Lamictal weight loss

[kgill78]

I have recently started taking Lamictal for bipolar, 25mg the first week and am now at 50mg until I see my pdoc next month.  I have been having trouble eating since starting the lamictal.  I feel hungry but my stomach is doing some nauseous, crampy thing.  I have already lost a few pounds which I am thrilled about.  Has anyone else had this experience before?

Take care all!
Krystal

[chelshem]

Hi. Was reading your comments regarding Lamictal. About a year ago I started Lamictal and was also on seroquel. I started out on Lamictal 50, then 100, then 150, then 200. The seroquel was at 200. I totally flipped my lid and after 23 years out of a hospital ended up in one. Got out on this still. Was at originally 200 Lamictal and 50 Seroquel doing great then this incident.

The doctor in there had stopped 5 other psych meds previous which I am grateful for. But home half a day thrown back in. Same doctor who had been begging me to go even higher on seroquel. Wanted me on 300 previous week. I had refused but when ended up there again. I figured I had better take it this time. By then on 450 Lamictal and now 300 Seroquel added. Within a few months ended right back in the hospital. I told him they were both too high and the Seroquel increased had made this situation worse. But what do I know. Left the third hospitalization  on Lamictal 450, Seroquel 300, and Abilify 100. Sick as a dog!

New psychiatrist finally listened to me. Cut down to Lamictal 200 only. Issue could no sleep. So back on seroquel 50. Still no sleep so 100. Doing really well now.

I hate it when doctors do not listen because two hospitalizations could have been avoided. My post-traumatic is way off.

In regards to the weight loss. When started Lamictal had trouble eating as well. Dropped some weight. Now 1 year later and 94 pounds lighter I feel great! Still losing too. I started at 296 pounds now 202. I have never been able to lose weight. Now able to walk great distances and attend gym.



No one would listen to me.

[cowgirlnerd]

HAIR LOSS!  That makes me feel better!  I was losing chunks in the shower - I didn't know what was going on with that!  I would rather be bald though to feel like I did before Lamacital!  

KGILL78- after the naseau goes away - you will be ok.  It took me a couple weeks and it got better - each time I raise my dosage, it comes back, but not like it did at first.

[kgill78]

Thanks for all the replies.  They were very helpful.  The nausea is starting to go away now.  I also take wellbutrin sr with it.  I am starting to feel more stable now.  Not about to go off to crazyland.  

[tres1965]

I thought I'd mention that my Sister-in-law is a professional
hairdresser & she strongly tells people that taking the vitamin
BIOTIN, or Bitotin is an excellent hair strength vitamin..
It is also the one they tell you to take if you have had anything
done to your hair.
Or the creme rinse Potassium (Ieave it on atleast 30 minutes)
for use on your hair to build it's strength...

[Nora18]

A hairstylist friend recommended Biotin to me too. It took care of the bald patches. I took it for three weeks straight before I saw any results. I continue to take it since it can't prevent the hair falling out. I'll have to try that creme rinse.

[specialmom]

Thanks for sharing Nora18  Come back and let us know if it works for you!

[Lizz67]

I've been on Lamictal for three years and I'm doing well.  I'm up to the max recommended dose of 400mg/day.  But I take it with Li and Seroquel and Prozac.  The only side effect I'm still having is hair loss.  It's not dramatic but it's noticeable to me.  Mostly lose a lot on my brush and in the shower.  

It's a little thin in the back, but I don't know if that's really something other people notice.  My hair is thick and curly so I don't think I'm noticing thinning if it's happened all over.

And like you, cowgirlnerd, I've lost my spelling!!  I don't know what to blame, but maybe it is the meds.  My long-term mem is also sometimes weak.  Like, I can't remember lines from movies or song lyrics like I used to. And other stuff like that. I felt very stupid earlier this year, but then I realized that I'm still smart, it's just my memory.

Anyone out there, be careful with Lamictal - the withdrawl is terrible and happens very quickly.  I ran out during an ice storm and missed 2 1/2 days and got awfully irritable and very sick like a bad flu.  My nurse told me this was common.

[cowgirlnerd]

I have noticed that, too.  I have always been someone who can spell ANYTHING - and I catch myself not being able to spell simple things that I know I should be able to spell!  Also, I have noticed that my short term memory isn't the best in the world.

Like LeftCoastChick - I had the pukes for awhile coming down from the Cymbalta and getting ramped up on the Lamactil.  

Of course, I am big dork anyway.!