Lamictal and bi polar

I was treated with lamictal for bi-polar II . It did help even out my mood which swung to deep depressions and rare (unfortunately) hypomania. After an increase in dose I had so much pain in my back and hip joints that I needed help to sit down, stand up, tie shoes, lift anything. I am only 40!

I stopped the med in June, but the pain is still there. Continually, not as bad as it was before, for sure, but I still have to prop myself up for simple lean over tasks, and my hip joints throb. I have to support myself to flip in bed or get out. I was doing yoga, and running as well before I started lamictal. I was extremely flexible!, and now can still barely touch my toes.

has anyone else had this lingering pain?

I took Lamictal for only 12 days and had to get off it. I was only taking 25 mgs on the starter kit and the rash I got is so awful, my whole body broke out withing 10 days and I took myself off it. The itch its is more than I can bear. I have taken every drug for bi-polar and nothing seems to help. It seems like my body just can't handly the side effects of the meds.

Started Lamictal after a suicide attempt. Thinking this drug would help, I took the medication with anticipation. I have been taking it for 2 1/2 years, and starting having night terrors, weight gain, exhaustion, don't have the drive I used to, and now it is affecting my sexual behavior (and not in a good way). I used to come home from work, and want to work in my yard and be proud of what I accomplished. However, within the past 3 or so months, I've almost given up. Beings I'm best known for my ambition, and attention to details, (probably on the anal side) I have been told that I have changed. I have had memory laps, trouble focusing at work, feeling as though I am inferior to others, and trouble with the driving aspect also. Sometimes I'll forget where I'm going, and take the exact opposite turns than I should. Although my income just meets my billings, and my credit score is excellent, I am having trouble keeping track of when they should be paid, even though I put them on my calendar. I do find my credit score is falling, and fast. I am seeing my MD, and the psycho-therapist on a regular basis. I am weaning off this medication, but have only been doing this for 1 week. I can't wait til the end of all this depression and still don't understand why they mark me as a bio-polar person. Also, I have never experienced seizures. I wish all of us luck and patience in our endeavors. Let's all think of each other, and thanks for letting me know that I am not alone.

Started Lamictal for Bi-polar II after two weeks of taking low dose, I felt so much better and focused. Then I got a sore on left side bottom tounge then an inner ear infection, and left side swollen glands under my jaw and on my shoulder blade. I went to a Dr. and she said no rash keep on medication. I have always been really healthy. I've never had these reactions ever to anything else I have teken over the years.
I also take Clozapan 0.05. This helps to calm me instantly.

I am going to continue for now, because I feel better in my mind.

I have been taking Lamictal for just over a year. Some of the side effects have been noticable for a few months, but others seem to just be appearing and getting worse. I have loss of balance and coordination, my vision is gettng worse, I have a hard time concentrating and finding the right words, I forget how to spell common words, I have short-term memory loss and feel spacey. I can always figure it out, but it takes longer. I began doing Pilates every day about 3 months ago and still cannot get the routine down and it is just as hard for my muscles as it was in the beginning. I can't seem to lose weight and have horrible acne on my face. I had 2 seizures before beginning Lamictal and am suppose to be on it for 2 years before trying to go off. Without insurance though, I am unable to do follow-ups w/ my neurologist and she seems unconcerned and unsypathetic to my situation, not giving me the time of day. She never even told me all of these side effects could develop, much less that they might begin long after I started taking Lamictal. Has anyone had these side effects after having taken the Lamictal for so long then stopped taking the Lamictal? Will these side effects go away after I stop taking it??

This is a nightmare. I have been on Lamictal 200 mg, tab in morning, for approx. 5 months. About 3 1/2 months ago I started getting muscles aches and weakness, muscle overuse problems, fluid retention ( like 12 pounds), stayed in a trance with very little short term memory. Thought it was everything but this medicine....I am an avid athelite, yes, even at 51. So, I blamed myself for not slowing down. Quick exercising totally, for 2 months, iced 3 times a day on leg muscles. Finally after making it to the summer without a mental breakdown, I went to the emergency room and a new internist to get checked out. Blood work, thyroid, hormones,ok.... Really don't care what they think , I can not walk, it hurts like hell. The Dr. did tell me to get off Lamictal....ok 7th day and I have some relief but it is not complete. Called manufactures, interesting, yes- these are side effects!!! But the studies are limited. Listen , unless you have seizures, get off this medicine... you read the full disclosure of side effects and then search yourself......It can ba a huge FOOOOOPA.....And you are the fool that will end up holdling the bag, not the manufacturer. Hopefully I will get better. Right now , I just trying to stay calm.

I'm starting to see small itchy patches of skin in random places on my arms, and even above my eye. I have only taken lamictal since Feb. and on a low dose i experienced no problems it is the first medication that has ever worked for me, I'm Bi-Polar II. Once they stepped me up to 200 mg i got really sick and started to develope the rash...Does that mean i have to stop taking it? I'm really confused.

Butterfly rash on my face...Doctor stopped the drug temporarilly...she CLAIMS ITS OK>>>>>>on lithium also...My vision is terrible now....had perfect vision.. She wants to put me back on Lamictal...I need support from somewhere...it was a fantastic mood improver....the best...now Dr. tells me..there is NOTHING OUT THERE...besides lamectal........ is this true??? she might put me BACK ON IT>>I AM AFRAID>>

Rash ???

I am under Treatment for Bi Polar using Lamictal-
200 mg in morning and 200mg at night before I go to bed. (totally 400 /day),
300 mg of trileptol at night and
100 mg of Zoloft in the morning.
I have taken the Lamictal for about 5 mos ramping up steadily( 25 mg,50 mg etc) as per directions to prevent the infamous rash. I used to take 1200 mg of treleptal and depakote before that.

Rash? I don't know what you call it. I get the feeling of a bee sting sensation periodically on my neck and collarbone area. To say the least, it itches and I have redness ( i don't know if this is from the scratching or a side effect)
Ouch!!! ( I have it now)I use ice to soothe it but it seems to progressively get more annoying. The little stings occur every 2 minute or so, isolated in a 2-3" square area, they will occur in different places at different epsiodes that occur about once every 48 hours. but always on the neck /collarbone region The Psychiatrist says it is not the rash that everyone talks about. When I was on Lithium 22 years of 1500 mg starting in 1977, I remember a similar rash at times.
I remember a rash that itched on my stomach about a month ago - I figured it was just a bug bite.
( I once attended a BPSA meeting and declared that lamectal is just lithium in disquise)

feed back, experiences and comments welcome

Bi-polar II: recent diag. after years of chronic depression. on 25 mg for 1 week so far, just weaned off Effexor. Experiencing odd "brain pulses" and "white noise", irritability and ANGER, feeling persecuted. Could be mitigation of physical pain from acute bursitis flare. Hoping side effects will dissipate and I won't be such a bitch.

I am on my 5th day of taking 25mg of lamictal and I have developed a sore blister cluster on the right side of my lower lip, a slight sore on the side of my tongue, my eye lid rims seem to itch, and I have to scratch a random itch on my body. I was just diagnosed as having bi-polar 11 disorder and had already have been taking prozac for a number of years for anxiety. The prozac was not helping by itself anymore and I am finding it harder and harder to keep a job. I, not to long ago, held Director positions in the Human Service field, and am now settling to take a job at a local retail store for a little more than minimum wage. Anyway, I was hoping to get the help I need from this new med but, feel it is probably not the right one for me. What will I be given next? I was given lamictal because of my fear of gaining weight an either depakote or lithium. I will call the clinic tomorrow and hope I will be squessed in to see a Dr. who can tell if this blister is from this or because i ate alot of fresh tomatoes recently. In the past , my love for tomatoes was worth the sore. but, sometomes i stayed away because i did not feel like dealing with the discomfort. Now I am rambling, but worried about this being a potential harmful side affect. Also, I do not need to become any more scattered brain then I have been lately. My own sanity seemed to deteriorate since my daughters behavior since 6th grade became umbearable. She is now in 10th grade and as of 8 months ago is not living with me. She called the police and I was jailed for a night and a day.My bility to cope with life became more and more difficult. I hope to find a regimen that will keep me from applying for disability. I am now 53 years old and have worked all of my life up until now. I feel like a kid trying to find out what I want to be when I grow up. Rambling again but this certainly has been helpful in that It gives me a chance to sort out my concerns. ThankYou