Patient Log of Experience Using LAMICTAL
DRUG RATINGS REPORTS HISTORY FOR A PATIENT TAKING LAMICTAL
Key to ratings for LAMICTAL: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
Rating | Reason | Side Effects | Comments | Sex | Age | Time Taken and Dosage | Date Added | |
5 | treatment-resistant depression | Significantly elevated mood, more talkative, less self-hatred. More sweaty but not bad. | I took this once before for depression and at 50 mg it was amazing. At 100 mg I lost the benefits and became very irritable and agitated. Stopped Lamictal and tried several more antidepressants, none of which worked. Finally convinced new doctor to try Lamictal again at just 50 mg. So far it's exactly the same as the first time: 50 mg is the sweet spot even though my doctor says that's too low to be effective. I have a genuinely very good mood, I have energy and motivation again and have a much more positive sense of self-image. Much easier orgasms than usual and higher libido. Able to sleep 6-8 hours a night and feel rested instead of needing 10 hours before. I'm a little wary that this could turn hypomanic, but it doesn't feel fake and I don't feel out of control at all or agitated. I wonder if this is what being happy is really like. I still feel like myself, just a happier version. I actually feel normal for the first time in my life. If this continues, it's seriously my miracle drug. I will come back and update if anything changes. | F | 39 | 30 days 50 MG 1X D | 8/18/2013 | |
1 | treatment-resistant depression | I thought this was my miracle drug for depression but unfortunately like all other treatments eventually it failed me. After about 6 weeks I noticed it wasn't helping much with my depression anymore. I also noticed that I was excessively sleepy and would need naps every single day. It was like an overwhelming exhaustion came over me every day and there was no way I could avoid needing to nap. I also had extreme joint pain in my lower back and hips, and more pain in my knees and ankles. I attributed the excessive sleeping and hip/back pain to the fact that I have MS, and thought I was having pain in my knees and ankles because I'm overweight. Turns out that all of those symptoms were caused by the Lamictal and went away when I stopped taking it. Major bummer that it didn't work for me, but at least I figured out what was causing the pain and exhaustion. | F | 39 | 75 days 50 MG 1X D | 10/8/2013 |