Starter pack symptoms and conditions

I'm so glad to see I'm not the only one having problems with Lamictal. My doctor prescribed it for me in Dec. 2009, I started with a starter pack and I felt great, I felt as though this heaviness lifted right off me. I then was given the generic version { Torrent } this did nothing at all for me, so I tried another generic { Teva } this was the worst, I had head, neck and back pain so bad it increased my anxiety and I as well was going to the Chiropractor 2 times a week. I called my doctor and fought with them to get the name brand paid for. I have been on it for just about a week and already I notice: blurred vision, agitation, more moody than before and still back aches. I do not know why this has happened now since I took it before and it worked ok. I also have a chronic sleep disorder which I take a high dose of medication for to stay awake and the Lamictal as well has made me a little more tired. I've been researching Lamictal ever since and sites like this { any and all of them } where people leave relies about this drug, all replies are negative. I just would really like to find something, anything to make me less agitated, moody, tired etc. Does anyone know of any medication that is helpful for bipolar/ mood disorder ? Thank you all very much this has been helpful.

Hello all! It it is nice to hear I am not alone. I had no idea what this Lamictal was doing to my body. My stomach blew up so large it looked like I was 3 to 4 months pregnant and my stomach was hard as a rock.I also felt a lot of pressure inside my stomach and my breathing was sort of shallow and short of breath. I thought it was just from the 15lb weight gain from the drug but One day I had to face what was happening to me. I looked in the mirror and was like "OMG help me!" I was definitely not pregnant so I had to rule this out. My Mother came over and was really alarmed and terrified. Her Mother died of Ovarian Cancer and is one of the latter symptoms.She made an appt. with the gyno the next day and all checked out to be fine and healthy they recommend me follow up with a gastrointestinal doctor. Oh Lord, I said to myself...more doctors!! It all seemed so unbearable. My friend Mary of 20 years with Bipolar told me the same exact thing happened to her when she was on Lamictal. Her stomach got so large (and she is thin to normal everywhere else) A lady in a store asked her when she was due!! Can you imagine?????
Another side affect that has been completely disabling is leg pain in both legs. I have had Fibromyalgia for almost 10 years and thought it was a new or unrecognized symptom which can happen. Or sciatic pain in the legs that would never leave even though it felt very different.It wasn't a radiating pain, it was like a deep,deep excruciating aching pain, more like nerve pain vs. muscle pain that never went away. The leg pain was so excruciating thank God I had pain meds which I was taking for my fibromyalgia symptoms,, I fear the absolute worst of what I would have done to get out of this horrorfying pain. I had MRI and Cat scans and nothing showed. My pain meds were being increased and I was becoming more and more dependent, I could not live nor function with out them. The weight gain and looking 4 mos. pregnant nearly sent me over the edge as I struggle with an eating disorder as well. I went off the Lamictal about a 1 week ago, miraculously my stomach has gone down a lot especially at the top of my rib cage, I can feel my waist line now and do not have that pressure inside my stomach anymore. The leg pain has also miraculously gotten 85percent better! I can't believe it... I am so grateful. Coming here to this site really helped me know that this drug or any drug can cause so many horrible side affects and make you feel so alone.Thank You all for taking the time to share.

What brought me here tonight to write was to find this man's post I read last night that I could not find today and could not get off my mind. I pray he stumbles upon mine someway somehow! He wanted to find some one who may have also experienced this severe and excruciating leg pain and was pondering over surgery to singe the nerve's in his back. He was wondering if it could be the lamictal! Anyone who believes in prayer please say a quick one, that this man may find the info. he needs before taking such drastic steps.

I also suffered severe itchiness especially after coming out of the shower. I have tried every bodywash and lotion on the market in search of what would make it stop.If you are wondering Aveeno is the best hands down.

Whew...enough out of me! Thanks to all for all your help. Stay Well!
Blessings:)
K.

Hello. I just finished the one month starter pack of Lamictal for depression. I've been noticing some strange things going on with me lately but did not make the connection to the Lamictal until I spoke with my pharmacist (while picking up my official prescription). Mainly the info warned of dizziness, sleeping issues, heart racing and sinus issues. I have had ALL of these. Two weeks into taking the medication I can't sleep well at night. I wake up and my heart is racing. I have to go watch TV to settle down. Plus, I'm extremely EXHAUSTED all day. And finally, the worst symptom is my sinus issues. I have constant mucous in my throat and pressure in my sinuses. I have the worst headaches. I'm popping Advil to deal with my sinus pressure. It's agony. Plus, I'm not motivated and I think I'm a little depressed. I'm going to discuss getting off this medication with my doctor tomorrow.

I have been taking Lamictal for just three weeks. The most troublesome side effect for me has been nasal congestion and the inability to smell or taste anything. Has anyone experienced this and found relief after reaching the maintenance dose after the starter pack?
Is there anyone who has found relief from this in any way? I'm not sure I can tolerate not being able to breathe and am hoping that it goes away soon.

I have been on Lamictal for 3 months after being on Paxil first and then Cymbalta for many years. I thought I might be bi-polar due to family history but after spending 2 hours with a psychiatrist who really knew his medications determined I was just clinically depressed. He started me on the 5 week starter pack and my max dose is 100mg/day. I am a early riser and take the medication about 5am every morning. I have had no experience with dreams, shortness of breath, etc. I have however developed a rash (under the skin) dry but not itchy, red splotches about 3 weeks ago. I thought might be the Lamictal but realized my dentist gave me a very expensive toothpaste for whitening and dry mouth to use. "Fluoridex", when I looked for side effects of the toothpast, it was rash and dry splotches to the face.

Lamictal has saved my life. I have had 8 brain surgeries in 4 years and had lost the will to live. I feel alive again and started feeling that way when I was midway thru the starter pack at 50mg/day. I think in everything, you have to have the right doctor and they have to know their medications. I have never felt so good in my entire life. My sex drive has increased after 32 years of marriage (husband is very happy) I work out in gym 5 days/week and have lost 20 pounds and have no desire for sweets or diet sodas, losing the desire to smoke (yeah).

I have read alot of the post that are negative about Lamictal. Please see your doctor and either have him decrease the dose or change the medication. You owe this to yourself.

My GP, (doctor) prescribed Niaspan Prolonged Release Nicotinic acid (Ph Eur) 8 days ago to lower bad cholesterol. It came in a starter pack 7x375mg - 7x500mg-7x750mg for three weeks to run consecutively, which I take in conjunction with Zimverstatin 40mg nightly. First 7 nights, no problem, last night started the second week dosage...and after taking the first 500mg tab, I got busy on my com for a while...as you do...then Bang! I began to burn up inside, sweat leapt out of me like a garden sprinkler, I went weak, nauseous, ran to the loo (Toilet) ran around the house in sheer panic as my heart raced so fast, it felt like one continuous beat, then I nearly collapsed. On passing the bathroom mirror I saw my palour had gone to a waxy-grey, then I instinctively took two 75mg aspirin, and in the end collapsed on the bed. I woke up about 20 minutes later and realized I was not in heaven as my room was still as untidy as it normally was...never mind. I am waiting for a call-bcak from my GP...there are things I need to know as I suffer with angina....thanks for reading this.

I am on the second week of the orange starter pack. It was prescribed for bipolar. After about the 3rd or 4th day of taking Lamictal, I noticed a side effect that I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere. I seem to stay in a permanent state of sexual arousal (In other words, horny). Has anyone else had this side effect and does it go away? Except for this, the Lamictal has helped my bipolar tremendously. Please help!!!

I was diagnosed as being Bipolar a few days ago as Ive been on different types of anti depressants for years, I'm 23 now, and its NEVER helped me. The Doctor prescribed Seroquel and Lamictal. The Seroquel was supposed to be temporary until the Lamictal kicked in but after having HORRIBLE side effects from the Seroquel I quit it after only one night. Today was the first day of the Lamictal starter pack and besides feeling a little out of it and irregular heartbeat once in a while, thats all that I've noticed. But after reading all of your stories I really do not want to continue it. But the anti depressants don't help so I don't know what else to do. I'm not even sure that I am Bipolar. I do have self destructive habits like excessive shopping, stealing, partying etc. There are times when I'm ok and times where I am depressed but never to the point where I cant get out of bed. But I don't work or go to school. I quit all my jobs and I dropped out of school. I feel anxious a lot of the time, helpless, just really lost.....I dunno whats wrong with me. I wish I knew for sure because I would hate to continue the Lamictal and risk the more serious side effects for a disorder that I may not even have. I just wish someone could look into my brain and tell me for sure.

I am so glad I am not alone. I started this horrible drug 2 months ago for bipolar. Started with the starter pack. I was up to 100mg when I really started feeling ill. I had BAD leg pain. Joint pain,back pain, all the time. I had a never ending appitite and gained 12 pounds in 2 months. All my labs were normal and my primary doctor looked up the side affects and immediatly took me off of Lamictal. I have to admit though my depression got better but my body hurt so bad I almost lost my job due to not being able to walk as the pain was so bad.It has been only one day of being off lamictal and the pain is still unbearable. My doctor says it will take a good 5 days to feel relief. God help us ! This was a horrible experience for me and I feel for all who have used this for bipolar.

I started taking Lamictal for bi-polar disorder. I did the starter pack about 6 months ago. Then went up to 200mg. I felt like crap. My head was foggy, couldn't remember things, easy stuff like how to spell words that I know I can spell. Upset stomach, blurry vision terrible headaches abd migraines.
I stopped taking it and went back to my shrink and he said it's like have high blood pressure I have to keep taking it.

So I started the starter pack again and I'm up to 100 mg. I ache all over. My bones hurt so bad and after reading all of the info on here I'm going to talk to my doctor about other trestments.

My primary dr. has sent me for blood work and results were normal so she wants addition blood work done, but I think it has a lot to do with the lamictal. I'm glad I found this site, I don't feel like I'm alone.

It's hard feeling this way and friends and family think your faking or crazy, and I'm not. My mood has stabilized on this med but all the side affects suck.

Oh yeah and the weight gain! And no matter what I do I can't lose any weight. The vivid dreams are wild too. One night I woke up sweating with my heart pounding so hard from a nightmare I was having.

Thanks for all the info. I wish you all well and good luck finding the right meds.

I am so glad I am a research junkie, and that you all posted this for me to find. I just started on Lamictal about 3 weeks to one month ago. I just increased the dose to 100mg at night along with 150 mg of Wellbutrin XL. So far I have experienced hair loss, constant fatigue, excessive yawning, hacking cough, stuffy nose, dizziness, acne on my back, shoulders and face, terrible nightmares, waking with my heart pounding in the middle of the night, extreme rage, continued depression with racing thoughts, lack of energy/desire, general mental fuzziness and some trouble expressing myself verbally and literally.

I have tried several times to contact the doctor who prescribed this for me. But I can't get him to call me back. I desperately want to get off of this drug as soon as possible. That heart episode the other night nearly scared me to death! I didn't know what to do.

I was diagnosed with bipolar, but I still believe it's depression. I hope that I can get it figured out here soon before things get even worse. I had increased my level of exercise initially but for the last week I have been so tired and out of it I don't want to do anything.

Good luck to all of you as well, hopefully they'll get better at these treatments eventually!
~A

I am a 37yr old female. I started on Lamictal Jan.' 07 for severe depression. Which I have battled for years and still do not know why I have it. My doc tried many different antidepressants, but nothing seemed to really work well. In fact Wellbutrin XL made me very sick!! I felt like I hadn't eaten in days and had no appetite and then lost major weight. The doc said it was due to the depression, which I knew wasn't true. I took myself off the Wellbutrin XL and immediately felt better. Remember no doc knows your body better than you do!! I Started with the starter pack of the Lamictal. The doc worked me way up to 200mg. Now I just started 300mg for 3 wks, then the doc said I could take 400mg if I felt the need to do so. Taking 400mg makes me quite nervous to try. All the listings I have read are so interesting and helpful b/c I too have many of the side effects....... acne on face which I never had before, extremely itchy bumps along my jaw line, loss of short term memory ( I will ground my daughter and the next morning I can't remember why), problems concentrating, forget how to spell common words, balance is off, sometimes a little butterfly red rash across the face, loss of libio at times, a little slurred speech, and bad nausea once in awhile. These postings have really helped me b/c I also have Multiple Sclerosis and I wondered if all of these symptoms were from that or the Lamictal. I do believe that it is from the Lamictal b/c I haven't any problems w/ the MS in a long time. It is very comforting to know I am not alone w/ Lamictal problems. God Bless you all.

I really, really regret ever having started Lamictal to begin with. Even though lamictal has greatly helped me with my social anxiety/ocd/gad/whatever it is I have (lol), it has caused too many damn side effects.

I started taking it sometime July and now it's September 21st, so it's been in my system for a couple of months now. When I first started on the starter pack, the 25 mg didn't have any effect on me- and then it started making me really, really anxious. I'd have super big physiological reactions to stress, but then I was advised to take it at night. Of course that started insomnia, and when I increased it to 50 mg I was really sensitive to light. It also caused my eyes to twitch and not stay closed when I tried to sleep- which was really, really annoying.

When I was first doing the 100 mg, at one point I became manic (I couldn't stop talking, I had racing thoughts, energetic- felt like I was on top of the world) and then I crashed. It was really hard going from being manic to really depressed, but that's the shit that happens on lamictal lol.(for me at least)

Anyways, so finally the 100 mg started to level me out- but I still have the rapid mood swings. I also feel incredibly spacey all the time and have trouble focusing/concentrating. Oh yeah, and my short term memory is shot. And my libido- which is really important to me. I hate having freakin' vaginal dryness and not really wanting sex- so irksome.

My advice to anyone reading this: don't ever try lamictal- it's not worth it.