Does Lamictal (Lamotrigine) Cause Weight Gain or Loss?

If you're concerned that taking the medication Lamictal (lamotrigine) may cause you to gain weight, there's good news. It probably won't affect your weight much at all. If anything, you're more likely to lose weight on Lamictal than to gain weight. Either way, the changes are typically pretty small.

This can be reassuring to people with bipolar disorder since so many medications used to treat the condition can cause weight gain. Learn what research has found about Lamictal and weight as this issue has been studied several times.

Lamictal and Weight Gain or Loss

Lamictal is an anticonvulsant medication that can be used to treat seizure disorders, such as epilepsy. It's also used as a mood stabilizer in the treatment of bipolar disorder.

In the first clinical trials involving the drug, 5% of adults with epilepsy lost weight while taking Lamictal, while between 1% and 5% of patients with bipolar I disorder gained weight while on the drug. It was not disclosed how much weight the patients gained or lost.

In 2021, researchers reviewed 13 studies involving lamotrigine, the active ingredient in Lamictal. They noted that this drug is not associated with weight gain but, instead, is considered "weight-neutral"—especially when compared to other bipolar disorder medications.

Weight Gain and Other Bipolar Medications

Weight gain from drugs used to treat bipolar disorder is unfortunately pretty common. Certain mood stabilizers commonly used in bipolar disorder—specifically, lithium and Depakote (valproate)—carry a high risk of weight gain.

In addition, the atypical antipsychotic medications Clozaril (clozapine) and Zyprexa (olanzapine) tend to cause significant weight gain in people taking them. Finally, one of the side effects of certain antidepressants—specifically, Paxil (paroxetine) and Remeron (mirtazapine)—is weight gain.

Therefore, if your weight is above the healthy range, you and your mental health provider may want to consider the possibility of additional weight gain in determining your medication regimen for bipolar disorder. On that basis alone, Lamictal may be a good choice to consider.

Other Potential Uses for Lamictal

Some researchers are exploring the potential for expanding the use of lamotrigine in the treatment of other mental health conditions. For example, this drug is being looked at for its effects on people with chronic and severe eating disorders.

A 2022 study involved 62 women with mood lability and impulsive behaviors, which can occur with bulimia. Some of the women took lamotrigine and others did not. The group taking lamotrigine reported greater improvement in their ability to regulate their emotions and behaviors than the group not taking the active drug.

Other research also published in 2022 suggests that, based on the evidence, lamotrigine may also be effective for treating other mental health disorders—even potentially being an option for treatment-resistant conditions. Some of the disorders these researchers say that lamotrigine may help treat include:

• Borderline personality disorder
• Depersonalization disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Treatment-resistant schizophrenia

Summary

While more research is needed to determine if Lamictal might be beneficial as a treatment for other mental health conditions, current evidence suggests that this medication may not cause the significant weight gain that is common with some other bipolar medications. If you're worried about this effect, talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns to determine if Lamictal is right for you.