Expert: Ivan Goldberg, M.D. - 1/24/2008

Question
Hello.  Can you please tell me any and all medications used to treat Bipolar Disorder that have a chance of causing sexual side effects or significant weight gain?  I've been on several and I'm trying to sort through things to determine the best possible treatment for my Bipolar.  Sexual side effects and significant weight gain are the two side effects that I'm just not willing to cope with.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi, Leesa . . .

There is no way that I can catalogue all the medications that could cause sexual side effects or significant weight gain. Let me tell you about a few medications that seldom cause either.

Lamictal . . . a dug with mood stabilizing and antidepressant activity;

Wellbutrin . . . an antidepressant;

Topamax . . . an anticonvulsant that may have some antimanic activity and often causes weight loss. Can be combined with other medications to neutralize their weight gaining potential;

Trileptal . . . an anticonvulsant with mood stabilizing activity;

Mirapex . . . an antiparkinson drug sometimes used to treat people with bipolar depression

I hope this helps . . .

Ivan