I've gained 10 lbs In ONE Month! - Is that Possible?

Allieglover · 04-22-2009, 03:37 PM

I started a new medication about a month ago and I've put on 10 lbs. Is it possible to put on that much weight in one month, or is some of this water weight.

I went up another half pound in one day. From yesterday morning to this morning.

I started strict induction Saturday, and I'm still going up. What's going on?

How do you combat weight gain from Meds. By the way my Doctor told me this medicine is considered weight neutral. Yeah Right!

I'm going crazy, and my clothes are fitting snug. I need to stop this.

Help Please.

Peacesoul · 04-22-2009, 03:38 PM

which med is it?

Allieglover · 04-22-2009, 03:45 PM

Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine) It's an anti seizure med also used as a mood stabalizer. I'm on 150mg in the morning and 300mg in the evening.

Peacesoul · 04-22-2009, 03:50 PM

Did the med increase your appetite?

Peacesoul · 04-22-2009, 03:50 PM

it seems you're not alone with this

Trileptal and weight gain | epilepsy.com

Allieglover · 04-22-2009, 03:52 PM

It increased my appetite at first. But that went away the first week or so. I was very strict with myself though and only let myself eat as much as I was suppose to.

I'm so disspointed.

Peacesoul · 04-22-2009, 03:54 PM

Here, this is one of my favorite sites, Found that drug on there

TRILEPTAL: Side effects, ratings, and patient comments

Peacesoul · 04-22-2009, 03:55 PM

Medications alter mother nature and when there is loss of balance in the body, all kinds of strange things can happen (side effects).

it does sound like water gain, Maybe this drug plays with the body's sodium?! Just a guess

Forgotten18 · 04-22-2009, 04:39 PM

What have you been eating?

Allieglover · 04-22-2009, 05:01 PM

Heres an example of what I eat,

Yesterday
B: 3 eggs, 2 pieces of low sodium bacon, 2 tbsp cheese
L: 1/3 cup of lump crab meat on top of 1/2 and avocado sprinkled with EVOO and a lemon wedge
D: Chicken breast stuffed with cream cheese and a Caesar salad

Today:
B: same as yesterday
L: Grilled chicken thigh w/ skin on with grilled bell pepper (red & yellow) and zucchini w/ evoo on top
D: I will have a bun less burger with Veggies

If I get hungry in between meals I'll have a string cheese or a boiled egg.

Most days are pretty much the same but I'll switch out lunch with tuna salad or chicken salad and for dinner I'll have grilled steak. My salad dressing's other then the ceasar yesterday are always oil & vinegar.

Houston Heather · 04-22-2009, 05:54 PM

Neurontin doesn't mess with my husband (he takes it for nerve disease). He is insomniac so it helps him sleep, which is a great side effect.

I have had good luck with lithium as a mood stabilizer. It has a terrible reputation for weight gain but I've lost 60 pounds while taking it.

Lithium likes low carb, I guess.

I'll be praying for you to get this sorted out, on the RIGHT med.

Forgotten18 · 04-23-2009, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allieglover

Heres an example of what I eat,

Yesterday
B: 3 eggs, 2 pieces of low sodium bacon, 2 tbsp cheese
L: 1/3 cup of lump crab meat on top of 1/2 and avocado sprinkled with EVOO and a lemon wedge
D: Chicken breast stuffed with cream cheese and a Caesar salad

Today:
B: same as yesterday
L: Grilled chicken thigh w/ skin on with grilled bell pepper (red & yellow) and zucchini w/ evoo on top
D: I will have a bun less burger with Veggies

If I get hungry in between meals I'll have a string cheese or a boiled egg.

Most days are pretty much the same but I'll switch out lunch with tuna salad or chicken salad and for dinner I'll have grilled steak. My salad dressing's other then the ceasar yesterday are always oil & vinegar.

Your menu looks fairly decent...all I can think if is that the meds are making you retain a good amount of water and/or slowing your metabolism. See if the weight gain tapers off (water weight) soon, if not, maybe consult your Doctor for an alternative med. Good luck.

Krissy66 · 04-23-2009, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allieglover

Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine) It's an anti seizure med also used as a mood stabalizer. I'm on 150mg in the morning and 300mg in the evening.

Unfortunately, most seizure meds cause weight gain, although Trileptal has a very low percentage from this perspective (1-2%)

fawn · 04-23-2009, 08:51 AM

just to add alliieglover, you know the correlation between a ketogenic diet and seizures??? HIGHLY recommended. I can't help on the med front but a ketogenic diet is where it's at for you!

Blood Sugar 101 · 04-23-2009, 01:30 PM

Fawn,

Just a note. The ketogenic diet used for seizures is REALLY different from the diet most people here eat. It's very extreme and must be managed by a nutritionist because otherwise it can cause serious health problems. I have run into people whose children are on these diets who also have diabetes and they have explained that the epilespy version is far, far more intense. Every single gram of every thing eaten gets measured and balanced and they also keep the kids pretty dehydrated. Very little protein too, mostly fat.

fawn · 04-23-2009, 03:41 PM

Yep, I understand that one........defintely something for her to study study and study some more!

Blood Sugar 101 · 04-24-2009, 06:11 AM

I am pretty sure I recently read something talking about the Ketogenic diet working for adults with resistant epilepsy too.

I would definitely suggest asking the doctor to give it a trial, as opposed to the drugs, because the long term side effects of all the epilepsy drugs are so disturbing.

Even more disturbing, though, is that non-specialists are prescribing many of these powerful brain drugs off label to people with garden variety mood disorders. This has created a whole new population of permanent diabetics who started depressed for no reason and ended up with something to be depressed about. The diabetes boards are full of them. It's a tragedy.

fawn · 04-24-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blood Sugar 101

I am pretty sure I recently read something talking about the Ketogenic diet working for adults with resistant epilepsy too.

I would definitely suggest asking the doctor to give it a trial, as opposed to the drugs, because the long term side effects of all the epilepsy drugs are so disturbing.

Even more disturbing, though, is that non-specialists are prescribing many of these powerful brain drugs off label to people with garden variety mood disorders. This has created a whole new population of permanent diabetics who started depressed for no reason and ended up with something to be depressed about. The diabetes boards are full of them. It's a tragedy.

That is tragic because we all pay for stuff like this in our water supply.

Houston Heather · 04-24-2009, 08:09 PM

Low carb has helped me reduce all my doses of mood management pills:
Lithium was 1200 mg - now 600
Lexapro - very proud of this from 10 mg down to 2.5 (I have to cut 'em in quarters! :laugh)
Risperdal - from .5 mg down to .25

Low carb, even if not a full blown ketogenic diet, has definitely helped with my side effects - I can live with them now, instead of feeling like a cripple, and obviously losing 60 pounds. My moods are far more stable, and I've been able to reduce my medication. I will always take "something" for my illness, which is extreme, but it's a lot easier than it was.

I somewhat doubt that I'll get down to my goal of 150 due to lithium water retention, but I'll have fun trying.

Everyone out there with mood disorders.

04-22-2009, 03:37 PM	#1
Allieglover Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: California Posts: 592 Gallery: Allieglover WOE: Good Carbs 1400-1600 Cals per day	I've gained 10 lbs In ONE Month! - Is that Possible? I started a new medication about a month ago and I've put on 10 lbs. Is it possible to put on that much weight in one month, or is some of this water weight. I went up another half pound in one day. From yesterday morning to this morning. I started strict induction Saturday, and I'm still going up. What's going on? How do you combat weight gain from Meds. By the way my Doctor told me this medicine is considered weight neutral. Yeah Right! I'm going crazy, and my clothes are fitting snug. I need to stop this. Help Please.

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04-22-2009, 03:38 PM	#2
Peacesoul MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal. Canada Posts: 1,131 Gallery: Peacesoul Stats: Coming up on 43yrs old...ekk! WOE: smart	which med is it?

04-22-2009, 03:45 PM	#3
Allieglover Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: California Posts: 592 Gallery: Allieglover WOE: Good Carbs 1400-1600 Cals per day	Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine) It's an anti seizure med also used as a mood stabalizer. I'm on 150mg in the morning and 300mg in the evening.

04-22-2009, 03:50 PM	#4
Peacesoul MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal. Canada Posts: 1,131 Gallery: Peacesoul Stats: Coming up on 43yrs old...ekk! WOE: smart	Did the med increase your appetite?

04-22-2009, 03:52 PM	#6
Allieglover Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: California Posts: 592 Gallery: Allieglover WOE: Good Carbs 1400-1600 Cals per day	It increased my appetite at first. But that went away the first week or so. I was very strict with myself though and only let myself eat as much as I was suppose to. I'm so disspointed.

04-22-2009, 03:54 PM	#7
Peacesoul MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal. Canada Posts: 1,131 Gallery: Peacesoul Stats: Coming up on 43yrs old...ekk! WOE: smart	Here, this is one of my favorite sites, Found that drug on there TRILEPTAL: Side effects, ratings, and patient comments

04-22-2009, 03:55 PM	#8
Peacesoul MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Montreal. Canada Posts: 1,131 Gallery: Peacesoul Stats: Coming up on 43yrs old...ekk! WOE: smart	Medications alter mother nature and when there is loss of balance in the body, all kinds of strange things can happen (side effects). it does sound like water gain, Maybe this drug plays with the body's sodium?! Just a guess

04-22-2009, 04:39 PM	#9
Forgotten18 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 68 Gallery: Forgotten18 Stats: 198/173/160 WOE: Zero Carb Start Date: 11/01/08	What have you been eating?

04-22-2009, 05:01 PM	#10
Allieglover Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: California Posts: 592 Gallery: Allieglover WOE: Good Carbs 1400-1600 Cals per day	Heres an example of what I eat, Yesterday B: 3 eggs, 2 pieces of low sodium bacon, 2 tbsp cheese L: 1/3 cup of lump crab meat on top of 1/2 and avocado sprinkled with EVOO and a lemon wedge D: Chicken breast stuffed with cream cheese and a Caesar salad Today: B: same as yesterday L: Grilled chicken thigh w/ skin on with grilled bell pepper (red & yellow) and zucchini w/ evoo on top D: I will have a bun less burger with Veggies If I get hungry in between meals I'll have a string cheese or a boiled egg. Most days are pretty much the same but I'll switch out lunch with tuna salad or chicken salad and for dinner I'll have grilled steak. My salad dressing's other then the ceasar yesterday are always oil & vinegar.

04-22-2009, 05:54 PM	#11
Houston Heather Guest Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 9,854 Gallery: Houston Heather Stats: 228/166/160 Waist: 42/31/31 WOE: Atkins 2002 Ongoing Weight Loss/pre maintenance Start Date: Feb 26, 2008 (second and last time)	Neurontin doesn't mess with my husband (he takes it for nerve disease). He is insomniac so it helps him sleep, which is a great side effect. I have had good luck with lithium as a mood stabilizer. It has a terrible reputation for weight gain but I've lost 60 pounds while taking it. Lithium likes low carb, I guess. I'll be praying for you to get this sorted out, on the RIGHT med.

04-23-2009, 08:51 AM	#14
fawn Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 16,072 Gallery: fawn	just to add alliieglover, you know the correlation between a ketogenic diet and seizures??? HIGHLY recommended. I can't help on the med front but a ketogenic diet is where it's at for you!

04-23-2009, 01:30 PM	#15
Blood Sugar 101 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New England Posts: 2,895 Gallery: Blood Sugar 101 Stats: 1998-2009 170/142/145---2010 138/142/138 WOE: 80-100g per day. Metformin (no more prandin!) Start Date: First LC diet 1998, goal 2003, continual vigilance	Fawn, Just a note. The ketogenic diet used for seizures is REALLY different from the diet most people here eat. It's very extreme and must be managed by a nutritionist because otherwise it can cause serious health problems. I have run into people whose children are on these diets who also have diabetes and they have explained that the epilespy version is far, far more intense. Every single gram of every thing eaten gets measured and balanced and they also keep the kids pretty dehydrated. Very little protein too, mostly fat.

04-23-2009, 03:41 PM	#16
fawn Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 16,072 Gallery: fawn	Yep, I understand that one........defintely something for her to study study and study some more!

04-24-2009, 06:11 AM	#17
Blood Sugar 101 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New England Posts: 2,895 Gallery: Blood Sugar 101 Stats: 1998-2009 170/142/145---2010 138/142/138 WOE: 80-100g per day. Metformin (no more prandin!) Start Date: First LC diet 1998, goal 2003, continual vigilance	I am pretty sure I recently read something talking about the Ketogenic diet working for adults with resistant epilepsy too. I would definitely suggest asking the doctor to give it a trial, as opposed to the drugs, because the long term side effects of all the epilepsy drugs are so disturbing. Even more disturbing, though, is that non-specialists are prescribing many of these powerful brain drugs off label to people with garden variety mood disorders. This has created a whole new population of permanent diabetics who started depressed for no reason and ended up with something to be depressed about. The diabetes boards are full of them. It's a tragedy.

04-24-2009, 08:09 PM	#19
Houston Heather Guest Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 9,854 Gallery: Houston Heather Stats: 228/166/160 Waist: 42/31/31 WOE: Atkins 2002 Ongoing Weight Loss/pre maintenance Start Date: Feb 26, 2008 (second and last time)	Low carb has helped me reduce all my doses of mood management pills: Lithium was 1200 mg - now 600 Lexapro - very proud of this from 10 mg down to 2.5 (I have to cut 'em in quarters! :laugh) Risperdal - from .5 mg down to .25 Low carb, even if not a full blown ketogenic diet, has definitely helped with my side effects - I can live with them now, instead of feeling like a cripple, and obviously losing 60 pounds. My moods are far more stable, and I've been able to reduce my medication. I will always take "something" for my illness, which is extreme, but it's a lot easier than it was. I somewhat doubt that I'll get down to my goal of 150 due to lithium water retention, but I'll have fun trying. Everyone out there with mood disorders.