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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by twinch42085 on September 16, 2007, at 18:24:40
Is lamictal known to cause an increase in appetite? I am curious to know how this would compare to lithium, which is notorious for causing weight gain. Also, does lithium cause as much weight gain as an atypical antipsychotic such as zyprexa or seroquel?
thanks : )
twinch
Posted by Phillipa on September 16, 2007, at 18:35:07
In reply to lamictal and weight gain?, posted by twinch42085 on September 16, 2007, at 18:24:40
Lamictal caused no weight gain for me but at a low dose. I do know that lithium can cause as my ex father in law when off it twice a year to diet and became manic. I'd think the zyprea and seroquel might cause more. Do you have a choice of which category of med you can take or doing some research? I'd love to know the answer. Phillipa
Posted by rina on September 16, 2007, at 19:51:55
In reply to lamictal and weight gain?, posted by twinch42085 on September 16, 2007, at 18:24:40
Twinch, I've taken Seroquel and now I'm on Lamictal. My experience is that with or without the increase in appetite Seroquel causes weight gain. It did for me. The lamictal increases my appetite. For me. This is my experience.
Posted by rina on September 16, 2007, at 19:53:23
In reply to lamictal and weight gain?, posted by twinch42085 on September 16, 2007, at 18:24:40
forgot to add. the seroquel made me crave only junk food and greasy carbs. i.e burgers, fries and potato chips. i never eat any of those normally.
Posted by nolegirl23 on September 16, 2007, at 20:46:51
In reply to Re: lamictal and weight gain? » twinch42085, posted by rina on September 16, 2007, at 19:53:23
I actually have experienced a loss of appetite on Lamictal. I think I may have even lost weight :)
I don't know for sure because I don't weigh myself due to my ED, but I haven't experienced any weight gain in a year of being on Lamictal.
Posted by finelinebob on September 16, 2007, at 20:50:10
In reply to lamictal and weight gain?, posted by twinch42085 on September 16, 2007, at 18:24:40
After some time in Michigan, I got back out to NYC and the first time I saw my old PCP and told him I was on lamictal, he said "how much weight have you gained?"
Lamictal is an atypical antipsychotic like zyprexa, but it's a newer "generation" of med that isn't supposed to have as big an impact on glycemic metabolism (or something like that).
For me, zyprexa did wonders for my mood but was killing my pancreas. My triglycerides were over 900. Lamictal is ok for my mood, and it's okay for my lipid profile as well. YMMV.
Posted by Phillipa on September 16, 2007, at 21:16:51
In reply to Re: lamictal and weight gain?, posted by finelinebob on September 16, 2007, at 20:50:10
Lamictal is a mood stabalizer not an atypical antipsychotic. It's the one notorious for the lamictal rash which is very rare. Phillipa
Posted by clubfitter on September 16, 2007, at 21:41:23
In reply to Re: lamictal and weight gain? » finelinebob, posted by Phillipa on September 16, 2007, at 21:16:51
phillipa, seems like you post around here more than anybody...do you have a background in psychiatry or a similar field?? you have answers for just about everything, so i was just wondering how you have accumulated so much good information....very lucky to have you...if you dont mind asking, what do you suffer from??
Posted by rina on September 16, 2007, at 22:16:31
In reply to Re: lamictal and weight gain?, posted by nolegirl23 on September 16, 2007, at 20:46:51
that's what i was saying but in different words. lamictal for me causes an increase in appetite but seroquel packs on pounds for me and severe carb cravings. havn't gained weight as a result of lamictal but have had an increase in appetite.
Posted by rina on September 16, 2007, at 22:17:57
In reply to Re: lamictal and weight gain?, posted by nolegirl23 on September 16, 2007, at 20:46:51
oh im sorry you said you had the opposite..no increase appetite or weight gain...i had increase appetite and no weight gain...lol
Posted by Phillipa on September 16, 2007, at 22:23:19
In reply to ))Phillipa, posted by clubfitter on September 16, 2007, at 21:41:23
I was a Nationally Certified Psych Nurse. Haven't worked in 9 years from about two years after my thyroid went.Anxiety was too high and I'm getting old now. The lifting and what not couldnt do and they want me to go back to school. All I wanted was to work about l2 hours total a week in psych the nursing board says yes as my license is current the hospitals here say no as they set their own policies and as the nursing board said its a catch 22, In Charlotte they require school after 5 years out of nursing. So that is the reason I'm here so much. I do care for everyone as I cared for my patients and it in my mind is kind of like working. Don't know if this makes any sense or not. But I've developed a lot of back problems too and the chronic lymes disease I had and the unstable thyroid. Don't get old 61 now and no way can I work full time in med surg with the lifting. And then full time in psych before parttime. And about 5 months on the computer first. Makes no sense at my age. Also I'm learning a lot here as they don't teach you about the mechanisms of meds in nursing. So in a way I'm going to school and working a little too. Phillipa who really wants to be 20 years younger.Also worked all units in a hospital including ICU. No labor and delivery though.
Posted by rina on September 16, 2007, at 22:37:31
In reply to Re: lamictal and weight gain?, posted by finelinebob on September 16, 2007, at 20:50:10
I wanted to respond to something you wrote earlier. Correct me if I'm wrong and my sincere apology if I am but you said:
Lamictal is an atypical antipsychotic like zyprexa, but it's a newer "generation" of med that isn't supposed to have as big an impact on glycemic metabolism (or something like that).
atypical antipsychotics are olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, clozapine, ziprasidone, and aripiprazole correct?
antiepileptic drugs are lamotrigine(lamictal), topiramate, gabapentin, and oxcarbazepine correct?
I'm asking because I Didn't think lamictal was a atypical antipsychotic.
Posted by twinch42085 on September 17, 2007, at 9:28:56
In reply to Re: lamictal and weight gain? » twinch42085, posted by Phillipa on September 16, 2007, at 18:35:07
I am currently taking 200mg of lamictal. I was asking because it seems like the effects of the lamictal where off over time. I thought about trying Lithium, but I am afraid of the side effects like kidney failure, thyroid problems and dehydration.
thanks : )
twinch
Posted by finelinebob on September 17, 2007, at 11:21:30
In reply to Re: lamictal and weight gain? » finelinebob, posted by rina on September 16, 2007, at 22:37:31
I may be wrong about that, from what others are saying. I've had two different pdocs talk about them as being in the same class of meds, but perhaps they were talking about zyprexa being used as a mood stabilizer and not as an atypical antipsychotic.
Posted by rina on September 17, 2007, at 12:30:16
In reply to Re: lamictal and weight gain? » Phillipa, posted by twinch42085 on September 17, 2007, at 9:28:56
your right. this is my second go round with lamictal. the first time it did stop working but after a year off i tried it again and it seems to be working fine...let's see how it goes this time around after some time goes by but your absolutely correct.
Posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2007, at 19:15:54
In reply to Re: lamictal and weight gain?, posted by finelinebob on September 17, 2007, at 11:21:30
I believe a lot of people do use zyprexa as a mood stabalizer despite it being an atypical antipsychotic. Seems to work well for lots of people. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2007, at 19:19:11
In reply to Re: lamictal and weight gain? » twinch42085, posted by rina on September 17, 2007, at 12:30:16
Good to know that it can work again. Maybe I should try it again myself. That excess salivating might not happen again. As I thought the med was very good. Phillipa
Posted by curiousfish on September 23, 2007, at 16:02:57
In reply to Re: ))Phillipa » clubfitter, posted by Phillipa on September 16, 2007, at 22:23:19
im hoping to be a psych nurse after graduation =) if that is..i can get stable enough >_<.
i think lamictal did increase my appetite some, but i did not gain weight.
> I was a Nationally Certified Psych Nurse. Haven't worked in 9 years from about two years after my thyroid went.Anxiety was too high and I'm getting old now. The lifting and what not couldnt do and they want me to go back to school. All I wanted was to work about l2 hours total a week in psych the nursing board says yes as my license is current the hospitals here say no as they set their own policies and as the nursing board said its a catch 22, In Charlotte they require school after 5 years out of nursing. So that is the reason I'm here so much. I do care for everyone as I cared for my patients and it in my mind is kind of like working. Don't know if this makes any sense or not. But I've developed a lot of back problems too and the chronic lymes disease I had and the unstable thyroid. Don't get old 61 now and no way can I work full time in med surg with the lifting. And then full time in psych before parttime. And about 5 months on the computer first. Makes no sense at my age. Also I'm learning a lot here as they don't teach you about the mechanisms of meds in nursing. So in a way I'm going to school and working a little too. Phillipa who really wants to be 20 years younger.Also worked all units in a hospital including ICU. No labor and delivery though.
Posted by Phillipa on September 23, 2007, at 19:52:30
In reply to Re: ))Phillipa, posted by curiousfish on September 23, 2007, at 16:02:57
Recommendation? Are you young or under 40. And you can always babblemail me to ask questions. But seriously do l year of med-surg first as psych patients have a lot of other diseases too and you need to be familiar in what to look for. Seriously. Phillipa
Posted by curiousfish on September 24, 2007, at 0:25:14
In reply to Re: ))Phillipa » curiousfish, posted by Phillipa on September 23, 2007, at 19:52:30
it makes and ive heard this..but i just really dont want to. i actually kind of dislike conventional nursing. i love the academic pathophysiology.. i love educating patients... i hate personal hygiene care. i dont like IVs. NGs. wounds. and just doing something that i really dont like for a year would shoot me straight into a depressive crash. i know your suggestion is right, but i just dont think i can/want to do it.
<3
> Recommendation? Are you young or under 40. And you can always babblemail me to ask questions. But seriously do l year of med-surg first as psych patients have a lot of other diseases too and you need to be familiar in what to look for. Seriously. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on September 24, 2007, at 20:13:14
In reply to Re: ))Phillipa, posted by curiousfish on September 24, 2007, at 0:25:14
I understand and was more than willing to stop doing those tasks. Don't the CNA's do that type of the work? They do where I am. Only problem as I see it is what do you do if a pt comes on the floor with an IV can you use the machine properly? I have a reason for asking as I had chronic lymes disease and they found it when I went into the psych ward for a med adjustment inserted a pic line and needed IV rocephin and the nurses didn't know how to use the machine so just let it free flow come to find out later that it is toxic if given in less than a half hour minimum and it was going in in five minutes. Developed twitching and the doc thought allergy and pulled the pic line and oral meds not as good. Oh we seriously had a lot of IV"s on pumps for infections and hydration. Skills need to be very good and knowing what to look for is important can you tell when a patient is going into pulmonary edema and of course heart attack signs. Just examples. I hear the patients in psych are much sicker now. We'd get elderly who pooped their drawers. Maybe adolescent psych? Phillipa
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