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Mood Disorder Community
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flyinghound
Super Member (250+ posts)
305 Posts
Gratitude: 6
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 Posted - 08/09/2005 : 07:16:57
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Hello to everyone-
I am ready to start my 100 mg of Lamictal in the next few days and although this has been the absolute slowest med to start on-I have really had some of the best results from it. I know, the dr. said "you probably won't begin to feel much effect until a higher dose." But I feel as good as I did on the Depakote w/o the sleepiness or weight gain. Any other good Lamictal stories out there? |
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| kazhil
New Member
71 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2005 : 08:29:32
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Hi
I've been on Lamactil for 4 days (25 mg) and have had really vivd dreams. Not concerning or unpleasant but very vivid. I feel more tired when I wake up in the morning and find myself falling asleep several times a day- once for four hours! Hopefully this will go away. After 14 days my dose goes up to 50 mg. Should be interesting!
regards
kaz |
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| Shout
Starting Member
9 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2005 : 17:29:17
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I've been on Lamictal for a while and am taking 300mg/day. I was on 200 but recently had it boosted to lighten my mood. Antidepressants don't really work for me and my dr says they cause mania. Lamictal is the 1st drug I've taken that doesn't leave me feeling flat or anxious. Since we boosted my dose, my sleep is very peaceful.
Shout - It Is What It Is |
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| flyinghound
Super Member (250+ posts)
305 Posts
Gratitude: 6
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Posted - 11/27/2005 : 19:55:32
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Update to post on 8/9/2005-
Doc has d/c Lamictal because of irratibilty and headaches-no rash. But I am itching like crazy!!!This med just didn't pan out for me, now how do I stop this itchiness? |
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| Ainiki
Starting Member
1 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2006 : 13:23:15
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I'm taking Lamictal, Gabapentin and soon Topamax for bi-polar disorder, anorexia and Chronic PTSD (I'm being weened off Prozac which was used as an emergency treatment 3 years ago when I was suicidal) My doctor thinks it has pooped out and is contributing to my ever present mood unstableness.
I've been pretty happy with Lamictal (150mg at bedtime for the last year). I'd already been on Gabapentin (1200mg am and 1200mg bedtime) for a year prior due to nerve pain. This drug has made me feel so good (it took the rage right out of me) and helped greatly with the pain I was experiencing. I suffer from Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis (while not yet diagnosed officially with Rheumatoid Arthritis even though I have a high rheumatoid factor(RF) and anti-CCP antibodies.
My concern is Topamax. My doctor says I'm still cycling and I have misgivings due to the abundance of side effects I've read about. I'm a petite person and my Doctor said she would jerk it away if I begin to lose weight which this drug tends to do. Has anyone had experience with it?
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| RedStar
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
4843 Posts
Gratitude: 657
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Posted - 09/22/2006 : 03:15:46
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I LOVE my Lamictal!!! I'm on 200 mg, and my moods are much, much steadier. I didn't feel it much until I reached 150 mg.
Haven't noticed many side effects, but I do take it about two hours before bedtime. I also take 1 mg clonazepam. I think the combo makes me sleepy and when I go to bed, I'm asleep within a few minutes, even if I don't think I'm particularly sleepy. I think I've only had one or two nights when it didn't work and I tossed and turned. I'm fortunate that the only side effect has been helpful!
I'm enjoying everything I used to enjoy, including updating the interior decoration of my home and even reading. I hope that Lamictal keeps helping me for a long, long time.
In a mad world only the mad are sane.
Akira Kurosawa
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| CLOE48
Starting Member
7 Posts |
Posted - 12/30/2006 : 17:26:06
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hi all,
i have started on this drug, 25 mgs, twice a day, then after 7 days i will increase to 50 mgs, twice a day.. i will be seeing my doc in 3 weeks to see how i am feeling. he did tell me that it would take about 8 to 12 weeks to feel the full effect. he also told me that it should help me sleep much better... i already am feeling more stable...
i suffer with biplolar, ptsd, cronic ob., fibromyalgia, ms, lets see, what did i forget?? oh.. also, sleep apnea!! it seems that over the years, i have developed many health issues. i wonder if all of this comes with bipolar disorder?? what do you guys think??
i have taken many drugs over the years!! i am currently on, and seem to be doing well.. lamictal-50 mgs perday, for now,,, prozac- 20 mgs. perday,,, xanax- 10mgs. at bedtime,,,
i also take meds for allergies and pain!! i try to take the least amount possibe, as i seem to be very sensetive to meds these days. the doc told me that it does happen very often, when you have taken as many drugs over the years as i have...
all for now, i really hope that all of us can stay stable!!! and be happy!!! god bless you all,, ann |
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| jeb51
Starting Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 06/24/2007 : 06:36:47
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 Hi all,
I will try not to be overly negative. BUT .....Lamictal is a serious in your face drug, they all are, and we don't pay attention to the side effects often for many reasons. I was on lamictal for 5 months. I am a extremely active athletic person, health nut, and always afraid that of depression and mood swings because of genetic history ( suicide in bother and father's mental health) I think I am more of the depressed side, nevertheless after 2 years of my doctor suggesting this med , I did...... April was month 3, my muscles were so sore and swollen I stopped exercise of all kind (pilates, running, biking) Then after a month without improvement, I started screaming hormone imbalance....ran the jumps there, no improvement. Then began getting clumsy, skin cracking, constipation, sleepless, fluid retention of 20 pounds on a 115 pd frame, nervous, hair falling out, and could not walk without extreme ( I mean extreme friends,) PAIN. Started icing my legs to relieve burning sensation. OK, I had med checks, we did not discuss physical side effects other than a dangerous rash....I suspected everything by this med....Ended up in ER...could not stand pain any longer, thought I might jump out a window. Everything was normal but for potassium and salt.....Internist evaluated...STOP lamictal...alrighty...I am insane for trusting dr. or company. Unless you are seriously suffering from mental illness without any light at the end of the tunnel, consider a less dangerous drug, less side effects , and less accumulation in the body. If you read in-depth about this medicine and many others, the long to use is well possibly worse than being raving bipolar.
Two weeks without the medicine, cold turkey, and under a DR. care...I am about 8 pounds down....still burning muscles, but I am thinking better and I am getting better slowly.
Please watch this drug, it may work so well for you, but watch it...I do not want anyone to be as scared I was went walking was almost impossible. Drug build up is a reality, in the kidneys, in muscle tissues, and fat cells. This med. has a high half life...Good Luck , hope if works for you, but Please be careful.
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| discussions
Starting Member
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2007 : 15:06:17
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Hello everyone. This is actualy my first time sharing online\asking questions. I'm really scared of taking drugs because of some quite bad experience i've had in the past, plus i have a very low tolerance of any kind of drugs. I suffer from agoraphobia since I was 14, now I'm 22. All the treatment I got for it until I was 16 was horrible but it was nothing compared to when I was perscribed Orap Forte - note - for serious nerve pain. No one in my family knew it was for schizophrenia and we blindly trusted the doctor - which nearly made me go blind. I could not walk, see - or do anything normal. Anyways, when I turned 18 I was perscribed Cipralex + Rivotril. It seemed to do the right trick. I suffered from some side effects and the dosage I got mostly up to 10mg per day + 0.25 mg on Rivotril. I got a girlfriend and started coping with my agoraphobia well. When I started having trouble with my girlfriend I started abusing drinking and one thing led to another, I guess I got in a depression when we broke up. I didnt see a reason to fight my agoraphobia anymore. My doctor perscribed me Lamictal. I bought it and it stayed in my cabinet for 2 weeks before I even decide to give it a try. I started off with a veeeery small piece of 50mg Lamictal. Probably about 2mg in the evening and i immediately felt an effect. I felt kinda weird.. but you know- everything new and unknown is scary. I started raising each day and got probably up to 5mg per day. For the first time in an year, I had not tasted a drop of alcohol for 5 days. I didn't even feel the need to drink. I started trying to fight my agoraphobia again, but I noticed that my hands feel stiff and my eyesight put me through some problems. I basicaly feel numb most of the time. Will this pass away ? This is what worries me the most. Tonight I made a big step (hopefuly forward) and took 12.5 mg of Lamictal and I'm reducing the Cipralex each time I increase the dosage of Lamictal, so I will be left on Lamictal and Rivotril only. Has anyone had a similar experience ?
I'm really worried about the numb feeling. Sometimes I also feel like I'm thinking too much even when I'm arround people and my head feels .... "bad". I don't know how to describe it. My brain is kinda stiff. Well probably the best news is that ... Cipralex had made me have some "potency" problems. Especialy when using a condom. Sometimes I had a hard time getting ... you know. When I took Lamictal - it was like taking viagra 
I still dont know what to think about all of this.
The stiffness of my limbs, huge dizzyness... head trouble.
The stiffness is really bothering. Has anyone been through that and does it go away ?
Do you have any advices you can give me if you have a similar condition as mine ?
It would be most appreciated, because I've lost all my faith in doctors and I'd rather hear out from someone who's been through this.
Thank you alot in advance!
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| Kahlee
Starting Member
1 Posts |
Posted - 08/30/2007 : 16:06:55
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Hello All... I have been on Lamictal for Epilepsy for almost 4 years. I am only now in the process of changing off Lamictal and going onto Trileptal. I am also on Zoloft for depression, antihystamines daily for allergies and inhaled steroids for asthma. And Itake 1mg Rivotril if I get into a period of insomnia.
I feel that the Lamictal has made my depression worse - to the point where in the past month I have had 2 bouts of psychosis (which is not necessarilly related to the epilepsy or the meds, but is likely). On top of that, I feel flat all the time, I have extreme fatigue, headaches, dizziness and lightheaddedness almost daily. I take Nurofen Plus at least once a day for the headaches.
And I constantly get sick - I pick up the smallest of infections that is going around - basically my immune system is not coping. I am seeing many specialists at the moment - psychiatrist, immunologist and neurologist - in order to work out what is in fact a symptom and what is a cause.
But I thought I'd let you know of my experiences with Lamictal. I also have noticed a severe change in my level of concentraition and reliability. somoneone will tell me to do something, and within a few minutes I will have forgotten - not a good thing!!
Feel free to ask questions...
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| glasstears
Starting Member
3 Posts |
Posted - 10/23/2007 : 05:21:26
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Lamictal totally changed my life. I was on Depakote for 3 years, gained 75 lbs and was a clumsy zombie. I have been on Lamictal for almost 2 years now and I am better than I have ever been. I am still bipolar-don't get me wrong, but I am able to function in society.
Of course not all drugs work for everyone. I have tried approximately drugs and coctails, and this works for me.Good Luck! |
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| slackagon
New Member
51 Posts
Gratitude: 9
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Posted - 11/09/2007 : 19:14:45
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I'm titrating onto Lamictal now. I've been on 25mg twice a day, for exactly a week. One thing that I've noticed already is that my anger and irritability has gone down, although I think I need to titrate more for that to take full effect. The other thing is that I am tired about 1 hour after taking it, so I may have to change my dose to an evening dose.
I've become actually more aware of social situations, but I get depressed sometimes from situations I know I can't be my best in.
I'm generally a lot better off, but the titration is too slow... like, I want to go up to 75mg this week, but have to wait until next.
Also, it's making me drink more coffee than usual, which brings the side effects of caffeine with it.
I like lamitrogine so far, but it's going to be a gradual change that I may not notice day-to-day. |
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| slackagon
New Member
51 Posts
Gratitude: 9
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Posted - 11/12/2007 : 23:12:54
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quote:
Originally posted by slackagon
I'm generally a lot better off, but the titration is too slow... like, I want to go up to 75mg this week, but have to wait until next.
Also, it's making me drink more coffee than usual, which brings the side effects of caffeine with it.
AACK, it's really starting to kick in, and I slept for 12 hours the past 2 days. I DON'T think that I'm titrating TOO SLOW. If anything, I need to wait longer before going up to 75mg.
Does anyone have any information on how you can avoid the 'brain rot' that some have reported in other forums? Does anyone have any input on this? Should I start a new thread? Brain fog is not cool and I don't want to get to that point (and it seems like I'm headed there). |
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| sean74
Starting Member
12 Posts
Gratitude: 3
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Posted - 02/20/2008 : 01:26:31
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I've been on Lamictal for 4.5 weeks now (2 weeks @ 25mg, 2 weeks at 50mg and now this week at 100mg) and so far I can't tell if it works and I can't tell if I have any side effects (so this is a relatively pointless post isn't it?)
I -may- be experiencing some itchiness due to it, or it could just be psychosomatic from having heard / read everything I have about the rashes it may cause. I -may- be sleeping more than normal (9 hours at night and 1-3 hour naps during the day) or it's just not doing anything and my depression is at that "blah" point where I'd rather sleep than do anything.
I DO think that it may be flattening out my mood somewhat, I've been journaling my moods on a scale of 1-10 over the past few months and I'm a relatively steady 2 or 3 over the past two weeks where before I was bouncing anywhere between 1 and 7. So I guess I'm not sure that I'm happy about being stable at this level of depression. I'm also feeling a bit more emotionally numb, but again I don't know if that's the actual working of the drug or my interpretation of what I'm feeling (I never really know what the hell I feel like, I could be the happiest person on earth and I wouldn't realize it, though the suicidal thoughts I tend to have probably aren't a symptom of happiness  )
Anyway, my current assessment would be:
+seems to flatten mood swings
+no adverse side-effects.
+vivid dreams (which is good if you enjoy sleeping I guess)
-not a anti-depressant
-might cause a feeling of being emotionally "numb" (which is probably the same as flattening mood swings so it's good and bad I guess) |
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| arolderson
Starting Member
1 Posts |
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| warblaster
Super Incredible Member (10000+ posts)
112498 Posts |
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Lamictal
