[Jshect]

To start with, I believe I have bipolar II, ADD-PI SCT, and anxiety. I feel more stable than ever on Lamictal so I don't want to go off it, but my concentration, which is poor to begin with, has gotten much worse. I have trouble reading and I have always been a good writer but now I am having trouble with that. The thing that is strange is that I am a much better conversationalist now, even in sophisticated conversations I converse better, but yet I can't concentrate when I try to read. It doesn't make any sense. My anxiety feels like it has diminished a little in some ways and in other ways it has gotten worse. This is a strange drug reaction. Has anyone had a reaction like this and did anything help?

It could be that Lamictal is interacting with some of the other medications I am on. I am on 25 mg Lamictal, oxcarbazapine, loxatine, trazadone, buroprion, and Deplin. ANy suggestions.

I also get really weak if I haven't eaten a lot.

I am so fed up with these medications. Most of them cost a fortune, don't work at all, or when they do work in some specific ways, they have terrible side effects. I am reaching my breaking point

[KeepingItReal]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear of your concentration issues while on Lamictal. I'm currently on it--200mg/day--and have had nothing but positive experiences. It really is a great drug and hope that you can find some way of addressing your difficulties without having to go off of it.

Good luck and keep us informed!

KeepingItReal

[BlueInanna]

Hi Jshect,

I tried lamictal and it made me too sleepy. And zero sex drive. So wasnt a good match for me. But I hear it's good for most people.
Do you have add/adhd (not sure if that's what you're saying above)? I do & take adderall as needed. there is a small one that only lasts 4 hours, does wonders helping me focus when I have to do certain types of really tedious or detailed work. I don't need it every day. I do take welbutrin and klonopin daily. I also have a sleeping pill ambien as needed, I rarely use it. I prefer to just take an extra klonopin when I need help sleeping.

Med combos totally frustrate me. Hope you find relief and what you need

[JustWannaDisappear]

I had a bad case of the stupids when I went on Zoloft. My already bad concentration because much worse. I'm now on 200mg of Lamictal and while it hasn't gotten worse, it definitely hasn't improved like I had hoped... but then again it's been about two months on the Lamictal. I can't have conversations worth anything. Everything seems to go right over my head or I'm easily confused and need things explained.. slowly

My "stupids" come and go, and quite dramatically. Sometimes I can't focus or think or come up with the right word (what comes to mind will start with the same letter, rhyme or be oddly related... like "cellar" for "under") at all. Other times, everything just flows -- all the right words with full use of my extensive vocabulary, more complex sentence structure, putting everything together from the least bit of info...

Because both these states happen and I've been on Lamictal for 3 1/2 (?) years, I'd pretty much have to say no. However. I did notice that when my head is in the "stupids" state, the word-finding problem was more pronounced on the Lamictal.

Though it seems for a number of years now, I've spent more time in the "stupids", it's correlated with a time of faaar less mental stimulation (art being pretty much the only thing that's saved me from mind-numbing jobs and monotonous social isolation). So, Brain isn't getting its exercise! Which is my fault, not Lamictal's.

[exxxtasi]

I am noticing that to...I'm on 300mgs and really starting to notice at work mostly. I'll "zone out" staring out into space, I forget important tasks that I do almost every day, and I've been accused of being high at work, because of this! I'm debating talking to my boss about this, but don't want to seem like I'm making excuses.

[MotherMarcus]

Thank you for this thread. I just started on Lamictal and so far, no ill affects. But I will keep this in mind. I'm pretty scatter-brained to begin with so hopefully, this won't add to it.

[Rosie23]

Lamictal has been great for me. Has improved my anxiety as well.

But I can't spell words. I "knew" will come out "new". Or I will spell phonically. Most of the time (started out tyme) I just can't spell a word correctly no matter what I do.

I haven't been reading as much as I used to and I had not put the 2 together. I don't have trouble reading though.

I loose words too. I will be talking and can't think of the name of something or someone.

[tnlibrarian]

I'm on Lamicatal and, for the most part, I absolutely love it. However, it has given me quite the case of the stupids! Since I've been on it I've developed a real problem with not being able to think of the word I need. It's like I know what I'm trying to say but I can't find the word. It drives me crazy because I feel like I look sooo stupid!

[~Christina]

Yes I feel Dumbed down on lamictal .. well all my meds dumb me down to be honest ,,I hate it but Off meds gets ugly so I guess I stay dumb.

[BuggsBunny]

Originally Posted by tnlibrarian

I'm on Lamicatal and, for the most part, I absolutely love it. However, it has given me quite the case of the stupids! Since I've been on it I've developed a real problem with not being able to think of the word I need. It's like I know what I'm trying to say but I can't find the word. It drives me crazy because I feel like I look sooo stupid!

I've had word retrieval problems since high school (don't know why) and have learned to talk around the word until either it comes to me, or someone supplies it for me. Sometimes I even use my hands to help describe the item.
It no longer embarrasses me, it's just a fact of my life that I have had to learn to live with. When I have something I need to say that is important, I sometimes rehearse it in my head so that I have the words ready when I get to that point.

[MotherMarcus]

Yup. The stupids have officially arrived. Haven't been able to spell correctly the past few days.

[MotherMarcus]

Looks like the Lamictal related stupids have passed. However .....

[BipolaRNurse]

My experience has been totally the opposite: since starting the Lamictal, my concentration and memory have actually improved. I was beginning to fear that I was in the early stages of dementia---had the attention span of a flashcube, couldn't remember anything without the aid of sticky notes, even had periods of confusion when I couldn't remember something I'd done five seconds before (did I take my morning pills? did I flush the toilet??).

I asked my pdoc if it could be early-onset dementia; he said absolutely NOT, it was all part and parcel of the BP....and he was spot on, because it's gone now. In fact, my memory is better now than it was in my 30s and 40s! Not that I don't forget things every now and then, of course; everyone does that. But I'm no longer 'forgetful' or absent-minded, and I'm only on 125 mg of Lamictal at this point.

I just wish my Muse would take a dump on my head so I could write something longer (to say nothing of more profound) than a grocery list; I haven't blogged in over a month and can't think of anything I want to write about. I hope the creativity isn't gone forever.....

[Waterpumpkin]

Lamictal gave me a huge rash. On my boobies! Of all places!
Seroquel made me dumb and Lithium is giving me bad eye sight.
I can't see how medicine is supposed to make us better when
we actually do worse. lol

[Immaculata]

Oh! I too have had an opposite experience with Lamictal. Within one week my year of brain fog completely lifted. I could actually recall words (I actually forgot the word pizza one time)and have started working on my doctoral dissertation again.

[forgetaboutit]

I've been on this stuff for 4 years I think and definitely have had the "stupids" ever since. It really sucks because I need to use my brain for work and I feel I am mediocre at best since starting medication. I guess that is better than being awesome for one month then awful for three.

Anyone know how to get our "smarts" back? I know I should be taking fish oil and have started playing games to get some agility back in my brain. Any chance of feeling "sharp" again without being in a hypomanic state?

BTW, my meds are currently 300 mg Lamictal, 25 mg Sertraline

[hanners]

Well, I had 'the stupids' come with bipolar, but it seems to have gotten worse on lamictal. I have a really hard time with words, especially names, and I can get confused pretty easily. Other than that I've had very few side effects though, so I'm happy to stay on it.

[Red_Cyclops]

Absolutely. I've been on Lamictal (various dosages) for almost 5 years now, and I have definitely noticed memory issues and just a "dumbed down" feeling. I have an excellent memory typically, but now it is just selective, so I really only remember things that are very interesting or important to me. However, I have had issues remembering things at work and it has created some problems here and there. My concentration seems to be off as well, however, I was also diagnosed with ADD, based on a history of my behaviors since early childhood.

Currently at 200mg, but was once up to 400mg. It has not has real antidepressant properties for me, as it does for some people - I still need to be on an AD, but Lamictal is really good for my mood stabilization. I recently tried going down to 100mg, but noticed some slight mood issues. As soon as I went back to 200, I felt better within a few days to a week. The interesting thing is that when I went down to 100mg, I noticed my memory was slightly better, so I pretty much know it's the Lamictal. Oh well, I'd rather be stable and have to write things down more to remember, rather than the other way around.

[MotherMarcus]

I've noticed the memory thing also. Of course, it's been happening since before the lamictal.

[lostmyway21]

I haven't noticed any cognitive difference on it, AND I'm on Topamax. Guess I lucked out.

[MotherMarcus]

The stupids have returned ! Oy vey !