bipolar medicatiopn and weight gain

[morkenzal]

Do all bipolar medications have weight gain as a side effect or are considered weight neutral?  Are there any that will help you loose weight?

[lindahand]

That's too bad about the Lamictal as it works wonders for me. Isn't it strange how everyone's biochemistry can be so different. I doubt they'll ever get these psyc. meds figured out.

[morkenzal]

I have tried Geodon don't remember that one particularly just remember that I didn'ty like it.  Lamictal that was a BAD one I had three car wrecks on that one.  I'm not recless I've only had 5 car wrecks in my entire driving life (16 years.)  Had one doc tell me that it research has shown that Lamictal can't cause car wrecks, but eveyone is different and that drug was the worst for me.  

[morkenzal]

My PA who now has sent me to a psychiatrist said she talked to a doctor who preferred Seroquel with his BP pregnant women.  That scares me to death because all BP meds are considered level D.  if you aren't familiar with the levels A and B are okay C is unknow Wellbutrin just recently got moved from B to C becuase they didn't have enough research to classify it as a B. So pretty much what most cautious docs say is A and B and nothing below.  I have worked with children almost my entire life and have seen some cases that I have thought to myself I couldn't handle "that one" if I were the mother.  These kinds of drugs could very well be the cause of such probelms.  Especially the ones they say they don't know the causes to.  I just want a healthy baby and would rather not be so good myself as to hurt my child.  But my PA also says happy mother makes happy baby.  So I don't know!!

[lindahand]

Just saw your new post. I too am wanting to get pregnant but there is a whole host of medical reasons this isn't a good idea. I am scared to get off my meds for the mood swings it may cause. From what I've read Lamotrigine is the safest during pregnancy and the SSRI's are faily safe after the first trimester. The antispychotics - not so much. I forget what birth defects they cause but it isn't good.

[lindahand]

The antipsychotic Geodone (Zeldox for you Canadia folks) is weight neutral. I do believe lamotrigine is weight neutral - or very close to it. Ziprexa will make you gain weight just looking at the pills. Topomax is sometimes prescribed for weight loss but it has a bigger side effect profile than many drugs. It is often referred to as Dopomax because of the cognitive side effect. I know some though that love this drug, and it is useful for migraine headaches.

I am no expert. This is just what I know from my own research. The information is out there - just takes a lot of googling to get to it. And as always your psychiatrist will know this information and if weight gain is a big issue for you - talk to them about it. Another thing to know is that the weight gain usually levels off so it isn't like you will grow and grow. You will hit a certain weight and then stop (provided you eat properly of course).

[morkenzal]

Does lithium work good for you - how many meds have you tried?
I'm really scared - I was dignosed with bipolar last week.  Earlier in my lafe I was diagnosed as ADD so I have been on wellbutirn, vyvanse (adderrall) and lexapro for a very long period of time.  I wanted to get off of these so I could get pregnant.  But now since I've gotten off the meds I do have huge mood swings. The docs and my husband are trying to have me take bipolar meds which I have taken earlier in my life for a two year period - I took probably 6 or 7 different kinds none worked.  I am now 90 pounds heavier (I started gaining weight on the meds and continued after) and not even able to get pregnant (probably too heavy and getting off the meds messed up my system.)  I want' to get pregnant which was fine with everyone two months ago before I got off my meds now everyone thinks I'm in need of major help and need to get my head straight.  I just don't know what to do because after researching these meds I'm very scared to get pregnant on them. Just wanting some advice from someone who has been down this type of road.  thank you so much for your help!

[rBoulet]

Some have weight loss, some gain, some both. Medication affects everyone differently so it's hard to say until you take it. I've actually list weight since going on lithium, but I've heard of other people having quite the opposite happen to them.