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 Satisfaction lowest to highest. 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 |
| 5 | Bipolar II | Titrated up to 250 mg (150 in am, 100 in pm)...also on Camila (progestin only) bc pill, so supposedly it's like i'm on a half dose, but I've gotten conflicting info about that. Also 75 mg Effexor. Extra sleepy, less bad side effects from drinking (although I've basically quit bc the med works SO much better when I'm alcohol-free), recently some of the large bumpy acne (bummer), maybe some difficulty w/ short term memory & coordination early on, but that's not seeming to be a problem now. I have a two year old daughter who I am gradually weaning off breastfeeding and she has had no adverse effects. | I love this med. Took me a long time to get comfortable with the dosage & its effects, but that may have been from drinking alcohol. I'm not sure about mixing it with caffeine (which I drink more of to counteract the sleepiness). If anyone has knowledge/experience, please email me? I used to have crazy rages and mood swings and the complete inability to react sanely even when i knew I was being irrational. My marriage and parenting are 100% better, I don't have resentful panic episodes around my in-laws, I can basically tolerate people who used to be very triggering, I am more patient and content and can find enthusiasm for simple pleasures (before,life was something to be endured, and the constant racing thoughts and worry were really miserable). The Effexor has made my depression pretty much nil over the years, but the hypomania has been miserable, and that has all but lifted. I am also a member of a twelve step program for compulsive overeating and bulimia. I can say t | F | 32 | 5.5 months | 1/24/2008 | 5 | Major depression Panic/anxiety | none that I can relate directly, without there being other explainations as well | I love it. After the hurricane my current med wasn't cutting it. For over a year I felt stuck in the panic,fear, and sever feelings of not feeling safe. I did every thing I could to feel safe again. I was in therapy, and having a history of extreme PTSD, I am use to fighting and doing everything possible to help myself, but nothing worked. My brain felt stuck. Lemectil released it. It didn't solve everything, but at least I'm battleing on flat ground. One thing I wish people would remember when they post. Just because the drug didn't work for you doesn't mean it sucks. I've taken numerous other meds that didn't help me, but have helped others. Bodies are different as is our responses to the med. | F | 32 | 1 years | 1/19/2008 | 5 | bipolar | Insomnia for days mixed with oversleeping for days, back and forth. Breast enlargement. Increased concentration, mental acuity, and memory | The dosage is being increased very slowly ...25mg, 50 mg, and 75 mg - which is what I am on now but will continue to go up I'm sure. It has substantially increased my concentration, mental acuity, and memory. I have insomnia for days mixed with oversleeping for days, back and forth, which I have not yet been able get undercontrol, with Vistaril, but I'm hopeful I'll find something that will work. I certainly feel better, which is amazing after 30 years of trying what seems lile every MAOi, Tricyclic, NRI, and SSRI there is. Lo and behold, my bust / bust size has been increasing as well. That was listed as a possible side effect on the meds sheet the doctor gave me. She laughed when I said that I had never heard of such a thing. I wondered aloud why, that being true, this drug wasn't being sold in the back of every magazine along with all the ads for penis enlargement, etc. She said that they ( I assume she meant docs ...the medical community) want to keep it a secret just for | M | 53 | 3 months | 1/3/2008 | 5 | bi-polar I | None | I take 600mg daily and have done so for more than 2 yrs. It took a while to titrate my dosage up to present amount. I think that is the key to getting the most out to the drug. It has helped shorten my depressed states. I feel less sucidal on a daily basis. | F | 46 | 2 years | 1/3/2008 | 5 | Depression and anxiety (unipolar) | On 200 mg (1 week), I seemed to be more tired and hungry than usual. On 100 mg, no side effects. | Lamictal is a godsend for me. I had no success with cymbalta, remeron, or pamelor - I was depressed all the time (mainly due to orthopedic pain and related incapacities) and often anxious. My psychiatrist said it was worth trying lamictal along with the cymbalta and remeron that I was taking at the time, and within a few days I began feeling a bit better, even at 25 mg of lamictal. Went all the way up to 200 mg and discontinued the other meds, but found that 200 mg was too much. A 100 mg dose of lamictal has been helping enormously with my depression and anxiety. At the times when my orthopedic problems aren't too bad, I sometimes go down to 67 mg for a while (doc says that's fine). | M | 52 | 6 months | 1/3/2008 | 5 | Bi Polar | floating things in vision, skin sensitivity-more prone to rashes than normal IE itchy sweater results in a minor rash that Hydrocortisone gets rid of. Memory loss. | I am taking 100 MG 2x/day and it has helped to bring me back to a more normal state. I dont seem to have the severe highs and lows anymore. The side effects are well worth it in my opinion. | M | 30 | 2 years | 12/27/2007 | 5 | bipolar II with depression | I crave sugar and chocolate. I have never felt better though. My depression is gone and I feel like I can handle life. the dark cloud has lifted and I feel hopeful all day long. Life is good again with no mania. | F | 50 | 2 months | 12/20/2007 | 5 | BI-POLAR | NONE | I'VE BEEN TAKING PAXIL AND GEODON AND HAVE GAINED 45 LBS. DOCTOR HAS STARTED ME ON LAMICTAL AND LEXAPRO AND PLANS TO DISCONTINUE THE LEXAPRO IN A FEW WEEKS. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE HAIR LOSS THAT I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF SOME OF YOU WITH HAIR LOSS WOULD EMAIL ME AND LET ME KNOW HOW THEY FIRST STARTED NOTICING IT AND IF IT WAS GRADUAL OR QUICK. I WOULD RATHER BE FAT THAN BALD. | F | 40 | 5 weeks | 12/17/2007 | 5 | Bipolar II | At 300 mg, lingering side effects (after initial adjustment): dry mouth, slight weight gain, some slight memory problems, tiredness, inability to drink alcohol. I'm also taking lithium, so that could be responsible for some of these. | This med was terrible to start. It took me a month of feeling horrible, exhausted, and uncomfortable in my own skin before things started to get better. I did bump my dose up to 300 all at once (in a few weeks) instead of increasing and waiting and feeling icky over the course of several months. I would increase in this way again, though. I have tried so many drugs, and this been the most effective with the least side effects so far. It controls my highs and lows well, especially the lows. I am a little "fuzzier", but at least I am functional and going to work and school. I am quite pleased with it. | F | 23 | 2 years | 12/16/2007 | 5 | Bipolar II, Rapid Cycler | taking 300mgs -headaches at night -cotton mouth at night -night sweats -frequent urination -intermitent tremors all over body -cystic acne on chin -rosacea aroung nose and mouth -severe blurred vision (lost control of my car) -clumsiness -memory loss -intense insomnia followed by extreme fatigue -mild rash -change in hair texture (wirey and hard) -possible hair loss -serious weight gain | all the psychotropic drugs i've taken have side-effects (prozac, lexapro, cymbalta, welbutrin, trileptal, topamax, lorazapam, lunesta, effexor). lamictal has some too and has worked the best. | F | 37 | 5 months | 12/10/2007 | 5 | Bipolar II | lightheadedness, insanely bad headaches, bizarre vivid dreams, hot flashes in my face, insomnia | I am like a different person on this medication. No more bouts of crying, less binge eating, less agressive, irritable moods. However the headaches are the worst I have ever experienced, indescribably painful, and quite distracting, but ibuprofen can usually tame it quite well. When I mentioned this to my doc he suggested trying something else but there is NO WAY I am going off this medication, I feel like a normal person and I can be productive on a regular basis. My family couldn't believe what a difference it made. I take 300mg/day + 450mg Wellbutrin XL/day (been on WB for four years), both in the morning. I experienced problems when I had to go off my birth control pill, as it normally decreases the amt of lamictal in the blood, so going off it meant the levels were higher than normal, and thats when I got the crazy hot flashes. This evened out after a few days and was fine when I was back on the pill, but doxycyclin, which affects bc pill levels, messed it up again. There s | F | 26 | 13 months | 12/10/2007 | 5 | bipolar disorder | Nothing definite--perhaps a bit more clumsiness | This has been my wonder drug. Previously I took lithium and depakote. I was diagnosed as bipolar in 1985; the first ten years I was hospitalized half a dozen times. Since beginning on lamictal in January 1997, I haven't had a serious manic episode, and it is the only drug that has alleviated depression. | F | 62 | 10 years | 12/9/2007 | 5 | bipolar depression | Moderate drowsiness | I thank God and GSK for Lamictal! Within a few weeks of starting the medication, I started feeling "normal" for the first time in years. I take 200 mg at bedtime, so I use the drowsiness to my advantage. I also take 450 Wellbutrin XL and 20 Lexapro. I recently had a miscarriage at 8 weeks, but I have no way of knowing which of my meds, if any, might have been a factor. I'm not really worried--I intend to try to get pregnant again soon and I am not changing my medications. | F | 28 | 9 months | 12/5/2007 | 5 | Bipolar Disorder NOS | i'm on 100mg/day, with no bothersome side effects-- it wakes me up in the morning and gets me moving, so if i want to go back to sleep right after i take it, i have trouble falling asleep. i've noticed some weight gain, but then again, i don't have a "healthy lifestyle" at all, so i wouldn't take my word for it. emotionally, it's cleared up my depression without making me feel like a zombie. this is the first medicine that has been able to do that for me-- i've tried 7 antidepressants before this. i feel almost "normal" and level-headed. | i posted on here a few months ago, right after i started taking lamictal. i just wanted to post again and let everyone know how it was working for me, especially since recent posters have had such bad experiences. my life is completely different now-- it's amazing. i can finally get out of bed and go to classes and work-- so what if i'm getting a little chunky? also, since i'm a broke-ass student, my shrink faxes my prescriptions to the UK, where Lamotrigine is available in generic. i pay less than $100 for 56 100mg pills. i don't know if this is something that just anyone can do, but i can dig up the info if anyone's interested. | F | 23 | 6 months | 12/2/2007 | 5 | bipolar type II | I haven't had any. But I have been reading a lot of comments about HAIR LOSS AND FATIGUE. YOU MAY BE HYPOTHYROID. 60% OF BIPOLAR AND UNIPOLAR PATIENTS HAVE T3 RESISTANCE AND A HIGH REVERSE T3/T3 RATIO. YOUR T3 WILL BE LOW NORMAL, REVERSE T3 HIGH NORMAL. IF SO FOR YOU,TRY ARMOUR THYROID- IT'S WORKED MIRACLES FOR ME. Synthroid won't work- you need the T3. | The only drug in 30 years that's helped me. | F | 52 | 5 days | 11/23/2007 | 5 | bipolar II /major depression | have had no recognizeable negative side effects | so far it has been a wonder drug. after more than ten years of depression and mood swings i am finally feeling more stable than i ever have. not feeling suicidal almost all the time is a wonderful feeling. the depression is much more managable. it all feels new. not being depressed is taking some adjustment but i love it and my husband appreciates the return of my sex drive. it hasn't done a lot for my occasional confusion and "dumbness" but i'm used to it and i haven't been on it long (still on titration pack). hopefully this is the drug i've been looking for. | F | 31 | 4 weeks | 11/7/2007 | 5 | Bipolar | At first, I experienced dizziness, clumbsiness, weird vision (black and spotty), also made the room spin. These all went away. The side effects that still stick around are: some numbness, definitely increased libido, difficulty concentrating and focusing, some nausea, maybe some hair loss, and I'm tired and lack motivation more often. I'd take these side effects any day in comparison to the symptoms of my bi-polar episodes. | I've been taking Lamictal in conjunction with zoloft for 1 year and 9 months. The dosage of zoloft has steady remained at 100mg and definately helps with my depressive moods...but aggravates manic episodes to a dangerous degree. That's were lamictal comes in to the picture. I began taking lamictal at a small dose and titrated up slowly as reccomended. Currently, I am prescribed 400mg of lamictil (plus the zoloft) and it seems to be the perfect coctail of medications for me. Right now, I feel better than I ever have. The medication isn't exactly a miracle drug, but it has enabled me to escape the destructive lifesyle choices of a reckless street addict, homeless commen criminal. Well, the medication and a year long rehab. My psychiatrist, who specializes in addiction, prescribed me the lamictal and the zoloft and so far, so good. My life is normal...job, house, school, car. I've been on other things in the past including wellbutrin, effexor, celexa, seroquel, but the lamictal | F | 32 | 2 years | 11/6/2007 | 5 | bi-polar | Slight memory loss, blurred vision. | Lamictal has helped me tramendously. My mood has stabalized and i'm actually in a good mood most of the time. It has been worth the side effects. I have also lost over 30lbs. and have not changed my eating habits. I actually started to eat more to see if I would gain weight but my weight remained the same. | M | 42 | 9 months | 11/4/2007 | 5 | Complex & Simple Partial Seizures | None that I have noticed so far :) | I was just diagnosed with seizures so this is my fist medication. I've had maybe 10 seizures since I was 18 but wasn't aware that they were seizures. So far, I feel fine but have only been on this med for 7 days (25mg per day). My mood seems to be better as well. I really hope it works for me. I was very nervous about taking anything. I also hope I get the "loss of appetite" and/or "weight loss" as an added bonus :) | F | 31 | 7 days | 10/31/2007 | 5 | Bipolar , Paranoia | calmness, blurry vision, burning eyes, stiff muscles | I have been on various psych drugs for the last 15 years and nothing seemed to work. I have felt more wellbeing and stability on Lamictal than I have felt in my whole life. I am slightly concerned about the effect on eyes long term, but I am going to give it a shot for a while, and research it more. I don't want to give up the lack of emotional chaos...I haven't had hair loss or weight gain or rashes like some people have here...i hope i never get those, I would be sad if I had to stop the drug. | F | 28 | 2 months | 10/31/2007 |