Feeling run down on lamictal

I've been on lamictal since December, and have been taking 200mg for a few months now. I feel that the energy has been sucked out of me and I'm left with little motivation. When I do have motivation, it's not for long. I know I'm supposed to figure out how to become motivated again without relying on hypomania but I don't quite feel right like I'm too low down. Has anyone else experienced this on lamictal? My therapist thinks I need another med added on top of it. An antidepressant, maybe...? Since I'm on a mood stabilizer, it shouldn't trigger hypomania as far as I know. I just want to get back into the swing of things.

I take mine with abilify and I haven't noticed those side effects.

Lamictal acts more like an anti-depressant that doesn't trigger mania than an actual mood stabilizer. Lamictal isn't an anti-mania drug, so I don't think it would prevent hypomania if you added an anti-depressant. I'm not a psychiatrist, but one of my closest loved ones takes lamictal, so I've done a lot of research on it. I do know that said loved one felt pretty dulled for a while, but felt a lot better when he reduced his dose, so maybe that's an option worth discussing.

I've not noticed that particular side effect with Lamictal. I've been on it for ten years with a combo of various ADs and APs.

I was put on Lamictal when I was in the hospital last year. I don't think it has done anything for me except spend more money for another prescription.

I have little to no motivation either and am always tired. I've been on Lamictal 200 mg for 6-8 years now. Personally I think it's nastier than the literature says. Yet I am afraid to get off it (I understand it's a slow taper) for fear I may become worse and/or revert to my former self. I don't think I can blame Lamictal entirely, but I think it's part of my butt-draggin'

After I had been on Lamictal a couple of years, I started feeling extremely tired and low energy all the time. I'd also feel spacey after taking it. And had horrible acne. It was terrible.

Trileptal has worked out way better for me.

Also, have you had your thyroid levels checked to rule out other causes of tiredness?

Lamictal can be a strange medication, because it seems to affect everyone differently. Sometimes I feel low energy on Lamictal, other times I feel hypomanic, although usually it does help prevent episodes in me. Since you've been on it since December though and you still don't feel right, it definitely sounds like it's time to explore your options with your pdoc.

I see in your signature you wrote you are possibly BP2, so maybe Lamictal would be less likely to trigger hypomania in you if you've never been full-blown manic before? I made the mistake of trying to convince my pdoc once to put me on an antidepressant to help with the depression/low energy since Lamictal was not doing enough once. She was reluctant and worried it would put me into hypo/mania, but decided we could give it a try. It was the worst mistake ever. I experienced full-blown mixed mania and paranoia, so no more traditional anti-depressants for me since they can trigger mania/hypomania even with a mood stabilizer. This is just my personal experience though. Everyone is different. Hopefully your pdoc can go over the benefits and risks of various options to decide what to try. It's tricky and sometimes trial and error to determine what's best at the time.

Also good to get your vitamin D levels checked. Lots and lots of people are vitamin D deficient, and a couple of results of that can be fatigue and low mood. My level was very low, and with bringing it up (doctor's prescription for initial once a week high dosage for a few weeks, followed by daily OTC regular dosage), I did notice having more energy. (Yea!) So definitely worth checking out!

As for Lamictal, I've been taking it for 8 years and didn't notice it really affecting energy, but everyone's different. As for add-on ADs, my psych absolutely won't put me on any SSRIs (very problematic for me), but I've had welbutrin added sometimes. It's varied between none, 300 mg or 150 mg depending how things are going. Good old med adjustments )

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience that sounds very frightening. No, I have never experienced full blown mania. I'm not even entirely sure if I've had true hypomanic episodes (though they sure seemed it) or if they were a result of BPD...but either way that elevated state seems so gone, like something of the distant past. My pdoc didn't know if I was bipolar anymore, after diagnosing me with BPD, because she herself never witnessed me hypomanic since I was ultra rapid cycling. I don't have a new pdoc yet and I'd really like to hear his/her opinion on the matter and hopefully get on a better med plan or have lamictal adjusted.

Thank you. ((HUGS)). I hope you are set up to see your new pdoc soon to address this so that you can both come up with a plan. Wishing you well.

I am currently taking lamictal and there are days were I will literally sleep all day. Others have told me I act like a zombie when I am on it. I am on so much medicine that I don't know if it is the lamictal or a comb of meds. I will have to pay closer attention to my symptoms.