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Side effects of Lamictal and Lexapro

Mon, 03/10/2008 - 23:43
Topic: Medication Issues
I have been taking Lamictal for about a year and a half and Lexapro for a year. The past few months I have noticed I am having weight gain. I don't understand why I am gaining weight because I am a very active person. I go to the gym almost every day and work out for at least 30 minutes or an hour if I take an aerobics class. Some of my weight gain could possibly be muscle since I work out a lot, but I don't think it all is because my jeans no longer fit and I've had to go up a size. Also the muscle tone I had been gaining from working out itsn't as noticible anymore. Its like I have a layer of fat over it. I know it can't be my diet because I usually eat pretty well. I have never had weight problems before so I don't know how to deal with this. I am thinking it could possibly be the Lexapro because I have heard some antidepressants can cause weight gain. The thing I don't understand though is if it is caused by my meds than why am I just now experiencing it? Does certain side effects take longer to show up or does long term use of the drug cause increased side effects? Has anyone experienced this problem with either of these drugs? I can't quit taking my seizure med obviously, but I don't think I really need the Lexapro anymore since the main reason my neuro put me on it was because Keppra made me so depressed and irritable. I haven't taken Keppra in almost a year so I don't believe I need Lexapro anymore. Does anyone have any input on this?

Comments

Re: Side effects of Lamictal and Lexapro

Submitted by Sirch on Wed, 2008-03-12 - 12:18

Hi peaches,

Lamictal causes water retention, witch is probably why your noticeing lack of muscle tone. Also if you are weight lifting often, this could make you gain muscle weight. Try cutting back on useing weights and increase your cardio intensity.  More sweat=more weight loss. as we get older our metabolism slows down and those of us who exercise need to increase our cardio ( tred mill, stair master, cycling)  Stick with high reps, 15 or 20 reps with lite weight when useing dumbells.  High rep exercises like squats and dead lifts will help burn more fat as well.  Also try increasing your protein intake and try supplements like whey protein powder with a good amino acid blend and take it with L-glutamine powder as soon as possible after work outs. I was also on lexapro do to major depression for a year and did not notice any significant weight gain while on it. 

P.S.  I am cureious I play a pc game called delta force land warrior and there is a 33 year old woman who plays it and her character name is Peaches is that you???  If not just disregard this,lol 

~Christopher 

Hi peaches,

Lamictal causes water retention, witch is probably why your noticeing lack of muscle tone. Also if you are weight lifting often, this could make you gain muscle weight. Try cutting back on useing weights and increase your cardio intensity.  More sweat=more weight loss. as we get older our metabolism slows down and those of us who exercise need to increase our cardio ( tred mill, stair master, cycling)  Stick with high reps, 15 or 20 reps with lite weight when useing dumbells.  High rep exercises like squats and dead lifts will help burn more fat as well.  Also try increasing your protein intake and try supplements like whey protein powder with a good amino acid blend and take it with L-glutamine powder as soon as possible after work outs. I was also on lexapro do to major depression for a year and did not notice any significant weight gain while on it. 

P.S.  I am cureious I play a pc game called delta force land warrior and there is a 33 year old woman who plays it and her character name is Peaches is that you???  If not just disregard this,lol 

~Christopher 

Re: Side effects of Lamictal and Lexapro

Submitted by Peaches78 on Thu, 2008-03-13 - 00:57

Thanks for the advice, but I already do 30 minutes a day of cardio on an elipitical machine at my gym. I also take a kickboxing class once a week and sometimes I do spinning classes. That is why I don't understand why I would be gaining weight. I am a very active person.  I also take muscle toning classes a couple times a week which work all my muscles. I know muscle weighs more than fat, but gaining muscle wouldn't make me have to go up a size in jeans. When I first started going to a gym about three years ago I lost inches and gained muscle weight. I was getting nice muscle tone. Its just the past few months I've noticed I'm getting flabby. I've wondered if it wasn't the Lamictal, but I've been taking it since Sept 2006 so it seems this would have happened sooner if the med was the problem. I know metabolism slows down as you age, but I always thought that if you stayed active and ate right you wouldn't have to worry about it. Does anyone else have problems like this?

Also I don't play any PC games so I'm not the Peaches you know............and I'm only 29.

 

Thanks for the advice, but I already do 30 minutes a day of cardio on an elipitical machine at my gym. I also take a kickboxing class once a week and sometimes I do spinning classes. That is why I don't understand why I would be gaining weight. I am a very active person.  I also take muscle toning classes a couple times a week which work all my muscles. I know muscle weighs more than fat, but gaining muscle wouldn't make me have to go up a size in jeans. When I first started going to a gym about three years ago I lost inches and gained muscle weight. I was getting nice muscle tone. Its just the past few months I've noticed I'm getting flabby. I've wondered if it wasn't the Lamictal, but I've been taking it since Sept 2006 so it seems this would have happened sooner if the med was the problem. I know metabolism slows down as you age, but I always thought that if you stayed active and ate right you wouldn't have to worry about it. Does anyone else have problems like this?

Also I don't play any PC games so I'm not the Peaches you know............and I'm only 29.

 

Re: Side effects of Lamictal and Lexapro

Submitted by ireland on Mon, 2011-04-18 - 09:01

Hi there,

 I have been taking Lamictal and zoloft for BPD for the last 2 years.  I increased my Lamictal last summer and since then I've noticed a drastic loss of muscle tone and I'm still experiencing this.  I am also 54 and post-menopause but I've always been in great shape and very toned.

 My doctors keep telling me it is not the meds but hormone changes (decreased estrogen).  I don't buy it. 

 You don't have to tell me your age but are you still continuing to have a decrease in muscle tone and if so, how are you handling it?

Hi there,

 I have been taking Lamictal and zoloft for BPD for the last 2 years.  I increased my Lamictal last summer and since then I've noticed a drastic loss of muscle tone and I'm still experiencing this.  I am also 54 and post-menopause but I've always been in great shape and very toned.

 My doctors keep telling me it is not the meds but hormone changes (decreased estrogen).  I don't buy it. 

 You don't have to tell me your age but are you still continuing to have a decrease in muscle tone and if so, how are you handling it?

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