Lamotrigine/Lamictal experiences please

Hiyas.

I've actually been off meds altogether for some time now. But after weathering a storm of depression and then starting a new job, I've been noticing what I perceive to be a more or less steady ramp up into hypomania. I recently saw a pdoc and he prescribed Lamictal so I just thought I would elicit comments about your experiences with it, good or bad.

I'm not terribly worried at this point about how it's going to go since I'm on a very low dose for the first month but in the past, whenever I've started a new med, it's been my habit to gather as much info as I can about it, more for curiosity than for anything else.

TIA

p.s. For those of you who may not know me, I was diagnosed bipolar a few years ago; I've been a member for some time, but my participation here is, sadly, random at best. I mostly lurk and only occasionally post when I feel I have something really worthwhile to contribute. But I hope everyone here who knows me is aware of how much I think of all of you and how thankful I am for all the support I have received.

Hey Rebound, good to see you!

I loooved Lamictal. It's a pain in the beginning because you have to titrate up so slowly, but once you get to a therapeutic dose, it's heaven. It worked best for me out of everything I've ever tried.

Unfortunately, I was one of the 1 percent with this med -- it says in the fine print that it can cause bone marrow failure, and it did for me. I nearly died from it. So, that was the end of Lamictal for me. I wouldn't worry too much about it, though -- I'm just one of those lucky people who end up in the fine print all the time. 1 percent of women develop blood clots from birth control pills too, and I managed that as well. I'm down to 7 lives, LOL....

Hi there,
I've been on Lamictal for about 3 or more years, it's been fine.
Once titrated to effective/therapeutic dose, you may find it fine too, but like the old saying, "what works for one may not for another".
Give it a whirl, maybe you'll like it.
It's nice to see you again, hope all is well for you.
Take care,
DE

Lamictal is wonderful. My pdoc thinks it is a good thing to be on. I've been on it for several years and my pdoc still keeps me on it. Last time I was at my general practitioner he actually saw my list of meds and said nodding his head "Lamictal... very good, very good."

BTW

Happy be-lated birthday!!

Works great for me, too. Been on it 4 years with no side effects.

Wunnerful, thanks for your replies. I am the first person to admit that meds affect everyone differently so like I said, this thread is mostly to satisfy my curiosity more than anything else. From my reading, I've gathered there's about from a 1 to 10% chance of serious probs but that for most it works well. I'm keeping an open mind. So far tho, I'm only on 12.5mg for a month before increasing the dose so we'll see what happens.

Thanks again for responding and I appreciate the birthday wishes

have been on lamictal for bout 6 months. I am loving it, now that I am at a theraputic dose. Doc talks like he is going to up it again soon. Mood swings don't ya just love them....lol

Oh yes, mood swings, aren't they just the living end? There is almost nothing I would rather do in this life!!!! lol...
I have been on Lamictal for almost a year now, and I have been so much more stable with my new dose. My new pdoc doubled the dose a while back, maybe a month ago, and I don't have alot of those episodes anymore. It has completely calmed them down now. I love it. My new pdoc is great. My T is also. She and I get along famously....we can talk and joke and laugh and she's good with that. She isn't all business and no pleasure. Those I leave behind in the dust. They haven't yet learned to humiliate themselves.
They need more time at the bat. That takes years to accomplish. I might add.
Anyway, Lamitrogine and Lamictal are the same drug. I do not think there's a generic one for this. I take the real thing.

Don't go off this one abruptly though, it could throw you into withdrawal symptoms quickly. That's the danger of it.

Yeah, my pdoc said if you go off without lowering the dose slowly you can get all kinds of stuff including the most common (according to her) a nasty rash.

I have been on Lamictal for years. It was not until I started taking Lamictal that I began to become stable. I hope it works as good for you.

Welcome back!

BB

hi i have just recently added lamictal to my coctail,lithium just wasn't cutting alone. only been on it for 3 weeks so i am still currently upping my dose no change yet but i am hopeful, hope it works well for both of us!!!! i have heard good things about it though----Jen

Hey jattitude:
I've been on the Lamictal train since last summer, and I can definately tell you that this drug is a "life" saver!! I was about as bad as it gets before that. My former pdoc put me on Depakote and upped it to 2000mgs. a day. I didn't get any better, and I wasn't feeling any too good. Lots of episodes, and BAD ones at that. I finally got on the website for bi-polar and found Lamictal. I went to my internist and he changed the meds. for me. My old pdoc refused to do that, so I got a new one. He left his practice in July to work for the state. Just as well. I didn't want to go back to him, anyway.
Give this one a chance. It doesn't come instantly for anyone, but I swear that after just two/ three days on the increased dose, I was feeling quite NORMAL. Whatever that is? No episodes whatsoever.........not like before. I've had a couple, but I handled them without any intervention.

I no longer feel like banging my head against a brick wall...
and the roller coaster has finally come to an end.

Hi
I just joined up. I read your post about the Lamictal. I have been seeing pdocs for 3 years now. Finally got diagnosed BiPolar in Jan. I was put on Lamictal 50mg daily. Did great right away. But meds no matter how good they are either dont work for me or not for long. Lamictal was nothing different. I started out on 50mg like I said but quickly went to 100mg then to 125 mg and now I take 200 mg. My manic episodes got better at first with the low dose. Then as my episodes came back just as frequently as before I started the Lamictal my pdoc would raise the dose. Finally when I got really bad in June taking only 125mg they upped my dose to 200mg and also added Risperdal .5 mg . I think Lamictal is a good med and works unless you are like me and all meds tend to stop working quickly. Currently I am still taking the 200mg of Lamictal and the .5 Risperdal. I dont know how well the Lamictal works alone at that dosage level.
I didnt gain alot of weight with Lamictal either. At least not when that was the only mood stabilzer I took. Didnt seem to be any side affect with it.

Take CAre
Leslie

What does the rash from Lamictal look likje? I've been getting red bumps like pimples on my back and stomach since i restarted taking this med. I am also itching very much especially after i take my bedtime dose.

Justpassingby,

I'm no doc, but that certainly sounds like a rash to me. You might want to call your doc and let him/her know.

Boy it sure seems like I have a multitude of problems I am currently dealing with. The worst part of this is the itching constantly. I took Benadryl but it didn't help much. I think I will call my pdoc tomorrow and let him know or at least my PCP.

Just to let everyone know that I called my pdoc and explained my symptoms of red bumps all over my back, stomach and arms and constant itching since I restarted taking Lamictal 3 weeks ago. He told me to stop taking this med today and he will see me in a few weeks. He wants to be sure it is related to the Steven/Johnson rash people sometimes get when on Lamictal. I hope that quitting it suddenly doesn't cause any adverse reactions. I keep you all updated and see if this rash and itching disappears in a few days.

I was diagnosed as bipolar june of 2002 and I have been on Zyprexa, abilify, trezadone, lamictal and the list goes on but in all honesty I think lamictal is a godsend it is the best med I have EVER been on!!! Just beware the first 2 days I took it I was really sick. Good luck and I hope it works for you.

I have been on Lamical for several months....it has been like a godsend med. That and the abilify have helped tremendously. However, I am experiencing some problems with the abilify...i.e. feeling of uneasyness, constantly wanting to do something, and shaking of the hands and the legs. I have been put on meds for this. Hopefully this will help the problem.

I been on lamictal for nearly a month now and so far I'm pleased with the results from it so far, my moods have been more stable and my mother notices it too and she's happy that the lamcital helps me.

WEll I have been on lamictal for a couple of years now...doing really well.
take 40mg of geodon at night for "maintanance dose"
I don't think I need it but will follow doctors orders.
hOpefully this won't wear out...trying to be optomistic.
By the way...200mg is the suggested dose for use...some take up to 400mg a day.
bizi

Just *bumping* this up for anyone here new to Lamictal.

I am new to Lamictal... in fact only srtarted it like 4 days ago. I also take Trileptal and Abilify. The lamictal was started in hopes of controlling my depressions so I'm being hopeful that maybe it will work. Nothing has so far. Thanks for the post.

Been taking Lamictal for several years now, no prob... It is a critical part of my "cocktail". I hope it works for you!

Peace,
DJ