Reviews for LAMICTAL52 ratings: (side effects include rls restless legs)Edit Filter | Clear FilterCompare LAMICTAL with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on LAMICTAL: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR LAMICTAL | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 1 | Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar II | Restlessness, Insomnia, Worsening Depression and Anxiety, Serious negative interactions with Cannabis use | M | 23 | 10 days 100 1X day | 4/2/2023 | 3 | Sleep seizures | Restlessness during sleep (toss and turn and wake up often) -Constant spots/ papules on neck and face (these went when medicine was stopped 23.4.2022) -Severe heartbeat roughly every 4-5 weeks. Any time of day from no cause, up to 190 bpm lasting 10min to 6 hours. The waiting time to see a cardiologist is about 8 months. -Cherry angiomas (red spots, freckles/ moles) appearing on my legs, torso and scalp. -thinning hair. Im 44 and my hair has reduced so I can see my scalp through the hair. -anxiety/ panic attacks (not in my nature to be anxious). They are more like moments of brain fog, confusion then panic. -Issues are exaggerated before menses. Sleep is especially affected. -I am always tired and feel unrested. -also moments of severe depression (also not in my nature) especially around or during menses. | Action I would like: -Smaller dosage tablets, down to 2.5mg. -more to be done to stop the initial cause of the medical problem / seizures. -more mindful resources prescribed instead of brain altering drugs. -more research, even medical trials using actual doctors so they can fully understand how this drug affects the brain and body. | F | 44 | 2 years 12.5 1X day | 9/18/2022 | 3 | Epilepsy - Clonic Tonic seizures | I have restless sleep. I have intrusive thoughts and replay things in my head over and over. If I get a song stuck it my head it will stay stuck for two days. My anxiety is through the roof. I have a hard time falling asleep. I had to figure out the medication myself.. the doctors did not warn me of this.. If you take the two doses too close together, you will not be able to fall asleep and if you do, you will feel like your still awake but your mind is drifted off. My memory is horrible. I constantly try to remember names of simple things and I just can't. Eventually I'll think of it. I'm not hopeful to find an anti seizure med that doesn't have horrible side effects. It seems like they all do. I tried keppra at first and "keppra rage" is very accurate. I've been seizure free since I started taking consistently Oct. 2021 but in June 2022 I had an aura and was able to stop it from happening by putting my head between my legs while sitting down and it stopped it from happening | F | 28 | 1 years 200 2X day | 9/13/2022 | 1 | BPD | Horrible brain fog, unable to think, fired from job in CA and had to move back to CO. Anxiety, nausea, stomach cramps, migraines, extreme hip pain, sciatia, horrible acne, dry mouth, insomnia, RLS and severe mode swings. Stopped taking 1 week ago. | F | 49 | 8 months 50mg 1X day | 9/12/2022 | 3 | Bipolar episode | Increased need for sleep- sleeping 11-12 hours. Benign fasiculations all over my body. Both of these subsided when I stopped taking it. I have some restless leg symptoms since taking this medication, not sure if it's related. | Seemed to improve mood, however mood also improved as life circumstance improved. I discontinued and haven't been depressed since. | F | 47 | 90 days 50 2X day | 8/31/2022 | 2 | Mood stabilizer | Nervous legs really bad,intermittent sleep but this is my first experience with a mood stabilizer. I am trying to give it time but my patience is wearing thin. | F | 43 | 6 weeks 100mg 1xda 1X day | 4/28/2022 | 1 | I have been feeling so terrible these last few months, initially I had indicated to the prescriber that I was feeling terrible and she disregarded my opinion. These last two months I've been drained of energy, especially in the morning. I wake up at random times during the night (even with a sleeping medication of 150mg), nonetheless, the red color on my knees comes and goes, followed by joint pain. My arms, knees, hips, ankles are always in pain, and cracking. I have limited cognitive functionality. I do not retain as much information as I used to, my head always feels like its on fire. I get rashes from time to time on my legs, and arms, my neck is stiff. I dislike this medication. It's been ruining my life, I do not recommend. | F | 22 | 4 months 100 1X day | 10/30/2021 | 1 | depression | The pills were so tiny that I wondered if they would do anything at all. But after taking 1 pill, then another the next day ( in the morning ), I experienced horrible restless insomnia when I tried to sleep that night. I didn't take any more, but I could hardly get through the next day because I felt so bad. | I think that there are too many drugs on the market that have an insomnia side effect. How can a prescription drug help depression if it causes insomnia ?? I can't think of too many more counter-productive side effects than insomnia, especially for depression. | F | 74 | 2 days 50 mg. 1X day | 7/6/2021 | 3 | Epilepsy | Very restless sleep, struggle getting to sleep, lack of motivation, depression, anxiety. Dosage has just been increased so all of the above has just gotten worse!! Particularly my dreams. Wake up feeling like I have studied all night. Like others- after waking at times not sure if it was just a dream or it actually happened | F | 45 | 5 years 40mg 2X day | 3/24/2021 | 1 | Epilepsy | Tardive dyskinesia, rigidity walking up stairs, trouble moving eyes, slowed breathing, twitching in legs, feet, fingers and wrists, graying hair, dry skin, yellowing skin, orthostatic hypotension, urinary problems, gum problems, confusion, memory problems, palpitations | I was on this drug for 18 years, not 10. I would not recommend Lamictal to anyone on this planet, for any reason. It is pure poison. The fact that I am off of it is a miracle I thank God for every day. There is permanent, serious damage from Lamictal, to be sure. I am so grateful to be free of this evil drug. | F | 44 | 10 years 200 mg | 2/2/2016 | 3 | Bipolar/Mood stabilizer | Seemed to have some benefit with little noticeable side effects EXCEPT that i have recently been increased from 200 to 400mg/day. At this dose I've noticed hair loss/thinning (alopecia) occurring about 2 weeks after increase. Significant+++. Dry skin, itchy scalp and lower legs++, hair loss particularly scalp and legs. Also have recently developed patchy epidermal skin flaking on fingers (mild) but no rash except for excoriated skin from itching++ | M | 55 | 5 years 200 mg 2X day | 6/8/2014 | 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 | 4 | Migraine headaches | I hadn't had any side effects while taking Lamictal in Italy years ago. Now I started it again, I bought the same brand in Bulgaria and had several side effects: first 3 days - feeling dizzy and confused, which subsided, then - feeling sikc (a common side effect, as I se), which subsided again, then - 3 days of headache and now - feelin restless, not sleepy (I have been sleeping less than usual but I am not tired at all) | F | 37 | 2 weeks 50mg 1X day | 6/11/2012 | 2 | Bi Polar - Racing Thoughts | TERRIBLE Muscle spasms, trouble seeing at night, blurred vision, muscle soreness, cramping muscles ( I am physically active and I'd get cramps after 5 min of walking in feet and legs when taking lamictal) Vivid horrible nightmares that feel real, feeling completely indifferent. | almost 2 months ago I started lamictal combined with celexa and it's been increasingly miserable for me ever since i started. After 3 weeks I started taking 50 Mg a day but went back to 25 quickly after the side effects i listed all got far worse and I would feel terribly sick and feel like fainting. Since going back to 25 the side effects are still pretty bad and I'm simply waiting to see my doctor again to switch to something else. It indeed does help with Racing thoughts but these side effects are sometimes debilitating especially the muscle spasms and pain. Not worth taking at all. Feels like there are bruises forming on my arms at all times. | M | 22 | 40 days 25 MG 1X day | 4/28/2012 | 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 | 1 | Fungal skin rash | Rash on palms, arms, back and lower legs---thankfully NOT itchy ! | Started on this after a reaction to Sporanox. Also take Zyrtec concurrently, so wonder if that suppressed other reactions. Did seem to help initial fungal rash, which Sporanox hadn't, but will stop it since the potential other side effects scare me. | F | 46 | 2 weeks 1X day | 10/28/2011 | 3 | PTSD, anxiety, Mood Disorder- NOS | I feel woozy, like I'm just getting over being sick. I have a weird headache on the entire right side of my head and it kind of moves onto my left side, some back aching (minor), some weird feelings like dizziness, nausea, dissociation, and what feels like post-nasal drip. I am always in and out of being sick, so it could be that. Got some weird aching and exhaustion in my legs on the second half of the second day, but otherwise I have noticed only slight issues with concentration and memory. I take Adderall, so that might be helping with that some. I feel moderately lethargic. Do the side-effects go away? | Any words of support would help. My mood has definitely stabilized. I feel like crying, but it does not seem mood related, but rather trauma-related. I am much more present, so I do not think it is the drug, but actually me being able to deal with my underlying PTSD-related feelings without it actually disrupting my moods. I am only on 25 mgs and my mood definitely feels more stable but my head hurts, I feel weird, and I don't want to eat. That part is weird for me as I usually eat a ton and am always hungry. My anxiety is definitely down, which is the plus side of the disassociation, but I feel really removed and maybe more depressed. | F | 25 | 3 days 25 mg 1X day | 10/3/2011 | 3 | Bipolar 1 | Tingling in back of throat, restlessness, a bit hyper, insomnia first few days after that I slept but woke often, vivid dreams (good ones), yawning, tingling in eyeballs. | The side effects were minimal. Didn't like the hyper feeling. Got a lot of work done though. Felt less depressed right away! | F | 58 | 12 days 100mg 1X day | 8/25/2011 | 3 | Bipolar | I've noticed most medication prescribed for bipolar to have the same 'basic' side-effects, which, for me, includes: dizziness when standing up, followed by blurred vision & ringing in the ears -I usually just sit/lie down on the spot and it goes away- to avoid fainting. Stiff muscles, especially in my legs when e.g. climbing stairs, stiff neck, frequent headaches (usual I don't require pain pills), heart palpitations & hot flushes (usually at night). After adding Lamictal to my pill cocktail (Concerta; Edronax; Seroquel; Serlife & Diane) I haven't noticed much change in my usual side-effects (permanent) -however, increased night sweats (wake up soaked) & still the occasional moodswing (from neutral to crying in a matter of seconds -this usually occurred late afternoon, so I decided to take my night dose of Lamictam earlier -this works for me) -note,I find all these side effects to be minor in the long run, although you need to adapt your lifestyle somewhat, these sy | My weight has remained constant -I lost my appetite once I started bipolar medication 2 years ago (originally lost 14kg's less than two months), so I haven't experienced Lamictal to affect weight. Lamictal related: I've become increasingly anti-social and rarely leave the house, however, being 21 years old, I guess this keeps me out of trouble. Positive: I've become increasingly interested in and focussed when studying, it seems I've gained some drive and determination. As for fatique, I've always been tired, and my dreams have always been vivid. All in all, I honestly don't know whether or not Lamictal has influenced me, either positively, or negatively. I noticed that my skin scars easily which sucks, and have to avoid picking(have always had problem skin)and shave extra carefully. Even scratching a mosquito bite leaves a scar. I have recently been developing a rather odd symtom, which is most probably Lamictal-related, so it's off to the doctor tomorrow -started as a stinging-feeling in my feet if I walk on uneven surfaces (most noticeable on rough carpet) has become worse, almost permanent, increasingly painful tingling (like pins and needles) in both feet, as well as bumps (feels like the swollen lymph nodes in your neck) appearing on my feet. I'm hoping it's nothing serious, since stopping Lamictal, from experience, physically makes you so sick that you feel like you're dying a slow, painful death. Lamicatal is for life. | F | 21 | 8 months 150 mg 2X day | 1/16/2011 | 5 | Bipolar 2, with PTSD | Bad jaw, and teeth pain, bleeding gums, sweats/chills,totally weird dreams,total loss of word recall, cognition difficulties, bad muscular aches in entire body 24/7 (including neck/back/gluts/legs) that pain pills did not help,loss of libido,twitches in legs/arms,eye scratchiness,irritated, acne breakouts daily, water retention,constipation,forgot what I had read,hair loss,feels like my scalp is open,loquacious,non-stop talking,not able to connect with my higher self,.... | With all my side effects,I was on the "Generic", not the Brand, Dr told me that the pharmaceutical company only had to put in 60% of the med. He spoke to my coverage carrier, got the meds, from 700.00$, down to 200.00$ a month, and as SOON as I began taking it(I am now taking 50mg Extended Release), most of my pain, sleepiness, irritation,painful eyes,and jaw pain, went away!!!If you are experiencing all these side effects, and are taking the "Generic" brand, you may be as sensitive as I was, to the fillers, that they put in it. Attempt to go on the BRAND NAME. I cannot believe, what a difference that it makes. I am also taking Seroquel, 150mg, at nighttime, and I need a sleeping pill to fall asleep. The Dr also added an anti inflammatory drug, since my discs are leaning against my spine. I probably need something added to my "cocktail", and for right now, I am so grateful that I do not have suicadal/homicidal ideation, as I had before the Lamictal. For this, I am happy. I want to Thank Everyone, who has posted their experiences with this medication, so that I could see, that these side effects really do exist, even though the DR may not be convinced. We need to listen to our bodies, and trust ourselves. | F | 54 | 3 months | 9/12/2009 |
LAMICTAL (LAMOTRIGINE): Lamotrigine is used alone or with other medications to prevent and control seizures. It may also be used to help prevent the extreme mood swings of bipolar disorder in adults. Lamotrigine is known as an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drug. It is thought to work by restoring the balance of certain natural substances in the brain. This drug is not approved for use in children younger than 2 years due to an increased risk of side effects (such as infections). FDA Approval Date: 1994-12-27 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)