Lamictal and medicine

I have been taking Lamictal 150 mgs for about 2 years to prevent Basilar migraines. This medicine saved my life. I was having these scary migraines where I would have stroke like symptoms (loss of speech, vision and confusion) two or three times a week. My Dr. started me on a very low dose and stopped titrating me up when I hit a therapeutic level . I have night sweats, some nightmares and some anxiety at times but I'm willing to get over it because I don't have the migraines.

i have a friend who went after her husband in a ctalsudden rage after starting the Lamital, she loss huge amounts of hair and it conytinues to fall out , was put out of her house,broke up her family and is a complete mess. She was on adderall, suboxone and the n the dr gave her this,i was trying to figure out what was going on with her and i looked up the newest of her drugs lamital and found out what was going on . Mt advice to all you bipolar people find GOD no one is ever happy all the time and we all go through really hard times . I am sober and take nothing for the last 20 yrs. When i first got sober doctor tried to tell me to take antidepressant, I said ," the difference between us is when all else fails i go to GOD and you go to meds"" YOU wont break. We live in a society run by drug companies that you are not allowed to have emotion, they flat line everyone.and when it doesn't work they give you more drugs till you are a blob of a person. Get off everything{ except if you need it for ceisures } It could take a yr to completely detox, be patient and go to na meetings

A week ago I went to my first "psych appointment" in about two years. He was a new doctor, so the "new questions" he asked me brought up some thoughts about my past...medically.

Every time I tell a professional, where they're behind the clipboard & i'm in the chair, how much lamictal & abilify I was on, they look shocked & ask questions.

Simply because everyone thinks it was TOO much for a manic depressive diagnosis.

200mgs of Lamictal & 30mgs of Abilify for about two years.

I am a bright, young, witty girl...or well, I was.
It's not that i'm technically old now, I'm merely twenty..
It's not that i'm dumb, I just can't piece all my jumbled thoughts together anymore....
Word vomit is getting old...
"Brain Farts" are embarrassing...
& I feel like I'M getting old..

Thinking of actually being sixty makes me want to cry, who knows how tired i'll feel then..

Reading these comments make me feel re-assured that it's not "just me"...but I feel like my brain is fried sometimes, ya know? Then 60 seconds later, I'm thinking clearly again...

If it's because of all the medicine I was on, that has shocked so many doctors & therapists at the dose, I'm really glad I came out of that "phase" mentally *****.hah.

Thanks you, to those who were in control when I was under the age of 18. Thanks a lot :)

**I found something that helps the foggy head, forgetfulness, short term memory, and sleepiness that comes with taking Lamictal!!**

I want to pass this along , because it has helped me SO much. I was diagnosed bipolar II recently and was put on Lamictal. I'm a writer, so my biggest concern was being able to find the words I need and having the concentration for my work, but suddenly I lost my ability to string words together when speaking OR writing. The words weren't even close to coming to me. I felt like I was sleepwalking half the time, along with other symptoms, but the bouts of spacehead were hardest to take. I felt pretty desperate and kept researching until I came across a post on a message board that claimed to have the answer.

If you can manage, do not take Lamictal at night. The following is so simple that it might seem strange that it works (it did to me):

All you have to do is set your alarm for a half hour to an hour before you would normally get up. Then take your Lamictal and go back to sleep for a half hour to an hour (it takes a little practice to get used to this morning routine at first, but it's totally worth it). For some reason, it's ESSENTIAL that you do go back to sleep for that short period and do not just rest with your eyes closed until it's time to get up.

I tried this, not really expecting anything from it, but on the very first day it seemed that at least 85 percent of the foggy-head was gone. Just gone. It has continued to work every day that I have managed to do it, and when I don't do it, the foggyhead is back again with a vengeance. I finally feel great, as if the medicine is doing exactly what it's supposed to.

Taking Lamictal at night (like doctors often recommend) can make the fogginess worse than any other time. The person who posted about this originally said he told his psychiatrist about his experience, and the psychiatrist told his other patients on Lamictal to try it. It worked for them too.

I hope this is helpful to others as much as it is to me, though I know everyone's body and brain are different, so it's possible that it won't work for everyone. I do hope if it works for you that you'll spread the word, because this is such a debilitating side effect.

Best wishes to you all.

I was prescribed Lamictal around this time two years ago (July '07) for Borderline Personality Disorder. At first I thought it was great and I felt like it'd been a miracle drug -- the drive back home from the psychiatrist's office that day was such a feeling of relief because I was going to get my miracle drug, finally. Later the next month I moved away from home and began college in the lower half of the state and stopped taking the medication because I noticed that I feeling any difference, or experiencing any change in my moods. Infact, I felt exactly the same as I had before. I looked up the medicine derivative drug and found out that it has a "placebo-like effect with highly addictive qualities".... which made me think that once again, my problem is all in my head. I still feel like I need to be on some kind of medication, but I am not willing to part entirely with my authentic self just to make some other people's lives easier. If they think my mood swings and attempts at self-destruction effect them negatively, just wait until you are the one having them and you can't control them! I don't want to become a zombie, I don't want to lose my hair, and I don't want to gain 30 lbs, but I feel like there's nothing else I can do. But then again, there doesn't seem to be any drug that can help without the drastic side-effects.

Sheesh.

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 was diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder/with severe panic and anxiety disorder in 2000. I had been sick realistically since I was around 11 years old. Suicidal thoughts, and uncontrollable mood swings. I have been on Lamictal (200-400mg) per day along with Klonopon for my panic disorder, since 2001. I do experience a slight memory loss from time to time, but feel that it is not the medicine but that sometimes I am not really focused on the conversation, or my environment. I have also experienced very vivid dreams, sometimes nightmares that are overwhelming. But I think it is cool that I can remember my dreams now, because sometimes they are worth remembering. I would never consider going off of the medication, for it has saved my life. I am a completely different person now. I am very happy. I do experience sleepiness a few hours after taking Lamictal, but if I take it at around 3pm, by the time I get off work at 5, I am not tired yet and have no problems driving. Some of you should try this method. I think a lot of other side effects are just in people's heads.

My daughter, who is 22 yrs old now, has been on lamictal since January (seizures which came out of the blue after being ill for 2 years) this year. She ended up in the hospital for most of February with vomiting and diarrhea. She was first diagnosed with celiacs, then gastroparesis, all the time the neurologist is telling us it ABSOLUTELY CANNOT BE THE LAMITCAl...now, she has had some twitching and the doctor increased the lamictal from 100mg 2xs daily to 150mg 2xs daily. Well, the diarrhea, which she's already on all kinds of stomach/bowel medicine, never really resolved but now with the increase is worse. I just called and will take her back on Friday, but think we need to find a new doctor, Good luck to everyone. and God help us all.

My husband has been taking Lamictal now for 2 years. He had two seizures within 6 mo in his late 30's, one of which resulted in a car crash. Of course he is grateful for such medicine but as a partner and wife, I noticed lots of changes in him after he began the medication. He was irritable, had very low tolerance and a short fuse, was extremely distant and often mean - which in the end caused us to separate for some months. Although we are back together now and our relationship is doing very well, I notice other side effects, for example, he sleeps every time he sits still, etc.

HOWEVER, the real reason I am consulting this forum is to ask anyone (especially men) if they experience side effects related to sex. I know this is a tabu topic but things just aren't working as they used to and I am looking for solutions as he doesn't seem to question the side effects of this drug. This is starting to become an issue psychological issue now as well. Has anyone else experienced lower sex drives and complications during sex?

Has anybody had a problem with their gums thickening. It's actually the area behind my upper teeth not the gums around my teeth. As a result, my teeth are being pushed forward making me self conscious of my smile. I'd like to get off this medicine but the other medications seem just as bad. Has anybody had any luck finding alternatives to medication?

I feel like I should share my positive experience with Lamictal to balance the negative reviews. I am on it for bipolar II. I sought help because of a mixed state that was causing me to deteriorate to the point of seriously considering suicide. I titrated up on Lamictal from 25 to 50 to 100 and now 200 mg. I started the 200 mg last week, and suddenly yesterday and today, it's like a cloud has lifted. I feel like myself again.

I've had very few side effects. I have the relatively-rare yawning issue--I yawn every few minutes even though I'm not tired. My dreams have been especially vivid, which I actually enjoy. My facial acne seemed to be a bit exacerbated at first, but it's calmed down. I have a couple of small blemishes on my chest and shoulders, which is unusual for me, but it's minimal and responds well to benzoyl peroxide. My weight has stayed the same.

My bipolar has affected every aspect of my life, and I feel more stable now than I have in years. I'm sure there are still rough times ahead, but the relief Lamical has given me is a huge gift. I feel hopeful for the first time in months.

Also, it seems to have increased my libido. Like, a lot. I'm not complaining about that!

Am suffering from severe shortness of breath (along with bloating, weight gain, palpitations, inability to sleep). On Lamictal when it started. Went off Lamictal for about 6 weeks. No change. Dr. Had me go back on it as it did do well. Am trying to find anyone who has had their shortness of breath and other symptoms directly linked to Lamictal and what did you do? Am at the end of my rope unable to breathe and can't get treated.
Please respond. Thank you!!

Everyone's body is different and reacts to every medicine differently. After experiencing depression for some years i was finally put on an antidepressant (cymbalta). My dosage was continually increased because I wasn't feeling any better. Eventually I changed psychologists and she diagnosed me as being bipolar II and said that anti-depressants have an adverse effect on people who are bipolar. so for about a year and a half i was on 200 mg of lamictal. It worked wonders and i felt no negative side effects other than if i forgot to take my second dose during the day. Eventually i took myself off of it (slowly, in the same fashion that i had started it) and was off of it for about a year. Getting off of it was hard, but eventually i felt ok. Then a year later i felt i needed it again. So after a 3 months of being on it again my doctor took me off of it because i experienced extreme head pressure-to the point that i felt like my head was going to explode. i had a checkup at my regular doctor and nothing was wrong. once i had the lamictal out of my system i felt fine again. well now a year and a half after that, i started the lamictal again in hopes that it would work like it did the first time for me. Unfortunately that has not happened yet. As i write this, my head has so much pressure. I ve experienced headaches on and off for the past 4 days. This is not a common side effect so im not sure whats going wrong.. Has anyone else experienced this or know why that is happening? Anyways like i said the first time i was on lamictal for a yr and a half and i felt fantastic. I would tell people i "loved it"---which sounds silly but when you go from absolutely miserable to feeling alive again and having motivation, that phrase doesnt sound so silly. so take everything you hear with a grain of salt. experience it for yourself because everyone's body is different and who knows, maybe you will feel better on it. I however am stopping this drug tomorrow because of the rare head pressure i experience while on it!

I have been taking this since October of last year. not only is it my complete miracle cure, but the side affects vanished long ago. For people who have suffered as long as I can, I'll take some queasiness, horniness, and blurry vision over wanting to die DAILY any time. I love it. Love it love it love it.

Incidentally, I lost my job a few months back and stopped taking it and IMMEDIATELY went back to the worst I ever felt mentally. if you are taking this and would like to stop (or need to cause of lack of ins.) talk to your doctor. My experience with the immediate lack of mood control was awful.

I've been on Lamictal 200mg for a couple of months and let me tell you, I haven't had a f^@#!&g good night sleep since! I am a 33 y.o. male with Bipolar Disorder (hate that label) and I have a "slight" case of paranoia. The drug has allowed me to refrain from acting out on certain impulses, but not suicidal tendencies. OK... now I do have fully functioning parts (one in particular) which worked fine before this drug (you see where I'm going with this?). It SUCKS!!! Let's just say that there are certain things I'd rather not have happen prematurely (I am not laughing). I do happen to be great in that particular category, yet this strips me of any natural ability to fully indulge in such activities. Uuggghhhh... Give me my mojo back or just shoot me!

Has anyone developed tartive dyskenisia. It is involuntary body movements. Mine are in the mouth, like I am sucking on my teeth . It is very disturbing and listed as one of the side effects. It can occur in other parts of the body, like tapping.

I am 32 years old, and still have acne. I have been taking it for almost 14 years now. I know that Lamictal causes skin rashes. I asked my neurologist if Lamictal causes acne. He said no. I will never be able to get rid of acne, as long as I keep taking it. I have been seizure-free for over 2.5 years now. Dad won't let me get off of it, and be on primidone only. It's more important to keep driving seizure-free, than to have clear skin.

I have been experiencing a flu like symptom for over a year now. They started about 2 months after I began taking 350mg of lamictal a day. Symptoms include exhaustion, headache, soar/achy throat, post-nasal drip, TONS of nausea, lack of digestion & regurgitation of food. I am tired and feel warn out all the time... I have had everything checked by doctors and they've found no health reasons to explain these symptom's.

HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS????