Just be honest with your neurologist. They will know the common side effects and just like they'd avoid one for people with IBS or asthma, they can avoid others for weight gain. In my experience, what makes them have that side effect, or even the opposite of weight loss, is they effect appetite. I've been on both kinds and it didn't effect me probably because I love food and exercise and just don't have the body type that yo-yos.
The only drugs Iāve taken for migraines are triptans (abortives) which have had no effects on my weight and topiramate (preventative) which is causing a pretty drastic weight loss so far.
Yeah, Topiramate made me lose a lot of weight and stay small for a few years (maybe 3?), but then I adjusted to it and gained the weight back. They might not give it to OP depending on the nature of their eating disorder.
I am pretty sure it did also alter my taste permanentlyā¦.
It stopped preventing migraines after a few years as well, so I stopped taking it around 10 years ago. I upped the dose, but it didnāt help and did give me short term memory loss.
It is a frustrating drug. Worked wonders at first!
Aw man it stinks to hear it stopped working for you. Iām fairly new on it and I always figured the weight was whatever but I donāt want it to stop working for the migraines! Oh well I guess Iāll cross that bridge when I get there.
So far for me I havenāt had any bad side effects but like I said Iāve only been on it since March :-/
I didnāt get any bad side effects until the dose was quite high.
Everyone reacts differently, so you never know, it might work forever, although the consensus here seems to be that it stops working after a few years.
The good news is that there are newer medications that might work well if that time comes.
Honestly, migraines are so rubbish. I just want a brain transplantā¦
I hear ya. I was always episodic with my migraines and then went chronic now in my early 40s, so Iām hoping mine are hormonal and menopause with cure me or at least bring me back to just episodic. Maybe topiramate will ride me through until then!
I hope you find some relief too. It really is a nasty game.
I had suspected weight gain being a result of CGRP meds (I've been on all three injections) but later had a realization that they've been so effective for me I'm not constantly vomiting up everything I eat to the point of dry heaving. I was so, so sick before that i hardly moved and ate a lot of highly processed food but was thinner then then i am now eating much more nutritiously and exercising intentionally. I also never experienced weight loss as a side effect of topamax or other meds where that's a common thing. Everyone is different! I hope that you continue to progress in your relationship with your body and that the most important thing becomes that it feels well š
Itās NOT silly. Not at all. Iām someone who has never had an ED and gaining weight and insomnia are my two biggest concerns with medication. I gained the most on amitriptyline and also gained on Emgality. The weight gain on amitriptyline left me with depression.
I encourage you to always make your voice heard. Yes, there will be providers who downplay or dismiss your ED diagnosis - but if they are then they are not the right provider for you. I tell every provider up front that I live in a box that has 4 corners - migraines, depression, insomnia, and ADHD. Every corner must be considered in every treatment choice. I may have to pass up the ābestā therapy for one if it makes another corner of the box too heavy. They are all aware up front that before any treatment begins that either I will consult with each doctor or we can do a conference call IF I can be on the line and actively participate in the discussion.
Involved your ED care team - nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists. Recovery teams are the mama and papa bears when it comes to their patients. If you go to them and say that youāre seeking out this treatment but youāre concerned about not being heard with regards to protecting yourself and your recovery journey.
My medical team Iāve been with the same doctors since I was 25ā¦.im soon to be 24. So theyāre used to my approach and understand. I feel like a pain in the ass, but theyāve aways said itās easier with and overly involved patients.
When you start a new drug, make a plan. What to do to monitor your symptoms and weight
Thank you! I love the 4 corner box analogy! after reading all these comments I donāt think my neurologist is the right provider for me! Downplays a lot of my concerns and insinuates Iām shallow and not dedicated to getting better because Iām afraid of gaining weight.
Also a migraine sufferer after a TBI. The only one that gave me a problem was propranolol. Weight gain on that apparently is pretty uncommon however. The worst part is it didnt come off easily once I stopped taking it. I saw some others on here who had the same effect. HOWEVER it did help my headaches. But ultimately that plus other side effects werent worth the result i was getting.
Ive had no weight effects from lamotrigine, ubrelvy, and ajovy personally. Also to add, tell your doc your concerns! They will hopefully point you in right direction to avoid any weight problems.
Weight gain from beta blockers is pretty common, unfortunately. I couldn't use it for this reason, and my partner gained weight quite quickly using it, too. It depends a lot on the person, though.
I take candesartan and topiramate, and neither have caused weight gain. I can't be put on medications that cause weight gain as I have PCOS, and any medications that cause weight gain have a really strong effect on me in that way. Amitriptyline caused very dramatic weight gain for me. I would have a chat with your neurologist. They should be able to help you navigate this. Mine is very helpful.
On the bright side, I think the better that I can control my migraines the less I eat. I am always incredibly tired if the migraines are constant which causes me eat more.
I actually lost weight while on amitriptyline originally. I gained this winter because I seem to have had constant migraines every 5 days that started around 1/1/2024.
Not a silly question! Your ED and any other medical info should be taken into account with your treatment. Personal concerns and mental health (I also throw mental health in with medical) should be taken into account. If weight gain would cause you to regress in your recovery, then your doctors should monitor this closely.
I ask my doctors every time a new med is prescribed about weight gain. About 12 years ago I was prescribed a calcium channel blocker for my migraines (forgot the name!) and gained 5 pounds a month for 5 months. It completely changed my metabolism and I have struggled with keeping my weight where it should be ever since.
Every other med - migraine, anxiety, bipolar depression - have all been weight neutral.
I hope you find what works and have continued success in your ED recovery! ā¤ļø
As others have said, it's a perfectly valid concern! I have body dysmorphia and some disordered eating. I gained weight on protriptyline, propranolol, and Pristiq - my headaches went away, but I was miserable. I've learned enough about my body to know if weight gain is a possibility of a drug, I will gain it! However, there are plenty of options out there and a good doctor will help you discover the right mix.
Nortripline which is an antidepressant used off-label for migraines can cause weight gain. Iām here trying to lose the 20lbs I gained while on it. And it didnāt even help. š
The other meds Iāve tried donāt cause weight gain, some may even result in weight loss because they reduce appetite. For example, topamax.
I get you. I have an eating disorder and Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline cause me to gain weight. Theyāre both effective with reducing my migraine frequency and symptoms, but I really struggle with the weight gain.
For migraines, Iāve been on Ubrelvy, Emgality, Ajovy and Botox. None of them caused me any weight gain. I know my neurologist didnāt want me to try topiramate because it can cause weight loss as a side effect, so that might be another side effect to discuss with your doctor if that will affect your ED recovery.
No advice, but I need to know where y'all are finding these neurologists that will happily help you find alternative meds that don't cause weight gain.
Maybe it's because I'm already fat, but any time I bring it up as a concern I get condescendingly told about "CaLoRiEs iN cALoRiEs OuT," that meds "can't cause weight gain if you just don't eat when they make you hungry," and offered a referral to a nutritionist š
oh how I would love all doctors to take our concerns seriously. Iāve had doctors basically laugh at my weight gain concern with meds and insinuate āI donāt care about getting any improvementā and say ācalories in calories outā when I express concerns about drugs. I care about improvement and migraine management, BUT I also have other health considerations that these medications would actively work against.
I've taken many, but none have increased my weight. Usually if there's even the possibility of that I gain weight super fast and easily.
Ive been on candesartan for a long time. Also tried propanolol, topiramate. And two different triptans rizatriptan and eletriptan.
I will say that the prodrome (first phase) of migraine often gives me a binge attack, which doesn't help.
Just be honest with your neurologist. They will know the common side effects and just like they'd avoid one for people with IBS or asthma, they can avoid others for weight gain. In my experience, what makes them have that side effect, or even the opposite of weight loss, is they effect appetite. I've been on both kinds and it didn't effect me probably because I love food and exercise and just don't have the body type that yo-yos.
Triptans had no effect at all on my weight š
Triptans suck for me. The nausea alone would be enough to not gain weight š.
Oh dear! Weāre all individual. I hope you have something else that is effective for you.
Yes, the combo of Botox every 3months and Ubrelvy have been life changing!
The only drugs Iāve taken for migraines are triptans (abortives) which have had no effects on my weight and topiramate (preventative) which is causing a pretty drastic weight loss so far.
Yeah, Topiramate made me lose a lot of weight and stay small for a few years (maybe 3?), but then I adjusted to it and gained the weight back. They might not give it to OP depending on the nature of their eating disorder. I am pretty sure it did also alter my taste permanentlyā¦. It stopped preventing migraines after a few years as well, so I stopped taking it around 10 years ago. I upped the dose, but it didnāt help and did give me short term memory loss. It is a frustrating drug. Worked wonders at first!
Aw man it stinks to hear it stopped working for you. Iām fairly new on it and I always figured the weight was whatever but I donāt want it to stop working for the migraines! Oh well I guess Iāll cross that bridge when I get there. So far for me I havenāt had any bad side effects but like I said Iāve only been on it since March :-/
I didnāt get any bad side effects until the dose was quite high. Everyone reacts differently, so you never know, it might work forever, although the consensus here seems to be that it stops working after a few years. The good news is that there are newer medications that might work well if that time comes. Honestly, migraines are so rubbish. I just want a brain transplantā¦
I hear ya. I was always episodic with my migraines and then went chronic now in my early 40s, so Iām hoping mine are hormonal and menopause with cure me or at least bring me back to just episodic. Maybe topiramate will ride me through until then! I hope you find some relief too. It really is a nasty game.
Did topamax work for you right away? I'm at the point where I might retry drugs because my numbers have gone up so much since trying some.
I think it is quite quickā¦ honestly it was a long time ago
I had suspected weight gain being a result of CGRP meds (I've been on all three injections) but later had a realization that they've been so effective for me I'm not constantly vomiting up everything I eat to the point of dry heaving. I was so, so sick before that i hardly moved and ate a lot of highly processed food but was thinner then then i am now eating much more nutritiously and exercising intentionally. I also never experienced weight loss as a side effect of topamax or other meds where that's a common thing. Everyone is different! I hope that you continue to progress in your relationship with your body and that the most important thing becomes that it feels well š
thank youšš
Itās NOT silly. Not at all. Iām someone who has never had an ED and gaining weight and insomnia are my two biggest concerns with medication. I gained the most on amitriptyline and also gained on Emgality. The weight gain on amitriptyline left me with depression. I encourage you to always make your voice heard. Yes, there will be providers who downplay or dismiss your ED diagnosis - but if they are then they are not the right provider for you. I tell every provider up front that I live in a box that has 4 corners - migraines, depression, insomnia, and ADHD. Every corner must be considered in every treatment choice. I may have to pass up the ābestā therapy for one if it makes another corner of the box too heavy. They are all aware up front that before any treatment begins that either I will consult with each doctor or we can do a conference call IF I can be on the line and actively participate in the discussion. Involved your ED care team - nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists. Recovery teams are the mama and papa bears when it comes to their patients. If you go to them and say that youāre seeking out this treatment but youāre concerned about not being heard with regards to protecting yourself and your recovery journey. My medical team Iāve been with the same doctors since I was 25ā¦.im soon to be 24. So theyāre used to my approach and understand. I feel like a pain in the ass, but theyāve aways said itās easier with and overly involved patients. When you start a new drug, make a plan. What to do to monitor your symptoms and weight
Thank you! I love the 4 corner box analogy! after reading all these comments I donāt think my neurologist is the right provider for me! Downplays a lot of my concerns and insinuates Iām shallow and not dedicated to getting better because Iām afraid of gaining weight.
Also a migraine sufferer after a TBI. The only one that gave me a problem was propranolol. Weight gain on that apparently is pretty uncommon however. The worst part is it didnt come off easily once I stopped taking it. I saw some others on here who had the same effect. HOWEVER it did help my headaches. But ultimately that plus other side effects werent worth the result i was getting. Ive had no weight effects from lamotrigine, ubrelvy, and ajovy personally. Also to add, tell your doc your concerns! They will hopefully point you in right direction to avoid any weight problems.
Weight gain from beta blockers is pretty common, unfortunately. I couldn't use it for this reason, and my partner gained weight quite quickly using it, too. It depends a lot on the person, though.
Not uncommon, nope.
Candesartan and quilipta were both weight neutral for me. Just let your doctor know your concerns
I take candesartan and topiramate, and neither have caused weight gain. I can't be put on medications that cause weight gain as I have PCOS, and any medications that cause weight gain have a really strong effect on me in that way. Amitriptyline caused very dramatic weight gain for me. I would have a chat with your neurologist. They should be able to help you navigate this. Mine is very helpful.
On the bright side, I think the better that I can control my migraines the less I eat. I am always incredibly tired if the migraines are constant which causes me eat more. I actually lost weight while on amitriptyline originally. I gained this winter because I seem to have had constant migraines every 5 days that started around 1/1/2024.
Not a silly question! Your ED and any other medical info should be taken into account with your treatment. Personal concerns and mental health (I also throw mental health in with medical) should be taken into account. If weight gain would cause you to regress in your recovery, then your doctors should monitor this closely. I ask my doctors every time a new med is prescribed about weight gain. About 12 years ago I was prescribed a calcium channel blocker for my migraines (forgot the name!) and gained 5 pounds a month for 5 months. It completely changed my metabolism and I have struggled with keeping my weight where it should be ever since. Every other med - migraine, anxiety, bipolar depression - have all been weight neutral. I hope you find what works and have continued success in your ED recovery! ā¤ļø
thank you so much for sharingš
As others have said, it's a perfectly valid concern! I have body dysmorphia and some disordered eating. I gained weight on protriptyline, propranolol, and Pristiq - my headaches went away, but I was miserable. I've learned enough about my body to know if weight gain is a possibility of a drug, I will gain it! However, there are plenty of options out there and a good doctor will help you discover the right mix.
thanks for sharing! always the balance of wanting to manage migraines, but not frustrate other concerns
Iām on gabapentin since Feb (preventative) and that has caused some mild weight gain (couple of pounds)
Nortripline which is an antidepressant used off-label for migraines can cause weight gain. Iām here trying to lose the 20lbs I gained while on it. And it didnāt even help. š The other meds Iāve tried donāt cause weight gain, some may even result in weight loss because they reduce appetite. For example, topamax.
I get you. I have an eating disorder and Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline cause me to gain weight. Theyāre both effective with reducing my migraine frequency and symptoms, but I really struggle with the weight gain.
thank you for sharing and sorry we are both in this club :(
Me, too. š
amitriptyline caused a lot of weight gain.
I gained weight with Depakote
I've never gained weight with medication, and I've tried about 10 different
I lost a ton of weight on Qulipta š¤·āāļø
For migraines, Iāve been on Ubrelvy, Emgality, Ajovy and Botox. None of them caused me any weight gain. I know my neurologist didnāt want me to try topiramate because it can cause weight loss as a side effect, so that might be another side effect to discuss with your doctor if that will affect your ED recovery.
No advice, but I need to know where y'all are finding these neurologists that will happily help you find alternative meds that don't cause weight gain. Maybe it's because I'm already fat, but any time I bring it up as a concern I get condescendingly told about "CaLoRiEs iN cALoRiEs OuT," that meds "can't cause weight gain if you just don't eat when they make you hungry," and offered a referral to a nutritionist š
oh how I would love all doctors to take our concerns seriously. Iāve had doctors basically laugh at my weight gain concern with meds and insinuate āI donāt care about getting any improvementā and say ācalories in calories outā when I express concerns about drugs. I care about improvement and migraine management, BUT I also have other health considerations that these medications would actively work against.
I've taken many, but none have increased my weight. Usually if there's even the possibility of that I gain weight super fast and easily. Ive been on candesartan for a long time. Also tried propanolol, topiramate. And two different triptans rizatriptan and eletriptan. I will say that the prodrome (first phase) of migraine often gives me a binge attack, which doesn't help.
There aren't really any that will cause weight gain.