Does Lamictal (Lamotrigine) Cause Weight Gain or Loss?

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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 on Lamictal than to gain weight.Either way, the changes are typically pretty small.This can be reassuring to people withbipolar disordersince so many medications used to treat the condition can cause weight gain. Learn what research has found about Lamictal and weight as this issue has been studied several times.What to Know About Lamictal (Lamotrigine)Lamictal and Weight Gain or LossLamictal is an anticonvulsant medication that can be used to treat seizure disorders, such as epilepsy. It’s also used as amood stabilizerin the treatment of bipolar disorder.In the first clinical trials involving the drug, 5% of adults with epilepsy lost weight while taking Lamictal, while between 1% and 5% of patients with bipolar I disorder gained weight while on the drug.It was not disclosed how much weight the patients gained or lost.In 2021, researchers reviewed 13 studies involving lamotrigine, the active ingredient in Lamictal. They noted that this drug is not associated with weight gain but, instead, is considered “weight-neutral”—especially when compared to otherbipolar disorder medications.Weight Gain and Other Bipolar MedicationsWeight gain from drugs used to treat bipolar disorder is unfortunately pretty common. Certain mood stabilizers commonly used in bipolar disorder—specifically, lithium and Depakote (valproate)—carry a high risk of weight gain.In addition, theatypical antipsychotic medicationsClozaril (clozapine) and Zyprexa (olanzapine) tend to cause significant weight gain in people taking them.Finally, one of theside effects of certain antidepressants—specifically, Paxil (paroxetine) and Remeron (mirtazapine)—is weight gain.Therefore, if your weight is above the healthy range, you and your mental health provider may want to consider the possibility of additional weight gain in determining your medication regimen for bipolar disorder. On that basis alone, Lamictal may be a good choice to consider.Lithium and Weight GainOther Potential Uses for LamictalSome researchers are exploring the potential for expanding the use of lamotrigine in the treatment of other mental health conditions. For example, this drug is being looked at for its effects on people with chronic and severeeating disorders.A 2022 study involved 62 women with mood lability and impulsive behaviors, which can occur with bulimia. Some of the women took lamotrigine and others did not. The group taking lamotrigine reported greater improvement in their ability to regulate their emotions and behaviors than the group not taking the active drug.Other research also published in 2022 suggests that, based on the evidence, lamotrigine may also be effective for treating other mental health disorders—even potentially being an option for treatment-resistant conditions. Some of the disorders these researchers say that lamotrigine may help treat include:Borderline personality disorderDepersonalization disorderPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Treatment-resistantobsessive-compulsive disorderTreatment-resistant schizophreniaAs many as 60% of people with psychiatric disorders experience no or limited response to psychiatric medications, qualifying their condition as treatment-resistant.Thus, finding treatment options that might work would go a long way in helping to relieve their symptoms.SummaryWhile more research is needed to determine if Lamictal might be beneficial as a treatment for other mental health conditions, current evidence suggests that this medication may not cause the significant weight gain that is common with some other bipolar medications. If you’re worried about this effect, talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns to determine if Lamictal is right for you.Treating Bipolar Disorder

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 on Lamictal than to gain weight.Either way, the changes are typically pretty small.

This can be reassuring to people withbipolar disordersince so many medications used to treat the condition can cause weight gain. Learn what research has found about Lamictal and weight as this issue has been studied several times.

What to Know About Lamictal (Lamotrigine)

Lamictal and Weight Gain or Loss

Lamictal is an anticonvulsant medication that can be used to treat seizure disorders, such as epilepsy. It’s also used as amood stabilizerin the treatment of bipolar disorder.

In the first clinical trials involving the drug, 5% of adults with epilepsy lost weight while taking Lamictal, while between 1% and 5% of patients with bipolar I disorder gained weight while on the drug.It was not disclosed how much weight the patients gained or lost.

In 2021, researchers reviewed 13 studies involving lamotrigine, the active ingredient in Lamictal. They noted that this drug is not associated with weight gain but, instead, is considered “weight-neutral”—especially when compared to otherbipolar disorder medications.

Weight Gain and Other Bipolar Medications

Weight gain from drugs used to treat bipolar disorder is unfortunately pretty common. Certain mood stabilizers commonly used in bipolar disorder—specifically, lithium and Depakote (valproate)—carry a high risk of weight gain.

In addition, theatypical antipsychotic medicationsClozaril (clozapine) and Zyprexa (olanzapine) tend to cause significant weight gain in people taking them.Finally, one of theside effects of certain antidepressants—specifically, Paxil (paroxetine) and Remeron (mirtazapine)—is weight gain.

Therefore, if your weight is above the healthy range, you and your mental health provider may want to consider the possibility of additional weight gain in determining your medication regimen for bipolar disorder. On that basis alone, Lamictal may be a good choice to consider.

Lithium and Weight Gain

Other Potential Uses for Lamictal

Some researchers are exploring the potential for expanding the use of lamotrigine in the treatment of other mental health conditions. For example, this drug is being looked at for its effects on people with chronic and severeeating disorders.

A 2022 study involved 62 women with mood lability and impulsive behaviors, which can occur with bulimia. Some of the women took lamotrigine and others did not. The group taking lamotrigine reported greater improvement in their ability to regulate their emotions and behaviors than the group not taking the active drug.

Other research also published in 2022 suggests that, based on the evidence, lamotrigine may also be effective for treating other mental health disorders—even potentially being an option for treatment-resistant conditions. Some of the disorders these researchers say that lamotrigine may help treat include:

As many as 60% of people with psychiatric disorders experience no or limited response to psychiatric medications, qualifying their condition as treatment-resistant.Thus, finding treatment options that might work would go a long way in helping to relieve their symptoms.

Summary

While more research is needed to determine if Lamictal might be beneficial as a treatment for other mental health conditions, current evidence suggests that this medication may not cause the significant weight gain that is common with some other bipolar medications. If you’re worried about this effect, talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns to determine if Lamictal is right for you.

Treating Bipolar Disorder

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Grootens KP, Meijer A, Hartong EG, et al.Weight changes associated with antiepileptic mood stabilizers in the treatment of bipolar disorder.Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2018;74:1485-1489. doi:10.1007/s00228-018-2517-2Hashimoto Y, Kotake K, Watanabe N, Fujiwara T, Sakamoto S.Lamotrigine in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;2020(4):CD013575. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013575.pub2U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Prescribing information: Lamictal (lamotrigine) tablets.Besag F, Vasey M, Sharma A, Lam I.Efficacy and safety of lamotrigine in the treatment of bipolar disorder across the lifespan: a systematic review.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2021;11:20451253211045870. doi:10.1177/20451253211045870Mangge H, Bengesser S, Dalkner N, et al.Weight gain during treatment of bipolar disorder (BD)—facts and therapeutic options.Front Nutr. 2019;6:76. doi:10.3389/fnut.2019.00076Choi YJ.Efficacy of adjunctive treatments added to olanzapine or clozapine for weight control in patients with schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sci World J. 2015;2015:970730. doi:10.1155/2015/970730Arterburn D, Sofer T, Boudreau D, et al.Long-term weight change after initiating second-generation antidepressants.J Clin Med. 2016;5(4):48. doi:10.3390/jcm5040048Reilly EE, Berner LA, Trunko ME, et al.Evaluating the use of lamotrigine to reduce mood lability and impulsive behaviors in adults with chronic and severe eating disorders.Eat Weight Disord. 2022;27:1775-1785. doi:10.1007/s40519-021-01320-3Naguy A, Al-Enezi N.Lamotrigine uses in psychiatric practice.Am J Therap. 2019;26(1):e96-e102. doi:10.1097/MJT.0000000000000535Howes OD, Thase ME, Pillinger T.Treatment resistance in psychiatry: state of the art and new directions.Mol Psychiatry. 2022;27(1):58-72. doi:10.1038/s41380-021-01200-3

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Grootens KP, Meijer A, Hartong EG, et al.Weight changes associated with antiepileptic mood stabilizers in the treatment of bipolar disorder.Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2018;74:1485-1489. doi:10.1007/s00228-018-2517-2Hashimoto Y, Kotake K, Watanabe N, Fujiwara T, Sakamoto S.Lamotrigine in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;2020(4):CD013575. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013575.pub2U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Prescribing information: Lamictal (lamotrigine) tablets.Besag F, Vasey M, Sharma A, Lam I.Efficacy and safety of lamotrigine in the treatment of bipolar disorder across the lifespan: a systematic review.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2021;11:20451253211045870. doi:10.1177/20451253211045870Mangge H, Bengesser S, Dalkner N, et al.Weight gain during treatment of bipolar disorder (BD)—facts and therapeutic options.Front Nutr. 2019;6:76. doi:10.3389/fnut.2019.00076Choi YJ.Efficacy of adjunctive treatments added to olanzapine or clozapine for weight control in patients with schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sci World J. 2015;2015:970730. doi:10.1155/2015/970730Arterburn D, Sofer T, Boudreau D, et al.Long-term weight change after initiating second-generation antidepressants.J Clin Med. 2016;5(4):48. doi:10.3390/jcm5040048Reilly EE, Berner LA, Trunko ME, et al.Evaluating the use of lamotrigine to reduce mood lability and impulsive behaviors in adults with chronic and severe eating disorders.Eat Weight Disord. 2022;27:1775-1785. doi:10.1007/s40519-021-01320-3Naguy A, Al-Enezi N.Lamotrigine uses in psychiatric practice.Am J Therap. 2019;26(1):e96-e102. doi:10.1097/MJT.0000000000000535Howes OD, Thase ME, Pillinger T.Treatment resistance in psychiatry: state of the art and new directions.Mol Psychiatry. 2022;27(1):58-72. doi:10.1038/s41380-021-01200-3

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Grootens KP, Meijer A, Hartong EG, et al.Weight changes associated with antiepileptic mood stabilizers in the treatment of bipolar disorder.Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2018;74:1485-1489. doi:10.1007/s00228-018-2517-2Hashimoto Y, Kotake K, Watanabe N, Fujiwara T, Sakamoto S.Lamotrigine in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;2020(4):CD013575. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013575.pub2U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Prescribing information: Lamictal (lamotrigine) tablets.Besag F, Vasey M, Sharma A, Lam I.Efficacy and safety of lamotrigine in the treatment of bipolar disorder across the lifespan: a systematic review.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2021;11:20451253211045870. doi:10.1177/20451253211045870Mangge H, Bengesser S, Dalkner N, et al.Weight gain during treatment of bipolar disorder (BD)—facts and therapeutic options.Front Nutr. 2019;6:76. doi:10.3389/fnut.2019.00076Choi YJ.Efficacy of adjunctive treatments added to olanzapine or clozapine for weight control in patients with schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sci World J. 2015;2015:970730. doi:10.1155/2015/970730Arterburn D, Sofer T, Boudreau D, et al.Long-term weight change after initiating second-generation antidepressants.J Clin Med. 2016;5(4):48. doi:10.3390/jcm5040048Reilly EE, Berner LA, Trunko ME, et al.Evaluating the use of lamotrigine to reduce mood lability and impulsive behaviors in adults with chronic and severe eating disorders.Eat Weight Disord. 2022;27:1775-1785. doi:10.1007/s40519-021-01320-3Naguy A, Al-Enezi N.Lamotrigine uses in psychiatric practice.Am J Therap. 2019;26(1):e96-e102. doi:10.1097/MJT.0000000000000535Howes OD, Thase ME, Pillinger T.Treatment resistance in psychiatry: state of the art and new directions.Mol Psychiatry. 2022;27(1):58-72. doi:10.1038/s41380-021-01200-3

Grootens KP, Meijer A, Hartong EG, et al.Weight changes associated with antiepileptic mood stabilizers in the treatment of bipolar disorder.Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2018;74:1485-1489. doi:10.1007/s00228-018-2517-2

Hashimoto Y, Kotake K, Watanabe N, Fujiwara T, Sakamoto S.Lamotrigine in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;2020(4):CD013575. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013575.pub2

U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Prescribing information: Lamictal (lamotrigine) tablets.

Besag F, Vasey M, Sharma A, Lam I.Efficacy and safety of lamotrigine in the treatment of bipolar disorder across the lifespan: a systematic review.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2021;11:20451253211045870. doi:10.1177/20451253211045870

Mangge H, Bengesser S, Dalkner N, et al.Weight gain during treatment of bipolar disorder (BD)—facts and therapeutic options.Front Nutr. 2019;6:76. doi:10.3389/fnut.2019.00076

Choi YJ.Efficacy of adjunctive treatments added to olanzapine or clozapine for weight control in patients with schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Sci World J. 2015;2015:970730. doi:10.1155/2015/970730

Arterburn D, Sofer T, Boudreau D, et al.Long-term weight change after initiating second-generation antidepressants.J Clin Med. 2016;5(4):48. doi:10.3390/jcm5040048

Reilly EE, Berner LA, Trunko ME, et al.Evaluating the use of lamotrigine to reduce mood lability and impulsive behaviors in adults with chronic and severe eating disorders.Eat Weight Disord. 2022;27:1775-1785. doi:10.1007/s40519-021-01320-3

Naguy A, Al-Enezi N.Lamotrigine uses in psychiatric practice.Am J Therap. 2019;26(1):e96-e102. doi:10.1097/MJT.0000000000000535

Howes OD, Thase ME, Pillinger T.Treatment resistance in psychiatry: state of the art and new directions.Mol Psychiatry. 2022;27(1):58-72. doi:10.1038/s41380-021-01200-3

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