Drug Ratings for LAMICTALAverage Rating: 3.5 (1656 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Date Rating Was Added Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR LAMICTAL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 5 | Bipolar | Loss of coordination. This medicine has worked wonders! I take it at night and do not wake up in the morning feeling hungover. | F | 34 | 5 years 300 MG | 5/21/2013 | 2 | Epilepsy, absence seizures. | Itchy skin, double vision, dejevous. Extreme tiredness, achy muscles, falling asleep in school, emotional, big increase in seizures. | My son was ok at 30mg twice aday but no controll of seizures. Since going upto 50mg, he is experiencing alot more problems. Hes drops off to sleep in school, legs ache, headaches, belly aches, itcy skin and increased seizures. Had infantile spasms at 6 months old and has very mild development delay. Falling behind in school now. | M | 10 | 6 months 50 2X D | 5/19/2013 | 5 | Bipolar | Very itchy. I get little individual hive welts that appear and then vanish within minutes. I've never gotten the dangerous rash though. Otherwise it has been literally a life saver. It keeps my mood within healthy ranges but I also still feel emotions intensely -- in other words, it hasn't made me feel "flat" or anything. It doesn't have any negative cognitive effects for me. The itchiness is worth it considering all the good it's done me. | F | 23 | 3 years 400mg | 5/8/2013 | 3 | major depression/intractible migrai | Feeling as if my head is a vast empty cave, loss of personality, feeling flat, memory loss and noticeable word finding problems. hair loss first 3 months which has completely subsided. | Debilitating intractable migraines drastically reduced! However I'm on the fence about this medication. I am no longer overwhelmed by suicidal thoughts, though I have recently been having some dramatic mood cycling which is triggered by seasonal allergies. I also can't remember sh*t which is very disconcerting! | F | 41 | 5 months 200 1X D | 5/7/2013 | 1 | Petit mal seizures | This drug killed me on the inside. I wanted to die. Hostility/Depression/Suicidal thoughts/Irritability/Loss of appetite/Anxiety/Severe mood change/Racing thoughts. Every day I wanted to sleep forever. It just broke me. | F | 17 | 2 months | 5/2/2013 | 1 | Bipolar II | Trouble finding words, trouble reading, loss of sense of humor, feel stupid, extreme difficulty making all types of decisions, loss of interest and excitement. | I am now on an ADHD medication which has helped and made me positive, social, and motivated. I still have all these things present though, as I haven't been able to get off this drug yet. I break down and cry all the time because of how boring I have become and how I am such a shell of my former self. And, frequently, there are days where I feel so stupid I don't know what to do with myself. For example, I can be sitting on the couch, stuck in a position, with absolutely no idea what I am doing or what my intentions are, and it becomes terrifying to choose, say, whether to wash my hands or brush my teeth, even though I only need to do the latter. I am very often confused, and everything except the current day feels like it happened last week. I suppose it doesn't sound severe, but it is very debilitating and I feel so empty, like a bunch of my personality is missing. I will note that this got WORSE over the period of time I've been using it, not better, and worse as the dosage was increased as well. | M | 16 | 9 months 100 MG 1X D | 4/14/2013 | 5 | Sensory overload (autism) | Not too many. When starting treatment I felt somewhat high/spaced out. Some people get pretty bad headaches or muscle pain, but I did not get that at all. At higher doses (~500 mg +), you may get minor double vision (your eyes might cross ever so slightly). Also, I got NO RASH! | Have a knowledgeable doctor prescribe this for you. Escalate the dose properly. My doctor even tested my lamotrigine blood levels to make sure everything was alright. This drug was excellent for the dissociation/depersonalization I get when I have sensory overload. It helps sensory integration. I have asperger's syndrome. I am on 600 mg of this drug, and even at this high dose, the side effects are very mild. | M | 22 | 4 years 300 mg 2X D | 4/12/2013 | 2 | Depression not responsive to ssris | Increased depression, rages, irritability, paranoia, painful body, speech and memory issues. Lethargy. Fog like. Very rapid cycling between sad and angry. Zero happiness and worse teeth clenching | F | 39 | 7 weeks 50 | 3/23/2013 | 2 | Seizures of unknown cause | Acne, Headaches, Acne, Sore Muscles, Acne, Vaginal Itching, Acne, Stiff Neck, Acne, Lethargy, Excessive Urination, & Acne. | F | 32 | 2 weeks 50mg/day | 3/11/2013 | 4 | Partial seizures | Lamictal in combination with Keppra for 9 years solved all my problems. No side effects other than irritability and your usual anxiety. Ten times more effective than Trileptal (weight gain problems). HOWEVER, since being taken off of Keppra and bumped to Lamictal XR 200 once a day, I have decreased cognitive functioning and feel as if I am in a fog throughout the entire day. | All I want to do is sleep, all the time. I can take nap after nap and get 8, 9, 10, 12 hours of sleep a night and feel fatigued throughout the day. Seizure-free for 10+ years, but in the past 6 months having trouble with memory, word retrieval, articulation, and a general sense of disconnect with my surroundings. | F | 20 | 10 years 100 MG 2X D | 3/6/2013 | 1 | Bipolar | Very naseous and having trouble eating. Bad headaches that don't go away no matter what i do. Can't focus or concentrate, double vision. Suicidal thoughts. | This medicine literally made me want to kill myself, it seems to work for some but not with me. | F | 17 | 7 days 50 1X D | 3/4/2013 | 2 | Bipolar II Disorder & Depression | dry eyes, lack of motivation, lethargy/sluggishness, difficulty awakening in a.m., headache & shooting head pain when increasing dosage | Have been titrating up the dose slowly over the past 2 months & currently take 50mg am & 75mg pm in hopes of stabilizing mood, decreasing depression and severe agitation. Have definitely noticed a quieting in my head w/less racing thoughts & more calm, but almost too calm. Little energy & motivation currently, when before I had boundless energy & needed little sleep - now feel lazy & tired a lot. Have not seem much improvement in depressive symptoms and seem to have traded crying for raging. Hoping that 200mg will bring relief like other say... | F | 45 | 2 months 125mg 1X D | 3/3/2013 | 3 | Epilepsy | Gained 2 stone. Short-term memory loss. Lethargy. Acne. Mood swings. | F | 41 | 3 years 75 mg 1X D | 3/1/2013 | 3 | Rapid cycling bipolar | severe lower back pain and stiffness, memory loss, word selection problems, headaches, dizziness, nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain, frequent urination, rage, irritation, anxiety, acne, small red bumps on legs. bruise easier, lack of sleep. | I am hyper sensitive to drugs and started at 6.5 and worked up to 25. Lamictal made me a bit racey for the first few months and i felt hyper productive and great. Still had minor ups and downs but less depressed. Stopped crying every day. Now i am beginning to realize how my memory and brain power have declined and am slowly tapering my dose. | F | 21 | 5 months 25mg 1X D | 2/24/2013 | 4 | Major Depression/Bipolar 2 | Depression has improved. Mood is not as stable as I would like. Still have a lot of agression/anger. Also taking Abilify 20mg, Mirtazapine (Remeron) 45mg and Wellbutrin XL 450mg. | M | 52 | 6 months 200mg 1X D | 2/16/2013 | 3 | Bi-polar | Some itching in the beginning but could be psychosomatic. | I am able to think more clearly. Less of the thoughts racing. Easier verbal communication. But it's nothing amazing to tell the truth. I'm coming off SNRI's and SSRI's. So compared with the "bubble" those antidepressants cause, this is a mild drug (thus far). | M | 31 | 3 months 150 1X D | 2/14/2013 | 5 | Major Depressive Disorder/Psychosis | Black dots and itching skin and crawling sentations from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. Almosts like tactile hallucinations. They can be distracting. I have to pee more and I get dehydrated faster.But other than that i hope all goes well and no more side effects pop up! :) | I love lamictal it took 4 weeks to kick in on 25mg and just got amazing on 50mg. Psych doc said why not up it so u feel even better? I waz skeptical but its amazing on 100mg. Stables my mood swings and depression. I'm aggitated less and my suicidal thoughts gone and my irrational thought to hurt others and myself are gone. My paranoia is not and of course not my voices but its not an anti psychotic so yaa. My family is happy and I'm doin great in school. | M | 18 | 6 weeks 100mg 1X D | 1/24/2013 | 1 | Bipolar | swollen lymph nodes; new ones form every day, flu-like symptoms, fever, chills, achy, weight gain, and migraines. | F | 29 | 4 weeks 50mg | 1/20/2013 | 1 | Bipolar | WEIGHT GAIN, water retention, MEMORY loss! | My dr told me this was weight neutral...I thought I gained weight from other meds I was on, LIES! I cannot get this weight off either!! I STOPPED lamictal because I kept gaining. I wasnt even HUNGRY on it! that was the best part! NO APPETITE so I wasnt eating. Then got a trainer and nutritionist...weight STILL wont come off! Has anyone else had this problem? When will the weight get off!!!!!!! Been off med for a month now working out 7 days a week | F | 6 months 1X D | 1/11/2013 | 1 | So called Bipolar | Hallucinations, Nightmares, Niight terrors, Waking through the night, all over body itching, pressing sensation on eyes, falling, tripping, loss of memory(finish reading a book and forget the name and contents) become aggresive in thought, flat mood, generaly feel detached... | F | 57 | 4 days 200 | 12/15/2012 | 1 | mood stabalizer | 6 mo after taking drug I was diagnosed w/ fibromyalgia. Now after Nortryptiline 1 yr, Lyrica 7 yrs, and Savella 1 yr I want to try and have a baby, so I go off everything but my birthcontrol. It's been 3 weeks and my pain is cut in half. I am besides myself at the prospect of this drug causing the pain that led to a misdiagnosis of 10 yrs....My fear is I won't completely recover and be damaged forever. I have excellent doctors, how can this be? | it worked for my bi polar | F | 34 | 10 years 50 2X D | 12/15/2012 | 4 | bipolar | Dry mouth, insomnia, swollen lymph nodes, tongue swelling | F | 25 | 3 weeks | 12/14/2012 | 5 | bipolar type 2 (mostly depression) | insomnia (mild). minor itching | Only 2 weeks on this and so far it's been amazing. I know its very early days but its as if I have been released from a prison sentence. The floor has come up and the ceiling has come down and I am much more comfortable with this new space. I'm not so damn emotional but oddly enough I am more empathic and supportive to others. Best thing is the self hatred has gone. I am sorry that others have done not so well on this and I hope you find something that works. Best wishes! V | M | 45 | 14 days 25 1X D | 12/9/2012 | 3 | Bipolar II, PTSD, Anxiety, Insomnia | Involuntary eye movement, swollen lymph nodes/glands, headaches, nausea, blurred vision, couldn't articulate to save my life, slurred speech, itching, dry mouth (upon withdrawal), insomnia (upon withdrawal), bad anxiety (upon withdrawal) | originally, I was very satisfied with this drug. It helped me sleep, took care of my moods, I was stable, my anxiety was gone. It was wonderful. I had some interesting side effects which I thought I could live with until I discovered swollen glands. My pdoc never heard of it before, so I went to the doctor and had several tests done just to be told I am perfectly healthy and I need to stop taking the drug. The withdrawal of this drug is SO bad it felt like I was dying. It shot me off so badly into the deep end, I am now far worse than I was BEFORE I took the drug. I still experience insomnia (though my pdoc now put me on valproate 400mg and seroquel 50mg which does wonders for the insomnia) but my anxiety is really bad and my eye vision is not what it used to be (i struggle to move my eyes quickly). My lymph nodes are STILL not gone which terrifies me and I probably have to go back and get more tests done (not sure what more they can do AS I AM PERFECTLY HEALTHY). I advise strong caution when using this drug, or considering using it. It can work great for some but completely terrible for others. It's a very dependent drug and the addiction is bad. In the end I think the risks are just too great, there are many other wonderful drugs to be taken for bipolar, lamictal is not the only one out there. | F | 22 | 8 months 100 2X D | 11/25/2012 | 5 | Bipolar II, Narcolepsy | Some drowsiness, appetite loss, minor rash on start up which cleared up after a couple of weeks. | Lamictal was the the sixth mood stabilizer my psychiatrist prescribed me after the previous five caused problematic reactions. It was the most effective medication I have been prescribed for treating my rabid cycling bipolar II. I was diagnosed with narcolepsy 6 years after I started taking lamictal, and discovered that the lamictal had been preventing catapletic episodes, along with the bipolar treatment. | F | 24 | 8 years 300MG 1X D | 11/15/2012 | 4 | Bipolar Depression | VERY mild. Hot flashes and felt like I had a fever, but passed. Emotional numbness at higher doses (>100mg). Otherwise none really. | I was prescribed this years ago after starting a new psych, who diagnosed me as bipolar, about 10% manic and 90% depression as the problems. The best thing about this is that 1.) it's very mild and 2.) works very well at fighting the depression part of BP. Didn't dull me out like several others I tried (Depakote ER, Zyprexa, Trileptal, Tegretol), and after about 2 weeks after starting it I noticed just an overall improvement in my mood. Didn't propel me into a manic state, just an overall brighter attitude and outlook on things. I've been on up to 200mg and my psych has for years changed the dosage until we finally settled on 100mg as the most effective for me. | M | 29 | 4 years 100mg 2X D | 11/8/2012 | 4 | Bi-Polar I | Nearly eliminates my Tinnitus on a daily basis. If I miss a dose my tinnitus comes on really strong. Twice when I missed it, within 2 hours or so my tinnitus was extra loud, nausea, and dizziness hit. Went home took it and w/in an hour or so everything calmed down. | I'll probably never stop taking it. Tinnitus (especially when it's really loud), makes me want to tear my head off. I believe if more people with Tinnitus tried this drug and found that it worked for them, they too would never stop taking it. I believe it has to do with the anti-convulsion treatment. | F | 60 | 3.5 years 200 1X D | 10/21/2012 | 4 | Mini Seizures due to MS | No side effects at all On it for 3 mos so far | Given this drug due to having what they think are mini seizures. Really all that happens is when I'm writing my handwriting will suddenly turn into scribble and my hand shakes badly. This is due to MS ( Multiple Sclerosis). I was given a starter pack and slowly increased to 100 mgs. It works great for that problem. Has kept it stable and no more issues. | F | 38 | 90 days 100 1X D | 10/20/2012 | 3 | Bipolar 2 and Depression | Jaw clenching, severe insomnia, over heating, increased sweating, frequent nausea, muscle ticks | I have been taking Lamictal for about 6 months now for my Bipolar type 2 and depression in conjunction with Effexor which I was on for about 4 years. I am happy with my over all mood this drug has been wonderful for that. I never felt quite right just taking the Effexor. However, the awful jaw clenching, biting my tongue in my sleep, nausea, and severe insomnia have me seriously reconsidering taking this medication. I can't decide if these side effects are worth the result in my mood stabilization. This is very unfortunate as a mother of two I have issues with my patience sometimes. I will be consulting my doctor as I have been up all night due to severe jaw pain and insomnia, I just can't take it anymore :( | F | 28 | 6 months 200 1X D | 10/16/2012 | 5 | Bipolar | NONE - definitely worth trying if you're Bipolar and feeling hopeless. So much better than Lithium. That's when you'll fee like a Halloween zombie. | F | 60 | 12 years 100 1X D | 10/11/2012 | 5 | bipolar | none | wonder drug. wouldnt be able to live a normal life without it. have tried all sorts of other mood stabilizers and none were effective like this one. feel sorry for the people who had sensitivity to the side effects of this med. because it works great! | F | 35 | 2 years 300 mg 1X D | 10/1/2012 | 2 | severe mood swings, depression | Felt like my soul had died. Dead, emotionally numb. Zero interest in any activity. | This may work for others, but I will never touch it again. | M | 46 | 6 weeks 50mg 2X D | 9/28/2012 | 3 | Bipolar Disorder | hypomania on titration, stomach cramps, headaches, diarrhea, nausea. All went away after the first few months. | M | 21 | 2 years 200mg | 9/5/2012 | 2 | partial seizures | horrible, itchy rash on my arms | doc told me to call if i experienced any type of rash, which could be serious. i don't think i took it for long enough to know if it controlled my partial seizures. | F | 47 | 5 days 50 mg 2X D | 8/26/2012 | 2 | Issues with stabilizing moods | Fatigue, irritability, mood swings, emptiness, increased sexual urges, inability to fall back asleep after waking up spontaneously, waking up with sore neck, occasional sore throat, carelessness, confusion, lost of interest. | I have been taking the generic form of Lamical (Lamogtrine) for around 2 months. At this moment in time I feel as if this drug has ruined my life! I had problems with depression and stabilizing my moods before taking Lamictal, but I was relatively sane compared to how I am now. Firstly, I am very empty and feel that my existence is zombie-like. I don't have any sense of compassion or sympathy. I've been with my boyfriend for almost ten months and we had such a strong relationship before this medicine, but now we almost go our seperate ways three times+ a day because I never seem to be able to make up my mind. I was paranoid that he was going to leave me prior to Lamictal, but now the tables have turned completely and he's trying to keep a hold on me but I fear I'm going to do something stupid. I go from loving him, being so infatuated, convinced we're going to have a future to doubt that we're going to last and I'm unsure if I love him or even care about him at all. It's a horrible thing to admit and I'm ashamed I don't have a grasp on my own emotions anymore. I am so confused and just want to remember how I felt before taking this terrible medicine. I was so sure that I was going to become a fitness trainer/nutritionist, and carefully controlled what I consumed as well as tried to keep fit...I had DREAMS...GOALS! But now, I don't even attempt to stay healthy or trim. No career seems to appeal to me, and nothing really entertains me anymore. Things I once loved and had intere | F | 17 | 2 months 25-50 1X D | 8/22/2012 | 5 | Bi-Polar | Some acne(not too bad) Increase in sex drive (not too bad), thirsty, first few days very tired, occassional headache | This has worked great for me. I have been on it for 3 weeks. I started at 50 mg then after 2 weeks went to 100. The first few days it made me very tired but now I feel great, my husband says my moods are much better and I am no longer an "emotional roller coaster". I was diagnosed bi-polar 1 two times and bi polar 2 once. I have taken many different meds and I think this may be the way to go, at least for me. | F | 32 | 21 days 100 mg 1X D | 8/15/2012 | 1 | Bipolar | When using 50mg hallucinations, severe irritability, lack of co-ordination, felt like i was losing my mind. On 25mg that ive been taking for the past 9ths, dnt feel its helping really. Feeling irritable and moody recently | F | 48 | 10 months 25mg | 8/7/2012 | 1 | bipoler | Stiff neck, sencetivity to light,white sores in mouth,tremor,back pain,fatigue,sweating,diarrhea and costipation,flu like systoms,a zombie,low grade fever,sweating,blurred vision,weakness,very irtated | F | 47 | 8 weeks 100mg | 8/6/2012 | 4 | Seizures | Blisters in mouth, swollen tongue, yellow eyes. | I love Lamictal for it's giving me good mood and somewhat control the seizures. However, I had such terrible side-effects in the first week that my doctor took me off the drug :( I think it's a great drug, just not the right one for me. Sad... | F | 37 | 5 days 25mg 1X D | 7/31/2012 | 5 | major depression | I don't notice any side effects. Maybe hair loss, but I'm not sure if that's from this drug alone. | This drug changed my life. In 5 years I didn't experience any depression. I had some depressive symptoms start because of a chronic pain issue. We increased the dose from 100 to 150 and I felt a lot better. Other members of my family have also benefited greatly from Lamictal. | F | 31 | 6 years 150mg 1X D | 7/28/2012 | 1 | Bi-polar possibility | Parkinson's like tremor. Profound weakness. Could not stand or sit up. Severe BP spikes. Infections, gums, lungs, etc. Feeling out of my skin. Feeling that I was going crazy and going to die. Thought people weren't listening to my cries for help. No one would help me titrate off. Severe paranoia. I repeatedly asked to lower my dose to see if I truly had MS symptoms to go with my MRI Psych fired me. I came close to losing my job my mind my family. This was truly the closest thing to attempted murder. I was NOT bi-polar I was being recruited as a hefty Copay for the Psych. I feel I have a moral obligation to report him to protect others. Especially the children he sees. He cost me money time and I truly suffered incredibly. Lamictal is VERY dangerous. Please be careful. | F | 43 | 3 months 150 mg | 7/23/2012 | 1 | Seizures | Myoclonic Jerks | Worked at 150 Mg. At 300 Mg, Caused Myoclonic Jerks for 3 days, had to DC Med. | M | 23 | 16 days 150 Mg 2X D | 7/15/2012 | 2 | Bipolar 2 | Do not take this stuff unless you want to feel like an emotionless zombie floating thru life and never really enjoying it. I'm trying to convince my psychiatrist to take me off of this medication cause I really want to feel like 'myself' again. My outgoing personality has vanished and I have no motivation or anything that makes me feel 'truly' happy anymore. Even sex has lost my excitement. I can't wait to get off this stuff and get my personality back!!! | F | 19 | 3 years 300MG 1X D | 7/6/2012 | 4 | Depression, SSRI induced bipolar II | Increased libido, mild itchiness at dosage increase, no others | I am on my third week on Lamictal. I took 12.5mg for 1 week, and I am on my second week on 25mg. So far, so good. Little effects. Maybe a good one with the increased libido. I've also noticed orgasms come quicker and more frequently. My moods have been more level and my actions, which previously were often dictated by emotions, are easier to control. I have recently come off Buspar/Zoloft combination due to agitation (mixed state?), increased paranoia, and hypomania. I don't believe my diagnosis is bi-polar, but more like depression that cannot be treated with SSRIs. On the Zoloft, I had little ability to orgasm, so the libido change is drastic. Although, it is hard to pinpoint if it is the Zoloft withdrawal is increasing libido or the Lamictal. I suspect it is a combination. | F | 26 | 3 weeks 25MG 1X D | 6/30/2012 | 3 | Depression | Helps with my sleep as I work night shifts.... My psch prescribed it to me after 15 mins talking to her..am starting to worry because she wants to get me to 400 ... My mood is more stable... I don't want to be on these long term... Am worried also because I want to have a baby in the near future and worried if it will have an effect on that.... Am confused do I really need it??? | F | 31 | 4 months 350 | 6/25/2012 | 4 | BPD I | Oh the dripping sweat. From places I didn't know you sweat, like my kneecaps. Cognitive side effects--went from being a Spelling Bee speller to a their-there-they're confuser. Used to type 70 WPM with few errors, now I type 40 WPM with lots of backspace backspace backspace do over action. Weight gain/loss 50 pounds--related? not sure... | Lamictal plays a significant role in my mood stability--I have a mostly normal life these days. For me, the cognitive side effects are annoying, but being crazy is more annoying. So I use spellcheck and am grateful. It caused some problems in grad school, but I managed it. Being overweight is generally unpleasant, but I would much rather be buxom than batsh*t crazy. I do hate the sweating, but I am grateful my home and car are air-conditioned. I am just so glad to have something that helps me stay on an even keel and maintain good relationships, which I can't seem to do on my own. I guess we all have to do our own calculus about what we can live with. | F | 39 | 6 years 300 1X D | 6/22/2012 | 4 | Migraine headaches | I hadn't had any side effects while taking Lamictal in Italy years ago. Now I started it again, I bought the same brand in Bulgaria and had several side effects: first 3 days - feeling dizzy and confused, which subsided, then - feeling sikc (a common side effect, as I se), which subsided again, then - 3 days of headache and now - feelin restless, not sleepy (I have been sleeping less than usual but I am not tired at all) | F | 37 | 2 weeks 50mg 1X D | 6/11/2012 | 5 | Bipolar II | Splitting headaches whenever I change the dosage, but just until my body gets used to it, about 3-5 days. It has been a wonderful med for my bipolar depression, I used to take Seroquel but I sleep with my baby now and being knocked out was not an option, Lamictal was the perfect solution. I feel wonderful and have zero side effects now! | F | 33 | 2 months 50 mg 1X D | 6/9/2012 | 5 | bipolar | Hair loss. Has been such a wonder drug for me...if it continues I will invest in wigs! | F | 40 | 3 years 200 mg | 6/6/2012 | 5 | Bipolar/2 Chronic depressions | At first I experienced some anxiety, insomnia, upset stomach- went away after about 5 days. Feel good- better than I have in many years- scared about the rash - after 2 weeks I go up to 50mg- think I will stop there. No side effects that I can tell- not hungry- but much better than being too hungry. | F | 38 | 9 days 25 mg | 6/5/2012 | 5 | BP2 - Rapid cycling | Headache during titration - joint pain - initially somewhat emotional flattened. | Now , it`s a lifesaver. I hung in there during sideeffects - sideeffects gone - all is well - everybodys happy. Give yourself time , it may be the one drug you will need on a daily basis. | M | 47 | 700 days 400 mg. 1X D | 5/20/2012 | 4 | mood stablizer | none | Helps calm me, taken with Adderall | M | 55 | 7 years 150 2X D | 4/28/2012 | 2 | Bi Polar - Racing Thoughts | TERRIBLE Muscle spasms, trouble seeing at night, blurred vision, muscle soreness, cramping muscles ( I am physically active and I'd get cramps after 5 min of walking in feet and legs when taking lamictal) Vivid horrible nightmares that feel real, feeling completely indifferent. | almost 2 months ago I started lamictal combined with celexa and it's been increasingly miserable for me ever since i started. After 3 weeks I started taking 50 Mg a day but went back to 25 quickly after the side effects i listed all got far worse and I would feel terribly sick and feel like fainting. Since going back to 25 the side effects are still pretty bad and I'm simply waiting to see my doctor again to switch to something else. It indeed does help with Racing thoughts but these side effects are sometimes debilitating especially the muscle spasms and pain. Not worth taking at all. Feels like there are bruises forming on my arms at all times. | M | 22 | 40 days 25 MG 1X D | 4/28/2012 | 5 | Bipolar Depression | At first a little rash, but I felt so much better emotionally that I waited to see if it would go away and it did. | For the first time in 15 years suffering with bipolar/depression I feel content and normal. I have stopped taking Risperidone because it made me gain 50lbs, and I believe that with Lamictal I dont need anything else. I do take 0.5 Clonazepam in the morning and 0.5 at night to avoid obsessive thoughts (worries) since I quit Risperidone, but I trully feel wonderful with Lamictal, no more vivid dreams or feelings of being inadequate/worthless, no emptiness, I feel complete. I will take it forever. | F | 28 | 1.5 years 75 1X D | 4/25/2012 | 3 | Bipolar Disorder 1 | Intense Muscle contractions in both arms and legs with constant need to stretch them as hard as possible with little to no relief, excessive sweating, tired all the time yet not sleepy at night, inability to lose weight gained on previous medicines despite healthy eating habits and exercise, increased irritability and aggression | It doesn't seem to be working - still having depressed, hypo manic, or mixed moods daily, and I'm hesitant to stop taking it because it has taken 7 months so far to slowly get to the "therapeutic" level. I will say that since I've been on it I haven't had any full blown manic episodes, which had been a problem for me - hospitalized twice last year for them - no hospitalizations since I've been on this drug. | F | 42 | 7 months 350 mg 1X D | 4/13/2012 | 1 | seizures | memory loss, joint pain, spelling, cognitive impairment, can't articulate, find word, flip letters, spacey, depressed, anxiety attacks, sound & light sensitivity, hair loss, dry skin, joint swelling, horrible morning headaches, night sweats, flat, stabbing pains, twitching, focal stares where one eye rolls inward, frontal lobe feels fat & dumb, sores in mouth/nose, invisible itching, hands/feet ice cold, drunk feeling... | I brought 'my list' with me to neuro, GP, Rheumi, only to be treated like I was nuts. No one would even discuss side effects. When a minor collision landed me in a jail cell because of my sound sensitivity/reaction to the sound of sirens & then an anxiety/panic attack when cops assumed I was under the influence, none of my doctors supported me. I'd only had 1day of seizures 4yrs after a TBI, yet I'd been on seizure drugs for 18yrs. I have NO MEMORY at all from all these drugs. I took myself off lamictal & never felt better, had no seizures(1yr). Bit my tongue in my sleep in Oct. & ER doc reported me to DMV because I wasn't taking meds. Now, I am forced to take this drug for life if I want to drive. If I switch, I will have to wait another yr before it's 'established to control my 'nonexisitant' seizures'. I hate this drug. I hate a country where I am forced to take a drug that makes me feel horrible everyday, have no memory of my life, and all I did was bite my tongue. | F | 51 | 4 years 100mg 2X D | 4/2/2012 | 3 | BIPOLAR | water retention, hair loss, memory loss, stiff neck, swollen lymph nodes, frequent infetions, headaches daily, weight gain, heart palpitations | it did bring me out of a suicidal depression. went up to 25mg, 2X a day and was still ok but it kicks my hormones ouit of whack. I had to lower it due to intolerable headaches and fluid retention and palpitations. Switched to generic due to cost and went totally off. They are NOT the same. Will try to stick with this lower dose until I see Pdoc. | F | 52 | 6 months 25 MG. 1X D | 3/29/2012 | 5 | Bipolar | No noticable side effect | This medication was the first that significantly reduced the amount of mood swing. I was rapid cycling so this really helped the continuity of my life. Gave me a stable base to try to rebuild marriage. I'm at a high dosage so it's expensive (but worth it). I still get some physical symptoms of highs/lows but they are manageable. I recommend this highly for mood stabilization. Doesn't do much for my GAD. | M | 45 | 4 years 300 2X D | 3/17/2012 | 3 | Bipolar Disorder | I actually take 100 in the morning and 200 at bedtime, but it didn't allow me to put that. Anyway, drowsiness was a huge problem for a year or two when I started this medicine. I was having a lot of nausea for awhile too, but not positive if it was from the lamictal or other meds. I think now it may actually be causing my insomnia but I'm not sure. Also, painful menstrual cramps. | It's hard to swallow, and disgusting if you can't get it down. haven't been stable for any long period of time while on this medicine, so not sure how well it's really working. | F | 22 | 3 years 300 mg 1X D | 3/15/2012 | 5 | Atypical Bipolar Disorder | None. I started at 50, went to 100 for about a year, 200 now for two years. I take it at night. | This has been a great drug for me. I felt the beneficial effects immediately - stabilized higher-level mood, lower anxiety. No sluggishness or weight gain, my weight fluctuations have reduced. I take it in the evening, it seems to help me sleep. I notice the next day if I forget. | M | 57 | 3 years 200 1X D | 3/11/2012 |