Lamotrigine

It's good that you are reporting back.

I am experiencing a lot of what you are talking about. As a Bipolar I (net says that means full mania whereas Bipolar II has less mania called hypomania), I take Lithium for the mania and Mirtazapine for the depression. Again, if I am correctly dxed as a bipolar I, and I don't take two meds, the anti-depressant will send me into mania and possible panic attacks. However, the Lithium treats the mania and stops me from going into mania.

You are saying you take Lamotrigine (which webmd.com says, "Lamotrigine is used alone or with other medications to prevent and control seizures. It may also be used to help prevent the extreme mood swings of bipolar disorder in adults."
And Abilify which net says, "It may also be used in combination with other medication to treat depression."

You say, "I have noticed that I am gaining weight ( 17 lbs over a 3 year span )and starting to have breast....I am hungry all the time but I have been able to control my food intake (at least ,most of the time )...I go to the gym three times a week.... My doc tells me that gaining weight is a side affect of lamotrigine on some people and that I do not have much choice.I do not want to go on lithium ( nor does my doc want me to) so, I seem to be stuck between a rock and a hard place . Does anyone have any advice ?????"

On the net I have found both negative and positive as to does Lamotrigine and Ability cause weight gain.

I think keeping a record is the best way to determine that, and you say, "I have noticed that I am gaining weight ( 17 lbs over a 3 year span )and starting to have breast....I am hungry all the time but I have been able to control my food intake (at least ,most of the time )."

I have gained weight, also, on Lithium (mood stabilizer) and the anti-depressant Mirtazapine. Concerning the latter, it says, "Increased appetite" just as you said, "I am hungry all the time."

Taking medicine keeps me going and it seems some pills have side-affects. If we don't take the pills we can have the original illness. If we do take the pills we can have side-affects.

I think by being positive, we can see the good side that the pills are doing: keeping us going and functioning.

There was an era when there were no pills, you just didn't function.

I try to be thankful that I can function.

You say, "The meds are doing their job and I feel pretty good "

That is a huge bonus.

Thank you both! I have been going to the gym for about a year ...Last week i started a specific program for my knee. Wish I could do something about the abilify but my doc ( G.P.) says,if it works do not fix it ! The weight gain does not help my knee. .Will give you feedback !

Thanks for keeping us up to date.

We don't know how lucky we are to live in the era of modern medicine.

My grandmother was Bipolar but she didn't have the benefits of modern medicine, or any medicine. She would go into people's medicine cabinets looking for relief from her mania and depression. There wasn't any.

You noted in your first post on 6/5/2022,

"I am on 350 mg of Lamotrigine and 2 mg of Abilify..i have been feeling rotten the last 2 weeks and It is hard to get an appointment with my DR. ( a GP ) .Almost impossible to get an appointment with a psychiatrist ..My family Dr thinks that 350 mg of Lamotrigine is about the top that I can take and he does not want me to go on Lithium."

You noted in an earlier post, "The meds are doing their job and I feel pretty good "

You noted in your latest post, "my doc ( G.P.) says,if it works do not fix it !"

So, that's a lot of progress.

You went from rotten to your medicine is working. That's a big step.

That leaves a lot of hope for others. Keep us posted on how this is going.