[Clinte89]

Hello all i just got back to my pdoc and after being on trileptal for my entire treatment he now thinks lamictal will be he best for me so i agreed to let him add it to my medication as lon as i could come off trileptal slow. Im just wondering is lamictal worth the effort? What has your experience with it been? What should i be aware of? I tried it before but without my current cocktail and it didnt help but he thinks now with the current mix it will.

[BlueInanna]

My sister likes it a lot. I didn't love it.

[Red_Cyclops]

I've been taking it for a long time, with various other meds, as I've worked to find the right combo. I think it's been fine - really no side effects, except that you need to start out at a very low dose and slowly titrate up to avoid the potential for a serious rash. I think it helps some with mood stabilization. My pdoc originally had me try the mixture of Lamictal and Abilify only, however, the Abilify made me very uncomfortable and the Lamictal did not do enough for my depression, so we added AD's along the way. I think it probably can't hurt to try it.

[PiperLeigh]

Just started it yesterday, so I don't have much to share. But I've read a lot of positive experiences online with it though (generally weight neutral, minimal side effects, effective particularly for reducing depressive states, etc.) People's chemistry are all so different that I think it is really hard to predict what any given person's reaction is going to be, especially if it is being used in conjunction with other drugs.

[Clinte89]

Ok cool good information to hear. Im on trileptal abilify and lithium and he wants to replace my trileptal with it to help with depression as i cant take anti depressants they tend to make things worse for me. So i guess well see how it works. Ill keep you updated.

Originally Posted by Clinte89

Ok cool good information to hear. Im on trileptal abilify and lithium and he wants to replace my trileptal with it to help with depression as i cant take anti depressants they tend to make things worse for me. So i guess well see how it works. Ill keep you updated.

yep me neither I cannot take antidepressants and what a perplexing thing that is it's like having a freaked out sportscar that can't use petrol?

looks cool in the driveway I guess?

I wrote something ages ago somewhere maybe from another star system I called it 'mental pillness'....about my experience with medication and how really badly sick I got and I could not tell if I was ill or pill?

I took this for that and that for this and I did not hesitate because I was desperate thank (swear word) I emerged somehow pillpopped out the other end weird and wacky but alive and ...

well it's very true we are all microscopically tuned into individual things and we all respond differently to medications....I take a high dose mood stabiliser now after 6 months freelance bipolar I actually asked for it...

I don't know much about these knew drugs but when there is more than 1 involved and up to 3 and 4 I start to worry a bit.... aaaaaah!

it's all pretty weird but it's ok yep at least I hope so good luck....

[bluemountains]

Lamictal has been wonderful for me. I couldn't take abilify because it made me so sleepy. I also take two ADs with it and it's keeping me pretty stable.
Bluemountains

[Clinte89]

What is an AD? Im still new to the lingo on this forum. Im glad thats working well for you. How long did it take to find something that worked? Im kind of worn out with it all myself im tempted to give up but my doc assures me that something will work and he thinks this is it as i was doin good for a while before hand. So thanks for the information. It brings me hope.

[krisakira]

AD = Antidepressant

I am on lamictal. It has worked really well for me. However, coming off it really sucks. I can't go 2 days without taking it before I feel really bad (like if I've forgotten to take it). So you have to be really consistent. I am on a bunch of other meds, including ADs and other mood stabilizers and have found a pretty good combination for myself. I don't know where I'd be without lamictal.

[Moreta]

I've been on Lamictal for about 2 years now, this time. I've been on it twice before in the past, but didn't give it a sufficient amount of time to get to the right therapeutic dose. Currently I take 400 mg, and it seems to work pretty well. Keeps me from going manic. Helps with the depression a little, but had to add Tegretol to the mix recently to help with the depression, which actually worked.

[wing]

When Lamictal came out, I achieved stability without side effects for the first time ever. Still on it, still stable.

[Clinte89]

Does it make you feel dull at all? How long was it before you noticed a difference? Like isaid im about tired of this mess. However i know there is hope but i either feel nothing or everything. Everything being depression or mania.

[cocoabeans]

I was on it. Had no issue going off it really, just adjusting to being irritable and a bit off now haha. Screw meds.

I guess it works, or maybe I would have been stable anyways. Who knows?

I did feel dull, like it calmed me and I don't like that.

[Clinte89]

I guess ill give it a try. I dont wanna feel dull. Oh well i have high hopes it will work and thats all i can do i suppose. Thanks for all the replies everyone

[RobertDark]

I just saw my NP and got my cocktail. She's starting me on 150mg of Welbutrin XL and 25mg's of lamictal to get me started on my way to 100mg's. I knew I wanted Welbutrin since I had been on it, but the mood stabilizer really scared me since I had never used one. When she said she wanted to try lamictal (I said I wanted as low side effect as possible) I remembered reading this thread and the, generally, positive response in this thread helped me out. I start tomorrow. I've been so med resistant this past year, but I need them and I am interested to see how this combo works.

[PiperLeigh]

Day 3 of the lamictal (lamotrigine) for me. Of course I'm on the typical starting low dosage of 25 mg and working up towards the 100 mg at 5 weeks (then we'll see where things stand). I am definitely noticing that I am very tired after I take it (within an hour). For me, that has been a good thing because I have a tendency to have problems getting to sleep. I've been asleep by 10 pm each night (instead of midnight or 1 am). I have woken up at 3 am every morning, and I'm not sure yet if that is to be blamed on the lamotrigine or if it is likely because when I would go to sleep at midnight, I would wake at 5 am when my husband left for work before going back to sleep (maybe my sleep cycle is used to waking after about 5 hours is what I mean). I've read other people's experiences say they had the drowsiness each time they increased the dosage for a few days. If it does cause drowsiness more than temporarily, I will be okay with that. I have had a slight, dull headache each day since starting it, but nothing very extreme. I know it is really early in the dosage and maybe it is just hopeful thinking, but this morning I have noticed a significant change in my thoughts. Could that even be possible this early? I could see how someone might describe it as slower cognitive function, and that very well may be what it is. But what I have noticed is that I normally have about 7 or 8 things going through my mind at any moment, many of which are dark thoughts that I'm constantly redirecting while also thinking about whatever I'm doing. (Not sure if that makes sense, but that's the best way I can describe it.) Honest-to-goodness, it's the weirdest thing, but my thoughts seemed quieter for a few hours this morning. I found myself just thinking about two things this morning...watching the rain and talking to my husband on the phone. I didn't realize it at first, but then I had this strange realization that there weren't all these other things going on in my head. Subtle, but different than normal. I like it. I like it a lot. I'll put up with a heap of side effects (though my N.P. said the side effects should be minimal) if this benefit becomes a steady, regular thing on the lamictal. I asked my husband if what I'm starting to notice is what "normal" people's thoughts feel like. He just laughed, but I do wonder!

My NP told me she will be adding Lexapro in three weeks. I didn't really want to add an antidepressant that fast. I do have severe anxiety/PTSD/panic attack issues, but I really think I have learned how to deal with them relatively effectively and know how to minimize those problems. She was receptive to me not wanting to take any benzo's - I told her I don't trust myself with them. But she said that if I don't want to have anything for the anxiety that she really needs me to be on the Lexapro to help even things out. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but she does seem to have a very clear set of reasoning for why she is prescribing the way she is. I'll give it a try, I guess.

[kindachaotic]

Been on Lamotrigine (Lamictal) for many years & has worked very well for me.
Noticed when I got up to about 50mg that my brain seem to calm down a bit & started to feel more like I was back in reality & could deal with it.

Wish you the best.

[Clinte89]

So i have been on it for two days, no difference but I didn't expect a difference in two days. I have noticed that I'm more tired than usual but of course I could be just the depression. I'm about tempted to give up on medication. It seems only help for about two months and then stops working. I'm willing to give it hey drive but I'm more skeptical then I am positive.

[hamster-bamster]

I had been on Lamotrigine since 2007 through a couple of months ago. It was wonderful in terms of producing absolutely no side effects - nill. No weight gain; you can have great sex on it; no tiredness, dullness, cognitive weakness - none.

Unfortunately, it produced zero positive effects either. I tried to kill myself while on Lamotrigine monotherapy. Etc.

Coming off it was no big deal.

My dose during those years was 200mg.

[Victoria'smom]

I love lamictal, it has been the only mood stabilizer that has no side effects and I still feel like myself. It has not helped with my depression though.

[BipolaRNurse]

I've been on Lamictal since March. It brought me totally out of the depressive stage and has done a lot to mellow me out, although I do require an antipsychotic to keep the mania at bay, and a benzo at night for sleep. No side effects other than extreme daytime drowsiness, which went away within days after titrating up on the dose. It's a good drug, but to get to "stable" I had to go on Zyprexa (and then everything went to hell in a bushel basket when I went off Celexa a couple of weeks ago).

The main thing with Lamictal is, you've got to watch carefully for a skin rash. Most people don't get it, but those who do sometimes go on to develop Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which can be life-threatening. Otherwise, the drug is generally weight-neutral, and it doesn't have many side effects outside of throwing off your equilibrium a bit (I can't park my car straight anymore to save my life). Good luck!

[RobertDark]

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

The main thing with Lamictal is, you've got to watch carefully for a skin rash. Most people don't get it, but those who do sometimes go on to develop Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which can be life-threatening. Otherwise, the drug is generally weight-neutral, and it doesn't have many side effects outside of throwing off your equilibrium a bit (I can't park my car straight anymore to save my life). Good luck!

Even thought it's very rare, this scares me. Mostly because in my current state, I scare easy. I was prescribed this yesterday and started today. Both my NP and group therapy leader said to watch for it, but that it was very rare (this rash).

My question is, how big or crazy of a rash are we talking? I have this permanent rash like thing in the center of my chest and one of the back of my hand, so I know those are there and if they get worse, I assume I should have it checked. If a new rash pops up from side effects, is it usually a big rash? I guess I am trying to gauge how serious of a rash I'd get if it happened. Is it something I'd know beyond a shadow of a doubt?

I've also heard that if this happens and it's caught quickly it's not a big deal. If it does happen, would it be the kind of thing you go to the ER for or could you see a GP/NP and go from there?

EDIT: Holy-jumping-bean-batman-****! I looked SJS on wikipedia and that was a mistake. I really don't even want to take this stuff but I am going to force myself. It's such a rare side effect and if this med works, it's what I need.

I'm on day 4 of 50mg (started at 25mg for 2 weeks) and all I've noticed is headaches and migraines. With the rash, it's easy to freak out especially if you google pics. I'm on the look out for a widespread rash that looks like this:



or any sores around my eyes or mouth or genitals. That's when I'll go to the doctors. Rashes that aren't SJS are quite common with lamotrigine so I don't want to go to the drs with any old rash. That said, if you're worried, get it checked out. Better safe than sorry.

Hope that helps,

*Willow*

[Clinte89]

The more people post them more I think i wont take this stuff. I see my pdoc in 7 days so I think ill tell him im not a big fan of all the bad reviews and the possibility of headaches, being wonky, and a rash that looks like that.

[RobertDark]

Yeah.... this is me having a mental breakdown, I'll just point that out before I post this....

I am done with meds as of right now. I lasted a whole 1 day of med compliance. I am flushing what I got and cancelling my next appointment with my NP.

I am literally so freaked after looking that up I can't even work right now. I am paranoid that I even took it once and now I am going to end up with that. At the same time I understand how irrational that is, I don't even care at this moment. I am not a gambler and if THAT has a 1 in 10,000 chance of happening to me, I will take my chances off of that ****.

My head is literally at war with it self. I finally did it, I started meds, I got over all my stupid *** mental hurdles. Then I see that and it's all over for me. I can't even work today, I'm not sure how I'm going to make it through today. All that is in my head is one side saying "I WILL NOT SUBJECT MYSELF TO THAT SIDE EFFECT" with the other side saying "YOU NEED MEDS TO BE BETTER, YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN TERRIBLE OFF THEM"...

I'm f**king done with meds, I'll just see if I can survive without them.