LAMICTAL Reviews (LAMOTRIGINE)Average Rating: 3.4 (1917 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare LAMICTAL with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Gender with females listed first (reviews with no gender reported listed before females). 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 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 |
More on LAMICTAL: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR LAMICTAL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 3 | treatment resistant depression | Flu-like dizzyness and nausea when I missed a dose. Not much else that I can tell. I take it at night, 200mg. | Am taking it with Wellbutrin for treatment-resistant depression, mild OCD, and anxiety. Doctor prescribed it to replace Zyprexa, which has potentially dangerous side effects. Not as good as Zyprexa, but I suppose it must be doing something. So long as you aren't allergic to it, this seems to be a safe long-term treatment option. I'm not convinced it is doing much for me, but I am not taking it for BPD. Prescribed for me because multiple SSRIs did nothing for me. | F | 29 | 9 months | 8/25/2006 | 3 | BiPo2 | Loopy, cloudy thoughts. Had a tendency to tip sideways when I would turn a corner. My equalibrium was way off the first few months. Short term memory isn't too great. I swear, I think my boobs have gotten bigger (not necessarily a good thing)! | I started on the increased dosage over X weeks. I am currently @ 200mg thinking I might have to increase. After reading the comments on affecting birth control, I plan on asking my dr about that. | F | 37 | 5 months | 9/29/2005 | 3 | depression | OK, after a week w/it at 12.5-25mg I'm itching all over. It seemed to pull me out of depression. Also started crying alot on it. Since tears are good for you that isn't so bad. Also less appetite for the most part. Some disturbed sleep and less focused vision-something darkens my vision. | F | 4 | | 9/20/2005 | 3 | Bipolar | INSOMNIA, INSOMINIA,INSOMNIA! Too much saliva. Vivid recurring dreams. Mouth sores, acne,irritation. Back and joint pain. | Taking 75 mg's at night now. Cant sleep until 4 or 5 am wake up with horrible dreams, night sweats after only 2 or 3 hours of sleep. My moods are more stable, not sure if side effects are worth it. Not able to function at work, had to take a leave. | F | 34 | 3 weeks | 9/19/2005 | 3 | partial seizures | dizziness (major dizziness if I drink any alcohol, even 1/2 glass of wine). A harder time recalling words and spelling words though they eventually come to me. It's as if my brain is working, but in much slower motion. A perceived weakness in legs and hands (harder to type), but I think I exaggerate the symptoms due to my hypochrondia (fear of ALS, MS, what have you). The good news is that this drug seems to be helping my seizures. I used to have a minimum of two simple partial seizures a month. Since starting Lamictal I've only had one in 88 days (almost 2 months). | I was supposed to work up to 200mg, but the side effects I experienced were too much for me. I've tapered down to 100mgs and I'm hoping I'll be ok with this lower amount. | F | 47 | 2 months | 11/6/2006 | 3 | Mood swings, PTSD, ADD | At first, a little numb emotionally.At 100mg feeling OK, slight loss of appetite. I experienced some pretty tough things - like being laid off from a job for the first time in my life - and then got severely depressed. I cried for days,lost my appetite completely, felt suicidal. My dosage was increased to 150 mg and I didn't feel so emotionally labile, but had night sweats, itchy, dry skin, hair loss, small rash. After being on the 150 mg for a couple of weeks, I started really retaining water, my ankles became swollen, I got constipated, had decreased urination and lower abdominal cramps.Two days ago, I was at work, on my feet all day, and I had to urinate, but was unable to urinate. I got sweaty, felt like I was going to pass out,later that night had severe back pain, pain in my right kidney and trouble breathing. I tried some old fashioned remedies: I drank apple cider vinegar in water, and that helped me pass urine. I was also extremely constipated. I went to the local clinic and t | I started off trying all the antidepressants in 2002 - and the only one that worked was Wellbutrin. My best combo was Wellbutrin SR 300mg, Adderall 10-20mg XR and Prozac. I always took something for sleep, because it's always been a problem - but I've been taking Ambien 10 mg since 2002 as well. I felt bloated and decided to taper off the Prozac. Now I'm off it completely, but I miss it. I have to say that I'm not completely sure if this severe urinary retention is related to Lamictal, but it's scary. Having to go to bed with back and kidney pain is not good. So glad to be able to share this stuff with all of you. What got me to contribute was someone saying they had the neuralgia, which is definitely a red flag. | F | 58 | 4 months | 9/27/2007 | 3 | mood disorder/bipolar II | increased body acne, prone to canker sores & boils, swollen neck glands, achy in all joints, very vivid dreams | I am torn about this medication. It has helped somewhat with mood/irritability but the side effects are making me feel awful and depressed. I am getting married in 4 months and the achiness especially is interfering with my ability to function. I called the triage nurse about adjusting dosage, but no call back yet. Dr's appt is not until another 2 wks. Dont know if I can last that long. | F | 30 | 4 weeks | 5/11/2006 | 3 | epilepsy | hair loss word finding problems | F | 34 | 6 months | 5/20/2006 | 3 | Bipolar | Muscle loss/fat gain, never ending fatigue, extreme cravings for sweets/carbohydrates, and bad mixed episodes | I take I as monotherapy. It was great at 100 mg but once my Dr. increased to 150 mg I went into a manic state. She told me to increase to 200 mg because it was a mood stabilizer but I have read it is not very effective for Mania. I refused and went down to 100 mg and it got a little better. What I cannot deal with is the constant sugar cravings and fatigue. I'm trying to go off if it but the withdrawl is awful and I feel that I am hooked. | F | 23 | 6 months | 12/26/2005 | 3 | BDP | MOUTH WATERING CONSTANTLY, TOUNGE FEELS SWOLLEN AND MY DREAMS ARE SO REAL AND AWFUL! | BUT IM STILL GOING TO GIVE IT A SHOT CUZ I HAVENT HAD A RASH AND THATS A GOOD THING FROM WHAT I HEAR. CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF THE DREAMS STOP AFTER A WHILE IM SCARED THEY WILL STICK AROUND AND DISCOURAGE ME . | F | 28 | 1 months | 12/22/2005 | 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 | 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 day | 11/25/2012 | 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 day | 3/29/2012 | 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 day | 4/13/2012 | 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 day | 3/15/2012 | 3 | Bipolar 2 | I just started my treatment, and i am on my third day on 25mg. Headaches is the only side effect right now. Hopefully i wont get anymore. | F | 20 | 3 days 25mg | 2/29/2012 | 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 day | 10/16/2012 | 3 | Epilepsy | Gained 2 stone. Short-term memory loss. Lethargy. Acne. Mood swings. | F | 41 | 3 years 75 mg 1X day | 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 day | 2/24/2013 | 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 day | 5/7/2013 |