[Bigmike727]

Hello everyone,

Hope that all is well. Was hoping to hear from some others with bipolar about their experienced with Lamictal. I have been on Depakote for a year but I just cannot take that zombified feeling any more, if you want to know what its like to be a living corpse try 1500mg of Depakote extended release lol. Anyways went to my doc today and he agreed to switch me over to Lamictal. Thankfully I'm not on 1500mg anymore just on 500 so my tapering time is a bit shorter, but my main concern is that rash what I have heard about aswell as whether it actually stimulates the mind or is sedative. I have heard differing stories as to whether it actually makes you sleepy or awake. Obviously I know a drug reacts differently to everybody's body but I would just like to hear some experiences with the drug. Thanking you in advance for your responses .

[OctobersBlackRose]

I'm on Lamictal 150mg and so far it's been a good med for me, been on it since November of last year, very few.side effects too, but for me it is activating so I take.it in the morning. I do think I might have to add in an antidepressant again though cause even though the med has evened out my moods (very few hypomanic states) it doesn't seem to be working as well with the depression even with an antipsychotic added in. But I still like the Lamictal, and don't worry too much about the east as long as you go up in dose slowly, it shouldn't happen to you. Hop this advice helps, hugs

[Unrigged64072835]

I was on 300mg and I felt fine. A little too fine, as I went into hypomania. It wasn't strong enough for me. I didn't get the rash, though, and from what I understand it's a rare but serious occurrence.

[Ripose]

I'm taking 300 mg with no side effects at all. I take all 300 first thing in the morning as I did find it difficult to sleep if taken at night. Lamictal wiped out my constant deep depression and somewhat stopped the manias.
Just remember that Lamictal could cause a wide range of rashes which are usually very minor. The dread SJS occurs very rarely especially if you titrate up slowly.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I take 200 mg in am and 100mg pm. No side effects. I've been on it since 2008!

[Gabyunbound]

I'm on 400mg and I've been taking it for about 9 years and have never had side effects. That said, when my dose was raised from 300 to 400mg my pdoc switched it from the morning to the evening because he said at that dose there are some who experience sleepiness. But below that dose it's fine to take in the morning.

[Bigmike727]

Thank you all for your responses, I am very eager to get off of the Depakote to be frank, too much weight gain and drowsiness. My doc was going to start me on the 25mg (the lowest dosage I believe) and then move up to 50 or higher as I needed but my pharmacy only had the 100mg tablets but fortunately they can be cut in half so I can start out at 50 shouldnt be too high a dose to start off with I guess. I think Lamictal would be more suitable than the Depakote for me anyway to me it seems that I do deal more with depression than mania, and I have heard that Lamictal is better than Depakote for depression. As a matter of fact I only got put on the dreaded Depakote after I was hospitalized with mania and I wasn't snapping out of it. I do find that I only go into full blown mania when I deal with too many stressors at one time. Like my hospital psychiatrist told me, I snapped and went full blown manic and psychotic because I was dealing with work stress, uni stress, girlfriend stress, family stress, and eventually, he used the symbolism of a deck of cards, everything just collapsed when too many things went wrong at the same time, so I learnt from that one of my major triggers is stress itself, which I know sounds very generic because we all go through stress in our life and living with a condition as serious as bipolar doesnt really help lol.

[Coffeee]

This is a thread of Lamictal experiences I asked about a month ago:
http://forums.psychcentral.com/bipol...es-please.html

Might be helpful.

[jazir5]

Originally Posted by Bigmike727

Hello everyone,

Hope that all is well. Was hoping to hear from some others with bipolar about their experienced with Lamictal. I have been on Depakote for a year but I just cannot take that zombified feeling any more, if you want to know what its like to be a living corpse try 1500mg of Depakote extended release lol. Anyways went to my doc today and he agreed to switch me over to Lamictal. Thankfully I'm not on 1500mg anymore just on 500 so my tapering time is a bit shorter, but my main concern is that rash what I have heard about aswell as whether it actually stimulates the mind or is sedative. I have heard differing stories as to whether it actually makes you sleepy or awake. Obviously I know a drug reacts differently to everybody's body but I would just like to hear some experiences with the drug. Thanking you in advance for your responses .

300 people in the world get Stephen-Johnson Syndrome from all causes. Advil can potentially cause stephen's-Johnson Syndrome. Depakote can definitely cause it. You've likely taken many medicine which can cause it. The chance of having that reaction to any of these medications is extremely small. They have to warn you because it is a possible symptom and you should be aware that it may happen. But the chance of it happening is very unlikely. I wouldn't be too worried, i'm on it. Just make sure to wait 2 weeks between dose increases

[Bigmike727]

Thank you very much.

[Scribbles22]

My situation was similar. I tried lamictal after two years of stability on Depakote after i was out of control in hospital. Depakote worked...too well. I had no feelings. I did get rashes from lamictal. Itchy all over and a couple small deep rashes on my arms. I took prednisone and rash left. I'll say this though, if I hadn't got the rash I would still take it because I actually felt well on it.

[bioChE]

I've been on Lamictal for about ten years. It's worked pretty well for me. No rash, no sleep interruption. I can feel your pain on 1500mg of Depakote; until recently I was on the same. Definitely zombified. It was a good mood stabilizer, at the expense of all other things in life. However, I've begun to have liver damage from the Depakote and am titrating off it right now. I feel like I have my life back. With an increase in Lamictal, and an upping of Latuda, I hope life can be back to normal soon.

Good luck with your Lamictal, I hope it's a positive experience for you.

[bizi]

Originally Posted by Bigmike727

Thank you all for your responses, I am very eager to get off of the Depakote to be frank, too much weight gain and drowsiness. My doc was going to start me on the 25mg (the lowest dosage I believe) and then move up to 50 or higher as I needed but my pharmacy only had the 100mg tablets but fortunately they can be cut in half so I can start out at 50 shouldnt be too high a dose to start off with I guess. I think Lamictal would be more suitable than the Depakote for me anyway to me it seems that I do deal more with depression than mania, and I have heard that Lamictal is better than Depakote for depression. As a matter of fact I only got put on the dreaded Depakote after I was hospitalized with mania and I wasn't snapping out of it. I do find that I only go into full blown mania when I deal with too many stressors at one time. Like my hospital psychiatrist told me, I snapped and went full blown manic and psychotic because I was dealing with work stress, uni stress, girlfriend stress, family stress, and eventually, he used the symbolism of a deck of cards, everything just collapsed when too many things went wrong at the same time, so I learnt from that one of my major triggers is stress itself, which I know sounds very generic because we all go through stress in our life and living with a condition as serious as bipolar doesnt really help lol.

You need to start at 25mg! and go slowly up!
bizi

[Wild Coyote]

Please be very careful titrating up. The reason it starts @ 25mg and goes up slowly is to prevent side-effects like the potentially life-threatening rash SJS.

Either ask for a 25mg dosed tab or ask pharmacist if the tab can be safely cut into quarters.

Lamictal is an amazing drug for many people; however, it's a drug to take very seriously, esp re: titrating up or down, not missing doses, etc.

I would take it if I could. I had to have an emergency appt at the university hospital's dermatology dept. due to serious rash reaction, which was the worst rash I'd ever seen -- more like a serious skin disease than a rash. Very scary stuff.

I hope it works out well for you.


WC

[xRavenx]

I'm on 200 mg of Lamictal, and it works pretty well for me. I tolerate it well- no side effects, although in rare cases, people get a rash. If you do get signs of the rash, see a doctor immediately, since some get a deadly rash (like I said, it's rare though). The tapering process takes forever, but once you are there, you should start to notice a difference. For me, it was a positive difference, although of course it's not for everyone. It seems to be a popular choice as a mood stabilizer for psychiatrists to use since it does not require blood work or as much monitoring as some of the other stabilizers, like Lithium, which is good.

Lamictal does not make me sleepy. I don't think it really makes me hyper, but I notice it being slightly activating in a way where it makes my Seroquel not as sedating as it would be otherwise (which is a good thing since Seroquel sometimes is very sedating, even during my first part of the day without extended release). This is my experience with it. Good luck!

[raspberrytorte]

I'm on 400mg.

I've been on it for six years now.

I don't have any side effects, except that when I went up to 400mg I had some cognitive issues.

[GGChar]

I am on 100mgs after titrating up from 25mg. I have one more week to go till I go to 200mg.

I got a rash one day but put cream on and it went away. A few mild headaches. I take it at night bc I heard it makes you sleepy. No problems sleeping. I am on 90mgs of Cymbalta as well. Really pretty unemotional with that but not a zombie.

I am really watching myself carefully. I'm really hoping the 200mgs works for me to lessen the mood swings. I can't take the horrible depression and the spending when I was up has taken a toll on me financially. I am really hoping the Lamactil is the key and then I'd like to go down on the Cymbalta.

Good luck!

[Coffeee]

I'm on 50 mgs of Lamictal tapering up to 100mg. I also started at 25mg and I think you should too as far as side effects go! So far haven't noticed much, maybe gives me a bit more energy. Most people don't find it to be a therapeutic dose under 100mgs is what my pdoc said though.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

I wish this med worked for me but it causes a lot of problems. Everytime I'd go up a dose I'd get mixed and I got into a lot of trouble with my anger. Never taking this med again!

[vjdragonfly]

I was on lamictal for several years and it worked wonderfully for me. There at the end I was starting to get moody and they upped my dosage and I got the lamictal rash. I was taken off of it immediately and went straight into a hypo state. A week or two later they put me on geodon and I crashed into a mixed state from hell. The doctor is re-trying to put me back on lamictal stopping me at 150mg cause I got the rash at 200mg. I really do love how well it worked for me though.

[Tucson]

I have been on Lamictal for a couple years. Its AD effects have been limited for me, but it helps as a mood stabilizer. I also am on a AP and AD combo as a mood stabilizer.

Tucson

[gina_re]

It hasn't done anything except make me unstable and have memory issues. I want off. I was given this when I was in PHP and my current pdoc thinks I should stay on. I see another pdoc on Thursday since my regular pdoc is on maternity leave. We'll see what she decides.

[bizi]

I amnow on divided doses of 300mg.
200mg at night and100mg at day.
I feel like it may be time for a medication change.
risperdone instead of geodon???
what do you think?
bizi

[ComfortablyNumb5]

Originally Posted by bizi

I amnow on divided doses of 300mg.
200mg at night and100mg at day.
I feel like it may be time for a medication change.
risperdone instead of geodon???
what do you think?
bizi

I used to take risperdal in the past and it helped a lot with my anger and calmed me down but the raised prolactin levels messed my body up so I had to stop it. I'm now on geodon and stable so I'm sticking to that.

[Bigmike727]

Thank you so much for the responses, I do appreciate them. When the weekend is over I will bring up the issue of whether I can cut the pills into quarters with my doc I felt 50 was a bit high to start out with aswell. Really praying that this works for me really don't wanna have to revert back to Depakote. Mind you Depakote dealt with my mania very well but the side effects of major weight gain and extreme drowsiness to the point of becoming a zombie just is too much to handle. It is hard to live a normal life sleeping 12-15 hours a day and still feeling groggy when waking up.