Tegretol for bipolar disorder: Have you experienced weight gain?

Hi @lolo256‍, thank you for starting this discussion. That must be frustrating to have a medication that helps one condition and has a negative effect on the other. Let me tag some other members who can possibly share their thoughts with you.

Hi everyone, how are you today? 

For those of you who have been prescribed carbamazepine (Tegretol®), have you had any side effects like weight gain? If so, how did you deal with it? 
@Mariahlaughlin31717‍ @Samcog75‍ @sjones007‍ @Meredyth‍ @SAMCCOLM‍ @KathrinCole‍ @Tozzisr‍ @Ashleigh‍ @LRegner‍ @Buzzysour‍ @Ashhole‍ @Believe4244‍ @Mimi56‍ @Tbirdtuck‍ @Kruseshannon‍ @MessyMouse‍ @jjmom1‍ 

Don't hesitate to share with us here!

Take care,
Courtney

@Courtney_J been hoping to find a med that has the OPPOSITE effect! I doubt that exists! Hate it, I have enough of a problem with food to start with, so......... 

I’ve gained weight but it’s more from the lack of interest in doing anything but sit around after work. 

I'm Bipolar and have gained weight taking Vraylar, Latuda and Lithium. I have never gained weight from any other psychotropic drug. My psychiatrist dropped my Lithium to 300 mg from 600 mg. I'm not starving all of the time but losing the weight is hard. Tegretol is old school. A lot of the old school meds cause weight gain. I'm sure there's something you can take that won't cause weight gain. Good luck.

Thanks for your help

I AM ON ABILIFY, VRAYLAR, TRAZODONE, AND EFFEXOR........I AM 5-11 AND WEIGH 199 LBS., WHICH I SUPPOSE IS'NT TOO BAD...........I LOVE ALL 4 OF THOSE MEDICATIONS........I FEEL A HIGH FROM THEM.....A BLISSFUL TRANQUIL EUPHORIA.........I ALSO CONSUME COFFEE EVERY DAY, WHICH ADDS TO THE BUZZ.......I HAVE SCHIZOPHRENIA.......I USED TO BE PRESCRIBED TEGRETOL, BUT I TOOK MYSELF OFF OF IT 6 MONTHS AGO.......NOT THE DRUG FOR ME.......I HAVE ALSO USED LSD, WHICH DID ME A LOT OF GOOD NAD TURNED ME INTO A MORE POSITIVE AND MORE SPIRITUAL PERSON.....I GIVE OFF GOOD VIBES..........AND I USE HERBS AND SPICES THAT STIMULATE DOPAMINE AND SEROTONIN RECEPTORS........DILL WEED, CLOVES, AND NUTMEG ARE ESPECIALLY GOOD AT STIMULATING DOPAMINE ACTIVITY........SO IS COFFEE.......I AM ENJOYING BLISSFUL ECSTASY......LOVING IT.....MATTHEW SIPRESS

I'm on Tegretol and it hasn't caused weight gain for me.  

@msipress in my professional opinion you are over medicated. You are taking three antipsychotics. And the fact that you get off on the high is concerning. Our meds are supposed to even us out. 

DEAR JILLY69,

THANK YOU FOR YR CONCERNS.........I DO LOVE THE FEELING I GET FROM MY MEDS.......THEY DO MELLOW ME OUT.......IT IS A MELLOW BUZZ........MAYBE I AM OVERMEDICATED.......I ALSO EXPERIENCE MANIA QUITE FREQUENTLY.......I HAVE BEEN AWAKE FOR THE PAST 9 DAYS.......DO'NT BE ALARMED, THOUGH...I AM QUITE USED TO IT........MATTHEW SIPRESS

Hi everyone,

@lolo256 @irishcat @Tbirdtuck @Jilly69 @msipress @derezashley

How are you doing today?

This is a great discussion about Tegretol. I encourage you all to put your experiences with this medication using our newest Carenity tool: https://member.carenity.us/medications/tegretol-3260

This new tool makes it easier for Carenity members to learn about potential medications and become better educated and know what questions to ask their doctors.

Please document your opinion about your treatments!

Take care,

Lizzi from the Carenity team