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 Date added. 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 | Seizures | Horrible horrible cystic acne which flares my rosacea. Didnt realize at all that the Lamictal might have been the cause. Am shocked that others have experienced this too. I have never in my life had any problems with acne before taking medications (this and the BCP are to blame). Ive been off the BCP for 2 years and the acne is getting worse and cystic (the bcp just gave me small white bumps)! I also have the memory problems. Didnt attibute this to lamictal either. Now i feel alittle better that im not a big dummy. Am studying to be a math teacher and have no problems with numbers or math but when it comes to writing papers for my ed classes or talking in class im just plain dumb. Definately have problems with vocabulary which i never had before. vivid dreams (mostly good ones) and very minor muscle aches (but this is likely because of my job as a waitress). | Had 10 SPS and 1 complex partial. Have not had any since being on this medication. Am going to talk to my doc about weening off it. He said he wanted me to be on it for 3 years but i think my seizures were so minor that i can come off sooner. *fingers crossed*. Would be nice to finally have my skin clear again. Its terribly disfigureing and honestly hard to go from being pretty to looking like scarface which makeup can hardly cover. :( I probably wont go on any other seizure meds because I might want to have kids someday and my neurologist said its much harder especially for women intheir 30's to conceive when on most seizure meds. He said lamictal is the best in that respect. So as far as seizures go this med works great with the only major side effect a superficial one. This however is a huge one for me. | F | 28 | 2 years | 4/8/2007 | 4 | Bipolar I | Nightmares (the "waking up screaming" kind) | Two months ago, when a depression hit, after 6 years on only Depakote, I started on Lamictal (and Wellbutrin, while tapering up to 100 mg Lamictal). Nightmares started with one about three weeks ago and four in the last week, all after getting to full dosage and going off Wellbutrin (still on Depakote the whole time). Doctor recommended Lamictal as good treatment for depression in bipolar patients, but does not recommend solely as mood stabilizer (hence the continuation of Depakote). Depression has completely lifted. | F | 44 | 2 months | 4/7/2007 | 3 | Bipolar I - Bipolar II | Vivid dreams (pleasant ones though), occasional night sweats (severe), constant urination and much more frequent bowl movements (which is great because I suffer from severe Irritable Bowel Syndrome) | I was only diagnosed 6 months ago (doc says I'm in between a I and a II), and this diagnosis sure does explain a lot! I'm only at 100 mg per day and at this dosage, I feel kind of "flat" with some mild break through depression. I had hoped that my "normal" was a little on the higher end, but maybe it is too early to tell. I'm afraid to go to a higher dosage because I see that cystic lesions are a side effect, and I already HAVE that. I'd like to hear from someone else who had severe IBS as a symptom of bipolar disorder. | F | 45 | 3 months | 4/6/2007 | 4 | schizoaffective, bipolar type | About two or three weeks after I went from a 100 dose to 200, I lost all the spit in my mouth, which made it VERY hard to talk. Far worse than that, though, was the scary double vision I started getting -- I literally could not see straight. This not only made it VERY difficult to walk and drive and almost impossible to read, it also gave me seriously horrible headaches. Cutting back to 150 has stopped both reactions. | This stuff is fantastic! I have severe, frequent mood swings and crippling depression, and this has eliminated most of it. The hardest thing about it has been the relapses I have when I either forget to take it or run out and forget to refill -- I can no longer than two days before it all comes back. | F | 28 | 1 years | 4/5/2007 | 3 | bipolar 2 and FM | This is too add to my previous review. After 8 weeks on it I've realized that its really making me gain weight more than I think I can deal with 6-7 lbs in 6 weeks - That doesnt bode well for me for being on it long term. I have back problems and body pain which is inceased by weight gain, so I may go off it, although I am much more stable emotionally, crying a LOT less. Its a hard tradeoff and I havent decided yet. Also, I cant afford at all to replace my wardrobe! I still think its a very good drug, though for those who dont have too many side effects Please dont let my or others' weight gain put you off from trying it , since it might not have that affect on you. | F | 46 | 8 weeks | 4/4/2007 | 4 | bipolar II | It definately makes a difference, but I think that it impairs my memory and makes me less sharp... Right now I'm working on some calc homework - I knew how to do this stuff in class, but I've forgotten all of it... | M | 17 | 6 months | 4/3/2007 | 5 | Bi-polar II | Very vivid dreams, but they are enjoyable. Some headaches, but not too bad. The worst problem is trouble finding the right words. I am not used to that, but am trying to overcome that part. | I have been on anti-depressants for years. Finally saw a psychiatrist who said probably not just depression. I feel normal for the first time maybe ever. Any side effects worth it to me to feel like I'm on an even keel. Please give it at least 2 months if no physical side effects. | F | 47 | 9 months | 4/2/2007 | 3 | BiPolar | In the 5 weeks I have used the sample Pack, I have gained 10 lbs. I feel better. However I am too vain. I am Taking 200 mg Zoloft, (which I just ran out of patience assitance wise (cant afford) so Doc gave me the lamictal. I take 300 Mg Trazadone for sleep, and Straterra. I am discontinuing The Lamictal today. I have been on many different antidepressents, this is the first to cause weight Gain. I am livid! I used to be 11% -13% body fat, weighing under 100lbs Petite. I am not leaving the house till I lose this weight. My cousin also had this same reaction. | F | 39 | 5 weeks | 4/2/2007 | 5 | Bipolar II | Migraine in the a.m. if I don't take it within the same 1-2 hour window at night; depression/irritability hits only when I don't get enough sleep/exercise - that's a LIFESTYLE choice; my hair grew back with Lamictal (thank God!) after losing 1/2 of it on Wellbutrin and Topamax. | Was misdiagnosed clinically depressed and prescribed Wellbutrin XL which I took alone for 1.5 years - life went from bad to horrible with manic episodes. Went to a diff. Dr. who gave me Rx for Topamax (aka DOPAMAX) which combined w/Wellbutrin made my manic episodes far more aggressive and depression more suicidal; Topamax put me to sleep every afternoon - was impossible to keep a F/T job. Finally found a decent doctor who took me off both and started me on 25 mg Lamictal and worked up in small increments to avoid any "rash". So far I've stabilized at 225mg. This stuff works when I combine it with a healthy lifestyle and some cognitive therapy - there's no miracle "cure" for Bipolar! | F | 41 | 1.8 years | 4/1/2007 | 3 | epilepsy and manic depression | At present--feeling suddenly stupid because I can't figure things out and I'm losing things all the time. I naturally have word- finding problems so I can't attribut that to Lamictal. | Started Lamictal years ago for epilepsy and took Depakote at the same time because it controlled my moods better. The Depakote had it's own side effects that were bothersome and so I was switched to 100% Lamictal for both problems. Then I went back to the Depakote- Lamictal combination for best mood control. Recently, my neuro. raised my dose of Lamicatal from 150mg to 100mg morning and night. That is when my present symptoms began. Oddly, I had been on this dosage before and did not have these problems. | F | 47 | 3 years | 3/31/2007 | 3 | Epilepsy | Horrible dizziness, vertigo, trouble getting words out, spacey feeling, rash like acne on face, trouble spelling words, very exhausted | had taken Depakote for years, now slowly taken off that and starting lamictal. since upping my dose to 200 mg a day (1 am/pm)my symptoms have increased dramatically especially the dizziness and feeling extremely zoned out/can't concentrate, even though I take 72mg of concerta for ADHD, now that I am taking Lamictal the concerta has not seemed to help me at all. next week I up my dosage to 400 mg...am scared that these symptoms will only worsen. I HATE this drug and want to go back on depakote..the only reason I switched was to be able to have children in the future. | F | 22 | 4 months | 3/29/2007 | 3 | BP II | Developed deep acne and had gum abcesses I never have. Wasn't going to wait for the big rash which I thought was next. Told p-doc about problems and she took me off Lamictal right away. No infections since off the med. | I loved the drug. It helped my mental function, but wasnt worth the side effects. | M | 49 | 30 days | 3/27/2007 | 3 | Bi Polar | Started on 25mg for 2 weeks- little spacey..for first 3 days. After 2 weeks I have had very vivid dreams- kinda fun. Increased sex drive, lots of energy and very focused! i thought this med saved my life..... THEN came the rash after 3 days on 50 mg. This is today my feet are swollen and extreamly itchy, the rash has spread all over my body and I just want to roll in the dirt to scratch my self! I have not gone to the doctor yet... I am going to give it a little bit and see if it gets better. OH my phy took me off the meds! now I don't know what I am going to do- I loved it. | M | 26 | 30 days | 3/26/2007 | 3 | bipolar II | I am never quite sure if certain things that I feel are the result of Lamictal or just me, however after reading everyone else's comments and identifying with many of their complaints, I guess I will conclude that it is all Lamictal's fault...Up until a week ago, I was taking 200 mg of Lamictal, and the only side effects I experienced for a year were MEMORY LOSS and TROUBLE FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS. I also developed CYSTIC ACNE, which I had never experienced before, and for which I am now taking an antibiotic. However, recently my bipolar symptoms have worsened, and my doctor has increased my dose to 300 mg, and I am feeling EXHAUSTED and DEPRESSED and I am getting HEADACHES. I am hoping that these side effects will disappear after my body gets used to the increased dose... | If anyone has more questions about lamictal or would like to talk to someone else with bipolar II please email me. I don't know anyone who has bipolar and would really like someone to talk to who understands what it is like. | F | 21 | 1.5 years | 3/25/2007 | 4 | Bipolar III | roaring in ears, confusion, memory loss, feeling that my brain was shaking in my head (really), vivid dreams, potentiates alcohol (nothing else has ever given me a reaction, and I only drink a glass of wine or two. Not any more!) | As far as working in conjunction with my Paxil CR, it is great. The lift is good. The cost of the drug is abysmal, as I do not have health insurance. Missing a day or two is horrible. I wonder about my diagnosis sometimes because the only time I have ever had manic episodes (and they weren't that severe) was when I was on and off meds, trying to find something that worked. | F | 46 | 1 years | 3/23/2007 | 4 | Bipolar III | roaring in ears, confusion, memory loss, feeling that my brain was shaking in my head (really), vivid dreams, potentiates alcohol (nothing else has ever given me a reaction, and I only drink a glass of wine or two. Not any more!) | As far as working in conjunction with my Paxil CR, it is great. The lift is good. The cost of the drug is abysmal, as I do not have health insurance. Missing a day or two is horrible. I wonder about my diagnosis sometimes because the only time I have ever had manic episodes (and they weren't that severe) was when I was on and off meds, trying to find something that worked. | F | 46 | 1 years | 3/23/2007 | 5 | Atypical Depression | At 100mg was told to expect some irritability. Whoa...way past irritability. Took a week off to let it pass. Psyc says 10 years of antidepressants when misdiagnosed are making the reaction more intense, but says it's a finite thing that I can ride out. No hair loss, headaches, rash or any of that other stuff. | Are you guys seeing psychiatrists or just general MDs? I came off general MD prescribed Zoloft (wow, that was HORRIBLE withdrawl, worse than anything I've experienced!) and went on Lamictal. This was the first time I'd ever felt I needed a psyc, but am SO GLAD I DID! It made me realize that there was a reason I couldn't pull myself up by my bootstraps ... I had none. I love this drug, it treats my neurons, not my chemical imbalance and it makes so much sense. I can't help but wonder if some of the side effects others experience are from mixing SSRIs with Lamictal. I finally have hope of living a normal life after 30 years of depression. Oh, and those of you who say you get "really drunk" ... Oh my gosh, don't you know that alcohol in conjunction with this drug is extremely dangerous?! Please stop drinking! | F | 45 | 2 months | 3/22/2007 | 4 | Depression | Can't get to sleep. | So far, I have way more energy than I did before taking Lamictal. But the not getting to sleep is killing me. I sleep about 10 hrs a night on the weekends so I can catch up. | F | 39 | 45 days | 3/21/2007 | 4 | anti-seizure | lack of concentration, but it worked because i had no reoccuring episodes | most the of the worst side effects have appeared after i stopped using lamictal, huge lack of concentration, constantly tired, depressed... i wonder if it normal to still have these side effects almost 4 months later | F | 21 | 1.5 years | 3/21/2007 | 4 | Seizure Disorder | Acne (didn't realize that it was from Lamictal until reading these reviews), dizziness, painful menstrual cycle, difficulty focusing (which is not good at work), unable to find words (used to be excellent at writing/reading - sad to have seen that change), small decrease in vision (going to get my eyes checked out) | Was going to neurologist that was (old school) who put me on Depakote (had ONE seizure in 24 years and he puts me on such a heavy med). Upset b/c could even think about having a family on it. Depakote made me lose hair, etc. Started to go to a new neuro who is wonderful and couldn't understand why I was on Depakote. Started me on Lamictal (slowly) while tapering off Depakote. Took quite a bit of tweaking, but am so happy to be on this med now. (My hair stays on my head now - though it turned curly from the Depakote!). Being of "child bearing age", I know that I can get pregnant on this with fewer risks. Can't say enough about it! | F | 24 | 5 months | 3/16/2007 |