Is it common to lose weight going from one medication to another?

[momof3boys]

The past couple of months have been a roller coaster for me. Ive gone from being on Carbatrol and Keppra for 11 years to being taken off both cold turkey, to being put back on the Keppra, then adding Vimpat for about 3 weeks, off of Vimpat, on Keppra alone for 5 days, then adding Lamictal, which is my 6th day of.

Im noticing that alot of changes are coming about with me. Ive lost 15lbs, I noticed I havnt had a big appetite for eating, but ive been drinking alot more water lately, if anything ive been more thirsty than hungry. My emotions have been all over the place... (which my dr thinks is due to the kepprage) I just cant believe how many changes my body has been through!

Im almost 30 yrs old, and Im breaking out each month since March! I feel like Im going through puberty again!

 

[Day]

Oh, I'm so sorry you're going thru the whole med change. That sux.

First off, yes it is normal to lose weight when going from one med to another. If I remember correctly, I always have. Oh, not having an appetite, that's normal. And being really, really thirsty, to the point that I made myself sick from drinking so much. I don't know that its normal, but that happened a lot, too. I felt like I was actually floating from all the water I was drinking. Everytime I moved, I sloshed. Yep, emotions all over the place. That always happened, too.

Ahh, puberty! Wasn't it grand? There's nothing like a whole lot of acne to make you appreciate NOT going thru it anymore.

 

[Loopy Lou]

It could just be that from all the emotions you're going through, you're not eating properly. That'd make you lose weight x

 

[momof3boys]

Yeah that could be it too. I ate lunch today and havnt had any appetite since then. Im trying to get food down me as much as I can. I dont want to force myself to eat, but I dont want to hear my stomach growl too....

 

[Endless]

Well, I can't address the weight loss since I ate a TON on Keppra. It was Topamax that made me mega-thirsty.

I can address the acne. It's the Lamictal - it's notorious for causing a kind of weird acne. You aren't alone. I have Lamictal-caused acne now, too. It's not very attractive.

I use proactive on my face and it helps.

I use a stiff long-handled shower/bath brush along with Selsun Blue Naturals shampoo on my back and chest and that helps, too. The active ingredient in Selsun Blue Naturals is Salicylic Acid (3%). That's the same stuff they use in some acne medicines.

 

[Nakamova]

I never had acne as a teenager, but I do now, thanks to Lamictal. And Dilantin had that side effect too. It's mostly stuff on my chin, but it drives me nuts. Grrr.

All the brain meds can throw off your system -- hormones, appetite, sleep... and during transitions from one med to another, the effects can be especially screwy. So the weight gain, the acne, they could be temporary until things even out a bit for you.

 

[momof3boys]

Well, I can't address the weight loss since I ate a TON on Keppra. It was Topamax that made me mega-thirsty.

I can address the acne. It's the Lamictal - it's notorious for causing a kind of weird acne. You aren't alone. I have Lamictal-caused acne now, too. It's not very attractive.

I use proactive on my face and it helps.

I use a stiff long-handled shower/bath brush along with Selsun Blue Naturals shampoo on my back and chest and that helps, too. The active ingredient in Selsun Blue Naturals is Salicylic Acid (3%). That's the same stuff they use in some acne medicines.

Oh please dont tell me acne comes with Lamictal! Ive been dealing with this ance crap since the day the dr took me off all my medications! Since then, my body has been so out of wack! My periods were off a few days, and now only last a couple of days if that, instead of the usual 5 days they were before. The acne.... OMG.... I just dont even want to think about it! I cant stand it! I started tanning a couple of weeks ago, hoping it would help dry it up... I can see its helping some... but its on my lower chin area that the acne is the worst! I about asked my dr that deal with my pcos if she could give me something for it. But when I brought up what Ive gone through with all these medications, she thinks its due to all the stress that my body has been through. Im just praying it goes away!

 

[momof3boys]

I never had acne as a teenager, but I do now, thanks to Lamictal. And Dilantin had that side effect too. It's mostly stuff on my chin, but it drives me nuts. Grrr.

All the brain meds can throw off your system -- hormones, appetite, sleep... and during transitions from one med to another, the effects can be especially screwy. So the weight gain, the acne, they could be temporary until things even out a bit for you.

The acne on my chin I can totally relate to! Thats where Im getting the acne too! But so far, Ive been losing weight. I got kind of worried the other day when I noticed since the dr took me off all my medications for the VEEG, Im down 15lbs. Im glad to be losing some weight, but I dont want to lose alot all at once.

 

[epileric]

I never had acne as a teenager, but I do now, thanks to Lamictal. And Dilantin had that side effect too. It's mostly stuff on my chin, but it drives me nuts. Grrr..

I've said it before & I'll say it again. At 50 years old, my acne is the only thing keeping me young!

 

[Nakamova]

The meds can cause weight loss too, not just weight gain, so they could be responsible. But since it's been superfast weight loss, you should check in with you doctor to make sure you're okay, and that you're getting enough nutrition. And you definitely want to avoid low blood sugar.

 

[momof3boys]

The meds can cause weight loss too, not just weight gain, so they could be responsible. But since it's been superfast weight loss, you should check in with you doctor to make sure you're okay, and that you're getting enough nutrition. And you definitely want to avoid low blood sugar.

Yeah I noticed it right off the bat when I got home from having the VEEG. When I got admited for the VEEG, the bed had a scale in it and they weighed me there. I weighed in at 151. When I got home five days later, i was down to 145. I had lost 6lbs in five days! The only thing I could chalk it up to was being taken off the Carbatrol? Since then, Ive noticed my appetite really has changed and Im drinking alot of water!

If I dont hear from my drs nurse by tomorrow at noon, im going to give her a call and ask about somethings. I need to know about the Keppra, and how much I should get if they are going to want me off the keppra after being on the Lamictal, but I also want to bring up the acne to her too!

 

[Endless]

I use a stiff long-handled shower/bath brush along with Selsun Blue Naturals shampoo on my back and chest and that helps, too.

I was waiting for the gorilla jokes. :roflmao:

 

[SevenC]

My doctor told me the acne is coming from me having the pcos.

I've noticed a huge decline in appetite since starting all of my medicine--especially sweet things. I used to love candy.

I have no desire for sugar now. When I do get hungry, I want something like meat or cheese.

I haven't weighed myself lately. I'd love to lose some weight, but I could definitely see you getting concerned over it or any weight changes.

Also, I am thirsy constantly! I was already a strict water drinker, but it's been much worse.

 

[saul3903]

I remember after I quit my meds, I lost a lot of weight. I've lost 60 pounds in a year without trying. My apetite just went away and my metabolism went up. I never worried about it, because I was pretty fat and had no problem with being rid of my gut.

I couldn't say anything helpful about the acne, though. Sorry.

 

[momof3boys]

I dont have a problem losing any weight either. I can stand to lose some extra pounds. I just didnt want to lose alot of weight in a short amount of time.

 

[saul3903]

I can understand that. I'm actually starting to worry about that right now. I'm now 165 pounds and 6'2". It's not too terribly skinny, but the fact that I got there quickly without trying makes me think I might need some protein shakes or something soon.

 

[SevenC]

I remember after I quit my meds, I lost a lot of weight. I've lost 60 pounds in a year without trying. My apetite just went away and my metabolism went up. I never worried about it, because I was pretty fat and had no problem with being rid of my gut.

I couldn't say anything helpful about the acne, though. Sorry.

Wow that's good! Are you on any medicines now? I know you said you quit them, but how is the epilepsy now?

I dont have a problem losing any weight either. I can stand to lose some extra pounds. I just didnt want to lose alot of weight in a short amount of time.

I forgot to mention, for the acne, I know this isn't related to our epilepsy. But the only acne medication that works for me, is the Wal Mart equate off brand stuff. I buy that face wash, and then they make some acne cream you put on after you wash your face. It's funny because you have all these name brands like Neutrogena and stuff, and those do nothing for me. :-(

 

[saul3903]

Wow that's good! Are you on any medicines now? I know you said you quit them, but how is the epilepsy now?

Actually, I'm not an epileptic, I just have friends who are. Here they call me a FOSWE (Friend Of Someone With Epilepsy). I come to this site mostly just to learn, I don't post much. I HAVE been on a lot of medications in the fairly recent past for anxiety, depression, and whatnot. I was on medication from age 5 to 19, so I've learned a few things about mind-affecting prescriptions. I've learned from this site that many of the meds I was on are also used to treat epilepsy.

 

[SevenC]

Actually, I'm not an epileptic, I just have friends who are. Here they call me a FOSWE (Friend Of Someone With Epilepsy). I come to this site mostly just to learn, I don't post much. I HAVE been on a lot of medications in the fairly recent past for anxiety, depression, and whatnot. I was on medication from age 5 to 19, so I've learned a few things about mind-affecting prescriptions. I've learned from this site that many of the meds I was on are also used to treat epilepsy.

Yeah I know the depakote is used for all sorts of conditions besides epilepsy(that's one of my meds).
Glad to hear your health has improved.

I don't know what I'm going to do, I know every time I step on a scale the number is going up---and that's with no appetite and going to gym.

My doctor has offered me hope that switching off the depakote will help with that.

I just want to be healthy.

Good news for you, hope those of you that are getting too thin get work it out as well.

 

[saul3903]

Depakote was one of the meds I quit, it's what caused me to gain weight and lose it again after I was off. It would probably help your weight a lot if you can go off of it.