How long for Lamictal to work?

I've been on 25mg for almost two weeks. I double my dosage in two days. How long until I can hope for some effect to kick in.

Also, are there any side effects to look out for that aren't the obvious ones? I've been pretty thirsty and my hair is shedding more than usual, but that could be totally unrelated.

Thanks ahead of time for any responses.

I'm on lamictal as well. Moved up to 50mg Tuesday last week. So far I feel the same. Therapeutic dose is 100-200mg from what I'm told. I had some pretty bad headaches during the first week. I am also experiencing joint pain, but it could be from the Abilify. I had a little nausea at first too but all that went away within a week or so.

Lamictal does take some time to work, partly because it has to be titrated (adjusted upward) so carefully over several weeks to avoid the rare but severe side effects. Be patient with it; average therapeutic doses range between 100-200 mg, and some of us are on higher doses than that (250-400 mg is not unusual).

When I started on it---and usually when the dose was titrated---I'd get a mild nagging headache and some drowsiness for the first couple of days, and then my body would adjust. I didn't really notice any appreciable effects until I got to 75 mg, and then again at 150. It was activating for me when I got to 200, so if you find yourself getting a little hypomanic, don't be shocked, but do contact your doctor if it goes on for more than a couple of days.

I have lost a great deal of hair during treatment, although whether it's from Lamictal or Geodon, I'm not sure. (It was really thick and I still have plenty of it, so I'm not really worried.) Both can contribute to hair loss. I also get dry mouth due to the anticholinergic effects, although I'm also on a couple of 'water pills' that also make me thirsty all the time.

Other subtle things to watch for include changes in memory and proprioception (which is basically knowing where you are in space---I can't park straight anymore to save my soul), weight (I actually GAINED 20 pounds after starting Lamictal, even though it's supposed to be weight-neutral), and dry, itchy skin.

It's a good drug for many of us, though, and it's certainly the basic starter med for bipolar now that lithium isn't being used as much. It has fewer side effects and helps with the depressive side (although I've learned that it doesn't do much to suppress mania). Good luck with it.

I had both of these as well. The itchy skin is the most irritating.

Oh no! I don't want to gain weight or lose hair! welp!

I did not gain weight, or hair loss. I was hungrier then normal but that quickly went away. I've had no side effects.

I was on Topamax and then it pooped out, within 2 days I was having massive mood swings. I was put on Lamictal, and within 2 days I was back to a good baseline for moods. I don't know if it was the placebo effect or what. I was on 25mg for 2 weeks, now I'm at 50mg for 2 weeks. Titrating up to 200mg. So far no real big side effects for me. Hope you get relief soon!

I was stuck on 50mg for ages because I was going out of my town and my pdoc didn't see fit to have me titrate up - he wasn't aware that I was going out of town and had gave me a loooong prescription for 50mg on his own though and said to come back in 8 weeks! Really, 8 weeks on 25 and then 50mg?! I didn't get to see him for more like 10-11 weeks... but I had increased my dosage to 75mg by then. I've only just started on the 100mg.

I have had zero side affects that I'm aware of. I've also had zero help from the lamictal at such a low dose - and of course, now that I am coming OUT of a depression I'm just getting started on a dose that might have actually helped with it. (And no, they are not related!). So I feel like I'm just taking a sugar pill really.

I just started Lamictal at 25mg and after 2 weeks went up to 50. I see my Pdoc again in 2 weeks to raise the dosage again. I've had a headache but other than that everything has been fine. I've noticed an increase in energy. Placebo or Lamictal?

Lamictal took forever to work and it wasn't until I spent about two months or so on the 200mg that I actually felt something happening. Now that it works, it works wonders! I too have noticed it really does nothing for my manic phases but it has kept me out of a depression (minus a few mild but extremely tolerable ones) as long as I've been on this does.

As for side effects, I really haven't experience the hair loss or the weight gain or any other averse side effects. Once I got to 200mg I lost 30lbs in about 8 wks, so that's a plus. But other then that no bad side effects to mention for me.

Ugh, lamictal. I'm sorry I ever heard the word. I was dx'ed incorrectly a year ago as bipolar. So, the quack gave me lamictal, took like almost 3 months to get to a full dose, 300 mgs. Did squat for me - probably because I didn't need it in the first place (I have PTSD, I needed an SSRI and probably a Benzo for anxiety).

Didn't have any good effects. Caused me a lot of problems -- itchy skin, especially on my face, that started right away, within a few weeks. Later, after about 2-3 months on the full dose, I started to get a pretty severe tremor, nausea, dizzyness, and it caused my red blood count to drop into the moderately anemic range. And, coming off of it has been awful -- we tried too fast, and I had severe withdrawal symptoms, kind of like hypoglycemia. Now, I'm withdrawing at a schedule that will take me about 9 months.

The new Pdoc I have is great, she absolutely said there are other things out there that will do far more for me without the side effects -- I'm on good old fashioned dirt cheap prozac now. I'm about halfway done with the lamictal. Good riddance when it's gone.

I love Lamictal. After many tries to get the right meds Lamictal came in as a big winner. I remember gradually increasing the dose, but no major side effects. Currently I take 150 mg. I hope it works well for your with minimum side effects.

I hope it doesn't take too long for me. I'm kind of losing my ****. At least I'm on klonopin now, which has really helped.

I had the energy boost to the point where it made me hypomanic, but it went away after about a week. I got depressed and now I'm baseline with some agitation issues and still mood swinging.

anxietygirl, our dxs almost match and your quote feels like my life lately.

I hope I don't get too hypo anytime soon. I'm too reckless and self-absorbed when I am.

I just started lamictal. I'll be up to 50mg in a couple days...and only one more day of lithium. I am loving lamictal so far. I do notice some hypo and a stiff neck but it is worth it cuz i find it so much easier to get out of bed and face my day now.