[spoiltmom]

I'm on day 10 I think. Just wondering how long before I see a difference?

[~Christina]

You have to up the dose very slowly so that takes a while.. For me when I hit 150mg my pdoc and I agreed to stop there and see how I do.. I didn't actual feel a real difference until I hit about 3 months.

Everyone reacts differently.

[Clinte89]

I felt a difference early because I was in the hospital when I was put on it so they where able to get to a good dose early so it took me about three weeks

I agree; it took about 3 weeks to begin to feel the stabilizing effects of Lamictal.
Very good medication for those who can take it.

My experience. 50 going up to 100. It took 3 weeks, then I hit a mixed episode for 4 days and stabilized. Same thing happened going from 100 to 150. I just recently got bumped up to 225. I will let you know if the same thing happens.

[Anneinside]

I started feeling better when I hit 200mg. Don't remember how long it took to get to 200.

[cocoabeans]

The first time, about 2 months. The second time, I was able to go up in dosages a bit faster 50 mg to start and it took about a month.

[BipolaRNurse]

I started feeling better around 75 mg, and a lot better at 125. I had a brief manic episode when I hit 150, but that effect went away at 200. Now I'm on 250 and I think that's about the right amount, because I'm pretty stable (although I'm also on an AD and an AP as well as a benzo, so I'd BETTER be!) and I'm not having any side effects that I'm aware of.

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

I started feeling better around 75 mg, and a lot better at 125. I had a brief manic episode when I hit 150, but that effect went away at 200. Now I'm on 250 and I think that's about the right amount, because I'm pretty stable (although I'm also on an AD and an AP as well as a benzo, so I'd BETTER be!) and I'm not having any side effects that I'm aware of.

This may b a stupid question but what does qhs, prn, and qd mean? I think I got those abbreviations right.

[Kristiemarie]

I started feeling better at 50mg but then worse. Got very weepy until 200mg and now feel angry. Will most likely be upping again unless I can stabalize before my next appt. point bring, I think it just depends. You might be stabilized on 100mg or 300mg. It takes time and with the ups and downs of bp, I think sometimes its hard to tell if you're feeling better it if you're hypo manic.

[bos314489]

I think it took over a month for me and I was at 200 mg. I had a lot of ups and downs and worsening depression but in the end I felt better than I ever have. This was 4 years ago though and the effects have not lasted. My doc has tried me on different meds and dosages, though I have still been on Lamictal the whole time. I don't know if it wears off with time but when it first kicked in it was really amazing. It was the first drug that had ever worked for me. I hope you feel better soon.

Originally Posted by passionskyy

This may b a stupid question but what does qhs, prn, and qd mean? I think I got those abbreviations right.

PRN - as needed
qd - one a day
qhs - every day - at bedtime.

Hope I got that right!

[BipolaRNurse]

Thank you for answering passionskyy. I just got here and was going to explain, then saw you beat me to it. Sorry, I get carried away with 'medicalese' from time to time!

[Odee]

I believe that I started feeling an effect within the first week or so, but this effect was very subtle -- my thoughts were calmed down instead of 'garbled' and 'static-y' and I began to sleep better. As the dose goes the benefits were more pronounced, but it took me a few months to get to 200mg because of the slow titration. 200mg is generally The Dose that seems to do the trick. However, I have learned that it is not enough and I may begin taking something else with it.

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

Thank you for answering passionskyy. I just got here and was going to explain, then saw you beat me to it. Sorry, I get carried away with 'medicalese' from time to time!

Ha! I like your "speak." I am an out of work phlebotomist and doing pre-req's for nursing program. Totally fascinated by the human body... and drugs.