Lamictal and joint pain

I have been taking Lamictal for about 8 weeks now for depression. My docs have tried me on approximately 15 other antidepressants with no avail. I cannot take the side effects. ALL of them I stayed on for months to see if the side effects would go away. Zoloft was wonderful BUT gave me SEVERE diarrhea (last episode was 15 times in one day). So, I am trying to figure out if the Lamictal is giving me increased muscle/joint pain. I do have Fibromyalgia but I swear, since I've been on the Lamictal I feel like somebody wacked my knees and legs with baseball bats. This time last year I was walking/running 3-4 miles 3-4 days a week. Now I can't even walk up the stairs.

Lib

I HAVE BEEN ON THE LAMICTAL FOR 5 MONTHS NOW( FOR MINOR BI POLAR EPISODE). AT FIRST I FELT A LITTLE "SPACEY" AS I HAVE INCREASED MY DOSAGE EACH TIME I NOTICED VERY PAINFUL MENSTRUAL CRAMPS, WORSE PMS, EXTRA LONG MENSTRUATION CYCLE, JOINT PAIN IN THE HIP, FORGETTING EVERYTHING( LOSS OF SHORT TERM MEMORY), AND EXTREME TIREDNESS IN THE DAY AND NOT SLEEPING AT NIGHT. I HAD BEEN ON 75MG A DAY ( 2 IN AM, 1 IN PM) AND THEN UPPED MY DOSE TO 100MG(2 IN AM, 2 IN PM). THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE WORSENING, ESPECIALLY THE JOINT PAIN. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED PANIC ATTACKS AND IRRITABLENESS THAT I HADN'T HAD BEFORE. WORST OF ALL, IS THAT I HAVE GAINED ABOUT 27 LBS WHILE TAKING THIS MED. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS? PLEASE REPLY TO TELL ME THE BEST REMEDY.

This is a total nightmare and i need advice! I was on Lamictal for a year and about six months into my health began to slowly deteriorate. It started with shortness of breath and heart palpitations and eventually attacked every system of my body. My symptoms are muscle pain, spasms and knots to the point that i can't turn my neck sometimes, joint pain (mostly knees), stabbing floating pain everywhere, headaches, frightening tingling in my extremities and a few times my entire body, sore throat, flu-like feelings, stomach cramps, bloating and heartburn. The list goes on. I have been off of it now for two weeks. My psychiatrist has never seen this type of reaction before and is not convinced it is the Lamictal. I have been to every single type of doctor and the ER twice, had extensive lab work, CT scan and two MRIs. I have been off Lamictal now for two weeks and am not feeling much relief. I am so scared and frustrated and please need advice. Has anyone else experienced this? Does it ever go away? I feel like I am literally living a nightmare with no-one to turn to for advice because no-one seems to know ANYTHING!!!!

I've been on Lamictal for about a month now. Started extremely slowly at 12.5 mg, now I'm at 25 mg. I've had minor side effects (cramps in my calf muscles, esp., muscular and joint pain, but not strong). I did have crying spells in the first few days, don't know if they happened because of Lamictal, but it seems likely.

Looks like it's working so far. My mind feels lighter and the mood swings are becoming less severe than before. I've started to think about new work projects I'd left aside before due to depression.

I have been recently diagnosed with cyclothymia, rapid-cycling, with mostly depressive rather than hypomanic symptoms.

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 was on Lamictal 125MG at night for PTSD and anxiety for over 4 years - it took over 6 weeks to come off of it and it was very difficult - I felt sick most of the time - nauseaus, dizzy, migraine, tired, joint pain, anxious, mood swings. I have been off of it for 2 weeks now and I am still having headaches, dizziness, tired all the time, horrible dreams, difficulty sleeping and I wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air with out of control heart palpatations. I have not had night terrors in years. Is this a side effect of coming off of the medication? I learned in my research that this had not been FDA approved until I had been taking it for quite some time - is that ethical medical practice?