I know we gain weight on Tegretol, Trileptal, Lyrica, etc…am there…done that. Has anyone after treatment or otherwise lost weight when getting off / stopping these meds??? - so hopeful to feel like excercising, EVEN TAKING A WALK! and loosing these lbs!! Did you experience weight loss after less / no meds?
I feel your pain, LOL. I too have packed on a few pounds. I had already put on some BEFORE the meds, and just added to it now that I am on them.
Lost 18 lbs after going down to half dose. But of course I'm back up to full dose again, trying hard not to gain it back.
Take care of you,
Linda
I’ve been up and then down about ten pounds. Lately I have to really watch what I eat, and thankfully the dosages of meds I take are allowing that. Two weeks ago, my weight was on the way up due to too much depakote. I ate everything that wasn’t attached to the floor, wall or ground. Salty, chocolaty, man, just everything. Seemed my mind wasn’t satisfied until my stomach was about to burst, no kidding. So, yes, weight gain due to drugs happens, but so does weight loss. It’s important to discuss it with your doctor. One thing that helps me is to imagine having diabetes if I let my eating habits take hold too negatively. That runs in my family, and so does high blood pressure. Getting exercise is really hard with TN, so nutrition is vital before other more, ah, “fun” foods. It’s a war, so I hope you are mostly victorious cris.
Thanks bunches! Looking forward to having positive ‘negative’ numbers when I am ON MY WAY OFF these infernal meds! …even though, they have truly kept me from a life of wanting to not be here anymore…it is time for a next chapter w/o them!!
WHEW! 3 DAYS AND COUNTING!
I have always been a bit of a lard bucket but I haven't put on any weight as I'm so scared to eat. I only eat when I'm about to pass out! I haven't lost any weight either though which is very annoying!!! I spent over a week only having protein shakes and I didn't lose an ounce. GGGrrrrrr!!!
You know, I finally have given up thinking my life has to be perfect, and weight is part of that. Both of my daughters had bulimia as teenagers. I have never known why, nor do they, but we have stepped off the scale as a top priority. It still matters, but loving and supporting each other is the highest priority. Still, it’s soooo irritating when weight goes on, or stays put.
I agree notafraid…it isn’t a priority right now, just that other medical issues could creep into my life; have fam history of kidney disease and high blood pressure. I am so sorry your girls had to go thru that! - definitely gives a different prospective for sure!
I just FEEL gross too!
Thanks for the feedback -
Cris
Feedback is good. Too much weight is awful. For people who truely battle with it, I empathize. My metabolism is pretty good, and fortunately, the drugs I currently take are not causing me too much distress. Lack of energy and desire to be pain free keeps me down quite a bit. I’m a total whimp when it comes to pain. If watching TV and resting comfortably on the couch keeps my brain from focusing on pain, I do it. As often as I can. I hate TN pain, so I baby myself way too much to avoid it. If I had kids at home, or had to work outside of my home, those things would be hard for me. I admire the men and women who carry on with all of life’s responsibilities while being affected by TN. Four years out and my pain levels are low compared to so many others. Time to change “gears” now. My pain is moving in.
I have had two mvd’s in less than a year and still suffer a tremendous amount of pain and fatigue along with the weight gain from the meds. I was literally model dimensions before. 5’10" and 135-140 most of the time. I have gained nearly 50lbs in about a year and a half from all of this. I have stretch marks from the weight going on so fast. I’m on 3300 mg of neurontin and 800mg tegretol and still in pain. Right now I can’t tell if my ATN is flaring non stop or if I have another mother effing sinus infection so I’m going back to the ent tomorrow. I will have to drug myself to the gills to get through him scoping me on my TN side.
It’s an awful battle. I don’t over eat at all. I could eat better, but it’s not that bad. The pounds just pack on. Too much physical movement exacerbates my pain so I just do what I can. It’s a rough thing to have a second battle on top of the pain. I decided I’d rather be pain free and fat. I’m still waiting for pain free.
While wishing you all the bodies your heart desires, I am sooo very happy to learn that I am not alone in the weight gain issue. I know this sounds like a contradiction, but we TN peeps will get it. I have been on Gabapentin and Carbamezipine for a couple years now, along with Amitriptyline for a year and I have gained... oh, I don't know (won't get on the scales)... maybe 20-25 pounds. I am beside myself! I haven't been working much so I stay in sweats... which is both good and bad (another contradiction!). Not working much either, another thing that is both good (can manage pain better) and bad (few new clothes, and still have pain to manage).
I am not sure which med is the culprit. Afraid to cut either out, and am contemplating increasing the Ami. Pain has gone to a new level in recent weeks, so now also seriously considering MVD or Gamma Knife, but don't have insurance. Alas, what to do?
I will say that I lost weight before when on Topomax and Trileptal, or at least weight was well-maintained even when eating or drinking whatever I wanted. Those were the good ole days. Low doses of both kept me pain free for my first 5 years with TN. Had to take a "drug holiday." Wondering if it's been long enough to go back on them. Has anyone had any luck with returning to meds after switching when they stopped working?