Common side effects include stomach upset, dizziness and blurry vision. Melissa Lind holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas College of Pharmacy.

It works by inhibiting rapid firing of neurons in the brain by interfering with the movement of sodium. It appears to work by blocking an enzyme, known as carbonic anhydrase, in the brain and by increasing acidity of the brain tissue. Do you currently see a psychiatrist or a general medical doctor?Hi Sarah – my mental health journey may or not be helpful. Tell your doctor about your health history, your family’s health history, and your concerns about how treatment will affect your weight. Skin changes, breathing difficulties or other symptoms of dehydration should be reported to a medical professional immediately.Topiramate is another anticonvulsant that may be of some use in the treatment of bipolar disorder and, though not yet approved, is in use as an off-label medication for the disorder. Side effects of lamotrigine may include headache, nausea, dizziness and fatigue.

2020 Others have reported the same from what I have read. Weight loss medication, even if FDA approved, is not going to do everything by itself. These medications, including fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram and escitalopram, are safe and effective in relieving depression and tend not to cause weight gain, according to the Mayo Clinic. By making healthy choices in your diet and adding routine exercise, you may be able to minimize these effects.Many people with bipolar disorder often have to try several different drugs before finding one that works. Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, nausea and movement disorders. Learn more about these and other drugs in this article. "Whether a certain medication will cause weight gain or other side effects varies from person to person. She has over 20 years experience as a health-care professional, including pharmacy practice as a registered pharmacist, and experience in clinical research management and community college instruction in pharmacology and health topics. For example, several of them increase your blood sugar level, which can lead to weight gain.
This information will help your doctor understand which drugs are more likely to work well for you.© 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company.

Other side effects may include changes in memory, foggy thinking, dizziness and drowsiness.

© 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company.

These groups include mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants. In other words, it wasn't created to treat bi-polar. It may also cause hyponatremia and dehydration. I'm afraid that all the anti-depressants I know about cause dry mouth and weight gain. Mood stabilizers used to treat bipolar disorder include lithium (Lithobid), valproic acid (Depakene), divalproex sodium (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro, others) and lamotrigine (Lamictal). Talk to your doctor and balance your concerns about weight gain with the likelihood of a certain drug working well for you. Sleeping regularly and exercising will help tremendously. All rights reserved. While I have not had to take meds for bipolar disorder I have heard from others who have taken these meds that weight gain can be a side effect. Do all bipolar medications cause weight gain?
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I've been on this for about 7 years and, recently, I spent two years trying to lose some of the weight and managed to lose 15 pounds. Every medication has it's own set of side effects and impacts the brain and body in different ways, and your body and brain are unique.