[anxiety247]

I will be starting Lamictal soon. I was wondering outside the rash - what other side effects people had with this? Is there a better time of the day to take it - if it makes you tired ? Does it help with anxiety?

[Moreta]

It can have cognitive effects, like forgetting words, problems with memory. I take 200 mg in the morning and 200 mg at night, seems to work for me. I don't think it helps with anxiety, I still take valium when i'm anxious.

At the beginning (prior to hitting around 100mg), I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. Horrible aches and pains, very flu-like symptoms, headaches. Once I got around 100mg, the symptoms went away and I never had any other side effects.

[anxiety247]

Kinda like Topamax then? Does your does make you tired at all? I have xanax for the anxiety but the pdoc said the lamictal helps w/anxiety. I never trust what these docs say really. They see ya for 5mins give ya script and send ya packing.

Never had it cause drowsiness at any dosage.

[PiperLeigh]

I'm finishing my fifth (or sixth? Ive lost count) week. Ive been at 100 mg for a week or two. At the beginning, there were some pretty intense headaches that were unlike any I've had before. Nothing I took made them go away. They tended to last about a week each time we increased my dose. I have a strong tolerance for pain and weathered them fine. I always take it before bed as it makes me tired; haven't had any grogginess in the morning. I definitely have cognitive slowness, which does not bother me. In fact the mental slowness is a good thing for me because it's dulled my racing thoughts and self-harm thoughts drastically. I think the lower doses of lamictal are supposed to help with depression (higher doses act as mood stablelizer). I have had extremely severe anxiety and refused most of the recommended meds for it. I wasn't expecting to treat that problem with the lamictal, but just by drastically reducing the constant self/harm thoughts, my anxiety has decreased significantly, but in subtle ways. It's not an "ah, relief!" moment after taking it. It's more a realization during the day that "oh hey, I just realized I'm not nearly anxious as usual." Let's see...oh, when I hit 100mg I started having extremely vivid dreams, a few that made me cry. Nothing that I can't live with. I've had a few other unique side effects most people don't get, but with each of them, they have been short lived and only when I have moved the dose up. Hope this helps- good luck!

[cocoabeans]

When I was on 400 mg, I had a lot of trouble remembering things. At a more reasonable dose, 200 mg, I had no problem there even concentrated a bit better. Some dry mouth. It didn't make me sleepy or drowsy but, I had really low energy levels.

My first week titrating up (25mg) I had a few migraines. Then they stopped and I just keep getting a few headaches now and then. I'm on 200mg for 2 weeks now and, apart from the headaches, I've noticed that I've had a few benign rashes and am a bit more spotty than usual. Nothing I would stop the med over. Haven't noticed if it makes me sleepier or more awake and it doesn't seem to matter when I take it - sometimes I forget to take it in the morning and take it in the afternoon or evening with no ill effects. Still waiting for its positive effects to 'kick in' though...

Good luck with Lamictal/lamotrigine and don't stress about 'the rash'. It's really, really rare

*Willow*

[whenwillitend]

My son and I are both on 150mg of Lamictal, and neither one of us has had any side effects. I've been on it for a long time, my son not that long. I take it in the morning, my son takes his at night.

I don't think it does much for Anxiety.

[anxiety247]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I will be sure to get me plenty of tylenol for these headaches I may get. My starting dose is 25mg for one week and then i go up to 50mg. Do ppl take that just alone for a mood disorder? I don't have bipolar - docs are saying mood disorder not otherwised specified for now.

I know they sometimes prescribe lamictal for depression, and it tends to be more effective for the depressive end of bipolar from what I've understood over the years.

25mg increase per week is the typical titration. Did they give you the starter packs that have the pills in blister packs that lay out exactly how to increase the dose week by week? Those are really helpful in keeping straight exactly when to make the increase. Hopefully you won't have the starter side effects; they aren't a given.

[bluemountains]

I take 200mg of lamictal in the morning. It has been a great drug for getting my my moods settled for bp 2. I occasionally experience loss of short-term memory. For example, today I couldn't remember my house number. We are moving, so I could only think of the address for the new house.
Also, I occasionally get a weird headache. It doesn't last for long, but I have found the most effective way to get rid of it is to take a short nap, maybe 15 minutes.
I am willing to put up with the side effects because the drug stabilized my moods. It made my hypomania much more manageable.

Originally Posted by anxiety247

Do ppl take that just alone for a mood disorder? I don't have bipolar - docs are saying mood disorder not otherwised specified for now.

I'm taking it for treatment-resistant depression, but it's off-label in the UK for that.

*Willow*

[Skully]

I found that I actually LOST weight since I started Lamictal...a total of 50lbs!

[anxiety247]

Two months after I posted it I started the Lamictal yesterday (in evening). Starting the 25mg dosage. What is troublesome to me is feeling so damn tired, not hungry at all had to force myself to eat, stomach upset, then going to work this evening I was still out of it and felt so disconnected and started to have a bad panic attack. I fought taking the xanax for awhile because I didnt need anything else more making me tired. Does this get better?? I know this is my 1st dose - this was hard for me to take because I am a huge pill phobe.

[PiperLeigh]

I always take my lamictal (lamotrigine) about a half hour before bed, and sleep a solid 8 hours. I did notice various side effects seemed to be a bit bothersome for about the first four or five days each time I bumped up the dose, but then I adjusted. I would say hang in there because you will likely adjust to the dose after a couple days. I would also say to possibly expect a few side effects each time you up your dose. It's generally considered by many to be a really great drug once you get to your effective range, so if you can stick it out, it may be worth it.

(In the spirit of full disclosure, I should share that I was a really rare case that ended up having severe headaches from the lamictal that didn't go away. I haven't heard of anyone else that really dealt with quite the same problem where the headaches didn't go away. Most people seem to tolerate lamictal really well after a few days of being on a new dose. My p-doc added topamax and it knocked the headaches out; I haven't had any side effect problems with the lamictal since then.)

Good luck - I hope you feel better soon. ++

[anxiety247]

Thanks Piper. I will and try and tough it out and hopefully the tiredness will go away. I do realize as you said each time you go up I could go through the SE again. I just want to feel better!!! I have fought the pdocs for so long - that was after finding out the antidepressants were causing me mania and intense panic reason I stayed away from meds and self medicated.

I have heard of the headaches you can get and knocking on wood nothing yet. Topamax is good for migraines from what I heard!

[LiveThroughThis]

Originally Posted by bluemountains

I am willing to put up with the side effects because the drug stabilized my moods. It made my hypomania much more manageable.

Ditto. I've--ironically--been on Lithium to pull my down moods up (Bipolar II). But after several months, I began to get very irritable/anxious over little stuff/easily agitated. My P-doc prescribed Lamictal to keep me from getting "too high"---I suspect he thinks I was inching towards mania. It has worked beautifully in that area.

Originally Posted by Skully

I found that I actually LOST weight since I started Lamictal...a total of 50lbs!

Same here, though not as much as you (wish there was an envy smilie). It has definitely interfered with my appetite, which isn't altogether bad as my other meds used to make me crave carbs/sugar. I don't eat as much, nor do I crave all that stuff like I did. But I've not reached my full dosage of Lamictal because each time he's upped it I get severely dizzy, nauseous, and this last time I had vomiting (which I've rarely done). So far we're just kind of waiting-and-seeing; P-Doc says if I can't get to the full/ideal dosage eventually, he'll have to take me off of it and figure out something else,

Otherwise I have not had the side effects others have described. I think I had more with Lithium (besides the stomach stuff). I've worried about the rash as well; my Doc says, "Believe me, you'll know it; it will be undeniably obvious," covering the face/neck, etc.

Good luck with it! I think it's one of the best mood stabilizers on the market.

[Umbral_Seraph]

I had a horrible time with lamictal. When I was on it my intestines nearly quit moving.

[anxiety247]

Had a follow up with Doc today. He wants to add Abilify to the Lamictal. However he advised me my insurance may not cover it and for the lowest starting dose of 5mg it's $700 for 30 day supply. I will drop script off and see if it gets rejected - then what my concerns are weight gain from the abilify and potential for diabetes. He did mention another pill geoodone (???) I dont want to gain weight I am recovering from an eating disorder and stacking wt on will amp my anxiety

[cluelesscher]

from research anxiety247, Abilify does seem to affect blood sugar and cause weight gain, and my psychiatrist told me it can also raise your cholesterol. it is definitely a drug to seriously consider if the potential benefits outweigh the likely side effects.

are you in regular therapy?

(hug)

As for Lamictal, my side effects were - very dry mouth, thirst, slight headache, increased sensitivity to smells (it felt very similar to a typical VERY mild migraine headache for me) and irritability, but those dissipated with time. No weight gain. I feel it makes me not care, and my memory is failing, but I cannot absolutely contribute these things to Lamictal alone. I take 50mg in the morning and 100mg at night. I do believe it helps regulate my sleep cycle and has definitely prevented migraines. I have only had one migraine in almost two years, since I started taking Lamictal.

[anxiety247]

Yeah the risk of diabetes, cholesterol and weight gain are quite frightening to me. More so the weight gain as i said I am recover from anorexia and to gain weight suddenly will through my anxiety through the roof. I dont want to be fat and happy (taking meds) It doesnt make sense to add in the abilify just yet I just started the Lamictal the other day and I could imagine it would be hard to tell what was causing me side effects if I took both. Are there any other meds that is equal to Abilify without the weight gain??

Yep I have individual therapy as well as DBT x1 week.

Originally Posted by cluelesscher

from research anxiety247, Abilify does seem to affect blood sugar and cause weight gain, and my psychiatrist told me it can also raise your cholesterol. it is definitely a drug to seriously consider if the potential benefits outweigh the likely side effects.

are you in regular therapy?

(hug)

As for Lamictal, my side effects were - very dry mouth, thirst, slight headache, increased sensitivity to smells (it felt very similar to a typical VERY mild migraine headache for me) and irritability, but those dissipated with time. No weight gain. I feel it makes me not care, and my memory is failing, but I cannot absolutely contribute these things to Lamictal alone. I take 50mg in the morning and 100mg at night. I do believe it helps regulate my sleep cycle and has definitely prevented migraines. I have only had one migraine in almost two years, since I started taking Lamictal.

[LucyG]

Lamictal locked my jaw 2 if not 3 times to the point all I could get in my mouth was a straw, and it last 12+ hours at a time. My Pdoc told me to take 50 mg of Benedryl to offset it.

It also caused the type of anxiety where I was afraid to close my eyes, along with triggering a receding hairline which is why I went off it. I now use amino acids [GABA, 5-htp] and natural lithium to control my BP2, and it's been 10 times as effective with no side-effects.

[LiveThroughThis]

I had an allergic reaction to an allergy medicine awhile back, which triggered SEVERE anxiety for weeks....to the point I was afraid to be awake, be alone, etc. I haven't had such terror since before my Dx.

Went to Pdoc, he said Lamictal needed upping 1)I wasn't at the dosage he felt is fully beneficial for me 2)He blatantly said I did not need to be having that kind of anxiety (I take an anxiety med daily). He had me up 25mg--1 tablet--for two weeks, then add the second 25, eventually putting me at 150mg. I asked what if the awful side effects returned (which always caused me to stop the upped dosage); he said take it anyway as it will pass.

I've been on the first tablet for three weeks. First I had light sensitivity particularly outside...I felt like my sunglasses weren't dark enough. The stomach cramps started, a few days later began the dizziness....severity I've never encountered; I felt (still feel) like my bed is moving when I'm lying in it, can't get up too fast. Then started the muscle weakness, barely able to walk, hand tremors, etc. I thankfully had no vomiting, but some diarrhea. I have also in the last few days had two separate episodes of severe anxiety/hypomania (not sure which); mind racing 100 miles an hour, the immediacy to DO SOMETHING about it....the kind of feeling I imagine people who do harm to themselves get. I recognized it and took my Xanax which calmed it down. Same thing happened today.....this all of a sudden rapid fire anxiety, immediacy, etc....except I can't even exercise as my body is still very stiff/achy.

Then I learn through a forum that the category of meds in which Lamictal is pulls folic acid from the body. I am Anemic and haven't been able to take my Iron med because you have to take it on a full stomach (which hasn't occurred in weeks, everyone is spot on about it decreasing appetite, though dizziness doesn't help), so had I been able to take the med I would possibly be feeling a lot better.

Last week I called my Pdoc and he's out of the country for two weeks. I told the receptionist what was going on (before the anxiety episodes) and she advised if I didn't feel better within a few days to stop the increased dosage. Physically, I feel some better for sure. Also I have a LOT of life stress/upheaval in my life which of course causes anxiety etc to rear its ugly head. So it's hard to know which is the chicken and which is the egg.

I'm not having any life threatening side effects, though the intense anxiety and hypomania bothers me quite a bit. I'm also having some agitation which I read in a forum can also be a side effect. Thankfully I am staying with family who somewhat understand my predicament . But I continue to fear that I will never get all of this under control and never have a life again....I don't know whether to keep on the titrated dosage because I need protein/food to bring my energy up, yet the med for now makes me eat like a bird.

I just don't know.....except that trying to relax, move some to keep blood flowing, and eat like I've got the flu (also exactly how I'd define the symptoms).

My PDoc says Lamictal has multiple uses, one of them controlling anxiety. Yet now it's ironically interfering with that buffering process (or it could simply be the intense stress I'm under).

I've not seen anyone mention many of the side effects i'm having so I thought I would share.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by anxiety247

I will be starting Lamictal soon. I was wondering outside the rash - what other side effects people had with this? Is there a better time of the day to take it - if it makes you tired ? Does it help with anxiety?

It did not help with anything and did not cause a single side effects. Basically, it was no different from a sugar pill.