Will lamotrigine cause weight gain

Most mood stabilizers used to help treat bipolar disorder are known to cause weight gain. However, Lamictal is less likely to cause weight gain.

Federal government websites often end in. The site is secure. Approximately half of all patients with diagnosed bipolar disorder are prescribed 2 or more psychotropic medications. Lamotrigine was approved in for the maintenance treatment of bipolar I disorder. This study examined comparative effects of lamotrigine with and without concomitant medications. A post hoc analysis of data from a prospective, open-label study of lamotrigine in patients with bipolar I disorder evaluated the clinical response to and quality-of-life and weight effects of lamotrigine as monotherapy and in patients receiving concomitant valproate, lithium, antipsychotics, or antidepressants. The study was originally designed to assess the rate of rash among patients instructed to use specific dermatologic precautions compared with those receiving usual care.

Will lamotrigine cause weight gain

Most studies investigating bipolar disorder medications and weight loss have found evidence they cause weight gain instead. People with bipolar disorder BD experience periods of high and low moods. These are sometimes referred to as mania and depression, respectively. The impact of BD on daily life can vary from person to person. However, treatments and support are available, including medication. Medication treatments for BD include mood stabilizers such as lithium, anticonvulsant medications, and antipsychotic medications. A common side effect of BD medication is weight gain rather than weight loss. This article discusses whether bipolar disorder medications cause weight loss. It also looks at other potential side effects of BD medications. Treatments for BD include medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of treatments. BD medications may cause weight gain rather than weight loss. However, not everyone who uses BD medications will experience weight changes the same way. Additionally, other BD treatments may also cause weight gain.

Patients who rated their satisfaction with lamotrigine with a score of 6 satisfied or 7 very satisfied were considered to be satisfied with their medication. Krieger CA expert opinion.

Bipolar disorder can be treated with a number of medications. Some of these medications can increase your appetite or cause changes in metabolism leading to weight gain. Whether a certain medication will cause weight gain or other side effects varies from person to person. Also, how well the medication works to treat bipolar disorder symptoms differs among individuals. Because of this, finding the medications that best treat your symptoms may require some trial and error. Some of these medications may be less likely to cause weight gain when taken alone, but many people need more than one medication to control bipolar symptoms. Some weight gain may be inevitable when taking medications for bipolar disorder.

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. 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. 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 should be reassuring to people with bipolar disorder since so many medications used to treat the condition can cause weight gain. Lamictal is an anticonvulsant medication that can be used to treat seizure disorders, such as epilepsy.

Will lamotrigine cause weight gain

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. Based upon available medical research, Lamictal is likely to have no clinically significant effect on body weight. Among persons who are prone to experiencing weight loss on Lamictal, research indicates that average weight loss ranges from: 2. In the event that you experience weight change gain or loss while using Lamictal, included below is a list of possible reasons for that change. Nevertheless, evidence is based upon average responses to the medication — and does not account for individual variability in reactions. Most evidence suggests that Lamictal has no significant effect on body weight i.

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Individuals who are concerned about their weight while taking lamotrigine should consult their doctor to discuss any potential strategies for managing weight. This drug has a boxed warning for the risk of serious skin rash. Hasnain M, Vieweg WV. Everyone participating in the study had a body mass index BMI of between 30 and 40, which placed them in the obese to the severely obese range. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. Weight gain is also sometimes a side effect of the medication aripiprazole. 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. These include :. Error Email field is required. See Our Editorial Process. Other symptoms of alcohol intolerance include facial discoloration , hives , and stuffy or runny nose.

While this phase IV clinical study alone cannot establish cause-effect relationship, Weight increased is found in people who have side effects when taking Lamotrigine.

My podcast changed me Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health? They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug. In fact, some researchers even have looked at the drug as a possible treatment for obesity and as a treatment for binge-eating disorder. As a mood stabilizer, it helps lengthen the time between extreme mood episodes in bipolar disorder. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. The conditions and factors to consider include:. Lamictal also has been studied as a possible treatment for obesity in people without epilepsy or bipolar disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders. The impact of BD on daily life can vary from person to person. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial then Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you. Medical News Today. One common side effect of valproate is weight gain. 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 week open-label study. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.