane.
>
> Laurie
Posted by BarbaraCat on May 25, 2002, at 14:16:59
In reply to Re: Starting Lamictal Soon Thanks to this Thread » BarbaraCat, posted by Leighwit on May 24, 2002, at 10:39:56
Good Morning, Laurie,
Yes, Remeron and Lithium can indded be taken together and work extremely well. Remeron is a SSNI, a little different from SSRI's in that it also affects Norepineprine. It's used for depression. Lithium is a natural salt that is most familiar for preventing the manic phases of manic depression, or Bipolar Disorder. But it also helps in lifting one out of and preventing the depression. It also seems to potentiate the action of antidepressants. It also has some neuro-protective abilities and seems to grow new dendrites and be a a good thing in general for brain health. How it works for me is that it smoothes out the wired storm in my brain when I'm in a hypomanic episode and makes the antidepressant Remeron just plain be able to do it's job. I tried one without the other and the Lithium isn't strong enough to handle the gawd awful depressions I was frequently getting and the Remeron alone just doesn't work. Remeron and all the other SSRI class of meds were always pooping out. Somehow the lithium acts syndergistically with them.I'm staying below the therapeutic range because I'm in a good place emotionally and have been stable there for a while now. More lithium can have uncomfortable side effects like tremors, constant pee-ing, blurred vision, nausea. At my curret 600 mgs it is very gentle and even sweet. Many people don't like it's supposed sedating qualities but I've never experienced sedation, just a feeling of kindness and blessing that's like a good friend. Am I anthropomorphizing? All the best to you and keep us posted. - Barbara
> > Laurie,
> > Agree totally with everything you said on your post. I get to see my pdoc once every 8 weeks for about 20 minutes and it's because of this board that I've challenged my original dx, rediagnosed myself and finally received appropriate medication. Now I'm considering adding lamictal to my Remeron and lithium brew, mainly because I don't want to increase the lithium (I'm not in the therapeutic range) and because of the purported AD effects. So keep us informed of how the lamictal trial goes for you. Without this board and the wonderful combined efforts of all, I'd still be gulping massive amounts of SSRI's and getting more and more depressed. - BarbaraCat
>
> BarbaraCat,
>
> What a great attitude!
>
> I'm curious: if Remeron and Lithium can be taken together, I'm presuming that they aren't very similar compounds (in the way that SSRIs, for example, are similar). I've used many different cocktail regimens, but typically they crossed categories (Wellbutrin with Serzone or Celexa for example.) Is taking them together why you're staying beneath the therapeutic range for the lithium?
>
> Thanks again for your message. The "tone" made my morning!
>
> Laurie
Posted by Cece on May 29, 2002, at 14:03:15
In reply to Starting Lamictal Soon Thanks to this Thread, posted by Leighwit on May 23, 2002, at 10:54:30
Hi-
I haven't followed this whole thread so may be repeating, but just wanted to put in one thing about my experience.
I take 300mg/Lamictal a day. It has helped me a lot and I consider it a permanent med for me.
I am very med sensitive so built up to the 300 much much slower than many people do- increases of only 12.5mg/every1-2 weeks. It took a long time to get to 300, but actually I began to feel some good effects pretty early. When I tried to go faster I would get flushed, anxious, and feel 'fluish'.
Just my experience, but don't dismiss this useful med if you feel too many side effects- just drop down and go slow.
Cece
Posted by Leighwit on May 29, 2002, at 15:38:27
In reply to Re: Starting Lamictal Soon Thanks to this Thread » Leighwit, posted by Cece on May 29, 2002, at 14:03:15
Thank you, Cece,
That's good advice. I just started last night, taking 25 mg. at bedtime. My script is to take it that way for one week, and then increase to 25 mg. 2x/day. I'm going to keep your schedule in mind and remember that a slower ramp-up schedule is possible, perhaps preferable.
Thanks again,
Laurie> Hi-
>
> I haven't followed this whole thread so may be repeating, but just wanted to put in one thing about my experience.
>
> I take 300mg/Lamictal a day. It has helped me a lot and I consider it a permanent med for me.
>
> I am very med sensitive so built up to the 300 much much slower than many people do- increases of only 12.5mg/every1-2 weeks. It took a long time to get to 300, but actually I began to feel some good effects pretty early. When I tried to go faster I would get flushed, anxious, and feel 'fluish'.
>
> Just my experience, but don't dismiss this useful med if you feel too many side effects- just drop down and go slow.
>
> Cece
Posted by BarbaraCat on May 29, 2002, at 16:33:40
In reply to Re: Starting Lamictal Soon Thanks to this Thread » Leighwit, posted by Cece on May 29, 2002, at 14:03:15
Thanks for the update, Cece. What is your dx again and other meds you're taking? - Barbara
> Hi-
>
> I haven't followed this whole thread so may be repeating, but just wanted to put in one thing about my experience.
>
> I take 300mg/Lamictal a day. It has helped me a lot and I consider it a permanent med for me.
>
> I am very med sensitive so built up to the 300 much much slower than many people do- increases of only 12.5mg/every1-2 weeks. It took a long time to get to 300, but actually I began to feel some good effects pretty early. When I tried to go faster I would get flushed, anxious, and feel 'fluish'.
>
> Just my experience, but don't dismiss this useful med if you feel too many side effects- just drop down and go slow.
>
> Cece
Posted by Peter S. on May 29, 2002, at 20:13:16
In reply to Re: Starting Lamictal Soon Thanks to this Thread » Cece, posted by BarbaraCat on May 29, 2002, at 16:33:40
Hi,
Just to add my 2c: I've also had good experience with LAM- but I crashed and burned last weekend and have increased the dose up to 350mg. Anyone else reached this high of a dose? Anyone tried augmentation strategies like Neurontin?
Thanks!
> Thanks for the update, Cece. What is your dx again and other meds you're taking? - Barbara
>
> > Hi-
> >
> > I haven't followed this whole thread so may be repeating, but just wanted to put in one thing about my experience.
> >
> > I take 300mg/Lamictal a day. It has helped me a lot and I consider it a permanent med for me.
> >
> > I am very med sensitive so built up to the 300 much much slower than many people do- increases of only 12.5mg/every1-2 weeks. It took a long time to get to 300, but actually I began to feel some good effects pretty early. When I tried to go faster I would get flushed, anxious, and feel 'fluish'.
> >
> > Just my experience, but don't dismiss this useful med if you feel too many side effects- just drop down and go slow.
> >
> > Cece
Posted by Cece on May 30, 2002, at 2:15:12
In reply to Re: Starting Lamictal Soon Thanks to this Thread, posted by Peter S. on May 29, 2002, at 20:13:16
Peter-
My pdoc sez that a number of his patients have found that Lamictal didn't really kick in for them until they hit around 600mg/day, and that some took more. These are still way below the dosages used for epileptics. 300 seems good for me now, but I would certainly continue on up if there were a reason. It has stabilized me beyond anything I've tried previously.
I take Neurontin too, and find it to be a good balancer to the Lamictal. I find it calming, but not dopey. When I first started taking it (before the Lamictal), it gave me a new sense of well-being. I take 300mg/3xday- it seems to be more effective in divided doses. I also use an additional 100-200mg/day if I start to get frantic or hyper and it recenters me. I used to use small doses of xanax or zyprexa this way, but like the Neurontin better.
I also take a small (250mg/day) amount of Depakote. It has a certain effect on me that none of the others do, but just a small dose gives me what I need. The effect is hard to describe, the best that I can do is to say that I feel like it takes some 'extra electrical charge' off of me, and makes me more comfortable in my own skin.Cece
> Hi,
>
> Just to add my 2c: I've also had good experience with LAM- but I crashed and burned last weekend and have increased the dose up to 350mg. Anyone else reached this high of a dose? Anyone tried augmentation strategies like Neurontin?
>
> Thanks!
Posted by Cece on May 30, 2002, at 2:42:26
In reply to Re: Starting Lamictal Soon Thanks to this Thread » Cece, posted by BarbaraCat on May 29, 2002, at 16:33:40
Hi Barbara-
I think that there's another Cece on this board (or something similar). I've just started posting again after 'resting' for several months. It feels good to be back.
I'm BPII, with a long history of depression. I take:
Lamictal 300 mg in the morning, Neurontin 300mg/3xday, Trimipramine (TCA) 25mg at night, Depakote 250mg at night.
I'm weaning off of xanax- it was helpful to me for awhile, but I don't think that I need it anymore, and it seems to give me 'brain clog'. I wasn't on a real high dose- total 1.25mg/day, but feel better already now that I'm down to .75.I also take hormone replacement therapy which I started in peri-menopause (40's, I'm now early 50's). I got real unstable in my mid-40's and learned that for bi-polar women it is common for symptoms to flare at that time of life.
And, whew, I am also doing thyroid supplement therapy (Levothroid, same as Synthroid but cheaper)- pretty new. One approach to treating mood disorders (championed by Peter Whybrow at UCLA) is with thyroid supplement, even for people who don't test low. I always was borderline low, am supplementing now to reach high normal. I feel more alert and am not (so) slow to wake up in the morning- never was a morning person. My pdoc tells me that thyroid imbalance can mimic every psych disorder in the book!
My goal is to pare my meds, slowly over time, down to the bare essentials- which means finding out what is essential by trying phasing things out and seeing if I still need them. It is hard enough now to run my own personal pharmacy, and I can't imagine being able to do it when I am older.
Oh yeah, I've been trying out a special omega fatty acid formula developed by a Harvard pdoc especially to promote mood stability. My pdoc is impressed with it and suggested I try it. It's more subtle than a 'med', but I think it may be contributing to my growing stability. It's called Omega-Brite and is only available on the internet.
Thanks for your interest,
Cece
> Thanks for the update, Cece. What is your dx again and other meds you're taking? - Barbara
Posted by Emme on May 30, 2002, at 7:56:32
In reply to Re: Starting Lamictal Soon Thanks to this Thread » BarbaraCat, posted by Cece on May 30, 2002, at 2:42:26
> It's called Omega-Brite and is only available on the internet.Not true. I buy it at a health food store that routinely stocks it and other stores are known to order it upon request. I am not spectacularly impressed with it so far, but YMMV and it is sometimes hard to separate out the effects of different drugs, so it may be helping and I'm not able to pinpoint it. It doesn't cause me side effects. I'd be interested to see if it is cheaper to buy via internet.
Emme
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