Medication and weight gain

[jason clarke]

Hi everyone I'm Jason from the UK.

I am taking Carbemazepine 1600mg per day divided into two doses. My weight now is 15 stone and 6 pounds. My weight is on the increase and I am depressed enough with my Epilepsy without having the added problem of weight gain. I would like to know if anybody out there who has or is putting on weight and is taking the same medication as myself. I have read lots of web sites that say Carbemazepine will make you gain weight and others that say that it won't. I hope to hear from you and look forward to your comments. Thank you.

 

[Nakamova]

Hi jason, welcome!

The meds seem to affect everyone a little differently -- some folks gain weight, some folks lose. I lost weight when on Dilantin and Zonisamide, gained it on Lamictal. I wouldn't be surprised if Carbemazepine (Tegretol) is a factor in your weight gain. These threads may be of interest:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/tegretol-causes-weight-gain-4955/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/i-weigh-how-much-tegretol-13410/
The askapatient link below for Tegretol/Carbamazepine provides additional patient feedback on the medication. You can search there for references to weight gain.
http://www.askapatient.com/viewrati...e=TEGRETOL&PerPage=60&sort=timelength&order=0

 

[CQ:)]

HI Jason,
Welcome to CWE.
Tegretol is the 1st med my neurologist tried me on to help with my seizures & i 1st started taking it in 2002. I was already overweight when I started on the Tegretol so hard to say if it caused me any issues with my weight.

As well as Tegretol I have tried Lamictal, Topamax, Keppra & Neurontin. The only med which I noticed affected my weight was the Topamax because when I was on that I didnt have such a big appetite & lost about 20kg over 2 years.

I was on Tegretol for 11 years but last year I started to slowly come of the Tegretol (under the supervision of my neurologist). It was a long progress & all up took me 12 months to completely get of the Tegretol (when I 1st started reducing the Tegretol I was on 400mg both am & pm). I completed the final stage of gettign of the Tegrteol on 29th April this year & I am now on just Keppra.