| Key to ratings for lamictal: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
| Rating | Reason | Side Effects | Comments | Sex | Age | Time Taken | Date Added | |
| | F M | | | | ||||
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| 2 | bipolar 2 | Constant nausea. | Absolutely not worth taking because my upset stomach was so severe. With food, without food, made no difference. You couldn't pay me to take this again. | F | 32 | 7 months | 11/19/2009 | 3 | Newly diagnosed bi-polar | I haven't started this drug yet and am very apprehensive. I am afraid of hair loss and weight gain...however, I don't want to live depressed either. What to do??? | F | 54 | 0 days | 11/18/2009 | 4 | Bipolar I | Constant sleepiness, some disorientation/clumsiness | It seems that no matter how much I sleep, I'm always tired. If I miss a day, it actually goes away.. I'm very satisfied with its ability to suppress my mania but always being tired has really gotten in my way. My grades aren't too good because I fall asleep as soon as I get home, I can't go out to the movies because staying up late is too difficult, but what can I do? Go off of effective medication? I've had worse side effects on others so I'm kind of stuck here. | F | 19 | 4 years | 11/16/2009 | 2 | Type II Bipolar Disorder/Depression | Facial itching, an odd uptight feeling. | I can't really comment on whether the medication was effective; I experienced facial itching after three doses and became concerned with the rare possibility of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. I was immediately taken off of the drug. | M | 18 | 3 days | 11/16/2009 | 3 | flu like feeling, congestion, foggy memory, vivid dreams, anger | I have been on several meds for PTSD, celexa, wellbutrin, cymbalta and now lamictal has been added. I am scared it will change me, I am afraid of angry outbursts while overcoming side effects, if anyone can help with advice let me know--i just want my confidence energy entusiasm and hope back--i feel stupid thinking i can get that from a pill. Am i just lazy? I am also in recovery, 12 years clean and sober. please offer advice | M | 57 | 6 weeks | 11/15/2009 | 3 | Bipolar | hair loss, foggy brain at times, weight gain | I loved Lamictal actually. But as soon as I found out it made my hair fall out, I stopped taking it because THAT was making me depressed too...now I'm on Abilify - I miss Lamictal...not feeling too well off of it...pretty worried I might get worst | F | 24 | 2 years | 11/13/2009 | 4 | depression | a little blurry vision, forgetfulness. Definitely more energy and a little weight loss, which is a good thing. | I am on 100 mg. Moods are much more stable. Don't get as emotional about situations anymore. I was at 200 mg and had terrible insomnia. Dr reduced it to 100 mg. I think it needs to be increased maybe to 150 mg. | F | 50 | 18 months | 11/12/2009 | 1 | epilepsy | mouth sores, sore throat, rash, muscle aches, agitation, irratibility, hyperness- mind racing, heart paliptiations/racing | These are rare side effects that dont effect everyone, but i wouldnt recomment this medicine to anyond | F | 25 | 2 weeks | 11/12/2009 | 5 | Bipolar Disorder II | The first month was very rough. I had extreme headaches, muscle pain, depressive and anxious fits, and terrible short term memory problems, and mixing up words. It was difficult to remember anything long enough to hold a conversation. There was also what I considered to be emotional deadening. | I promise, if you hang in there long enough to get up to the theraputic dose, it will change your life. I had been living with undiagnosed Bipolar Disorder for twelve years. I have never felt more like myself. It's like I have a good day almost everyday. This isn't to say I don't have bad days or episodes but they are few and far inbetween. I highly recommend it. I managed to lose all of my baby weight and more. I don't sleep all the time or have fits of rage anymore. I am actually well enough to have a 30-35 hour work week, take care of my home and my family and go to school full time. There are hardly any emotional extremes anymore. However, I am still experiencing a little anxiety. | F | 24 | 4 months | 11/11/2009 | 2 | nerve pain | increased nerve pain, more sites. facial pain at site of previous bell's palsy. weight gain, increased appetite | This is in no way helping any of my nerve pain,it is just getting worse. I am being told to wait till you get to a level. Five weeks of increasing dose is a long time to wait when you are in so much pain. I am on 50mg now and am adding it to lyrica 800mg/day | F | 44 | 3 weeks | 11/6/2009 | 2 | Bipolar II | I didn't think I was experiencing side effects until realizing it was causing my tremors. the drug however seemed to be working. However, since cutting way back with Dr.'s advice I'm experiencing all of the side effects people are having that are just starting the drug: loss of memory, limited vocab., no present recall ability, chronic muscle aches, body of a 70 yr. old, burning eyes, "why bother" feeling, muddy brain, bruising, word loss, worse eyesight AND to top it off BPII symptoms are returning! Any comments?! | F | 48 | 7 years | 11/5/2009 | 1 | migraines | Vaginal itching after one dose. After two doses the itching turned to burning and soreness in the pubic region. Was taking at bedtime. Upon awakening after the third dose I had blisters on the outer labia. I had continued soreness in the vaginal area and increased chills that day. While on an hour+ drive home the third night I became very ill, severe headache, severe low backache, chills, and body aches like the flu. I was praying for my life so I could continue to raise my children, even though I do not believe in god! It is the next evening and the blister continue to worsen, the pain and soreness in my entire public region continues to worsen, and I have developed a good size lump under my skin on both sides of the pubic area, like the bikini line. The one on the left is about golf ball size and the one on the right is about quarter size, right now. You can physically see the entire area swollen from the lump on the left. My entire pubic region is extremely tender and painf | My neurologist that prescribed the med, told me to see my primary gyn if symptoms are not gone one week after discontinued use. Isn't that nice! Hell my symptoms continue to worsen after almost two days of discontinuation. I live in a rural town over an hour from a gyn and don't have an established gyn right now so I'm sure it would be over a month and more like two months to get an appointment. Not a good situation! I'm no doctor, but I strongly urge any female taking this med to discontinue use IMMEDIATELY if you have and gyn changes or disturbances, no matter how small you may think they are! I only took this drug for three days! BEWARE!!! | F | 44 | 3 days | 11/2/2009 | 4 | chronic depression with anxiety | short term memory loss, possibly some hair problems | has anyone experienced increased and more masculine hair growth on arms and side of face? | F | 70 | 3 years | 10/31/2009 | 2 | BIPOLAR | EXTREME HAIR LOSS-------SO AWFUL----I CAN'T STAND IT. ALSO CONSTIPATION. ALSO 'MUDDY BRAIN SYNDROME'----CAN'T THINK OF SIMPLE WORDS. | TOO BAD THIS CRAP DOES WORK. DEPRESSION AND MOOD SWINGS, PARANOIA MUCH LESS NOW. BUT WHAT GOOD IS THAT WHEN I AM GOING BALD?????? ALSO, IF YOU CAN'T POOP---LIFE IS BAD. | F | 53 | 3 months | 10/28/2009 | 1 | Depression | I have been on Lamictal for four years or so, taking 200 mg each day. I have most of the symptons described below: loss of memory, limited vocabulary, almost feel as if my I have no "present" recall ability. I see and hear, but can't summarize verbally without sounding like a fool. I am beginning to experience chronic muscle aches (almost flu like symptons), headaches, face and jaw pain, feeling as if I have the body of a 70 year old. The symptons come and go, but the pain is increasing enough that I've become suspect of this drug. I experience severe chills throughout my whole body; can't warm up. Hands and feet always cold. If I forget to take the lamictal, I have increased bouts of irritability and become paranoid or abnormally obsessed. I have also felt "confused". I would like to slowly get off Lamictal and try to survive the depression with increasing exercise and therapy. My next question is whether going off the drug will reverse these side affects | F | 53 | 4 years | 10/27/2009 | 4 | difficult to treat depression | weight gain, clumsiness, problems with word recall, blurred vision, drowsiness and morning grogginess, intermittent but severe insomnia, headaches, vivid dreams, hot flashes. | Overall, I am very happy with this medication. It was added to Effexor, which I had already been taking for about three years. I no longer over-react to change or uncomfortable situations, Im less emotional, less anxious. I've developed the ability to be cheerful. I no longer expect the worst. I have a little more motivation than I used to, and I'm comfortable trying new activities and being around people I don't know. My relationship has improved a great deal. Side effects: I gained about 18% of my body weight, after weighing the same for 25 years. I hate it. But I have cleavage for the first time in my life, so there's the silver lining. The headaches were awful for a while, but they have greatly improved. The insomnia can persist for weeks sometimes, but then it will go away for a while. I already had age-related far-sightedness developing, but it seemed to get a little worse overnight. When hiking or bouldering I've found I don't have the balance I used to, and I can get a little vertigo sometimes. And I'm definitely clumsy now - motor coordination not so good. (Oh, the coffee I've spilled...) Dreams continue, not so much insomnia now. Hot flashes have almost disappeared, but I'm left with an overall tendency to over-heat, where I used to be cold all the time. The word recall problem could just be due to getting older. | F | 45 | 18 months | 10/26/2009 | 5 | Cyclothymia- Mostly Depressive | Short term memory loss! I'd forget to go to routine appointments I've had for years, and forget to turn in assignments. I forget everything. Also, I believe I have a major case of ADD because my attention span is basically gone. I got really bad acne, but that might be because I had to get off the pill (which helps with acne). Finally, my speech and grammar get messed up- especially with tenses. It's all really embarrassing for me because I'm an outstanding student at an ivy league school and the side effects are changing how I view myself. | I'm on 50mg, and the side effects I mentioned are only getting worse as the dose increases. What's ironic is that I don't care about the side effects as much as I should because I see how well its working for me. My mood is better than ever. I was terrified of this drug before I started taking it. If the side effects weren't ruining my grades and relationships I'd go so far as to call it a miracle drug. | F | 20 | 1 months | 10/18/2009 | 1 | Bipolar II - rapid cycler | Burning eyes, "why bother" feeling. Huge sense of urgency to do something in the middle of the night. Insomnia, Very very dark thoughts. I want off this med. | I have never had the kind of thougths I am currently having. I know it has to be the lamictal. I keep having thoughts about the world ending and nothing matters because we are all doomed to die anyway. When I have these thougts I am absolutely certain it is the truth and that I (and everyone else) is just wasting time living. I have to fight to get that thought out of my head. I am also waking up knowing I have to do a certain task, like look up something on the internet or call someone. I am most certain that it has to be done at that moment. It makes perfect sense to me at the time. I don't do it because there is still a part of my brain that stops me. I have been on Trileptal for years but my circle thoughts were coming back and it was causing me to lose my concentration. My psychiatrist put me on this (100mgs sid) to help-thinking it might get rid of depression and thus help me focus (can't take adderall for too long-screws me up big time) but it hasn't helped at all. I can't wait to be finished with it. I'll take my lack of concentration and rapid thoughts over this any day. It actually seems to make them worse! I need to find a med that works well with the trileptal (my miracle med-this drug is the reason I can hold a steady job)and helps me focus as well. Tried concerta and strattera, but upset my stomach way too much. Adderall made me an emotional wreck. Thanks to this site, I know I am even more certain it is the med and I am not going into a bad place again. | F | 41 | 3 months | 10/18/2009 | 1 | Temporal Lobe Epilepsy | Weight gain, extreme irritability, tremor, loss of sex drive, wild mood swings, stomach pain, insomnia. | HORRIBLE. I've been on numerous AED's, and besides Zonegran, this is the worst one. Does next to nothing for seizure control. | M | 33 | 2 years | 10/14/2009 | 3 | Bipolar II | Cognitive impairment | It is a curse knowing that you no longer know what you used to know. I take 200mg/day, and it has effectively dulled my mind to the point where I can only halfway function in my field. It seems also to have decreased my ability to play musical instruments. My mood is stable, but I am starting to wonder if it us worth what I have lost: I have two Master's degrees and I am only about fit to work in fast food. | M | 39 | 4 years | 10/11/2009 | 4 | JME (Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy) | "Wearing-off effect" in the evening when second half of dose is due. Possible "OCD" tendencies? Possible depression/anxiety? There are other factors in my life that could be causing those. | I was on Valproic Acid for 4 years after I got diagnosed which controlled my jerks & seizures just about perfectly, then I switched to Lamotrigine when I got married in case I get pregnant because it is safer for a baby. It does not control the jerks nearly as well. I have been on it for about 4 years now and it doesn't seem to be working as well anymore. I am getting more jerks and I am feeling the "wearing-off effect" on and off all day instead of just in the evening. | F | 27 | 4 years | 10/8/2009 | 4 | bipolar II | Acne! This drug gave me terrible acne, which is now sort of under control with clindamycin and tretnoin. I still constantly have at least one cystic zit on my face though. And I am 42 years old. Yuck. | Other than the acne, I have no complaints about this drug. I take 150 mga day, and it helps control the depression/mania cycling quite well in conjunction with 75mg of seroquel I take every day, along with 10 mg of Namenda twice a day. I took part in a lamictal/namenda clinical study (the hypothesis is that lamictal and namenda work synergistically with one and other) and I felt my entire quality of life improve. I live a completely normal life now, and I am *very* careful to take my meds every day to ensure that it stays that way! | F | 42 | 2 years | 9/30/2009 | 4 | depression, mood stablizer | I am glad I thought to search this. I too have suddenly lost an enormous amount of hair in the last several months. I was placed on Lamictal in March, after losing my Mom to pancreatic cancer, losing my job, and getting divorce all within a matter of about 9 months. It has been increased several times. From 25mg morning and night, to 25mg morning and 50 night, and now 50 morning and 50 night. I noticed about two months ago (when it was last increased) that I was shedding A LOT! I now have a very noticable bald spot that I am having a hard time covering no matter how I style it. I am a 28 year old female with red hair...this is part of my physical identity! I think this could be the cause. I originally thought it may be post super stress reaction or caused by hormone levels being out of wack due to PCOS but my obgyn doens't think it's the PCOS. Just hope it's something that can be fixed and that my hair can grow back! | The lamictal greatly helped my mood, but for me, if it is causing my hair loss, I would rather be on something else and keep my hair. The hair loss is very embarrassing and making me overly self conscience | F | 28 | 6 months | 9/28/2009 | 1 | Seizures | HAIR LOSS IS MY MAIN CONCERN ON THIS POST I AM TAKING 200 MG 2X'S A DAY FOR A SEIZURE DISORDER MY SEIZURES ONLY HAPPEN @ NIGHT WHEN I SLEEP. I HAVE ONLY HAD MAYBE 10 SEIZURES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.............. I HAVE BEEN ON LAMICTAL FOR 5 YEARS | I HAVE A POST HERE ALREADY ABOUT MY ISSUES WITH LAMICTAL. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD DRAMATIC CHANGES IN THEIR HAIR AND SKIN ???? MY HAIR IS "SHEDDING" AWAY. I AM LOSING IT BAD. IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND POSSIBLY EXCHANGE PHOTOS OF YOUR HAIR LOSS AND SEE IF THE PATTERNS ARE SIMULAR. I KNOW IT'S FROM THE LAMICTAL BUT MY DOCTORS ARE NOT IN AGREEMENT. | F | 40 | 5 years | 9/26/2009 | 5 | Lamicitin | Over the last 10 years I have gained weight, suffer from chronic insomnia, loss of libido, blurred vision, poor concentration, sleepy during the day, short tempered, hair loss, bad skin. I always believed my doctor when he told me that there were no side effects. I am releived to find other people who are experiencing what I am. So I am not crazy ! I am going to reduce my dosage and hopefully the side effects will reduce too. | I have been taking Lamictin for 10 years, I thought it was a miracle drug. It cured my mood swings, and all other symptoms that I suffer from as a result of right frontal lobe brain damage,caused by a motor vehicle accident. My doctor has always said there are no side effects, but now I realise that there are many side effects and many other people are experiencing them too. I am taking 300mg per day, but have decided to reduce my dosage to 200mg. After reading everyones, comments it seems to me that on 200mg the side effects will be greatly reduced. | F | 46 | 10 years | 9/25/2009 | 3 | unipolar depression | word loss, short-term memory loss,confusion slight paranoia, fatigue mid-afternoon, mild headache and jaw-ache, dry mouth and constipation, vivid sometimes sexy dreams, increased libido, feel like I'm feverish sometimes. | Even though I am experiencing some neg side effects, my mood has improved. I am less irritable, less screaming at family, mood is stabilizing somewhat. Took 8 weeks to go from 25 mg to 100mg due to my sensitivity to some meds. I will continue at 100mg dose for a while -- I don't want to increase dose to 150MG yet (which is supposed to be the therapeutic dose). I think it may actually be helping. Except for memory loss/forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating, the other side effects are tolerable. Hoping the forgetfulness goes away | F | 50 | 8 weeks | 9/22/2009 | 3 | bipolar depression | light headed, anxiety, hunger | F | 3 | 5 years | 9/22/2009 | 4 | mood instability, seizures | constipation (Went away after a few weeks), sleepiness, dropping trains of thought | The poor side effects of this drug went away quickly for me, and I've been happy with it since then. Since it makes me sleepy, I take it near bedtime to counteract insomnia. I don't think I'm taking enough to actually affect seizure risk, but my mood is very even. | F | 27 | 6 months | 9/20/2009 | 3 | bipolar II | initially, some nausea and loose stools, but that went away. HAIR LOSS at 5 weeks. | I was on generic lamictal (lamotrigine) at 25mg up to 50mg. At 5 weeks i noticed a big "shedding" of my hair and suddenly my hair on top was thinning. I have NEVER had this happen before and I am healthy with no other issues that could cause this. I did some research and found that anticonvulsants block absorption of certain minerals and vitamins including folate and others. If you are missing folate it affects your hair (that's why pregnant women are encouraged to take it during pregnancy to avoid this). I wish my doctor had told me "hey, take a multivitamin with selenium and zinc and biotin" because this could have possibly been avoided. I am also researching into whether being on brand name could have prevented this. It doesn't happen to everyone, but it doesn't hurt to take preventative measures. Just be aware, folks. | F | 41 | 6 weeks | 9/17/2009 | 2 | depression | extreme weight gain, severe itchy scalp and neck, felt like bugs under my scalp | F | 44 | 60 days | 9/16/2009 | 2 | Bipolar Disorder | One MAJOR side-effect -- and I do mean major -- was an increased sex-drive. While some may think, what's the problem with that, let me submit that for the 8 months I've been using this medication I've racked up close to $3,000 in internet porn fees, i.e., memberships, dvds, and so forth. Sorta kinda think that's overkill. The good news is I'll now be weaning off the med: Lamictal was prescribed to me to get me through 6 months of Interferon/Ribivarin treatment for the Hep-C I'd contacted. Well, the treatment was a success -- thank God, and I no longer "need" nor do I want this med in my body anymore. My bipolar stuff ain't gonna kill me; it may be handled sans meds. | Let the prescribee decide. | M | 66 | 8 months | 9/16/2009 | 5 | Bipolar II | fatigue, blurred vision for small print, short-term memory loss, confusion, loss of coordination (vertigo), dry mouth, mild stomach issues, hair loss, weight loss, possible back/body pains, causes BC to be less effective... | When I was 17 I went on zoloft for "situational" depression. I went to college and was def. "life of the party". Something TOTALLY out of my character but didn't notice because I thought I was acting like the typical college freshman. Sophomore year I moved into an apartment with 3 girls. After we started classes (Aug) I started feeling different. I went to my fam doc and was put on welbutrin along with the zoloft. I eventually stopped going to class and at one period I didn't shower or brush my teeth for 3 days in a row. That's when I knew I needed help so I withdrew from school (Nov). I went to a psychiatrist and he diagnosed me with BPII. I was put on lamictal, along with the antidepressants. I worked my way up to 100mg of lamictal. I noticed by the 2nd week I started feeling better. However, my anxiety was REALLY bad still. He put me on 0.5mg of klonopin (up to 3 times a day). I felt relaxed but was VERY sleepy. Then it took a turn and I began to get restless, and my mind wouldn't shut up to let me fall asleep. My psych put me on 25mg of seroquel to help me sleep. That definitely worked. THEN, my life took another turn junior year. My boyfriend broke up with me and I was devastated. He bumped me up to 200mg of lamictal. Anyway, the main thing I still struggle with is grogginess and feeling out of it. I will still sleep 12+ hours sometimes. But, no matter what side effects I STILL have, it's so much better than the dark place I was a year ago. | F | 20 | 10 months | 9/13/2009 | 5 | Bipolar 2, with PTSD | Bad jaw, and teeth pain, bleeding gums, sweats/chills,totally weird dreams,total loss of word recall, cognition difficulties, bad muscular aches in entire body 24/7 (including neck/back/gluts/legs) that pain pills did not help,loss of libido,twitches in legs/arms,eye scratchiness,irritated, acne breakouts daily, water retention,constipation,forgot what I had read,hair loss,feels like my scalp is open,loquacious,non-stop talking,not able to connect with my higher self,.... | With all my side effects,I was on the "Generic", not the Brand, Dr told me that the pharmaceutical company only had to put in 60% of the med. He spoke to my coverage carrier, got the meds, from 700.00$, down to 200.00$ a month, and as SOON as I began taking it(I am now taking 50mg Extended Release), most of my pain, sleepiness, irritation,painful eyes,and jaw pain, went away!!!If you are experiencing all these side effects, and are taking the "Generic" brand, you may be as sensitive as I was, to the fillers, that they put in it. Attempt to go on the BRAND NAME. I cannot believe, what a difference that it makes. I am also taking Seroquel, 150mg, at nighttime, and I need a sleeping pill to fall asleep. The Dr also added an anti inflammatory drug, since my discs are leaning against my spine. I probably need something added to my "cocktail", and for right now, I am so grateful that I do not have suicadal/homicidal ideation, as I had before the Lamictal. For this, I am happy. I want to Thank Everyone, who has posted their experiences with this medication, so that I could see, that these side effects really do exist, even though the DR may not be convinced. We need to listen to our bodies, and trust ourselves. | F | 54 | 3 months | 9/12/2009 | 1 | Cyclothemia | I took this for a year and the following occured: rashes, blurred vision, insomnia, anxiety (extreme), combative comments with co-workers and people in general and to top it off at times I honestlt thought I was going to go crazy. | This drug is overrated and nonsense. I needed a mood stabilizer, not some hybrid version of an antidepressant. It's an anticonvulsant yes, but it does nothing CONSISTENTLY for anxiety and mania. I suggest people who like this drug to take 300mg of Dilantin daily. It costs nothing and acts the same way, calm one minute, crazy the next. I would give it a minus if I could. I took it for a year and gave it it's chance. I am on something else now with a fraction of the side effects. How I managed to keep my job I'll never know. | M | 29 | 1 years | 9/11/2009 | 3 | Depression/Anxiety | Insomnia, initial dry mouth, vertigo/dizziness, nausea, headaches, hair loss, possibly caused back and chest acne, which I hadn't had previously, fatigue (possibly caused by higher dose of sleeping medication to deal with insomnia). | This medicine originally worked well for me (worked up to 100mg). The initial dry mouth went away after two weeks. The side effects have been more noticeable recently. I have been suffering from bad insomnia for the past week, I had to take 200mg of Trazadone as well as 50mg of Vistaril one night, whereas 25mg of Trazadone used to put me out. Recently noticed the hair loss, probably lost a quarter of my hair. Also, this may be related to the side effect of lowered estrogen levels coupled with the fact that I'm a teen, but I have lost a cup size since on Lamictal. | F | 15 | 4 months | 9/7/2009 | 3 | seizure disorder | weight gain; fatigue; lack of focus; bruise easily and sunburn easily; excessive sweating (possibly because my doctor has combined Lamictal with a mild dose of Tegretol); vivid dreams | On the one hand, I have some side effects I really don't like, especially the weight gain (my diet hasn't changed, but I don't have the energy to exercise like I should). On the other hand,Lamictal has been one of the few drugs (together with a mild dose of Tegretol) that has been successful in my seizure control - taking me from about 2 or 3 a week to one mild middle-of-the-night seizure about every 3 months. As long as I stay away from my triggers (caffeine, aspartame, wheat products), the only things that sets me off are getting sick or having a bad time with monthly hormone levels. | F | 39 | 4 years | 9/2/2009 | 1 | TBI,possible seizures,now bipolar? | Short term memory loss, dislexia, word loss, agitation, angry outbursts, craving alcohol or benzo's. At first great mood then week long lasting swings - depression to hypomania, (never had any form of mania) difficulty concentrating, shaking, general feeling of out control of both body and mind...I have had to proofread this to ensure I have not repeated myself or switched letters in words. | Once I began the starter pack I had great hopes of assistance getting through a traumatic brain injury and the mood issues that accompanied it. I fell down 12 stairs while out of town attempting to get to the bathroom. I was taken to a hospital and released without a CT scan. Walked around with blood on my brain for 5 days until reporting to my doctor what happened and how I had neck pain. I was told to immediately go to the hospital and I did. CT scan showed 3 brain contusions and an intracranial hemmorage. I was then transported to another hospital with a neurosurgeon on standby to operate. They presume I had a seizure after the fall, since that is what the witness stated (my boyfriend). I was referred to a seizure specialist. EEg came back abnormal. Tried several anticonvulsants to keep my driver's liscence. Mild side effects causing me to switch to others then there was carbazazapam (horrible), now the lamictal nightmare...literally. Horrid vivd dreams, while in a weird half awake sleep. My short term memory was improving from my injury until this medication which has made it as bad as when I first fell! My seizure "guru" claims I need this medication, and it is not the lamictal but I am experiencing post traumatic psychosis??? I am a social worker by trade, I am NOT psychotic. He wants me taking 200mg BID, another doctor said I could break them in half, 100mg BID. It helped in the beggining, what went so wrong? This medication. I would value a | F | 28 | 6 weeks | 9/2/2009 | 1 | mood stabilizer | Alarming memory loss and impaired thinking | BRAIN SCANS TO DOCUMENT HARMFUL EFFECTS | F | 53 | 2 years | 9/2/2009 | 5 | ocd and bipolar II | starting rashes just gone away, costipation, vivid dreams. | this drug has been a great discover. it helps me a lot with impulsiveness, with intrusive thoughts, and compulsion. he avoids in me panic attacks, anxiety and phobias. it helps also in depression, better that other mood stabilizerrs in combo with antidepressant. | M | 23 | 2 months | 9/1/2009 | 5 | BiPolar II | groggy in the morning, slight word recall problems | wow. I feel like I've never lived a normal life until now. I'd long suffered from severe "overreactions" to things, if i had a problem at work, i'd be tortured by it, if i had a bad date, I'd be CRUSHED, if someone pissed me off, I'd spend HOURS ruminating on it and writing extremely thorough emails to them. I was STUCK in whatever emotion was happening, and I couldn't think straight. Lamictal is a drug to treat seizures, and it makes sense that this drug would help me. What happened to me was like an electrical storm in my brain of emotions. But Lamictal turns that off. Now, if something that used to set me off happens, I feel a "twinge" but that's as far as it goes. I'm able to see situations clearly and deal with them rationally. I've been able in the last two months to really see patterns of behavior that I could never deal with before. In the past I'd tried almost every antidepressant there was, but they never did anything for me (except a few made me feel "dead.") I still feel like me, except a better me. I do miss the torrent of creative ideas that I used to have, but I realize now that was a sort of mania, and I'll gladly take the slowed down version if it means I can deal with people better. Wish I'd found this years ago! | F | 41 | 2 months | 8/29/2009 | 5 | Epilepsy | None. | Excellent medication. I have complex partial seizure disorder. I was on tegretol for many years and it was a horrible medication for me. With tegretol, I always felt like I was "on the edge" and seizures seemed to come at any random time. Lamictal was first started as a supplementary medication and I almost instantly noticed the change. Within a few months, my neurologist stopped the tegretol altogether and my seizures are a thing of the past. | M | 42 | 9 years | 8/29/2009 | 5 | Bi-Polar | Stiff neck, blurry vision | Once I was on the full dose of 200mg the side effects went away, although I had to get my eyeglass prescription changed... Works fabulous. Gives me a sense of calm and that all is right with the world. Bad neckache if I skip a dose. | F | 46 | 10 years | 8/28/2009 | 1 | For mood stabilization of bipolar | The dreams/nightmares are HORRIBLE! I was doing well on 100mg dosage, but went up to 200mg and that's when the vivid, bizarre dreams began. Losing people and things close to me, being haunted by a demon, sleeping but in an awake state and people at work who I dislike tormenting and scaring me. It goes on and on. My PsychDoc asked me to take it up to 250mg which I did for 1 night and the dreams turned into real nightmares. That was it for me. I switched to taking the Lamictal from night to morning and dropped the dosage to 150mg. I plan on dropping it in a couple of days to my original 100 mg dose. | Lamictal and almost ALL the Psych meds I have been on since 1994 have really been terrible. I cannot get any peace with any of these meds and yes I am angry. I know the manufacturers are trying to make money and MAYBE trying to help the mentally ill, but without the proper trials (which I have read the doctor's instructions online for every script I have taken)are not done because the pharmaceuticals are rushing to beat each other to the punchline. And the FDA condones this behavior - not sure what the standard is or the reasons why. Yes, I am angry. I am almost through with taking any meds as I have had my chin up everytime my PsychDoc asked for me to try something new with me not knowing what side effects will manifest themselves in me. Don't want to sound suicidal, but I am 47 years old now and have been battling my depression and manic episodes, making decisions one minute and changing my mind by going another way the next. This causes extreme stress which adds another med to my list because I cannot control my agitation and anxiety. I say now, I have lived my life and now it's time for me to go. It's of my opinion that most people in this world are so caught up in their own doings that they don't care for their own children nevertheless care for some stranger like me. It breaks my heart to feel that I want to leave this world, but I am of sound mind and body right now and would like to move on. | F | 47 | 3 months | 8/27/2009 | 5 | bi-polar | My 72 year old mother suffered greatly...severly depressed almost catatonic for 2 months, manic 2 months, somewhat normal 2 months..this cycle repeated itself for 2 years ! | My 72 year old mother was put on lamictal starting out at 25 mgs twice a day...after 3 months she is taking 125 mg once a day and doing wonderful! I feel like I have my mother back...I highly recommend this medication but recommend starting out in small doses... | F | 72 | 3 months | 8/25/2009 | 5 | JME with Complex Partial seizures | None....FINALLY SOMETHING THAT WORKS | Lamictal has worked great for me,verse all the other medications Iv'e tried in the past(Depkene,Depkote,Depkote er and Topamax).It has reduced my seizures tremedously.I now only have around 3-6 a year,which isint really that bad as before I was having them all the time.Morning,noon and night.Mostly they only occur when Im around my triggers which are[photosensitivity to **flashes of a camera,strobes and flourescent lighting**one of my biggest triggers],low blood surgar,stress/in the beginning of getting a bug or virus,emotional stress,not enough sleep,and hormonal fluncuations.For when they do only occur out of no where I usually get aroud 2-4. | F | 18 | 3 years | 8/25/2009 | 5 | seizure | None | stoped seizure right away. A miricale pill. Expensive,but woth it. I had grand male and parciale seizures. Took 4 differant meds befour lamictal. They didn't help. I had side effects from all 4. | F | 61 | 15 years | 8/23/2009 | 5 | bipolar disorder | fatigue, lack of appetite | changed my life. Feel like I'm the person I was meant to be | F | 45 | 2 years | 8/23/2009 | 4 | overwhelming feelings/ups & downs | First of all, I have to say after finding this forum, I am very relieved and thankful I am not alone. After 2 years of dealing with some major things happening in my life I finally decided to take an AD. My Dr prescribed Zoloft. After taking it for 2 months... nothing. I don't think it helped at all, but that's not what I needed. I had ups and downs, but I don't think I'm depressed, I'm just overwhelmed. Yes sometimes I get depressed and feel there's no hope, but the next day I'm cleaning the house and getting things done. It's been exhausting! I just started taking the generic Lamictal, but I'm so relieved to know how well it's working for everyone. I feel like I finally have hope. I will give an update after it's been a few weeks, but for now I feel like my prayers have been answered and I thank you all for sharing your experience! | F | 36 | 2 days | 8/23/2009 | 3 | type II BPD | Inability to focus vision on fine details, some discoordination with fine motor tasks, abnormal liver functions, high triglycerides and cholesterol, and CRIPPLING BACK PAIN | I was excited to try this med as, like many people with BPD, I have a hard time taking SSRIs. It's claimed to be more effective against depressive episodes than more regularly prescribed BPD meds like Lithium, and it was. However, I gradually developed back pain during the slow dose increase used to start this medication. It started as a slight stiffness in my back, and I assumed I was just out of shape. Then it became painful, and I assumed I had hurt my back somehow, but didn't think the Lamictal had anything to do with it. By the time I got to 200mg, I was basically crippled and wondered each time I bent over whether that would be the time I wouldn't be able to stand back up- at 37 and fairly healthy, I knew something was wrong. In spite of pointing this out to various doctors and nurses, none of them seemed to make the connection, and it wasn't until I did my own research that I found that a VERY HIGH NUMBER of people have similar complaints, something like 1 in 12. At 200mg I had my blood checked, which revealed abnormal liver functioning, and high triglycerides and cholesterol. The doctors (all psych trained) didn't find that odd either. I have stopped taking the med and hope that sometime in the next month or so my back will recover and that the damage isn't permanent. So PLEASE recognize that your doctors are not all-knowing gods, and that the side effects of this med can creep up on you VERY slowly. | M | 37 | 3 months | 8/23/2009 | 1 | Bipolar Type 2 | EXTREME moodiness. My kids think I am a "mean mom" and my boyfriend is considering leaving me for how much I put him through over the weekend: paranoid, irritable, anxious, sleepliness. I have been more labile than I have ever been. Stopped it last night...good riddens! | F | 39 | 7 days | 8/23/2009 | 1 | Bipolar | Stevens Jonhson Symdrome | It almost killed me in just two days | F | 52 | 1 days | 8/23/2009 | 3 | Bipolar Disorder I or II | At first I was rapid cycling as they slowly increased the dose...irritability, anger, rage, exhaustion and crying within a few hours. Then it became like a placebo to me. No known side effects except for maybe increased energy day and night and a headache threatening to form sometimes a half to an hour before my nightly dose. | I was feeling terrible, sleeping depressed while on the low does as it was being vamped up, but I attribute that to Seroquel, which I came off of on my own and since then I've been in a manic insomnia, elevated state (3 weeks now) and I'm up to 150mg. So I don't know if Lamictal is making me hyper, but it sure beats depression. I have to take a sleep aid just so I can get a few hours at night. Don't feel like I need sleep any more. I take Wellbutrin in AM and Lamictal in PM plus the sleep aids. | F | 30 | 7 weeks | 8/22/2009 | 3 | Bipolar I | Serious short term memory problems and difficulty finding the right words. Some mild acne, possibly decrease in appetite. | I found it to be OK as a mood stabilizer, but not as effective as a Depakote or Trileptal. I didn't have any major mood swings while taking it, but the memory problems were too serious so I had to stop. I was taking 100mg | F | 34 | 4 months | 8/22/2009 | 5 | Rapid Cycle Bipolar | Brief periods of hypomania with any increase in dose. Slight fatigue, along with some clumsiness and minor memory issues. I have noticed what some call 'emotional flatness'; a better term for it is MOOD STABILIZATION. | This is BY FAR the best medication I have been given. It has been a fantastic mood stabilizer for me; from the very first dose of 25mg. It does a great job of stopping my rapid cycle down swings; it has is very effective in relieveing my depression. There are side effects, but they are far fewer and far less intense that other medications; and I have been on a few. The only issue I have had with lamictal is it's interaction with my Celexa. I had to cut down on my Celexa dose once I reached 100mgs of Lamictal because 20mgs of Celexa kicked me into a full blown manic phase. The day I upped to 100mgs of Lamictal, I took my dose of Celexa and had the first full manic episode I'd had in months. But, cutting back on the Celexa was a necessary part of the process anyway. Also take the warnings about the rash seriously; if you develop one, go into see a doctor. | M | 2 months | 8/16/2009 | 5 | Depression, mood instability | Hair loss, acne, sometimes twinges in my muscles, irritability when I increase dosage - for a few days, vivid unpleasant dreams, change in sleep patterns | Lamictal is a miracle for me. I haven't tried a lot of AD's - just Wellbutrin, which was terrible for me. I have very unstable moods (but no mania or hypomania), which is why I think Lamictal works when Wellbutrin didn't. Wellbutrin gave me terrible anxiety. Lamictal makes me feel normal. Maybe I have a little bit of memory problems and I wonder if it has affected my eyesight, but I'm not completely sure on either of those, so obviously it's not too bad. I tried the generic, and it made me terribly sleepy and fatigued. | F | 38 | 4 months | 8/14/2009 | 3 | Siezure control | New user | M | 53 | 2 days | 8/14/2009 | 5 | OCD/ Anxiety | when i first started the medication i was on a very low dose that didn't help....then i took a bigger dose which caused me to have more anxiety, nausea and dizziness and headaches. Once my correct dosage was determined i had slight headaches and light nausea for a few days, but it went away. | I have tried so many different meds and this is the only one that has been able to stabilize my condition. I can tell a tremendous difference in my complusive behavior especially. My mind seems more clear and focused, and I know it works because when i DON'T take it, i have serious anxiety and get shakey and lightheaded. | F | 28 | 6 months | 8/13/2009 | 5 | Bipolar Disorder | WEight gain | very helpful; gave me complete stability; prevented manic episodes | F | 37 | 3 years | 8/11/2009 | 1 | Binge Eating, Depression, Bipolar 2 | Extreme Appetite Decrease, Lost 30 lbs in 2 months, Listlessness, Trouble With Memory and Concentration, and the worst 2 - Frequent Peeing (Every 10 min) and BAD HAIR LOSS | It evened my moods out but then turned me into a zombie. I couldn't feel properly happy or sad or angry or anything. It zapped my creativity and made me not want to do anything. It allowed me to lose weight too quickly because it suppressed hunger so severely. I didn't realize I was basically in starvation mode and robbing my body of nutrients. I had to pee constantly and my parents spent a lot of money on tests to see what was causing this after my doctor said Lamictal couldn't be the culprit. This IS IN FACT a side effect of Lamictal - a quick Google search shows this. My doctor also denies that my devastating hair loss is a result of this medication and insists it is purely the weight loss. I am quitting it completely despite their wishes. I am an 18 yr old girl with long amazingly red hair which I love and is a big part of me. I have received compliments on it every day of my life. I've lost maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of it in the last 2 months. Nothing has ever caused me so much anxiety and depression as this...this med is NOT worth it. IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR HAIR, STAY AWAY FROM LAMICTAL. If you must take it, don't let yourself lose weight too fast. You'll have to eat when you don't feel like it. Thankfully I had thick hair to begin with, but now I'm doing everything I can to save it - Maxi Hair supplements, a really healthy high protein diet, Head and Shoulders Shampoo, putting olive oil in my hair every other night, and of course quitting this medication. | F | 18 | 5 months | 8/7/2009 | 3 | Epilepsy | Fatigue, mild loss of concentration | This medication didn't fully control my seizures at first so I am taking Keppra along with it. It makes me pretty tired but I have been taking it for 12 years and have learned to adapt to the fatigue and live a pretty normal life. | F | 24 | 12 years | 8/5/2009 | 5 | Bipolar 1 | Minor fatigue early on, body pains in the beginning and at each dose increase - if you have a minor backache the dose increase will cause it to be a major backache, but only for a few days. | Works very well for me. For about 8 years I was on Seroquel and Depakote and gained tons of weight - either extremely hungry or tired. On Lamictal I have been able to adjust to a very healthy lifestyle and have lost over 100lbs. With Lamictal I have attained the most stability I've ever enjoyed. | M | 38 | 1 years | 8/2/2009 | 3 | Epilepsy (JME) | Terrible agitation, irritability, easily frustrated, some crazy intense rage. I will be fine when I wake up, do my morning routine, then when I take it within 1/2 hour am so jittery and full of nervous energy I can barely stand to be in my own skin. Night sweats, more thirst--minimum 5 liters of water a day, but these aren't important, it is the intense edginess and extreme internal unrest that is so terrible, and the illogical and yet apparently uncontrollable way in which I take things out on my poor husband that worries me, if I can stick with it or not. Some insomnia, difficulty getting 7 hours per night where I used to need 9 minimum... | Depokate was doing a great job of controlling my epilepsy with minimal side effects, just a bit of flatlining of my personality and sloooowed metabolism. But with planning for a family, the decision to switch was made. I'm not even up to full dose yet and I am just hoping my body will become accustomed to the drug and this awful intense nervous energy/irritability/internal unrest will stop. Like my blood is on fire, all my nerves on hypersensitive gaurd. If it continues I'm just going to have to go back to Depakote...this is intolerable. | F | 34 | 2.5 months | 8/2/2009 | 3 | Bipolar 2-depression | Sweating profusely, feel burning of skin, bruising, and in the last 3 days, incredable jaw pain, and bleeding gums, receding gum line,( which very few people have experienced,it seems)and the feeling of my eyes bugging out of the sockets, had bad headaches at first, then that stopped. Lots of dreams, which I don't mind(were really bad at first, not any more), went to ER today, because of pain with mouth(not willing to wait till it goes away) too busy, came home. Will cut dosage in 1/2 until I see a doctor. Do not want to lose my teeth. | At first, with the starter pack,25 mg,then 50mg a day. Ended up in the ER, for the 1st time in my life, for crying uncontrollably, feeling suicidal/homicidal( my Psych Dr wrote me a note for the ER) told me she can no longer help me!) and the ER sent me to "Four Winds" hospital, in a stretcher. Out in 2 days, no longer felt suicidal, or homicdal,( could not deal with being watched every 15 minutes) DR there, raised the dosage to 5omg 2x a day, and that's when I felt the bad jaw pain that I didn't focus on, till it was getting worse, within 2 days,also get the chills, and sweats a lot. My face feels a little swollen too. Won't let me sleep, so Dr gave me Seroquel, 150 mg, which helps, and then I'm out for 12-15 hours...Also asked for Prozac, 20mg, (which was a life saver for me 15 years ago), until it didn't work any more..I'm so tired of being "treatment resistant", and feeling so out of control, crying , anger for no reason. This illness , the emotional pain, is so debilitating. I am trying to find the right "cocktail", so that I could make it the next few hours, while others live their life....weeks, and months at a time.... Also, I stopped smoking at the same time, as I had the dark episode. My Dr. said, that the change in chemistry could have sent me there. So, beware of that.... | F | 54 | 4 weeks | 7/31/2009 | 2 | BP II | short term memory loss, loss of words and thought, sense of humor gone, fogginess/numbed out, joint aches and complete loss of labido. | I have been on 200mg for 9 months and have begun titrating off. I don't find any value in the drug that makes it worth living with the side effects. At this moment, I am struggling to form coherent sentences. This has been typical for the 9 months that I've been on the drug but atypical prior to that. The only other drug I take is 50mg of Pristiq. I am currently down to 125mg; tritating down by 25mg every 7 days. Going from 200mg to 150mg was very easy. My last reduction to 125mg has been rough. I have felt car sick every day, been catatonic and have had a mild headache. I take the drug at night and notice that I wake up ok but then the symptoms start around 10am and last until night time. I am counting the days until I am off of Lamictal. | M | 47 | 9 months | 7/31/2009 | 5 | JME (juvenile myoclonic epilepsy) | light sensitivity w/ headaches, night sweats and vivid dreams, feeling jittery if I'm late taking it (even by a couple of hours), somewhat slower cognitive and motor skills | This drug has kept me seizure free and I can function again without fear of having a seizure. Side effects increase if I'm sleep deprived or stressed out but are manageable. My neurologist said I may be able to try going off of it next year, but I'm not sure I will as the benefits outweigh the side effects by a long shot | F | 24 | 3 years | 7/23/2009 | 3 | Trying to get off Lithium | Just stopped it after 4 days. It gave me a boost of energy and kept me from Binge eating. But I was saying things at work that I normally wouldn't say (negative) and I started to seem more irritable to my wife. THese are too very bad side effects that I cant have. I told my Dr. and he instructed me to stop it for 1 week to see if it was the Lamictal or other triggers. Does anyone have any advice on how I should handle the irritability? Lithobid sucks and I need something to replace it. | M | 42 | 4 days | 7/22/2009 | 3 | Epilepsy | Headaches, vivid dreams, loss of appetite, insomnia, irritability, memory loss, mental fog. | This medication helped control my seizures somewhat, however it takes nearly five months to safely titrate to a therapeutic dosage. The side effects that I experienced were minimal compared to those experienced on Topamax or Keppra. My new neurologist took me off the lamictal because she thought Depakote was more suitible for my type of epilepsy. I start depakote next week, I really hope it works. | M | 21 | 30 days | 7/22/2009 | 1 | Depression, anxiety, PTSD | Nausea - absolutely horrible - like chemo but without the hair loss. | I managed to stay on the stuff for two weeks, noticed absolutely NO change in my moods, but could not deal with the nausea, so I quit taking it. | F | 62 | 2 weeks | 7/19/2009 | 2 | Biopolar I | Weight gain, inablity to lose weight, depression, flat-lined emotions, stuffiness | I have been taking 200mg of Lamictal for almost 5 months and I recently began to wonder if the medication was responsible for my emotional pain and loss rather than my illness. After reading this site, which has been really helpful, I am pretty sure the drug is the cause of my problems. It has been terrible, I take no joy in anything and it takes a great effort to do anything. I gained weight taking Zyprexa, which I have been off for a couple months, but even with a greatly decreased diet and lots of exercise I can't lose any of it. I am going to ask my doctor if there is something else I can take to control my symptoms because this drug is making me miserable. | F | 38 | 5 months | 7/18/2009 | 5 | Dysthymia, Depression, Mood Swings | No side effects. None. | I have tried 15 or 20 different antidepressants over 20 years. None helped. Now I feel better. Mood crashes are less frequent and not so deep. Recovery is quite fast. I feel better, happier, easier, "more like myself." FINALLY. I have been taking 200 mgs per day, and am now starting to take 250 mgs per day, to see if I can squeeze out a bit more benefit. | M | 52 | 4 months | 7/7/2009 | 3 | Severe depression/ Anxiety | muscle stiffness,blurred vision,weight loss according to my doctor although I don't feel I've lost anything, I'm not a person who weighs themselves regulary. At first my appetite decreased a bit but after a few months back to normal. No Sex drive whatsoever! | Lamictal has made me feel good again, my horrible thoughts have gone away. But my vision is not as good, I'm going to see an eye doctor to find out what he thinks about this medication. My psch said the blurred vision is really rare hmmmm. And she weighs me everytime I go to see her. I have lost some weight. but from other patients comments I have seen that Lamictal also causes weight gain. My psch says that as for sex drive this drug is not likely to cause a decrease, but from what I can tell they all do. Is there anyone out there who has found a drug for depression that allows you to still enjoy a good sex life? I've been on Celexa,Paxil, Effexor and Abilify. Pleas help! | F | 44 | 4 months | 7/6/2009 | 1 | depression | Death. Yes, I said death. Google this: " class action suit & lamictal internal combustion" Get off this drug!!! BUT DON"T DO IT NOW! or you will not sleep! You mind could start racing, and you may become manic. I have been taking this shit for 9 months - I thought it was the best thing known to man, it fixed my depression, but then gradually, I became more and more manic. I didn't sleep. I got in arguments with everyone cuz I was so irritable. I got called into my boss's office. Everyone was worried about me. I had neck pain, I slept all the time, I had no appetite, I didn't wanna do anything, I had no appetite, I was nauseated, then I started to lower my dose - then the real fun started - my thoughts were coming in so fast that I planned out the entire rest of my life detail by detail all night long - I cleaned out all my closets, I drove my friends nuts, I was a friggin' basket case. I didn't sleep AT ALL for 12 weeks. | feel free to email me at mecgdct@yahoo.com I sincerely am going to make this my life's work to help everyone I can by spreading the word. Pfeiffer Treatment Center and Nutritional Weitht and Wellness are THE best places to obtain treatment - and I've been in this boat (i.e., I've had depression) since 1985. | F | 56 | 9 months | 7/6/2009 | 4 | Bipolar I | Anything over 200 mgs causes serious cognitive side effects for me. Higher analytical powers are intact but short term memory and basic common sense and comprehension go down the drain. | Excellent for me as a mood stabilizer. The best one. I give it a four- and not a five-star rating because over 200mgs daily caused me such cognitive distress that I failed a very important exam and lost a job partly because of it. I am still picking up the pieces. My psych. wouldn't believe me when I reported this side effect at 400 mgs/day. It is rare, but there. MORAL OF THE STORY: NEVER second-guess your own feelings about how your body is reacting to a drug simply because your doctor says a given side effect doesn't usually happen. I won't let anyone put me on more than 200 mgs of Lamictal again. Still have those bad memories. | F | 41 | 6 years | 7/3/2009 | 1 | Partial Seizures | Burning in my hands, arms, back...rash. | Too bad - I thought it was going to be a great drug. All the doctors said it had few side effects and was kind of a mood stabilizer. Pay close attention to the burning sensations and rash. | M | 45 | 12 days | 7/3/2009 | 4 | mood stablizer | seems to help more effectively against depressin than other mood stabilizers | M | 66 | 2 years | 6/30/2009 | 3 | Bipolar II | Fatigue, nausea, periodic vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea weekly, dry itchy skin with bumpy red rash, fatigued or insomiac, lack of concentration and short term memory, irritable with a depression that spirals into hopelessness, acid reflux developed leading to Barrett's Esophagus now on a regimen of Nexium and periodic endoscopies. And, last, but not least, extreme weight gain 30-40 lbs. since I began Lamictal 2.5 years ago. Very frustrated. | The psychiatrist who prescribed Lamictal in 2006, along with my present physician, disregard the side effects I am experiencing. They've even increased the drug dosage when I'm experiencing increased depression/hopelessness without regard for my continuing side effects. Since taking this drug, I have been unable to continue my career as a college English professor, been deemed total/permanently disabled by Social Security and financially challenged. Very frustrated! | F | 62 | 2 years | 6/26/2009 | 4 | Bi-Polar | Sleepiness/insomia, varies day-to-day, itchy, burning skin, some feelings of being anxious, rage. | I have only been on it two months, up to 100 mg, seems to be keeping me steadier with my emotions/thoughts. Some lack of appetite, nausea, some insomnia/sleepiness, varies, no weight gain yet, very concerned on weight gain, anyone have issues with gaining or losing on Lamictal? Weight gain scares me more than any other potential side effect? Thank you | M | 43 | 2 months | 6/24/2009 | 3 | Mood stabilizer | light headedness, stiffness in joints , body aches and excessive sleepines | i was prescribed 100 mg for the past 6 months , initially i felt that it changed my life , i was a new person .. but it gradualy caught up with side effects like excessive sleepines , not able to conenctarte and deliver at my work , In fact i was fired due to my inefficieny , i tried my best to manage the side effects , Recently ,my doc want to increased the dose to 200 and was asked to wait and see for a couple of weeks , i am in the waiting course now , hoping that i will give good results , I am too early to recommend this , but it seems to be working , i am taking 200 mg at night to manage my sleepines side effects , Let me wait and see .. Thanks for everyone who is posting thier experience | M | 37 | 6 months | 6/19/2009 | 1 | bipolar | Flattening of emotions, fatigue, then terrible depression and suicidal ideation. | I went to a nurse practitioner for help with ADD and she diagnosed me with Bipolar II, and put me on Lamictal. At first it seemed to help a little with mood swings. Then my much-loved dog was killed and I spun into a terrible depression. I would have killed myself if I could have come up with a method where no one would have known it was suicide, or had to deal with the horror of finding my body. I kept pleading with the PNP to "let" me stop taking it. Finally after 4 months I convinced her and stopped. I guess it was a symptom that I couldn't advocate for myself better. It was a horrible time. She didn't tell me anything about the possible downsides to taking it. | F | 49 | 4 months | 6/18/2009 | 5 | Mood swings,PTSD,ADHA | Terrible Headaches and slight vertigo the first month. No other physical or emotional side effects. | This drug really changed my life!I had tried so many things with little success and I was so tired of everyone saying that I wasn't myself or I seemed so different. I knew they were right but didn't know what to do!I have taken Paxil (evil Drug),zoloft,wellbutrin XL & Lexapro. All made me functional but not level. After a month on Lamictal, the fog lifted and I was pretty angry about the haze I had been living in for 6 yrs! For the first time, It was a GOOD angry! Family and friends were amazed. 100mg Lamictal with 20mg Adderall XR was my magic cocktail! I am focused,level and still have a very normal range of emotion. No more zombie! The first month I had Terrible headaches but they subsided after I started taking the pill in the morning.I also consumed as much Gatorade as I could hold and the headaches stopped. Hormone flux still triggers the headaches from time to time but very rarely. My doc and I worked hard to find this mix and I couldn't be more happy. Seriously,I'm happy, for the first time in a long time! No more freaking out,crying for no reason,hopelessness or dread about the future. This medicine gave me my life back where the others made it barely tolerable. I know my side effects were mild but if you have tried the "basics" and mood swings are your trouble, this might be worth a try. Good luck! | F | 35 | 2 years | 6/16/2009 | 2 | mood stabilizer | Insomnia, increased appetite, slightly itchy skin, cry easily and anger easily. I am very annoyed with everything, depression seems to have worsened. | I am on the starter pack and just went up from 25mg to 50mg today. I will give this drug some time but it is sure hard with these side effects. I really hope my husband will be patient with me as all my anger and hostility seems to be directed towards him. | F | 42 | 14 days | 6/14/2009 | 1 | bipolar | rash, sore throat, swollen lips, tongue, sore nostrils | PURE EVIL!!!!! IT CAUSED STEVEN JOHNSON SYNDROME, a seriously frightening illness. Luckily, mine was caught in time. | F | 34 | 3 weeks | 6/14/2009 | 5 | bipolar II | weight loss, nausea, fogetfulness, tremors | Lamictal truly has done wonders for me; it brought me out of a terrible depression about two years ago, and since then has completely stabilized all of my mood swings. I liked the weight loss side effect; not so much the tremors, which have not stopped. I seriously was worried that I could have early-onset Parkinson's for a while - has anyone else had that side effect? | F | 19 | 2 years | 6/12/2009 | 5 | GAD/Depression | None | Went for years, trying every medication out there. Finally hit upon the cocktail of Lexapro and Lamictal. It is like the clock has been turned back for me to a time prior to my problems emerging. (the Lexapro alone did not do it. It was not until after we added the Lamictal that I gained relief) | M | 59 | 11 months | 6/11/2009 | 5 | Epilepsy | I've been on this med for 4 yrs the only side effects at the beginning were I couldn't drink coffee it made me feel sick | This med is such a blessing! well atleast to me it is. I struggled so long with my Epilepsy and doses of the medication I was taking since I was 14. I dont recommend DEPAKOTE it was good aweful. I have not experienced a grand mal seizure in 4 yrs!!! when I was taking Depakote I was having atleast 5-7 in a 2 wk span. I also have JME juvielle myclonic epilepsy I still have them but not as bad. I love this medication and def recommend it. | F | 29 | 4 years | 6/11/2009 | 5 | bipolar | When I started lamictal 2 years ago I must have had some side effects but quite mild | For 20 years had a depression diagnosis tried every drug with only unsustained success. Since adding lamictal to effexor I have a full life without worrying that I'm going to freak out at any little thing. Please give this drug a chance the combination has let me be a full human being again. | F | 55 | 2.5 years | 6/10/2009 | 5 | Bipolar 2 disorder | Tiny bit of acne, some lack of sleep | I've been taking this for a while. Began because I was cutting and my parents found out. I'm a total perfectionist and a very normal 17 year old. I started with 100mg but had a relapse and was put on 200mg. Ive had a great experience with lamictal and feel 10000 times better on this. I am a totally better person on it and am able to react much more rationally. I've never had any bad side effects except I noticed a couple more pimples but I have no where near what is considered "acne". I went off for about 2 weeks unconsciously because I left it in my bag and forgot to take it. I realized how much better I felt when on it and realized what a good impact it has had on me. I reccomend this for someone who is diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder like me and is a little emotionally unstable. | F | 17 | 10 months | 6/9/2009 | 2 | Bipolar disorder | This med is (incorrectly) touted as an anti-depressant. According to the manufacturer's website, it is a mood-stabilizing anticonvusant that prevents the onset of depression. | It doesn't do anything. | 1 years | 6/8/2009 | 1 | Seizures | 400 mg daily, Memory loss, unclear thinking, HAIR LOSS, breakage, texture change, thinning hair, brown spots "liver spots" all over face, arms and legs, insomnia, strange dreams, dizzy, nightsweats, jaw problems, I discontinued the lamictal due to all my hair loss and spots on my face. | I went on this medicine for my pregnancy. I was told by my neurologist this was a "safer" med to take during pregnancy. I have had 2 kids who are normal with no side effects from the medicine. They are 2 and 4 now. I did have 1 seizure with each pregnancy @ five months pregnant. I am trying other seizure meds, they all seem pretty bad. Anyone suggest any ??? | F | 39 | 5 years | 6/6/2009 | 3 | Epilepsy | Extreme Headaches, Severe Acne on face, stomach & back. Memory Loss, Clumsiness, Slurred speech, Racing thoughts & Insomnia, Unable to think clearly or finish sentences. | The headaches and acne were worse in the first few months. The acne was so bad I actually went to the ER thinking it could've been the rash. Still having problems with the memory(I have to write everything down now). It's hard to put thoughts into words, and I end up stuttering or slurring my words. And as soon as I close my eyes to sleep, a million things fly through my head. I can't relax. I feel as if I'm losing my mind sometimes. | F | 22 | 3 years | 6/2/2009 | 2 | Epilepsy | Tiredness, memory loss, depression, lack of enthusiasm for anything, insomnia, twitching, and jerks, zoning out, increased fits | At first I was very happy with Lamictal, and did not have a grand mals for 3 years, and even got my driving license, but then I started to have them again, and my neurologist kept increasing my dose of lamictal, which gradually made me feel worse, and now Im on 150mg twice a day, but it still isn't stopping the fits, in fact they are gradually becoming more frequent, and the side effects are driving me mad. Im going to talk to my neurologist about coming off of it. | M | 28 | 8 years | 6/2/2009 | 3 | bipolar 2 | nausea, stomach ache, diarreah,run burn like rash on face and neck. I did take myself off of it. But i think i will try it again, and try to be more in tune with the side effects and see if i can live with them. fuzzy head I did feel different, been biploar since i was 11 | are any of you on disability for this illness, if so let me know who you make, cope with it. | F | 49 | 4 days | 5/31/2009 | 3 | major depression w/ mood swings | At first I had increased depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety attacks, panicky feelings, extreme irritability and insomnia. After about 9 days, just insomnia and some irritability. | I am diagnosed with major depression with psychotic features. I recently developed major mood swings within my depression (no mania). I am only taking 25mg and will begin to take 50mg in 3 days. Initial side effects were pretty bad and I felt severe depression, constant anxiety attacks, irritability and insomnia. After about 9 days on this med, I have begun to feel a bit better with only some irritability but I still have the insomnia. I wake up 3-4 times a night, wide awake and unable to sleep for some time. I also take Effexor XR, Abilify and Librium. All these side effects are new and from the Lamictal since I have been on the other meds for some time now. | F | 31 | 11 days | 5/29/2009 | 4 | Newly diagnosed Bipolar II Disorder | Nausea, short term memory loss, disorientation, difficulty finding the right words, altered perception of time, visual changes, dizziness. | Although I am not too happy about the short term memory loss and disorientation, I am feeling more stabilized than I have ever felt on other medications. I know that I am an intelligent person, so it helps to tell myself that it's just the medication causing the side effect and that it doesn't have to be forever. I have energy, motivation, and determination to get things done. My anxiety is non existent and the depression has lifted quite a bit. I experienced short term memory loss and brain fog with all other mood stabilizers, so unfortunately, I feel this is something I am just going to have to deal with with this class of drugs. I feel hopeful but a little frustrated at times for not being as sharp. Good luck to everyone and find that one thing that keeps pushing you forward. It can be a dark and winding road sometimes, but if we find something to hold onto and pull us through, it makes the journey worthwhile. | F | 25 | 2 weeks | 5/25/2009 | 2 | bipolar disorder | Double-vision, Concentration problems, unable to verbally express thoughts, lack of energy, sometimes I get a slight rash, drunk feelings, weight loss (although not rapid), Diarrhea, heartburn, Weakness, Speech problems, Sinus infection, Nervousness, and Memory loss. | It has helped with the depression thoughts and behaviors of my bipolar disorder however the side effects are ruining my life. I'm going to try to get off the medication in the next few days. | F | 29 | 90 days | 5/24/2009 | 3 | BiPolar | Weight gain (despite the 18 month studies saying weight gain isn't associated with Lamictal), severe dizziness and clumsiness if dose is missed. and thanks to this site my "brain" syptoms are explained: severe short-term memory deficits (going into a room and forgetting why I am there), a fog in general... which causes problems like clumsiness and general spaciness. recall People's names? Forget it! Phone numbers? Forget it! Appointments! Forgot them too... All the fixings on the counter I made a sandwich with this afternoon (or last night)... throw it all away! | I have been taking Lamictal for about 4 years now and this is the FIRST I've heard that my "brain fog" symptoms are Lamictal related. I share what others experience here: short-term memory funk,"tip of the brain/tongue" problems. Dyslexic. My speech is clumsy at times as well. This has been increasingly distressing because it's getting worse. so why haven't ANY of my psych docs made this association for me!!??? I have been worried that I have dementia or mini-strokes. I've slowly gained weight (~7lbs yr) since beginning this med. Since the "cute" tummy roll turned into a blob dripping over my waistband I've tried dieting. I limit to 1200 cal. a day (low fat) and not sedentary for a year!, yet the weight doesn't budge. I think Lamictal has all but shut down my thyroid. Symptoms of dry itchy skin/scalp, dry course hair/ hair loss, dry eyes, menstrual irregularities (I have a period every 10 - 21 days)weight gain / trouble losing weight, brain fog,decreased mood, decreased libido/ energy... are all related to low thyroid, seems many of us suffer these symptoms... I am beginning my taper off Lamictal today. I am grateful this site exists. Thanks for sharing. | F | 46 | 4 years | 5/20/2009 | 2 | Mood stabilization and Seizures | Debilitating mood swings. Constipation. Anxiety. Depression. Small skin irritations and rashes. Insomnia. Racing thoughts. Short term memory loss. Trouble verbalizing thoughts. Low libito.Inability to calm myself down when upset. Getting emotional over nothing. Weight gain. Overall, since going on 450 mg the differance is not even perceptible. In fact, the mood swings seem to last longer and not as rapid. I anger easily when down. I do not think in the end this will be the right thing for me | M | 49 | 3 months | 5/19/2009 | 5 | Bipolar II | Mental "fog" | Lamictal has been great for me. I actually feel like "myself" when I take it, but without the wild mood swings. What I like best, however, is that I actually feel emotions, and do have "normal" (i.e. not life-threatening and not rapidly changing) ups and downs. I have definitely experienced the mental fog - started bothering me about a year in - but I have found that ACCUPUNCTURE works wonders for this. I highly recommend trying it if you are having this side effect (I stumbled upon it by accident when going to the accupuncturist for allergies- didn't have much luck with the allergies, but still go whenever I start feeling "foggy"- the effect lasts a good few months, particularly if I am taking care of myself diet and exercise-wise). | F | 30 | 3 years | 5/12/2009 | 1 | Severe Depression/Anxiety, Insomnia | Hallucinations, foggy memory, very vivid nightmares, detachement from myself, flu-like symptoms, fever | I wish I played the lottery because I'd have to be the guy that gets the allergic reaction. This was a hellish drug for me. I felt like I was on LSD. I saw things, I literally thought I had lost my mind. I became afraid to answer the phone from the anxiety it gave me. I felt like I was in some type of fugue state. I eventually went to the emergency room where they kept me overnight for allergic reactions. Later that week, I overdosed and was hospitalized for 8 days. Not fun. | M | 30 | 1 times | 5/10/2009 | 4 | bipolar disorder | unsure / put on 3 other medications at the same time | it's really bitter. | M | 24 | 2 years | 5/9/2009 |
| Key to
ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
