LAMICTAL Reviews (LAMOTRIGINE)

Average Rating: 3.4 (1917 Ratings)

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 ANTICONVULSANTS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

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)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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More on LAMICTAL: Reviews Summary  |  Drug Safety Information

RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR LAMICTALCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 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  BP I am having pretty bad headaches pretty much everyday. It does seem to be helping my mood swings but has done nothing for my OCD or depression issues. It does seem pretty limited to the side effects, atleast for me. F 38 2 months
1/6/2008
 3  bi-polar,mood disorder memory loss, couldn't focus,lost sex drive,started not making sense when talking,hair loss,some insomnia. I was actually relieved to discover on here that a lot of people had similar side effects. Thankfully I didn't have that much trouble getting off the med compared to a lot of people. I was taking 100mg per day. I dropped down to 50 mg for 2 weeks and then 25 for another 2 weeks. I was pretty tired and easily irritated during the withdrawl though. I will probably end up back on trazadone. It seemed to work better for my anxiety and insomnia. F 36 1 years
1/5/2008
 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  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  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
 2  Chronic migraine prevention No significant side effects other than vivid dreams and drowsiness. Had an unsual episode of sleep walking, but no one else reports that as a side effect, so maybe it was something else. Seems to have no benefit for migraine prevention for frequency or intensity. Seems to have no benefit at 200mg/day. M 46 4 weeks
1/2/2008
 4  Bipolar Disorder memory loss, clumsiness I haven't ever connected Lamictal to my memory loss and clumsiness but after reading about it it may be connected -? my keys and cell phone and wallet must all be clipped together. I have Brookstone finder tags on keys/phone/wallet/remotes so if i lose them i can press a button and it beeps. My office thinks i'm nuts b/c every time i am at the front desk i leave something there and they have to call me. I am always dropping/spilling things. crashing into furniture/walls..Have become very messy/car/home/bathroom.. it's just awful.. lack of motivation. BUT! stable life.. depression gone..not manic...am trying to manage the clumsy/forgetful/messy aspects but it's hard. But, not depressed.. yeay. I take 200mg/day and .12 mg seroquel at nite. If i miss a dose by even 1 hour I am shaking and feel horrible. Cannot work if miss a dose.. feel so horrible..ran out once for 2 days.worst 2 days ever. F 37 3 years
1/1/2008
 4  Bipolar II Flu like symptoms with dosage increases, each time though the side effects were shorter in duration. I'm on 200mg a day now and I think it's causing me severe muscle aches. I'm also sleeping less (4 hours a night) and having freaky dreams. It allowed me to stop taking Prozac which I believe was keeping my emotions very blocked. My depression has taken a severe change for the better and I don't seem to be cycling as much. I feel a bit "stupid" at times, but I think I am just missing the fun of my mania moments. I am possibly losing my job though, but I'm very grateful for finally having a diagnosis and this medication. F 38 61 days
12/30/2007
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 3  bipolar II Acne--The big, hard bumps under the skin. ouch! Mild rashes, waking often in middle of night, eye twitches (but that could be 'cause I'm tired), random vomiting, dry and itchy skin. Very weepy--can cry at the drop of a hat. Irregular periods. I do think Lamictal has leveled out my moods but I'm still waiting for the "anti-depressant" properties to kick in. My doc wants me to add in a little Prozac to help the sleep issues and the crying. I am most concerned about the breakouts I have been experiencing. I normally have FLAWLESS skin and always have. Even when I was a teen. I work in the skincare industry so I know I am doing all the right things to take care of my skin. I have experienced a few rashes on my neck also. Looks like contact dermatitis but the skin hasn't come in contact w/ anything. I have been getting headaches but I also haven't taken my Topamax in over a month. F 29 3 months
12/29/2007
 2  Bipolar 1 WEIGHT GAIN!! 15lbs in a few months. Confusion, dizziness, uncoordinated, blurred vision, nausea, loss of words. Went on this to get off Lithium. Lithium gave me Diabetes Insipidus. This is just as bad. I'm a professor and at this point I couldn't pass my own classes. I can't remember things, lost words mid-sentence, get dizzy spells day & in my sleep. Dr. made me stop driving, I'm getting lost and can't concentrate. I've started seeing a neurologist thinking something was WRONG with my brain! The weight gain is driving me nuts. I thought I was crazy when I read the drug company information, they insist weight gain is not a side effect. Now I know I'm not nuts after reading these reviews. I'm getting off the stuff as quick as I can. F 48 3 days
12/29/2007
 4  rapid cycling bipolar I have been taking 100mg of lamictal with 225mg of effexor. I added the lamictal 2years ago. Even though the dosage hasn't changed, over the last 6-9 months the side effects have become horrible. Daily I notice my memory getting worse. The ataxia is getting worse also, with tipping into things becoming common. I didn't realize how significant the hair loss had become, until I noticed it all growing back. I'm scared to stop the medication because it has been so effective at stopping the racing thoughts. However, I am becoming afraid to even drive. F 44 2 years
12/28/2007
 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
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 2  Bipolar II Acne. Flat affect. Itchy skins upon raising dose, but that went away. After almost two months on the meds I have little side effects. The bad skin and flat affect have been what's remained. I do not feel like it is helping my mood enough to be worth taking. F 27 2 months
12/25/2007
 2  Mood swings and anger problem Itchiness I've only been taking it for 3 days, so far all I have felt is itchiness all over my back and arms. I'm scared to continue taking it because of all the things I have read on it, especially since I have not been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. But I'm also scared to stop it because my mood swings and anger problem are affecting my relationship and work. Any advice that someone that has taken it can offer me would be greatly appreciated. F 26 3 days
12/23/2007
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 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
 3  bipolar 1 lack of coordination. Possible anxiety. I have lot of anxiety, which may or may not be related to the meds. The only reason I think it may be is b/c as the dosage increased, so has my anxiety. F 29 4 years
12/20/2007
 4  Bi Polar II I experienced facial break-outs when I first started taking this medicine, so I stopped taking it for about a month. I was disappointed that I had to quit taking it because it really helped my bi polar condition, so p-doc recommended I give it another try and started me out on a very lose dose (5 mg) and worked my way up to 100 mg slowly. This worked and I haven't had any break-outs. I had some weight gain (about 7 lbs.) in the beginning and an increase in appetite. I put myself on an exercise and healthy eating program and lost the extra weight, even though it was quite a struggle. It seems as though my hair is coarser than it was before taking this med and I noticed slight hair loss. This med really improved my mood swings and I don't have the depression I once had. It's really been the only medicine that has helped my condition. I felt wonderful until p-doc recommended I go on Wellbutrin, which really messed up my mood, I was totally spacey and confused, so p-doc weaned my off of it. Not quite feeling the benefits of the Lamictal as I did prior to Wellbutrin, and it's been a good month or so. F 51 7 months
12/19/2007
 3  "treatment resistant" depression None I am taking this med because of chronic but mild depression I've had for 10-15 years. I've tried a few other meds (Celexa, Zoloft & Welbutrin) with no noticible benefit. Can't tell for sure if the Lamictal is helping. I'm not as depressed as I was before I started it. I've also been trying talk therapy w/ a psychologist fairly regularly over the past year... started the Lamictal 3 months ago & continuing the Lamictal, but still depressed. Just today I started taking Wellbutrin again along w/ the Lamictal... hoping to see a noticable difference... trying to keep an open mind, but not placing any bets. F 38 3 months
12/19/2007
 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
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