Posted by jtevers on December 12, 2003, at 15:08:17
In reply to weight gain, Lamictal, Lithium Orotate? » jtevers, posted by katia on December 11, 2003, at 15:06:53
katia, et. al.,
i too have struggled with weight and sleep issues for a couple of years as i harden my determination to get my life back on track after a diagnosis of bipolar and consequencial medication treatment since 2000.
i have been on seroquel, indeed a very sedating antipsychotic, and neurontin, a "mood stabilizer", since my initial treatment and have gained 60 lbs and, like you katia, sleep nearly ll hours per night...both of these side effects to my treatment are unacceptable to a former marathon runner, professional, and student.
i have researched diligently both my condition and its treatment and , although not a doctor, have been , with my doctor, experimenting with different options and look forward to a future where both my weight and sleep time will be normalized ...
i am currently titrating topamax into my med. regimen very slowly. i have read about the harrowing side effects i may experience (the tingling, hair loss, and stupification), but also the weight loss?!? i have read to take a complex vitamin B for the tingling and biotin, selenium and zinc for your hair ... any experience?
i have been on the Atkins Diet for 6 months now and while an initial 30 lbs melted away, despite remaining on "induction" the last 60 lbs to my original weight don't respond at all to diet or exercise ... this neuroleptic-associated weight gain has spurred my topamax trial and research into variable, newer, antipsychotics with less propensity to cause weight gain ... perhaps abilify (i have already tried ziprasidone/geodon).
i know the abilify may cause agitation/akithisia and this can be combatted with amantadine or propanolol ... will i also experience insomnia? help?NOTE: i also understand and would like to bring it too katia's and everyone's attention that i have learned remaining on a high protein diet while taking topamax may exacerbate the formation of kidney stones and drinking a lot of water or, perhaps, postponing the diet are essential.
additionally, i may, in the future, attempt a switch from neurontin to gabatril, a mood stabilizer / anti-anxiety agent with less propensity to cause weight gain...i still suspect that neurontin may be to blame for some of my weight gain despite a lot of evidence to the contrary.
finally, i foresee adding lamictal to my cocktail to achieve the mood-enhancement that doctors once falsely believed would be provided by neurontin.
any advice or insight is GREATLY appreciated.
poster:jtevers
thread:5053
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031208/msgs/289151.html