Medication change (lithium) and weight struggle

elphie754
elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So I finally got back on track this week after my rant and am logging religiously. I was feeling so positive about it and had even lost 3 lbs this week. Things had finally been looking up (logging, back in the groove of exercising, jaw healed etc) when I get thrown a monkey wrench into my plan.

I had been taking depakote for the past two years and loves it because I had no bad side effects/well tolerated it over previous medication. However, MD wants me to taper off it, and taper back on to lithium after my liver panel test came back significantly abnormal. Last time I went on lithium I had the dreaded weight gain (although it did work for my mood). I know that as long as stay in a calorie deficit I will still lose, but in the back of my mind I am still freaking out.

Has anyone here not had the dreaded weight gain with lithium? If so, how did you deal with the change in appetite to remain in a calorie deficit?

Replies

  • RosieRose7673
    RosieRose7673 Posts: 438 Member
    I want to say that Lithium is known to increase appetite/water retention in some people. I've never been on lithium but have been on a variety of other mood stabilizers (lamotrigine currently).

    The same things apply though. Drink plenty of water and try to eat filling foods. I honestly can make myself a massive taco salad with turkey taco meat, lots of veggies, bit of cheese and some sour cream for under 400 calories. That fills me up for hours! Think of things like that!

    Also, I think you're in a good position when now starting to take lithium. You mentioned that you are changing medications due to abnormal liver tests correct? So your moods are stable which would likely make it easier for you to exercise and be mindful of your eating! I know that when I was super depressed or manic, weight was the last thing from my mind. I lost weight or gained weight depending on the severity of my moods.

    Keep an open mind about things and it will work out! :smile:
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    I had tried lamictal prior to depakote. Unfortunately I was one of those who got the black box warning side effects (the aseptic meningitis).

    Yes, I am only changing due to abnormal liver tests. I have been relatively stable for the last 2 years-ish.

    I am trying to keep an open mind but it's still a concern. Trying not to dwell on it though.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,489 Member
    edited April 2016
    i've taken a host of these medications before finding just good ol' klonopin to work for me.

    Lamotrigine, Lithium, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Paroxetine, Trazodone, Citalopram, etc. You name it, i have probably tried it with my doctor.

    With regards to lithium and the others i gained ZERO weight, however, this was probably due to the fact that i experienced ill-effects. With the SSRIs i went through a hypomania phase where i did not eat/sleep for days. With the lamotrigine specifically i was having panic attacks about getting "the rash". With lithium i felt..... nothing. Absolutely nothing.

    On the other hand when trying the benzodiazepine class of drugs (xanax, valium, and lorazepam) it made me literally not care, at all, about what i was eating. I could sit down and eat 3,000+ calories because "*kitten* it".

    So, i'd say it's going to come down to how your behavior/intake/sleep etc. are on the medication. In general i say "no" for them causing weight gain, but that's really only if the medication is effective and doesn't make wild changes to your personality/ability to stay within calories.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    Klonopin does work for me in an urgent setting, but unfortunately I can't take it on a regular basis due to work.

    Like I said, in pretty confident it will keep me stable (it did in the past) but it also made me want to eat everything edible in sight lol.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    i've taken a host of these medications before finding just good ol' klonopin to work for me.

    Lamotrigine, Lithium, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Paroxetine, Trazodone, Citalopram, etc. You name it, i have probably tried it with my doctor.

    With regards to lithium and the others i gained ZERO weight, however, this was probably due to the fact that i experienced ill-effects. With the SSRIs i went through a hypomania phase where i did not eat/sleep for days. With the lamotrigine specifically i was having panic attacks about getting "the rash". With lithium i felt..... nothing. Absolutely nothing.

    On the other hand when trying the benzodiazepine class of drugs (xanax, valium, and lorazepam) it made me literally not care, at all, about what i was eating. I could sit down and eat 3,000+ calories because "*kitten* it".

    So, i'd say it's going to come down to how your behavior/intake/sleep etc. are on the medication. In general i say "no" for them causing weight gain, but that's really only if the medication is effective and doesn't make wild changes to your personality/ability to stay within calories.

    I'm hoping that I don't have ill effects from the lithium. Benzos don't make me eat thankfully. If anything they kill my appetite because all I want to do is sleep. However, I can't take them often because of my job. I am hoing to try and keep behavior the same though in regards to my daily schedule.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,489 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    i've taken a host of these medications before finding just good ol' klonopin to work for me.

    Lamotrigine, Lithium, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Paroxetine, Trazodone, Citalopram, etc. You name it, i have probably tried it with my doctor.

    With regards to lithium and the others i gained ZERO weight, however, this was probably due to the fact that i experienced ill-effects. With the SSRIs i went through a hypomania phase where i did not eat/sleep for days. With the lamotrigine specifically i was having panic attacks about getting "the rash". With lithium i felt..... nothing. Absolutely nothing.

    On the other hand when trying the benzodiazepine class of drugs (xanax, valium, and lorazepam) it made me literally not care, at all, about what i was eating. I could sit down and eat 3,000+ calories because "*kitten* it".

    So, i'd say it's going to come down to how your behavior/intake/sleep etc. are on the medication. In general i say "no" for them causing weight gain, but that's really only if the medication is effective and doesn't make wild changes to your personality/ability to stay within calories.

    I'm hoping that I don't have ill effects from the lithium. Benzos don't make me eat thankfully. If anything they kill my appetite because all I want to do is sleep. However, I can't take them often because of my job. I am hoing to try and keep behavior the same though in regards to my daily schedule.

    Then it sounds like things will work out! As i said in my experience with lithium i felt like i was taking a sugar pill. No change in mood, appetite, weight, etc. :)
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    i've taken a host of these medications before finding just good ol' klonopin to work for me.

    Lamotrigine, Lithium, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Paroxetine, Trazodone, Citalopram, etc. You name it, i have probably tried it with my doctor.

    With regards to lithium and the others i gained ZERO weight, however, this was probably due to the fact that i experienced ill-effects. With the SSRIs i went through a hypomania phase where i did not eat/sleep for days. With the lamotrigine specifically i was having panic attacks about getting "the rash". With lithium i felt..... nothing. Absolutely nothing.

    On the other hand when trying the benzodiazepine class of drugs (xanax, valium, and lorazepam) it made me literally not care, at all, about what i was eating. I could sit down and eat 3,000+ calories because "*kitten* it".

    So, i'd say it's going to come down to how your behavior/intake/sleep etc. are on the medication. In general i say "no" for them causing weight gain, but that's really only if the medication is effective and doesn't make wild changes to your personality/ability to stay within calories.

    I'm hoping that I don't have ill effects from the lithium. Benzos don't make me eat thankfully. If anything they kill my appetite because all I want to do is sleep. However, I can't take them often because of my job. I am hoing to try and keep behavior the same though in regards to my daily schedule.

    Then it sounds like things will work out! As i said in my experience with lithium i felt like i was taking a sugar pill. No change in mood, appetite, weight, etc. :)

    Lol, now if only I could take just a sugar pill and have the same results as the medication.
  • Karen_can_do_this
    Karen_can_do_this Posts: 1,150 Member
    I'm following this cause I'm currently taking eppilum and my levels just won't stabilise. Lithium is my next step. I'm terrified.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    mrsfitzyv8 wrote: »
    I'm following this cause I'm currently taking eppilum and my levels just won't stabilise. Lithium is my next step. I'm terrified.

    When I took lithium last time, it actually really stabilized me. However o had to come off it because the side effects were too severe do me (felt like a zombie). This time he's going to have me taper up slower than before to see if that helps avoid the side effects.
  • Karen_can_do_this
    Karen_can_do_this Posts: 1,150 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    mrsfitzyv8 wrote: »
    I'm following this cause I'm currently taking eppilum and my levels just won't stabilise. Lithium is my next step. I'm terrified.

    When I took lithium last time, it actually really stabilized me. However o had to come off it because the side effects were too severe do me (felt like a zombie). This time he's going to have me taper up slower than before to see if that helps avoid the side effects.

    Yep it's the zombie type mood that worries me.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    mrsfitzyv8 wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    mrsfitzyv8 wrote: »
    I'm following this cause I'm currently taking eppilum and my levels just won't stabilise. Lithium is my next step. I'm terrified.

    When I took lithium last time, it actually really stabilized me. However o had to come off it because the side effects were too severe do me (felt like a zombie). This time he's going to have me taper up slower than before to see if that helps avoid the side effects.

    Yep it's the zombie type mood that worries me.

    Yeah, me too. But hopefully by tapering up slowly, we can find the lowest therapeutic dose and the zombie feeling won't be so bad.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,055 Member
    edited April 2016
    elphie754 wrote: »
    I had tried lamictal prior to depakote. Unfortunately I was one of those who got the black box warning side effects (the aseptic meningitis).

    Yes, I am only changing due to abnormal liver tests. I have been relatively stable for the last 2 years-ish.

    I am trying to keep an open mind but it's still a concern. Trying not to dwell on it though.

    I think Mom said recently that my brother is now taking Lamictal. He was taking Depakote. I understand that you cannot take Lamictal but am posting this for others who might be able to. He's also taking Thorazine.

    After he got out of the hospital, he lost weight and has kept it off for almost two years. He's pretty active though - he walks upwards of three miles per day, does yard work, drums, etc.

    Poor guy - Mom was away last weekend and he filled the wood box without being asked...but filled it with wood that wasn't all the way seasoned yet. So Mom asked him to move it back, which he did, but he also removed some seasoned wood that was already in the wood box. So then he had to move that back. That's atypical, but we do joke about all the time he spends moving things from here to there.

    He'd been stable for 15 years or so before stuff stopped working a few years ago and he ended up in the hospital. (He wasn't living with Mom then.) His doctors did a lot of experimenting and eventually found this new perfect combination.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    I had tried lamictal prior to depakote. Unfortunately I was one of those who got the black box warning side effects (the aseptic meningitis).

    Yes, I am only changing due to abnormal liver tests. I have been relatively stable for the last 2 years-ish.

    I am trying to keep an open mind but it's still a concern. Trying not to dwell on it though.

    I think Mom said recently that my brother is now taking Lamictal. He was taking Depakote. I understand that you cannot take Lamictal but am posting this for others who might be able to. He's also taking Thorazine.

    After he got out of the hospital, he lost weight and has kept it off for almost two years. He's pretty active though - he walks upwards of three miles per day, does yard work, drums, etc.

    Poor guy - Mom was away last weekend and he filled the wood box without being asked...but filled it with wood that wasn't all the way seasoned yet. So Mom asked him to move it back, which he did, but he also removed some seasoned wood that was already in the wood box. So then he had to move that back. That's atypical, but we do joke about all the time he spends moving things from here to there.

    He'd been stable for 15 years or so before stuff stopped working a few years ago and he ended up in the hospital. (He wasn't living with Mom then.) His doctors did a lot of experimenting and eventually found this new perfect combination.

    Just a tid bit of information about lamictal (forgive me if you already know this). Make sure if you brother developes any sort of rash, no manner how small, he get seen by his doctor. It can be the precursor to a life threatening disease.

    I'm glad he found something that works for him. It took me almost 4 months when I resumed taking meds (I was a bad girl and didn't always take my meds lol) before I found the combo that works for me.
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