Posted by susan C on October 8, 2001, at 12:16:16
In reply to Mood Stabilizers and Water Retention, posted by shelliR on October 7, 2001, at 11:24:26
I have been puzzling about this too. Always looking for the cause...with the meds you mentioned, I never got through the trial period of one to four weeks, and never gained any weright, so there is no connection I can make there.
For me, there were two things different starting about the middle of july...I have been releasing water like crazy. I had maintained depakote at 1000mg a day since Feb, and I hit the year mark for my period, so I am officially in Menopause. So, as I understand it, my hormone/estrogen levels are lowering. my main effect has been hotflashes, which i control with a little added estrogens/progesterones...but this does not seem to be connected to mood.
And now, for the last two months, on Keppra, (another mood stablizer AC)my appetite is gone, I am unsteady on my feet, so have not been active, but have continued a 'diuretic' effect especially at night, at times, and have lost weight. I am wondering if it is water loss more than anything else...that as i went through perimenopause i started retaining water...like women do just before their periods...cause that is what it feels like at night...just a flood, every hour, on the hours, some days...now add to all of this, about june, I noticed swelling in my ankles. So, how can I be loosing weight, but having ankle swelling?
Thanks for the chance to reflect...it will take me a while to get the courage to go see my gp...I need to practice what i am going to say...they never have much time...mark, get ready, get set, GO.
Mouse on the starting line
susan C> When I was taking lamictal to supplement nardil, it was pretty effective, but I gained 15lbs. I felt uncomfortable, swollen stomach, breasts, ankles, etc. The same thing happened (to a lesser degree) with neurontin. Within two weeks after I dropped the lamictal, I had lost the 15lbs, and felt 100% more comfortable. Can all of this 15lbs be water retention? I tried a dieuretic but it didn't really change things. Are there any other options? I'd love to try lamictal again, but can't tolerate 15 extra pounds that I can't control by diet and exercise. I am already eating a very low sugar, low salt, low fat diet, and exercising 45minutes of treadmill plus weights about 5 days a week. Any suggestions? Can one gain 15lbs of pure water weight, or could it be hormone related? I know it has nothing to do with cravings, etc. and the discomfort points to water retension. Any ideas, suggestions? Anything other med I can take to counteract this?
>
> Shelli
poster:susan C
thread:80541
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011007/msgs/80639.html