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 |
| 4 | Bi-polar disorder | lower back pain, almost like a muscle fatigue. pin prick pains throughout my body. disrupted sleep patterns. short term memory loss. trouble with speech, or finding the right words. i seem to drift easily, and my mind races. | beats the anti-depressants i went thru. | M | 35 | 6 weeks | 11/29/2006 | 4 | Depression, possible Bipolar 2 | Spaceyness, headaches at the beginning, rarely now, itchyness when I raised the dose, blurry vision at times, some fatigue maybe but thats part of my FM, too. Possible weight gain? Maybe 2 lbs, not normal for me, but OK. | I am really happy so far with this drug. I have had from moderate to severe depression since the agae of 13 and have tried almost all of the anti-dep drugs available, which helped for a short time, but then I would spiral domwards again ineveitably towards suicidal feelings. Ididnt know until recently what "hypomanic" meant, but I definitely have that cycle. My moods can swing dramatically a few times a day, and I always thought that was pretty normal(!) because I hadnt known anything else . I felt like I was being whipped around by my emotions like a rag doll at times, and now I am not experienceing that !! Its almost a weird feeling to not be so up and down, but its definitely better. I also take celexa, and pain meds for the FM. I am liking feeling more stable and the side effects I do have are well worth not feeling so unstable! I do miss my powerful good feelings, but its okay, because the lows were dangerous for me, and l | F | 46 | 6 weeks | 3/10/2007 | 4 | refractory depression | Serious confusion, serious short term memory loss, serious incoordination at 200mg/day. Had to go back to 100mg/day. At both dosages it keeps me from sleeping well if I take it at night (even with 600mg Trazodone), and makes me groggy if I take it in the morning (even with 150mg Wellbutrin and 10mg Ritalin). | I didn't complain, even with serious side effects, because this med WORKS. My current depressive episode is 10 years old and nothing has resolved it. So when something helps me to rise a little more out of the muck, I'm grateful. | M | 44 | 6 weeks | 2/26/2006 | 4 | Bipolar II | Still titrating up to 200 mg. At first I itched more than usual, dry mouth, some fine tremors in my hands. Absolutely dead tired in the afternoons for the first month. Better now. First few weeks woke every night at either 2 am sharp or 5 am sharp and it took about an hour to fall back to sleep. Sweets and chocolate started tasting *more*. My blood pressure was slightly elevated for a few weeks, has settled down now. Experienced chills for about two days when going from 25 -> 50 mg. | None of the side-effects above have been a great nuisance, with the exception of maybe the itching. It took about two or three weeks before I started noticing that things around the house got done in a way they hadn't been for probably a year. My depressive symptoms that have squashed me for the past two years always leaned more towards the incredibly tired, lethargic and unmotivated side of the spectrum anyway, and that is what has slowly changed. I no longer feel like I need to sleep 10-11 hours to feel remotely ready to get out of bed. I manage to get things done, like the laundry and the dishes after cooking. I am also way more productive at work. I was prescribed 150 mg Bupropion three months before being dx'ed with BP2 and have continued with that after consulting with my bp doctor. My base level energy lifted with the Bupropion and has continued even closer to normal levels with the addition of the Lamo. I'm feeling really hopeful about this. Was misdiagnosed for 8 years with unipolar depression and treated with only SSRIs, which only increased my depressions and the frequency of the mood swings. | F | 40 | 6 weeks 75 mg 1X day | 3/24/2015 | 4 | Bipolar 2 | A fair amount of dyslexia, both verbal and written. I've never had problems like this before, and it is clearly from the medication. It seems to subside after I get used to the dosage that I'm on. Insomnia when I take the pill at night. Also nausea, dizziness, and fatigue, but like the dyslexia, this seems to be getting better. | To answer the 10/12 poster's question about Birth Control Pills, I take Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo. My doctor told me that it does cut the effectiveness of the medication in half, but said that we can just put me on a higher dosage if necessary. (For example, if I need 100mg, I'll take 200mg.) It didn't seem like it would be a problem. Also, I'm a small person, which means that a smaller amount affects me as well as a larger amount might for a bigger person. The same may hold true for your daughter, given that she is still in her teens and may have a more sensitive body chemistry than an adult. Talk to her psychiatrist if you have concerns about which BCP to use, but the impression I got was that it was in no way a problem. | F | 30 | 6 weeks | 10/29/2007 | 4 | Temporal Lobe Epilepsy | Weird dreams, small memory loss, a few jerks everyday. | Since starting this drug (100mg per day) I have not had any unconsiousness seizures (was having 1 per week) and have only had two small partials. It does wear off quite quick though so I have to make sure I scatter 25mg tablets throughout the day, and I can see myself needing to take more as time goes on. But overall it has done wonders for my concentration, and even though words are a little hard to find sometimes, the reduction in partials is beautiful. I do get a bit angry in the morning, but I think that's because I always need a coffee so bad. I tried tegretol and it was rubbish, i'm glad to find this. | M | 28 | 6 weeks | 12/16/2007 | 4 | Possible Bipolar | Headaches at the beginning, crazy dreams for a while, then extreme irritability. Oddly enough, the side effects went away when I upped my dosage. Only lingering problem remains the insomnia, but who knows where that derives from. | For the first time in a very long time, I'm not depressed or bouncing off the walls. I'm in a very good place right now. The insomnia is pretty crazy -- I haven't needed sleep in days, and the only times I did sleep were with heavy doses of Seroquel (which I hate with a burning passion, so I don't take them as much as I prolly should). Thus far, though, it hasn't become problematic. | F | 19 | 6 weeks | 3/31/2008 | 3 | Epilepsy | Weird dreams and I don't mean intermittent but every night what seems like all night. I wake up afraid. Also night sweats, hair loss, slight memory confusion (not sure if this is leftover from the Topamax), some indigestion problems, weight loss | This works for my epilepsy. I was on Topamax a couple of years ago which literally made my IQ decrease about 75 percent. I never fully recovered. I was then on Keppra which made me insane so comparitively Lamictal works great. It's the dreams that are making it hard, that and the hair loss. | F | 40 | 6 weeks | 3/16/2008 | 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 | 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 mood stabilizer | Severe aches in my muscles | F | 58 | 6 weeks 100 mg | 5/14/2017 | 3 | bi polar | blurred vision | F | 24 | 6 weeks | 1/31/2007 | 3 | because of bipolar depression sdr | Stomach pain, head ache, agressivitity raising during weeks 5-6, dos 100 mg, only want to sleep, or beeing awake 48 hrs. Unable to do anything, I don't care of nothing. | Hard to tell so far, because less than 8 weeks gone from starting | M | 44 | 6 weeks | 7/25/2005 | 3 | Bipolar II | Migraines and | I didn't feel dead on Lamictal (it was the first anti-psychotic/stabilizing med that I haven't felt dead on) but I didn't really feel any different on it (I have a history of problems with meds not working) | F | 21 | 6 weeks | 6/21/2005 | 3 | BiPolar I-rapid cycling | migraines and | I didn't feel dead on Lamictal (it was the first anti-psychotic/stabilizing med that I haven't felt dead on) but I didn't really feel any different on it (I have a history of problems with meds not working). I have to quit taking it now though---I wonder if it would have worked. | F | 21 | 6 weeks | 6/21/2005 | 3 | migraine headaches | weakness/tingly arms (esp. right one), more bad dreams (more vivid than usual), swollen lymph nodes, dizziness/not as physically stable | I'm only on 100 mg a day, but perhaps with an increased dosage I will notice fewer migraines. (Now the migraines are down in intensity but not in frequency.) | F | 24 | 6 weeks | 10/20/2004 | 3 | Bipolar Type II | Intense/disturbing dreams, heavy night sweats, waking up during the night, minor difficulty with balance, fatigue when taken in the morning, light rash, mild acne on face and chest. | I'm still increasing my dose weekly. At 125mg currently. Not satisfied with the results in light of the side effects, but willing to stick it out to see if things improve once dosage reaches 200mg. I have noticed marked improvements in mood on my "good" days, still cycling into depression weekly. | F | 26 | 6 weeks | 3/14/2006 | 3 | Mood Stabilization | Nightmares, headaches/sinus pain, extreme short term memory loss, confusion, hot flashes, skin irritations | Although this med assisted with my low moods, and crying jags,I cannot tolerate the short term memory loss and confusion. It was getting so bad I could not remember the name of the physician I have been seeing for almost a year, or my home address and phone number. | F | 46 | 6 weeks | 9/16/2005 | 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 day | 9/28/2012 | 2 | Depression & Panic Attacks | Explosive Anger, Mood Swings, Withdrawn from Family, Memory Problems, Increase in Weight, Vivid Dreams, Irritabilty | I have been on every drug you can imagine to help me with my depression. Nothing seems to work. I am currently on 150 mg Effexor, 50 mg Trazadone, and Zantax ( when needed). I started taking Lamictal because I am still depressed. I didn't notice anything ( execpt vivid dreams) until 75 mg. At 75 mg...I started screaming at everyone and punching holes in the walls. My shrink wanted to up my dosage. I tried 100 mg for a week and things just got worse. I want to find something that helps! I have started on a 3-4 mile a day exercise program which has really helped with the anxiety but I still have depression. | F | 31 | 6 weeks | 10/17/2006 |