[Wanderlust90]

So I've seen my old psychiatrist & neurologist now I'm back in my home state. I'm stable mood wise but had a complex partial seizure in July, so I've been commenced on lamotrigine as an anticonvulsant which my pdoc (who originally dx me, not the same pdoc I've been seeing for the past year & a half as I moved interstate) is happy about, I won't be taking the trifluoperazine (stelazine) anymore, yay!

I know the side effects are often said to be minimal aside from potential SJS but what have others experiences been?

Hope your all doing well today 😊

[Crazy Hitch]

I have had extremely positive experiences with lamotragine. It's been super in terms of stabilising my mood; and keeping it stable long term.

[Wanderlust90]

I'm also wondering about titration. My neuro has said 25mg daily for a week, 2nd week 50mg daily, 3rd week 75mg daily then 100mg daily by the 4th week. Does this sound right? From what I've read it should be 25mg for 2 weeks then up to 50mg for another 2 weeks, then to maintnece upping by 25mg per week, usually above 100mg. Is 100mg a low dose? I weigh approx 52kg.

[LucyG]

I was on Lamictal several years ago and at a low dose, it locked my jaw at least 3 times for 12 to 14 hours at a time. All I could do was get a straw between my teeth to get water. I had no idea this could be a side-effect from a med so I went to my regular primary care doctor who casually said 'take a klonopin!' My Pdoc had another patient who was also on Lamictal that the same thing happened to so she told me to take Benadryl with it to keep it from happening.

I also developed anxiety such severe on a higher dose that when I closed my eyes, I saw monsters so I was afraid to go to sleep. I googled 'Lamictal side-effects, anxiety' and sure enough, anxiety is a side-effect of Lamictal so watch for it.

The reason I ended going off meds completely and onto amino acids was when I developed a receding hairline! To say I was horrified is putting it mildly. Before I knew what was happening, my hairline had receded the size of a quarter on my right upper temple, and it's never come back so keep a close eye on your hair.

Before I started Lamictal my Pdoc told me has a black box warning here in the US meaning there's a serious hazard with the drug, in this case a rash called Stevens Johnson Syndrome. I looked it up and found that it can land you in the burn ward if it gets started as it basically burns your body, and is almost impossible to stop. I didn't have a problem with it, but learn the warning signs, and if you experience any, stop the med until you can talk to your doctor.

I'm roughly the same size as you, but slightly smaller. I'm 5'5" 100lb/45kg.

I did 25mg for 2 weeks, 50mg for 2 weeks, 100mg for 2 weeks, 150 for 2 weeks... (Basically I went up by 50mg every 2 weeks once I got to 50mg.) However, your pdoc's titration process isn't unheard of.

A therapeutic dose is between 200mg and 400mg. I'm at 300

Like Crazy Hitch, I've had positive results. No SJS rash.

[st0psign]

I've had no negative sides from lamictal. it was the first med I took that made any bit of a difference. but that way 11 years ago, and I'm still on 200mg. I'd say it's a good med.

[Nix]

I don't think I've had any side effects from Lamictal. I'm on 150 mg. I had a little trouble with losing some hair a while back, but I don't know what the cause was, and it's stopped now, and I have new hair growth. (I had been on Lamictal for quite a few months already before that happened.) Lamictal has been pretty positive for me and is one of the less scary drugs, in my opinion.

[bioChE]

That titration is about the rate that I did. No rash.

[Theseus]

I can't say whether Lamictal has or has not done anything for me, except keeping my migraines at bay. I haven't had a migraine in ages. My doc did tell me it causes weight gain, despite the literature saying contrary. I had no side effects that I know of, except possibly that it makes me stupid (I fumble for words, I get occasional mild aphasia). I also don't know if the Lamictal is working to stabilize my moods, or something else is at work (gods know I take enough meds! ).

[Unrigged64072835]

I didn't have any side effects from it. It sort of worked, but not well enough. Hope your experience is better.

[xRavenx]

I haven't had any side effects from Lamotrigine (both the regular and the XR), which is great. It helps prevent episodes for me, although I still get the occasional episode. I recently increased it to 300 mg, and I'm starting to get a little more relief from it than before. I take other meds with it.

[Coffeee]

I titrated up 25 mg every two weeks. So 25,50,75,100. I was told 100 is the lowest therapeutic dose. I have anxiety as a side effect but no hair loss or weight gain. I have had pretty good results with mood stabilization.

[Bigmike727]

I recently started it myself. It is working great for me, my main problem with the Depakote besides the weight gain was the zombification/extreme grogginess what followed. Lamictal does none of that to me, feels like I can live a somewhat normal life now. As for titration I had to increase dosage quicker as Depakote was running out and Depakote withdrawal is no fun believe me. Took 25 first week, upped it to 50 second week, then after saw my doc and jumped to 100. No rash so I'm happy.

[Wanderlust90]

Thanks for the feedback guys