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 length of time drug was taken longest to shortest. 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 | Sometimes I get minor hives on my back and shoulders. Sometimes my eye twitches (but that could be tired eyes from computer screen). Reduced vision. Some memory problems, like searching for the correct words to use. | For me the perfect mixture is 200mg Lamictal, 10mg Ambien, 10 mg Amitriptyline, 4 mg Perhenazine. Taken all before bedtime. Zero Morning Carryover, I wake up crisp and ready for work. Doesn't cause pain, no dry mouth, no bad breath, no gas.. I get a very good sleep and stay even all day. No more Mania, no more depression. | M | 43 | 4 years 200 MG 1X day | 7/8/2011 | 5 | Mood Stabilizer | Hair loss and memory loss! I had beautiful thick hair four years ago and now it has gotten thin and brittle. The issue has cued my doctor to take me off of the medication. | If it were not for the hair loss i probably would not ever want to go off of it and/or change it because it worked so well for me and had so few side effects! It worked wonders for me! I wish I did not have to go off of it but I'd like to have some hair on my head. | F | 21 | 4 years 300 1X day | 8/4/2011 | 5 | Bipolar | I don’t remember if I experienced any noticeable side effects when I first started the medicine, but I was aware what the minor side effects were and I think my body just got use to them. Never had acne/rash as a side effect. But, last July, I began having neurological problems (trigeminal/occupital neuralgia) and I pieced together problems that I’ve had since 2004, but they are getting worse. The side effects of Lamictal mimic symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. Some of the similar symptoms include: Memory loss, confusion, hand tremors, feelings of exhaustion, loss of balance, intense itching, blurred vision (only my right eye though), etc. | Started with 100mg for first 3 years, but increased to 300mg per day... 100mg in morning and 200mg night. Has anyone else noticed additional side effects with long-term use? My other neurological symptoms include: Body stiffness, drift into a wall or object, unable to maintain body temperature (cold hands/feet), out of breath, sharp muscle pain, tripping over feet, tight/stiff wrists, stiff/sore joints, loss to hearing, changes in eyesight, electric-shock like pain on right side of face only., etc. The side effects/symptoms never occur simultaneously... one day I will have one problem and then the next day I will have another problem. Does this sound familiar? | F | 40 | 4 years | 4/24/2007 | 5 | Epilepsy | Always thirsty, can't concentrate, dizziness, clumsy, short-term memory loss, short temper, eye irritation,loss of words. | If I stop taking it for a couple of days I begin to have seizures and twitches or jerks. It has worked great and has also have helped my migranes i would get all the time. | F | 14 | 4 years | 12/10/2006 | 4 | Epilepsy. (Grand Mal Seizures) | Memory Loss, Constantly being nervous | fewer side effects than dilantin, but the memory loss issue is disturbing. | M | 31 | 4 years | 4/19/2005 | 4 | Epilepsy | The only side effects i've had since being on Lamictal (4 years) is acne and fatigue. I was taking Dilantin before and all that made do is sleep constantly and it didnt stop me from having seizures. I havent had one seizure with Lamictal. | WAY TO EXPENSIVE IF YOU DONT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. | F | 21 | 4 years | 6/6/2007 | 4 | bi-polar II | a minor rash at the beginning | I started taking this drug after I had my daughter. I had been previously taking Wellbutrin before I got pregnant with her. I currently take 250 mg twice a day. At certain times of the month, I also take 2.5 mg of Celexa. Lamictal isn't perfect, but it has helped with the depression lows. Because of being bi-polar II, I can't take the usual depression medications. (My mood swings become exaggerated.) Fortunately I have not experienced the side-effects others have on this medication (or at least not that I can directly attribute to the medication). | F | 46 | 4 years | 10/10/2007 | 4 | Bipolar II | After 4 years, I've suddenly experience tinnitus - my ears ring constantly. At the same time, I started to experience involuntary head/neck movement, especially if I'm relaxed. This is happening more and more. It's just a sudden jiggle side-to-side at the bottom of my skull. I feel like an old lady. Other side effects I have experienced from the beginning are massive hair loss and slight dizziness upon standing. | Any other side effects experienced for the first year have completely disappeared. Rapid side-to-side eye movement when I was trying to concentrate on something was very strange, but that no longer happens. The feeling dumb as a rock and not being able to remember anything or finish a sentence lasted about 6 months. The drug saved my life, literally, but the head movements and ear ringing really have me worried, wondering if it will get worse. I dread changing medications since I've done so well mood-wise on this one. I would die if I gained a lot of weight. Plus, there's never a good time in my life to start meds over! But I'm seeing my doctor about it soon, now that I've read all these comments - they were very helpful. | F | 43 | 4 years 400 mg 1X day | 9/9/2010 | 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 day | 11/8/2012 | 4 | Grand Mal Seizures | Unexplained source of pain in my legs,night sweats,dreams,can't recall anything from the day before, tired,lethargic,weight gain,dry skin,slurred speech. I feel like I am in a tunnel most of the time. | If your Doctor suggest that you take this drug. Tell him no it is not worth risking your life. It may even effect you the way it did my friend. Causing them a horrible rash almost taking their life. | F | 30 | 4 years | 1/18/2009 | 4 | epilepsy | Memory loss and disturbed sleep patterns. Occasional shakiness. Interestingly I was reading that some users have a lack of libido and I'm now wondering whether it's lamictal that is causing this. I'm not 100% sure but I do think I'm slightly more moody than I used to be? | I had an extreme allergic reaction to tegretol (dilantin not so much) so lamictal is highly preferable to either of these. I'd like no side effects but at least I can drive now and look after my children without worry. The disappointing thing however is I originally took lamictal before they announced the side effects for babies so was looking forward to being able to maybe have another baby, As research continues into birth defect and the percentages get higher I don't think I'll have another child. | F | 41 | 4 years | 11/2/2008 | 4 | bipolar type II | NAILS SEPARATING FROM NAIL BED? HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? I can't figure out what's causing it. It's called onchyolysis. If I accidentally overdose, I can't spell (at all), can't do simple math, and stagger as though I was drunk. As soon as I go back to my adequate dosage, these symptoms stop immediately and completely. Anyone experiencing these symptoms needs to take a lower dose. Otherwise, fabulous drug, no other symptoms. | I have been on every antidepressant ever invented, and lamictal is the only thing that has ever worked for me. It's saved my life, and I think it's probably the drug of choice for bipolar type II. | F | 52 | 4 years | 9/26/2007 | 4 | epilepsy | nausea, dizziness, wonky vision, still shaky someimtes, headaches, and pretty serious hair loss. My main worry is tooth decay/bone loss. Is anyone else having tooth issues? | About tooth loss; I had 5 more pulled today, with 4 more going in a month. The bone material around my teeth is disintegrating, making my teeth crumble, get infected, and break off. It could be from the Lyrica, but I don't know for sure. aside from this issue, I love it. I only have large seizures 3 or 4 times a year now. Kinda sucks that I'm conscious for them now, but the frequency and severity levels have really dropped. | F | 36 | 4 years | 3/4/2008 | 4 | BP II/Major Depression | Acne, memory loss, excessive sweating, lack of concentration | Have been on Lamictal 200mg/day (and EffexorXR 150mg/day) for 4 years now. Worst side effects have been lack of concentration and memory loss and acne. Have been on Lithium, Wellbutrin and Prozac, however, Lamictal has been the only drug I have consistently taken for the mood swings that has worked. Originally had to stop working and go on disability due to my depression and suicide attempts. After 2 years I became emotionally stable for the first time in my life, however, due to the memory loss and lack of concentration I have been unable to keep a job for longer than 3 months. It's a catch 22. My Psy Dr and I have come to the conclusion that I may not be able to handle the type of jobs I'd like to, due to my mental illness. | M | 31 | 4 years | 1/9/2008 | 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 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 3 | Bipolar | I have been on this drug for 4 years, with various dose levels. Have recently increased from 200 mgs to 300mgs. I feel like I am burning up from the inside out. My skin is not hot but under surface I feel like I'm going to spontaneously human combust! Also have a kind of rash - almost like mosquito bites that itch and appear all over - is this the kind of rash people talk about? | I'd like feedback from anyone about the symptoms I've described, as this is the only drug from my 'cocktail' that has been increased and I am wondering if this is causing the itch and heat. | F | 49 | 4 years | 9/24/2008 |