[stella_m]

This is similar to the thread just below but my main concern is having symptoms due to dosage increases. I've been on 200mg daily for years and have been pretty much ok. The past few months I've been getting more anxiety, irritation, etc and after giving some Ativan a shot my doctor thinks it might be time for an increase.

So now I'm at 300mg. I started 2 days ago and have been out of sorts. My head just feels foggy and it's so hard for me to concentrate. I'm usually a pretty fast worker but yesterday and today I've barely been able to get anything done. It's only been two days so I'm wondering - has it been anyone else's experience that it takes a week or two to "settle in"?

[CANDC]

Stella, welcome to Psych Central. Sorry you are having difficulty adjusting to the dose. Some people go from 200 to 250mg and stay there a couple weeks before increasing again if needed. Tell your doc the problem and see if you can do 250mg or 225mg depending on pill size.

I was researching Lamictal here in a blog by an MD
Bipolar Medication Spotlight: Lamictal (Lamotrigine) | Bipolar Beat

It should be up to your doctor with your feedback on how increase affects you, to say how long before moving up.
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[Blitter2014]

I'm on Lamotrigine and overall have found it really good. A bit bumpy in the ramp up but overall very good. I know I was anxious as I increased my dosage, which made me kind of more alert to the way I was feeling, as I was looking for side effects. From what I have been told by my Pdoc, Lamotrigine usually works pretty fast, so a dosage change is going to affect you fast as it doesn't need to build up in your system like other mood stabilizers. Stick with it, but keep notes so you can tell you Pdoc what is going on. If the symptoms get too bad get on the phone to him and get some advice, or alternately if you don't think you can keep taking the 300 or feel in danger, you have the option of going back to your 200mg and waiting till you see him next.

Hey Stella! It'll chill out. I just went to 200 frm 300 and I felt the same way. 4 days later I'm back to normal. Hang in there love

[stella_m]

Thanks so much for all your insights. I still feel so weird: foggy, disorganized, antsy. It's really unfamiliar for me because I haven't had a med adjustment in years. But it's comforting to know this has happened to some of you too. I absolutely hate calling out of work, but I think I'm going to take tomorrow off. Talk about a "mental health" day in the most literal sense! Can't hurt to give my pdoc a call tomorrow as well just to double check.

Watch it a few days and if it doesn't seem to improve, call your doctor. My husband, beyond 200mg of lamictal, has significant memory and cognitive problems that do not improve with time. Only until the dose was reduced under 200mg did things get better. Still not perfect, but tolerable.

[BipolaRNurse]

I'm on a high dose and I feel dumber than an entire bag of hammers. I also have balance issues at this dosage. But I'll put up with the side effects as long as it keeps me out of a killer depression like I had in October.

[touched by fire]

I definitely remember feeling weird as my dosage ramped up over a two year period. Loopy, headaches, not sure about anxiety though. I'm at 400mg and the fogginess has not gone away. I have trouble recalling things quickly and have to think awful hard sometimes. Used to never have to take notes... now I have to write notes and ways to remind myself to do things. It basically sucks and I'm tired of it.

[Tucson]

At 400 mg, I could not walk s straight line and I sometime would fall to the ground. I am at 200 mg now.

I took 400 mg for awhile. Even was up to 500 once. I have to write things down no matter what. I think I'm going to go to 400 soon if I start cycling again. The price one pays for stability.