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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by shelliR on March 7, 2002, at 21:44:12
This is the third time I'm trying lamictal. Last time I gain 15 lbs of water weight (came off immediately after stopping the drug. My breasts hurt and my stomach looks like a pygmie. Lamictal has been the only drug that has worked for me (other than opiates), so this time I'm going to try it with a diuretic. I have furosemide (from gyn for premenstual water retention), but it doesn't seem to be working with the lamictal.
Anyone using anything as a diuretic that works. Anything that is a natural diuretic?
Shelli
Posted by mcd on March 7, 2002, at 22:57:31
In reply to Retaining Fluid on Med; Anyone know good Diuretic?, posted by shelliR on March 7, 2002, at 21:44:12
Shelli -
I'm hoping someone has an answer! This is the second time I've tried Lamictal, (which is the only thing that has ever worked for me), and I'm having the fluid retention problem again too. I don't want to go off the Lamictal, but I'm *so* uncomfortable.
Mary
Posted by sleepingbeauty on March 8, 2002, at 18:37:51
In reply to Re: Retaining Fluid on Med; Anyone know good Diuretic?, posted by mcd on March 7, 2002, at 22:57:31
Well you do have to have a prescription for this but I use Hydrochlorothiazide as a fluid pill.
It's mostly Rx'd for high blood pressure, although I've never had a blood pressure problem.
My ob/gyn Rx'd it for fluid retention due to hormones I have to take daily.~I certainly understand the 'extra bloat' goat~
Posted by shelliR on March 8, 2002, at 19:37:52
In reply to Re: Retaining Fluid on Med; Anyone know good Diuretic?, posted by sleepingbeauty on March 8, 2002, at 18:37:51
Now that I've taken furosemide for a couple of days, it seems to be working some. At least today, I could stand up straight again.
I would rather try a natural diuretic, and will do an internet search. What I don't know is whether they really work to the extent that the prescription ones do.
Mary, you're the first person I've heard from that has the same retention problem on lamictal. Are you taking it for unipolar depression or bipolar ? Also are you taking it with other meds? The last time I tried it, nardil had pooped out. So I augmented it with lamictal. This is the first time I've tried it as my main AD.
Shelli
Posted by mcd on March 9, 2002, at 1:14:39
In reply to Anyone know good Diuretic? Mary » sleepingbeauty, posted by shelliR on March 8, 2002, at 19:37:52
> Now that I've taken furosemide for a couple of days, it seems to be working some. At least today, I could stand up straight again.
>
> I would rather try a natural diuretic, and will do an internet search. What I don't know is whether they really work to the extent that the prescription ones do.
>
> Mary, you're the first person I've heard from that has the same retention problem on lamictal. Are you taking it for unipolar depression or bipolar ? Also are you taking it with other meds? The last time I tried it, nardil had pooped out. So I augmented it with lamictal. This is the first time I've tried it as my main AD.
>
>
> Shelli
Hi Shelli -I'm so glad to hear that the furosemide is finally working. How much have you had to take? I have some for PMS bloating too, so I'm going to try that.
I looked on the GlaxoWellcome website for the prescribing info on Lamictal. Under adverse effects I did find that it "infrequently" can cause "peripheral edema" and "rarely" can cause "general edema." I have had side effects before that were classified as rare, so maybe that's what we're experiencing.
I'm taking the Lamictal for BPII - mostly severely depressed, with only occasional hypomania. Currently I'm on stuff from my last pdoc, because I changed pdocs about 6 months ago, and she wants to go slow. Other than the Lamictal, which is new (I'm on 100mgs), I'm on:
Neurontin (1600mg)
Paxil (30 mgs)
Klonopin or Xanax as needed
AmbienI want to get off the Paxil ASAP, but she wants me to get real stable on the Lamictal before we do that. I can say after 20 years of various AD's that never really seemed to work, (and caused rapid cycling), that I've never felt better mood-wise than I do on the Lamictal. I can't believe how it takes care of the depression.
How about you? How much Lamictal are you on? Is it working as your main AD? I'd really be interested in how it works for you.
If you find out anything about a natural diuretic, could you please post your findings? Thanks.
Thanks for posting. It really helps to know that I'm not the only one experiencing this bloating thing!
Best wishes,
Mary
Posted by Gracie2 on March 9, 2002, at 21:16:07
In reply to Re: Retaining Fluid on Med; Anyone know good Diuretic?, posted by sleepingbeauty on March 8, 2002, at 18:37:51
I was minding my own business when I noticed that my feet were hurting terribly by the end of the day. My ankles and feet started to swell so badly that I could not tie my shoes. My regular doctor, who is a great guy, was out of town. So I went to another doctor, who informed me that I could have diabetes or congestive heart failure. Pardon my language, but what an asshole. He ordered some bloodwork and prescribed nothing. I left his office wondering if I would prefer to be cremated.My regular doctor prescribed a drug called Prinzide. It's for hypertension, and also has a diuretic. The swelling was gone in about three days. I don't know if you're a candidate for hypertension medication, but Prinzide certainly worked wonders for me.
According to the book "Vitamin Power", mild edema may be alleviated by taking 1000 mg or more of vitamin C, which has a rapid diuretic effect. The book also suggests restricting sodium and drinking at least six glasses of water a day, as
hydration may actually contribute to water retention. Their "botanical approach" recommends drinking a tea made from juniper berries twice a day. (Wonder if gin would have the same effect?)Luck-
Gracie
Posted by shelliR on March 10, 2002, at 9:49:11
In reply to Re: Retaining Fluid on Med; Anyone know good Diuretic?, posted by Gracie2 on March 9, 2002, at 21:16:07
Posted by Chris A. on March 10, 2002, at 20:41:06
In reply to Retaining Fluid on Med; Anyone know good Diuretic?, posted by shelliR on March 7, 2002, at 21:44:12
Posted by Jerrympls on March 11, 2002, at 0:44:14
In reply to Retaining Fluid on Med; Anyone know good Diuretic?, posted by shelliR on March 7, 2002, at 21:44:12
How can one tell if added weight is due to fluid retention or actual fat? I am on Seroquel and Desipramine and I have gained 15 pounds in the past 2 months that won't budge even after eating less and the addition of 60mg Dexedrine. Which meds are most likely to cause fluid retention--and will just drining more water during the day take care of it? I'm a 30 year old male if that helps.
Thanks
Jerry
Posted by Roo on March 11, 2002, at 8:32:23
In reply to Re: Retaining Fluid on Med; Anyone know good Diure, posted by Jerrympls on March 11, 2002, at 0:44:14
I have been wondering the same thing as the previous
poster. I take lamictal too (125 mg) and it seems
impossible to lose this extra 10 to 15 pounds I've
gained, and I've substantially upped my workouts.
I've always worked out, but now I'm REALLY working out--
sometimes up to 45 minutes of really vigorous, sweaty,
red faced exercise, and still the weight won't budge and
my clothes remain tight. It's pretty frustrating. I don't
dare go off the lamictal just to see if maybe it's the culprit
because it takes so long to titrate back on the stuff once you
stop. But maybe I wouldn't feel like such a "failure" at
losing weight if I knew it was just a side effect of the drug.
The weight does has that water retention kind of look, bloaty...
my legs have gotten rock hard from all the exercise, but my tummy
remains jellow-y and my face looks bloated.
Posted by shelliR on March 11, 2002, at 9:01:55
In reply to Re: Retaining Fluid on Med; Anyone know good Diure, posted by Roo on March 11, 2002, at 8:32:23
Hi Roo.
I went through the exact same thing as you describe when I took the lamictal the first time. I was working out and couldn't lose weight like I always have when I get serious about exercise. I was pretty sure it was the lamictal; then when I went off of it, I dropped 15 lbs in one week. That's when I knew it was fluid retention. (Also my breasts hurt and my stomach was bloated.) You might want to add a diuretic, although when I added one after I had already gained the weight it didn't do much. It may have been that I expected the dieretic to work right away and when it didn't I gave up. In retrospect, I should have given it longer, taken it for a week or so everyday to see if I dropped some of the weight before going off again. I found that when I went off, then on the lamictal again, I had to double my dose, so if it's working for you, it's probably something you don't want to mess around with.
Shelli
Posted by Roo on March 11, 2002, at 15:53:51
In reply to Re: Retaining Fluid on Med; Anyone know good Diure » Roo, posted by shelliR on March 11, 2002, at 9:01:55
Hey Shelli--Thanks for sharing your experience with
me (You've actually helped me throughout the past
couple of years on this site sharing your experience--
we've been on similar drugs and had similar issues).
Boy, it's tempting to go off the lamictal and see if
the weight drops, but I think I'll just deal with it.
I read a post above about a birth control pill (yasmin)
that's supposed to be good for pms and also a good diuretic.
I've been curious about that...but in the past birth
control pills have really screwed with my sex drive and I
certainly don't need that, being on AD's.
Let me know what ends up working for you with the fluid
retention and lamictal. I agree with one of the previous
posters--drinking LOTS of water helps. I've been doing that
all day today and peeing like a racehorse.
Anyway, good luck and thanks again.
Posted by shelliR on March 11, 2002, at 18:55:37
In reply to Re: Retaining Fluid on Med; Anyone know good Diure, posted by Jerrympls on March 11, 2002, at 0:44:14
> How can one tell if added weight is due to fluid retention or actual fat? I am on Seroquel and Desipramine and I have gained 15 pounds in the past 2 months that won't budge even after eating less and the addition of 60mg Dexedrine. Which meds are most likely to cause fluid retention--and will just drining more water during the day take care of it? I'm a 30 year old male if that helps.
> Thanks
> Jerry
Hi Jerry,I'm not sure how you can really tell about water retention, but one clue is whether your appetite has increased. Then you would not expect it to be from water retention. I think there are meds that make you eat more, with a resulting weight pain and other drugs which make you metabolize food differently, also with a resulting weight gain.
Do you wear a ring? Often fingers swell with water retention. Also ankles. You might also want to do a search on your meds on PB or goggle to see if anyone's written about weight gain with them; that may give you a clue. Twenty pounds in two months is a lot; it could well be water weight.
I don't know whether drinking tons of water helps; I know you would pee more, but of course much of what you losing is the added water. From what Chris & Roo said, you must also lose some retained fluid, but I don't think it would do the whole trick.
Shelli
This is the end of the thread.
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