[pacman_789]

Hi, I recently added Lamictal to my medication regimen. I'm taking Tegretol for its anti-manic properties and Lamictal for some lingering depression. For those of you taking Lamictal, did it have more of an antidepressant effect as you raised the dose of it or a mood stabilizing effect?

The reason I ask is that I am experiencing a bit of hypomania at the low dose of Lamictal, which is typical for me with any medication that has a mood lifting effect. So I'm wondering if I raise the dose if that will make the mania better or worse. My doctor usually suggests raising the dose of a medication when I have an adverse effect for some reason, but what I've read online indicates that people who experience hypomania will worsen at higher doses. So, I thought it would be good to hear directly from people taking it.

Thanks!

[quietlylost]

For me I don't notice much of an effect from the Lamictal. Maybe that's a good thing. I did notice an effect in the past with Lithium and Depakote. The Lamictal definitely did not help with my depression. Eventually I went on Latuda to help with the Bipolar Depression and it has worked wonders. I still take the Lamictal since I'm doing well and don't want to mess with what's working.

[Nammu]

Lamictal has no mood raising property for me, just made me flat.

[Scooter9]

Lamictal worked really well for me. My main problem is depression. So it was more of a mood stabilizer for me.

The thing is I was rapid cycling until I reached my target dose. My mood would switch every few hours and it took weeks until I got to the target dose but once I was there things worked out really well.

I had to stop it after 4 years of taking it because it was damaging my liver. I suggest you ask your doctor for a liver function test once a year as part of your regular blood work. Better to catch lover damage early instead of late as was my case.

[*Beth*]

The highest dose of Lamictal that I've been on is 425mg. I am currently on 300mg. I tend to have either mixed or more manic moods, but when not on meds I definitely struggle with depression, especially during the darker months.

For me, Lamictal never did much (if anything) for depression. It acts as a mood stabilizer.

[pacman_789]

Originally Posted by Scooter9

Lamictal worked really well for me. My main problem is depression. So it was more of a mood stabilizer for me.

The thing is I was rapid cycling until I reached my target dose. My mood would switch every few hours and it took weeks until I got to the target dose but once I was there things worked out really well.

I had to stop it after 4 years of taking it because it was damaging my liver. I suggest you ask your doctor for a liver function test once a year as part of your regular blood work. Better to catch lover damage early instead of late as was my case.

That sounds like me when I tried Lamictal alone. I was rapid cycling like crazy during the day. I also felt very activated (angry, couldn't sleep well), so I was afraid to raise the dose b/c it might get worse. Now, I'm on another mood stabilizer w/ it so hopefully won't have that problem. As you increased the dose, did it elevate your mood or just stabilize it?

Thanks for the note about the liver. I knew that was a risk with Tegretol but didn't know about Lamictal.

[pacman_789]

Originally Posted by BethRags

The highest dose of Lamictal that I've been on is 425mg. I am currently on 300mg. I tend to have either mixed or more manic moods, but when not on meds I definitely struggle with depression, especially during the darker months.

For me, Lamictal never did much (if anything) for depression. It acts as a mood stabilizer.

Thanks, Beth - so did your mood flatten more when you increased the dose? It didn't feel activating to you at all on any dose?

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by pacman_789

Thanks, Beth - so did your mood flatten more when you increased the dose? It didn't feel activating to you at all on any dose?

At the higher dose I felt almost completely flat. No motivation to do much of anything, least of all something creative. The feeling became intolerable. I wasn't really alive, I was existing.

When I titrated down on the dose I felt (feel) much more alive. Motivated, thinking.