[gloamingone]

Curious as to how long it takes before I'll feel different. I'm really excited about trying this medication!

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[onionknight]

6 weeks maybe? I was really excited when I first tried it too, which was like two weeks ago. I'm at 50mg now, two weeks of 25mg and now this dose. I'm going back to my doctor next week. I don't think it has done anything yet. I'm still rapid cycling...

[~Christina]

4-6 weeks is when I could actually say "oh it's helping" It's just a slow mover because of having to titrate up so slowly as it reduces the risk of SJS rash.

[metamorphosis12]

Yeah, you have to titrate up carefully. People can have a hypersensitive reaction to Lamotrigine. Though it isn't high. You and your pdoc have to consider what other meds. you are taking also. Unless a crises, I think 25 mgs to start. There are factors you need to talk to your doc and/or pdoc about. Either he or she should make sure if you have any sort of rash and other side effects. It could be S.J. syndrome. It is a serious reaction but the %s are low. Still there should be some sticky note in the meds about that. Many people are taking or starting Lamictal.
This is a good overall link:
Lamictal (Lamotrigine) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions - Prescribing Information at RxList

This talks all about different doses and med interactions:
Lamictal (Lamotrigine) Drug Information: Indications, Dosage and How Supplied - Prescribing Information at RxList

I guess this is my favorite link on it. As it keeps poping up:
Psychiatric Uses of Lamotrigine
It also has tons of links at the bottom from good sources- MEDLINE, PubMed

This is Stahl's kinda free link, lol. It will show you how long for improvements. I think he says several weeks for psych illnesses. Depending on what you are using the med. for and there is also an extended release:
https://stahlonline.cambridge.org/pr...e=Therapeutics

As stated above this information is basically symptoms to watch out for. It isn't meant to scare people. If you look at the serious adverse effects. They are low but should be known. I take Lamictal daily and it can cause minor pimple like acne. If its S.J. you will know as it is systemic and peoples bodies react seriously!

"WARNING: SERIOUS SKIN RASHES
LAMICTAL® can cause serious rashes requiring hospitalization and discontinuation of treatment. The incidence of these rashes, which have included Stevens-Johnson syndrome, is approximately 0.8% (8 per 1,000) in pediatric patients (2 to 16 years of age) receiving LAMICTAL as adjunctive therapy for epilepsy and 0.3% (3 per 1,000) in adults on adjunctive therapy for epilepsy. In clinical trials of bipolar and other mood disorders, the rate of serious rash was 0.08% (0.8 per 1,000) in adult patients receiving LAMICTAL as initial monotherapy and 0.13% (1.3 per 1,000) in adult patients receiving LAMICTAL as adjunctive therapy. In a prospectively followed cohort of 1,983 pediatric patients (2 to 16 years of age) with epilepsy taking adjunctive LAMICTAL, there was 1 rash-related death. In worldwide postmarketing experience, rare cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis and/or rash-related death have been reported in adult and pediatric patients, but their numbers are too few to permit a precise estimate of the rate.
Other than age, there are as yet no factors identified that are known to predict the risk of occurrence or the severity of rash caused by LAMICTAL. There are suggestions, yet to be proven, that the risk of rash may also be increased by (1) coadministration of LAMICTAL with valproate (includes valproic acid and divalproex sodium), (2) exceeding the recommended initial dose of LAMICTAL, or (3) exceeding the recommended dose escalation for LAMICTAL. However, cases have occurred in the absence of these factors.
Nearly all cases of life-threatening rashes caused by LAMICTAL have occurred within 2 to 8 weeks of treatment initiation. However, isolated cases have occurred after prolonged treatment (e.g., 6 months). Accordingly, duration of therapy cannot be relied upon as means to predict the potential risk heralded by the first appearance of a rash.
Although benign rashes are also caused by LAMICTAL, it is not possible to predict reliably which rashes will prove to be serious or life threatening. Accordingly, LAMICTAL should ordinarily be discontinued at the first sign of rash, unless the rash is clearly not drug related. Discontinuation of treatment may not prevent a rash from becoming life threatening or permanently disabling or disfiguring [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]."
from
Lamictal (Lamotrigine) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions - Prescribing Information at RxList
It gives you a good idea of %s and other issues. It is a good drug imo. If it is used right and go slow.
As always talk to your doc and or pdoc. They should be on it!!! : )

[gloamingone]

Thanks, everyone! I guess my happy-happy could still be hypomania. ;-)

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