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Lamictal (Lamotrigine) - Reviews, Ratings, Comments by Patients

 
 



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Below are Lamictal (Lamotrigine) reviews, ratings, comments submitted by patients and caregivers. Based on a total of 40 ratings/reviews, Lamictal has an overall score of 7.72. The effectiveness score is 8.35 and the side effect score is 7.85. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. This information is not vetted and should not be cosidered as clinical evidence.
 

Lamictal review by 46 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   bipolar depression
Dosage & duration:   100MG taken 3/day for the period of 4 years
Other conditions:   Allergies; back pain
Other drugs taken:   Effexor; Allegra; Ketoprofen; Viagra
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The combination of Lamictal and Effexor eliminated severe mood swings betweens hypomania and depression, and made my depression manageable.
Side effects:   Possibly minor sexual side effects: more difficult to reach organism.
Comments:   Morning: 1 capsule (150MG) Effexor XR; 1 tablet 100MG Lamictal. Evening: 2 tablets 100MG Lamictal.

 

Lamictal review by 62 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   epilepsy
Dosage & duration:   125 mg taken twice a day for the period of started 7 mths ago & still taking it
Other conditions:   anxiety
Other drugs taken:   clobazam
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   good considering dosage. taken many different anti-epileptic drugs over the last 14yrs(accident) lamictal 100% better regarding physical problems (constant headaches etc). mental side-effects difficult to say considering age! december 2006, after 14yrs with no physical epileptic incidents, just regular encephalegrams, i decided to stop topiramate which gave headaches. 6 mths later lost consciousnes, back onto drugs. first, keppra, which i liked. felt no side effects, just felt total relaxation and no epileptic problems. specialist didn't like this total relaxation, changed to lamictal. didn't like it at all at first,many side effectsme before arriving at 125 mg had a series of losing consciousness(never convulsions). now i can say that my mental and physical states have adapted to this lamictal. certainly no constant headache.
Side effects:   loss of balance & memory loss, memory is improving little by little. loss of balance still, but maybe change with therapy. difficulty speaking (living in france 18 yrs.) speak as much in french as english. dry mouth nervousness, anxiety heartburn and am considered bi-polar but i think that is being exaggerated by the medical profession,
Comments:   began at low dosage and increased little by little. during the little by little time i forgot my medication of 50 mg one morning. the following day lost consciousnes while driving fell down a ravine accident i had at 17.30. anyway increased medication to a state where. touch wood, i don't have any problems really other than minor side effects, given clobazam (5 mg 3 times a day) for anxiety & depression,with which i have noticed no side-effects and does help eliminate other epileptic problems (deja vues etc)

 

Lamictal review by 35 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   bipolar
Dosage & duration:   200 mg taken once per day for the period of 9 months
Other conditions:   ADHD
Other drugs taken:   Wellbutrin, stratterra
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Lamictal balanced moods without making me sluggish or slowing me down. I still have the highs and but they aren't drastically manically high.
Side effects:   Although it says it doesn't affect weight I did experience weight gain. It also makes me a little drowsy.
Comments:   I take 200 mg lamictal once per day at night so that I am not affected by the drowsiness. Initially I started at 25mg and it was increased over time until I reached 200 mg in order to avoid side effects. It took time to experience the benefits. About 6 weeks.

 

Lamictal review by 80 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Ineffective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   mood stablizer for Bipoler disorder
Dosage & duration:   100mg taken two times a day for the period of 2 years
Other conditions:   arthritis
Other drugs taken:   Welbutrin
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I took lamectal to replace Lithium hoping it will help stabilize my mood. But after two years of taking it, it did not seem working.
Side effects:   I start the dose very small and gradually increased. I did not have any side effects.
Comments:   I used to take lithium for my bipolar disorder and it worked great. Because of my age, and an episode of lithium toxicity, my doctor suggest I stop using lithium, instead, try Lamectal. I took Lamactal for two years now, I had three episodes of depression which was quite bad. I think Lamactal is not working. My doctor suggest to change to Depokote and give it a try.

 

Lamictal review by 45 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   BiPolar II
Dosage & duration:   100 mg taken 2x daily for the period of 4 months
Other conditions:   ADD,Depression
Other drugs taken:   Cymbalta
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   My head felt very clear for the first time in years. I didn't get rattled as easily. Mood stabilizer is a very good description of it. I was able to get motivated, and not feel the world was ending every time something went wrong. I lost the desire to spend money in a ridiculous fashion.
Side effects:   Unfortunately I developed the much feared rash, and had to discontinue. I had recently started Cymbalta, so I can't be sure it was the Lamictal that set me off, but the psychiatrist didn't want to risk it. I did have to change the timing of the dose to bedtime, as it made me a bit tired shortly after I took it. Also, I believe it affected my vision, which got a bit blurry sometimes.
Comments:   I spent years shuttling between SSRI's, which I know know were the key element in tipping me into mania several times. After the psychiatrist determined the problem was BiPolar 2, the first treatment she considered was Lamictal. I did get some headaches at first, and unfortunately, at some point the effects were negated by the addition of Adderal. Once the Adderal was stopped, it was all good again. I would recommend this drug to anyone, with the proviso that if the SJS rash shows up, you must stop it immediately. Despite that, I really feel it is worth trying.

 

Lamictal review by 51 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   reverse the insomnia medication
Dosage & duration:   200 mgs taken one per day for the period of 2 years
Other conditions:   anxiety depression post traumatic syndrome
Other drugs taken:   diazepam endep stilnox zyrtec
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I can now sleep at night and not during the day, although easily stressed these drugs have enabled me to carry out my daily routine with no day time sleeping. I still would never attempt to work outside the house, the stress level would tip me over. I don't have panic attacks anymore unless a major confrentational situation arises.
Side effects:   Weight gain large weight gain, dry mouth, even when I am exhausted I cannot sleep with out this combination of drugs. I am worried about the side effects that may acure which the doctor explained, liver fuction altered, diabetes, seizures, weight gain.
Comments:   Fortnightly visit to psychiatrist, just a general chat, but when something tips me over like my brother dying, or my eldest son has a bad temper and says very aggressive and rude conversation, my nerves, panic attack, depths of despair, At those times I require a session with her and also take a different medication, once of.(serequel)

 

Lamictal review by 44 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   bi-polar 2
Dosage & duration:   400 mg taken twice a day ,am and pm for the period of 3 months at the 400 mg/prior 200 mg.
Other conditions:   anxiety related to bi-polar 2
Other drugs taken:   geodon and klonopin and Zoloft
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I feel much more stabilized on this drug. However the 200 mg.did quit working after about year and a half, and I was hospitalized with a mixed episode. My Lamictal was raised to 400 mg. 200 at night and 200 in the AM. I am told this is the highest theraputic level for this drug for treating bi-polar. I am much more even but am also still on Geodon and kolonpin once a day. I am weaning off of zoloft-am at 50 mg. once a day at moment. I feel the real med that has helped is the Lamictal, I hope to wean off the rest of meds after being stable for a length of time.
Side effects:   I do not think I have or had any side affects. It is hard to tell because I am on more than one drug, and while in the hospital I was on others. I am also alcholic so like that Lamictal is not habit forming. I am afraid I will put on weight as others have reported.
Comments:   Diagnosed with Bi-polar 2 WITH MIXED EPISODES AND RAPID CYCLING. Had been perscribed many SSRI'S, due to depression but never fully treated for bi-polar because I felt like I deserved and did not want to give up the few highs I had when not depressed. I also did not believe I was bi-polar when dignosed 12 years ago as an in-patient, because I had no understanding of mixed episodes and rapid cycling. I thought when I was hypo-manic, it was just a great relief and celebration of not being depressed. I was also not honest about my alcohol abuse until about 6 months ago, and have since stopped drinking, which allowed me to realize I was quelling the manis with alcohol, and with out it I was more unstable and manic. My only fear now is that without an anti-depressant I will suffer depression again.

 

Lamictal review by 65 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   bipolar disorder and depression
Dosage & duration:   100 mg taken 50 mg twice daily for the period of still taking medication
Other conditions:   Hep C
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I'm feeling more grounded; highs and lows are less extreme. You could say that my emotional 'playing field' is more level.
Side effects:   There's one 'side effect' - and I'm purposely and playfully/sarcastically placing it within quotes: this stuff has increased my sex-drive manyfold! I don't know if this has been the case with other patients, and I'm curious to know if anyone else has had that experience. I'm also presenting with a little 'feathery tickle', resulting in an annoying dry cough; perhaps this side effect will lessen as my body adapts to the medication.
Comments:   My doctor started me on a minimal dose (25 mg) of Lamotrigine, and this will be prior to starting Interferon/Ribavarin treatment for the Hep-C I've got. (An antidepressant may be added in the near future as well.) Lamotrigine was prescribed to put me in a calmer state of mind, specifically because of the high anxiety effect I receive from antidepressants, which resulted in 2 visits to an emergency room - as well as a one month hospital stay due to extreme anxiety and paranoia. So far/so good is this layman's analysis.

 

Lamictal review by 24 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Bipolar Disorder, OCD Behaviors
Dosage & duration:   200 MG [start at 25 & work way up] taken nightly for the period of 5 Months
Other conditions:   Bulimia, Depression, Anxiety
Other drugs taken:   Lexapro
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Diminished extreme highs& lows, decreased anxiety/panic attacks, diminished urges to self multilate [Felt absolutely compelled to punch my legs, arms, and head at times of anxiety attacks a way to numb pain of anxiety inside]. Mental clarity. Felt a sense of control over eating behaviors [Felt I had a choice to binge/purge or not]. This drug was a miracle as I admitted myself to the ER after feeling all loss of control over my extreme mood swings [very happy/joyfull to "no reason to live" the next minute], my bulimia, self-mutilation, & anxiety. I felt as if I was on a very thin thread of life, I was ready to quit seeking any sign of serenity, until I was given hope with Lamictal. I was able to hold on to life, with a promise that soon the medications will start working. Mental health issues run deep in my father's family. I've always been hesitant to solve my problems with meds, trying virtually every alternative medicine [even hypnotherapy]. I wish I would have looked into this earlier- knowing that my problems had deep genetic roots [chemical imbalace].
Side effects:   Made me a little sleepy, which actually helped my sleeping problems as well. Might have affected the ease to reach orgasm- however i think lexapro was the main culprit of that side effect having taken that med previously [lexapro has also helped my bulmia & depression].
Comments:   Started off at 25 mg, increaing to 50, 100, and now at 200mg, which I will stay at. 20 mg of lexapro, taken nightly as well, mainly for depression and anxiety. Recommended to see a therapist twice a week, initially. [With a temporarily heavy work schedule- unable to make consistant appointments. However, i keep making leaps and bounds in tearms of behavioral health progress! I intend on following recommendations in the near future as my work load levels out.

 

Lamictal review by 37 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   bipolar disorder
Dosage & duration:   200 mg once a day taken every day for the period of over 5 years
Other conditions:   i even took it through pregnancies
Other drugs taken:   fish oil
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   mood stability and two safe preganancies wtih healthy children.
Side effects:   none- one of the first times a bipolar medication has NOT caused side effects for me.
Comments:   The only downside from lamictal is you need to slowly up the dosage to a therapuetic level, so you can't take it if you are in a mood "crisis".

 

Lamictal review by 49 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   mood swings
Dosage & duration:   100 mg taken twice a day for the period of 2 years
Other conditions:   depression
Other drugs taken:   Wellbutrion, b/c pill
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   It took a while since the dose increases so slowly, but I started to realize that I wasn't reacting so severly to my daily emotional changes. If I was upset about something, I wasn't experiencing the sever mood swings I normally would. My frustration and anger no longer controlled me. A general sense of being able to handle my negative emotions without falling apart. My family noticed a big difference.
Side effects:   in the beginning I had symptoms of vertigo which occured when turning my head or standing quickly. The dizziness felt worse each time the medication dose was increased and eventually stopped or was significantly less pronounced. The feelings lasted about 2-6 weeks. Some weight gain.
Comments:   I was seeing a therapist and psychiatrist for over a year and had tried 4-5 medications for depression, some worked temporarily, some not at all. Both therapists thought my symptoms indicated Bipolar II and I should try a different approach. I stared on a very low dose, as indicated, so the benefits took a while to notice. When I reached 150 mg, thought it was too much so dropped back down to 100mg and have been on this dose for about 18 months. i have a med check 3-4 times a year.

 

Lamictal review by 24 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Depression and Anxiety
Dosage & duration:   100 MG taken twice a day for the period of Four months
Other conditions:   None
Other drugs taken:   Cymbalta
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Generally, Lamictal has helped my depression (intense sadness, hopelessness) more than my anxiety (obsessions, excessive worrying). The mood difference is noticeable. My pscychiatrist prescribed Lamictal to me because, as a mood stabilizer, Lamictal is often used to treat resistant depression. Considering that I had previously taken seven different medications in failed attempts to treat depression, this was an appropriate choice.
Side effects:   I have noticed no side effects.
Comments:   I take 100 MG of Lamictal orally, twice a day. Generally, I take the first pill when I wake up in the morning, and I take the second pill with dinner.

 

Lamictal review by 30 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   bipolar II
Dosage & duration:   200 mg taken once daily for the period of 4.5 months
Other conditions:   bulimia nervosa
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   lifted depression, calmed violent mood swings
Side effects:   I've been lucky with side effects. It has been entirely weight-neutral, which was a big consideration for me. I had some very pleasant side effects when I first started taking the drug--vivid but enjoyable dreams and an increase in sexuality. The only negative effects were sometimes having to reach to find the word I was trying to use (which has since lessened, although it still happens occasionally) and pretty bad acne (which I am now treating separately and is much better.) Neither of those effects are on the PI sheet, and my doctor seems very skeptical that either was caused by the drug, but I've found lots of anecdotal evidence of other people experiencing similar things. Regardless, the effects have been minimal and WELL worth it considering how much I've been helped.
Comments:   I started treatment when I was in what seemed like a mixed state--barely able to leave my bed at times, having to go into the bathroom at work to cry nearly every day, having strong urges to self-mutilate, and having a lot of suicidal ideation. I was also very agitated and angry, lashing out at loved ones for seemingly no reason. Lamotrigine started lifting the depression almost immediately, and once I hit the theraputic dose of 200 mg, it was like a cloud lifted overnight. I still have some ups and downs, but nothing major, and even when destructive thoughts cross my mind, I'm able to push them away more easily. I have recently had a rather intense relapse into bulimia, but I doubt that's related to the lamotrigine either way.

 

Lamictal review by medical professional caring for 36 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Bi-polar
Dosage & duration:   300 mg taken once a day for the period of Two years
Other conditions:   None
Other drugs taken:   Lithium, Zoloft
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Patient reported fewer mood swings, with very few side effects. Less affective toward depression, but she was able to reduce the amount of lithium, which caused extensive side-effects. This medication was implemented as part of her regular treatment plan.
Side effects:   Dizziness, fatigue, nausea, which were negligable if taken before bed.
Comments:   Medication, diet/exercise

 

Lamictal review by 49 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   seizure disorder
Dosage & duration:   150 mg taken 3 times a day for the period of still do
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Total seizure control; however occasional auras continue
Side effects:   none
Comments:   I have seizure disorder; for years I took Dilantin which was partly effective but not entirely and has some side effects. Several years ago a new doctor wanted to change me to Trileptal. The experience was not good - a major seizure while he was experimenting with the dosage; dizzy spells came over me in the morning, sometimes during my commute. Later the doctor switched to Lamictal. I have been on Lamictal for several years now with no seizures and no side effects, with the occasional 'aura' (something like a headache that in the past has sometimes been a precursor to a seizure). I do not know the efectiveness of the new generic equivalent.

 

Lamictal review by 19 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Bipolar Disorder
Dosage & duration:   Started at 10mg, tritrated up to 400mg taken two 200mg pills before sleep for the period of Around 13 months now
Other conditions:   None
Other drugs taken:   None
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Lamictal stabilized my serious mood swings. One minute I was clawing up the walls in pure mania, the next curled up in a fetal position on my bed contemplating suicdie. I am no longer at the whim of my moods and neither are those around me. I'm lucky that I started pharmaceuticals almost immediately after I was diagnosed a bipolar. Lamictal gives me amazing clarity to go about my day, honestly assess myself and form real relationships. Lamitcal lifted a fog, I guess you could call it. Now that I'm medicated I realize how cloudy my thought processes used to be. It's a wonderful feeling. Interestingly, I hardly dreamt before beginning Lamictal. I would dream (I mean dream in the sense of being able to imagine pictures and scenes while asleep, not REM) maybe once every two months. Now I dream every night. I found that the closer I take it to bedtime the more frequent and more intense my dreams.
Side effects:   Drowsiness, a bit of mental numbness. If you take too much, you will feel sedated. Since you have to be able to clearly and honestly assess your emotions and thoughts, determining how much medication you need is tough. I found that 400mg works perfectly for me, but that's a high dose. Less than that and I can feel the medicine wearing off prematurely (I like it to last 24hrs, from sleep to sleep). More than that and I feel numb. Some might call it drowsiness, but it's more a sluggishness of the mind for me. Before I began treating my bipolar disorder, I used to write a fair amount of fiction. It sort of flowed from me. I definitely had the artist's temperament. After Lamictal, though, that inherent creativity fizzled out. It doesn't come spilling out of me while I'm deep into a manic euphoria. I have to work at art now. It's something that requires discipline. If you are in a field which requires creativity, expect to see a change in your output.
Comments:   Severe mood swings between hypomania and depression with suicide ideation before Lamictal. Began with 10mg and tritrated up to 400mg over a few months. Played around with the dosage to finally arrive at 400mg. Experimented with taking it at different times in the evening. Found that most comfortable time is before sleep.

 

Lamictal review by 28 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Bipolar
Dosage & duration:   200 MG taken once daily for the period of 8 months
Other conditions:   N/A
Other drugs taken:   Effexor 300 MGs
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I was hospitalized in January for suicidal thoughts/attempts. At the time, I had been diagnosed with clinical depression and prescriped antidepressants only. They would induce mania and I was totally out of control, so much so that I pretty much lost all of my friends and went through a divorce. At the hospital, I was diagnosed as bipolar and since taking Lamotrogine with Effexor, I've had no thoughts of suicide or cutting, which I used to do often.
Side effects:   Some dizziness and vertigo.
Comments:   Started out with 50 MGs and went up to 200 MGs slowly. I haven't had any severe side effects, just the same I had with antidepressants.

 

Lamictal review by 30 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Ineffective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Depression / Bipolar
Dosage & duration:   150 mg taken every day for the period of two years
Other conditions:   Asthma
Other drugs taken:   Prozac 80 mg, Wellbutrin XL 150 mg
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I have a very difficult to treat depression. It does not respond, generally, to medication. That said, I have felt no benefit after taking Lamictal (lamotrigine)for two years. This does not mean you will not feel the effect. My case is unique.
Side effects:   memory loss (antergrade amnesia); cognitive impairment; a general sense of mental numbness. I would describe it as a "fog." Short-term memory as well as long-term memory were effected.
Comments:  

 

Lamictal review by 36 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   bipolar/mixed manic episodes/severe depression
Dosage & duration:   150 mgs taken 1 time a day for the period of 2mths so far
Other conditions:   anxiety
Other drugs taken:   i was taking cymbalta, now just lamictal
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   sigificantly lifted depression, stablized mood, calming affect, better sleep, eliminated social anxiety, WONDER DRUG!
Side effects:   Hard to tell, weened off cymbalta while titrating up on lamictal. If any, they were subtle
Comments:   titrated up from 25 to 100. was given the generic after the titration to 100. the generic was not good. felt way more manic. got back on the brand name and doc suggested bumping up to 150. Haven't felt this good in a long time!

 

Lamictal review by 49 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   seizure disorder
Dosage & duration:   150 mg 3x taken 3x per day for the period of past 4 years ongoing
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Effective at controlling seizures without dizziness
Side effects:   There were no side effects
Comments:   I took Dilantin for decades. My doctor moved me to Trileptal; it was not 100% effective and caused dizziness, plus it was very expensive. Lamictal controls my seizures, although I still get headaches (auras). I would like to be completely free of these headaches, but this is still better than previous medications.

 

Lamictal review by 25 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   mood disorder
Dosage & duration:   200 mg taken once per day for the period of 1.5 years
Other conditions:   Cognitive deficits
Other drugs taken:   Abilify, Deplin, Cerefolin
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Improved mood and anxiety stability,improved ability to take care of self, drastically reduced social anxiety, ability to put concerns into perspective, ability to calm day to day worries and concerns.
Side effects:   Cognitive deficits, memory problems, word retrieval difficulties, inability to experience complex emotions, lack of motivation, true lack of ability to absorb written information.
Comments:   taken in conjunction with talk therapy, and behavioral therapy,

 

Lamictal review by 41 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Epilepsy
Dosage & duration:   100mg taken 2 times a day for the period of 14 years
Other conditions:   ADD HD
Other drugs taken:   Xanax, Ritalin
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Almost completely Stopped seizures
Side effects:   Dizziness (feeling like walking on a dock), Anxiety attacks, some decreased mental sharpness, memory loss
Comments:   Started taking 75mg twice a day, never got another grand mal seizure but still got auras about 3-4 a month. Experienced anxiety attacks in the first 2 weeks but then they went away. Increased dose to 100mg twice a day, auras decreased to 1-2 per month all was well for about 6 years. Began to notice dizziness while walking or looking down, but nothing debilitating. After 6 years, anxiety attacks sharply increased along with dizziness. Started taking Xanax XR to control anxiety attacks and dizziness. Auras decreased to 1 every 3 months. However, dizziness, slight disorientation and anxiety when Xanax starts to wear off. Xanax has helped maintain consistent sleep pattern.

 

Lamictal review by 20 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Bipolar Disorder
Dosage & duration:   150 mg taken once a day for the period of 5 months
Other conditions:   Allergies, Acne
Other drugs taken:   Zyrtec, Tetracycline
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Lamictal is by far the best medicine that I have been perscribed. It almost has completly controlled my depression which was very severe, and has almost completly controled my mania. I still get slightly hypomanic, but this has not been a problem for me.
Side effects:   I originally took Lamictal 200mg once a day for two months in March 2008 and had to stop because of moderate memory loss(mild long term loss and moderate/severe short term loss), loss of ballence, and fatigue.I was sometimes in a mental fog. I would repeat the same things several times an hour and not remeber that I had said it. When I first started taking Lamictal I was leaving for college in a few months and my doctor(whom I no longer see)rushed me to raise my perscription very quickly.During that time it had completly controled my depression and mania.
Comments:   I am currently taking it, and started taking it again in September 2009. I now take 150mg once a day. I have not had any side effects since I started taking it again in september.I partially believe that the reason it is so effective now is that I am 20 lbs heavier than I was when I first took Lamictal and because I now take a lower dose.

 

Lamictal review by 17 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Depression
Dosage & duration:   Titrated up from 50 mg to now 200 mg taken once a day in the morning for the period of one and a half years ago, still taking
Other conditions:   ADHD, celiac disease, fibromyalgia/chronic pain
Other drugs taken:   Adderall, Zyrtec
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Completely took away my severe chronic body pain. I was able to sleep at night and was not fatigued during the day. You have to be very careful with the dosage and slowly increase it, but it is completely worth it.
Side effects:   For the first night or two taking the medication and after increasing the doasage I had trouble sleeping.
Comments:   Lamictal saved my life. I suffered from severe chronic body pain for 3 years, and naturally I searched for a physical cause but was never able to be diagnosed or treated correctly. Finally I was diagnosed with depression and began taking Lamictal. I felt a 180 degree difference in my life immediately. I started initially with 50 mg and slowly titrated up to 200 mg. Now I can sleep at night, I am not fatigued during the day, I can complete tasks and have motvation, and most importantly, I am completely pain free. The number 1 cause of body pain in teenagers is depression, and many doctors fail to take that into account.

 

Lamictal review by 55 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   bipolar depression
Dosage & duration:   300 mg taken once daily for the period of 300 mg for six months then 200 for a yea
Other conditions:   depression
Other drugs taken:   Neurontin, Ambien
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The drug was very effective at first at getting me out of depression. However it lost effectiveness over time and the side effects became worse over time.
Side effects:   Hair loss, extreme sensitivity to MSG and glutamate food additives, mood changes, insomnia, and extreme difficulty when attempting to discontinue the drug.
Comments:   I was started at 300 mg and then reduced myself to 200 mg after six months. I took it at 200 mg for almost a year and a half. For the past four months I have been gradually tapering off this medication with great difficulty.

 

Lamictal review by 35 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Marginally Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Bipolar disorder
Dosage & duration:   150mg taken 2 times a day for the period of 2 years and counting...
Other conditions:   Asthma, chronic migraines
Other drugs taken:   Nortriptyline, Topiramate, Cytomel
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   When I first started, I slowly made my way up to 300mg. After the first two months, I noticed a difference. Not a huge difference, but it was big enough for my family to notice. It seemed to me though, after time, that my body got immune to the medication and I seemed to be back to the manic stages again. I have been on tons of anti-depression medications that are prescribed for depression and bipolar disorder and it seems to my doctors/psychiatrists that my body just gets immune to them.
Side effects:   fatigue and memory loss
Comments:   I really wish this was the medication that finally worked for me, but unless some miracle happens, it's back to the drawing board. I seem to still have my mania episodes everyday, sometimes it gets bothersome. I seem to yell still, I have my days where all I want to do is stay in my room and not move. I can't control my thoughts, but I still work everyday in hopes to finding that "Miracle" medication that will finally work for me!

 

Lamictal review by 28 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Bipolar II
Dosage & duration:   200mg taken twice/day for the period of Ongoing for over a year
Other conditions:   Depression, Anxiety
Other drugs taken:   Klonopin
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I quit taking Lithium because it didn't seem to be helping anymore and I didn't like the way it made me feel. After going off Lithium my Dr. took me off Ativan which set in major anxiety. I started drinking to ease the anxiety, but the alcohol sent me into major Manic/Depressive moods. While drinking I was extremely manic, and while sober I went into major depressive states. I could barely leave my house while in a depressive anxious state. I missed a lot of work and started working from home. Getting out of bed seemed impossible, finally got on Lamictal which took about six weeks to fully kick in. Since then my anxiety has gone down(lower than ever before). I am on a low dose of Klonopin that is taken on an "as needed basis." My life is has improved greatly since I have been on Lamictal, works much better than the Lithium ever did. I am so greatful for this drug it has given me my life back.
Side effects:   None
Comments:   Started out on 25mg/day and slowly worked my way up to 200/mg 2x's a day. Saw a therapist once a week for about 8 weeks, then switched down to once every other week for a month. Now my family Dr. is handling my prescription. I am lucky about that because I was told that some Dr's do not feel comfortable handling bipolar drugs.

 

Lamictal review by 47 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   PTSD
Dosage & duration:   25 mg taken 2x/day for the period of 5 years
Other conditions:   Anxiety disorder
Other drugs taken:   ativan, paxil, seroquel, topamax
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   According to my psychiatrist and to what I had read, lamictal could be very helpful for people with PTSD. I had tried dozens of meds over the years and, at the time, was totally crippled with anxiety despite being on all the other meds. listed above. Hours after starting Lamictal I was given relief and the anxiety and dissociative symptoms reduced markedly.
Side effects:   None that I noticed
Comments:   I was on 25 mg for a week or perhaps two, then raised the dose to 50 mg. I have been on this dose for many years now, along with the rest of the meds I take to manage symptoms.

 

Lamictal review by 39 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Extremely Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Bipolar II
Dosage & duration:   100mg taken qd for the period of 22 months
Other conditions:   N/A
Other drugs taken:   Wellbutrin
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The drug stabilized my rapid cycling. It facilitated my reducing alcohol consumption to decrease my hypomanic symptoms.
Side effects:   I had severe suicidal thoughts, severe depression and feelings of isolation, and absolutely no motivation for life. FDA has issued statement that patients are twice as likely to experience suicidal thoughts/ideation on this drug than on placebo. Unfortunately, I was on this drug for 15 months before this information was released and an additional 7 months before I read about it. My psychiatrist (outside the U.S.) was not notified about this potential side effect. I feel like I lost almost two years of my life.
Comments:   QD A.M.: 150 mg Wellbutrin QD A.M.: 100 mg Lamictal

 

Lamictal review by 31 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Bipolar II
Dosage & duration:   300mg/day taken 150mg 2x daily for the period of 3 months
Other conditions:   Bulimia, Binge Eating
Other drugs taken:   Lexapro
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I have my life back. That is the main treatment benefit. I suffered from impulsive behaviors, probably the most harmful/dangerous of them being binge-eating and bulimia. Since taking Lamictal at 300mg for 4 months now my eating habits have become completely normal. I have not purged in 3 months. This is amazing. I would binge eat and purge because of anxiety. Now I feel like a normal person--not obsessed with food, I eat when I am hungry, stop when satiated. I have lost a LOT of weight (20 pounds in 3 months without dieting/counting calories, etc.)...nothing was wrong with my metabolism, it was the impulsive eating, stealing food from others, throwing it up (which gave me a high--not just to get rid of the calories, but it calmed me...). I love the Lamictal for this because it's not like some meds that make you lose weight by destroying the appetite. I am just a normal person now! I also quit the Lexapro as it was triggering hypomanic episodes. The Lamictal is stabilizing my moods--it doesn't numb the depression like the SSRIs I have been on. I feel things. I am clear-headed. But I am able to step back and not be hurt by every look I get from people, I am not paranoid anymore, I can wake up in the morning with energy and I fall asleep within 3 minutes of hitting the pillow. I get sleepy at 10pm. I am not hyper and can sit still for more than 2 minutes. :-) All good for me. This is the right medication for me...
Side effects:   Loss of weight, but this was just a result of my mood stabilization as I had developed serious eating disorders.
Comments:   I started slowly and built up as recommended. I have been very faithful and have not missed 1 dose in the 4 months on this medication. I am now at 150mg 2x per day. I think I will stop at this dosage as it is done its job on me...I don't need a higher dosage. When I was at 200mg I was mostly "fixed", but still had rage issues and was still impulsive. That is gone now.

 

Lamictal review by 29 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   depresion anxiety obsessive behavior
Dosage & duration:   200mg taken 2x daily for the period of 2 1/2 months
Other conditions:   alot
Other drugs taken:   wellbutrin
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   No side effects and the crying went away. It really helped me when nothing else did.
Side effects:   none
Comments:   The wellbutrin pulled me out of the black hole and after a load of meds that were affective on serotonin that made me manic or did nothing at all and almost wrecked my life this finally leveled me out....thank god.

 

Lamictal review by 24 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Bipolar II
Dosage & duration:   25mg taken once a day for the period of 1 month
Other conditions:   None
Other drugs taken:   Buspirone
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I have already noticed my mood becoming more stable, and it has only been a month since I have started this medicine. I feel like I have become less emotional and more rational. I still have some anxiety, but that is why I take buspirone 2X a day with this drug.
Side effects:   I have had a constant headache with this drug. After I first take it, I feel somewhat fatigued and dizzy. I was on Depakote in the past and definitely had more side effects, such as alopecia. My psychiatrist told me that these associated headaches should become less severe the longer I take this medication.
Comments:   Right now I am just taking 25 mg Lamictal once a day. I recently just stop taking Adderall, and so far have experience less anxiety. I also take busiprone twice a day with the lamictal.

 

Lamictal review by 58 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   depression
Dosage & duration:   200 mg taken daily for the period of 3 months
Other conditions:   migraines, high blood pressure and cholesterol
Other drugs taken:   effexor, simvastatin, prempro, frova for migraines,
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   While on the drug, I experienced some level of mood stabilization, marked by a greater ability to 'flow with' daily stress.
Side effects:   About six weeks ago, I noticed that my hair -- which has been quite thick throughout my life -- was markedly thinner. My scalp is patchy in spots and the hair is beginning to thin out in clumps on the top of my head.
Comments:   I am, under the direction of my doctor, reducing dosage in 25 mg increments and taking several vitamin/mineral combinations, including copper, zinc, biotin, and selenium. But there is no assurance that my hair loss will ever reverse itself -- in fact, it may continue.

 

Lamictal review by 37 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Epilepsy
Dosage & duration:   100 mg taken once daily for the period of 3 Years
Other conditions:   None
Other drugs taken:   None
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Stopped seizure activity immediately, even during titration. Occasional aura (pre-seziure activity which are actually seizures themselves), during high stress, or situations that trigger photosensitivity.
Side effects:   Occasional confusion likened to this patient's post-ictus symptoms. Memory impairment. Benefits greatly outweigh any side effects experienced.
Comments:   Will continue on Lamictal (generic equivalent) for partial seizures. Seizure activity continues to be non existent after starting this medication.

 

Lamictal review by 59 year old male patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Depression
Dosage & duration:   150MG taken once a day for the period of One Month
Other conditions:   Anxiety
Other drugs taken:   Mirtazapine, Xanax
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I've been on meds for depression/anxiety for over 20 years and have tried many medications and combinations. Nothing has ever effectively controlled my depression but Lamictal seems to have stabilized my condition at a tolerable level. I am more mentally "resilient".....I don't stay down too long; I'm able to bounce back quickly from a depressive state. I'm also taking Mirtazapine (30mg; 2 a day). Maybe it's the combination that helps. I was recently taking Pristiq and Mirtazapine and was terribly depressed. I quit taking the Pristiq and began Lamictal and had and a very quick improvement.
Side effects:   Lamictal seems to have increased my sex drive. I'm constantly "horny" and masturbate alot. The crazy thing is that Lamictal also seems to cause anorgasmia.....difficulty in achieving orgasm. Most of the time I get 99.9% of the way towards feeling like I'm going to climax but don't. So this med has increased my sex drive but doesn't let me fully enjoy the "benefits". Anyone have any suggestions in dealing with anorgasmia?
Comments:   I take one 150MG tablet each morning.

 

Lamictal review by 22 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Bipolar II
Dosage & duration:   200mg taken once a day for the period of 2 years
Other conditions:   ADD Inattentive, Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome
Other drugs taken:   Providgil, Lunesta
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Generally effective in stabilizing mood fluctuations and controlling obsessive thought patterns, mild anti-depressive effect
Side effects:   Noticeable word-recall and memory recall problems, insomnia when taken at night, mild flattening of mood/interest at higher doses
Comments:   Starting with 25mg/day, I titrated up to 200mg a day in 2 months, taking 100mg in the morning and 100mg at noon to help lessen memory effects. During times of great stress, would take up to 300mg/day. Stayed on 200mg/day for a year, then lessened to 100mg/day for another year to reduce side-effects, particularly memory and mood flattening effects. Eventually stopped treatment in order to pursue non-drug therapies, but would go back on the treatment if stress or life events triggered strong mood episodes.

 

Lamictal review by 50 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   mood stabilization
Dosage & duration:   200 mg/day taken once a day for the period of its been about three years now
Other conditions:   depression, anxiety
Other drugs taken:   wellbutrin, effexor
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The wellbutrin and effexor alone did improve the depression but the addition of the lamictal really made a significant improvement. With just the two antidepressants I could still feel down and unmotivated, lethargic, hopeless at times. But the lamictal prevented me from going down. I have been diagnosed with dysthymia among other things and I have been told that there might be some sort of cycling akin to what manic-depressives have but of course not to that extreme. The doctor was concerned initially about my diagnosis - the thought was that the diagnosis I had received (dysthimia) may have been wrong and really I was a manic-depressive (which I am not). Apparently this is a mistake that can be made quite a bit. This is what I thought was implied. Boy have I been glad that someone came up with lamical.
Side effects:   There were no side effects. If there were,(which I don't think there were) then they were so minimal as to go unnoticable by me. Some people say they are the type that has all the side effects. I seem to be the one that has none of the side effects.
Comments:   The treatment has been 200mg/day for three years.

 

Lamictal review by 56 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   bipolar
Dosage & duration:   200 mg taken daily for the period of 5 years
Other conditions:   The last month I think I may be having nervous side affects
Other drugs taken:   provigil, metoprolo, amlodipine, lipitor,
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   This took all my depression. I fought suicide constantly, read self help books, went to therapy, etc. I took this pill and noticed suicide never ever crossed my mind. In fact, I felt normal for the first time in my life. I was diagnosed with kidney cancer shortly after and a biopsy from hell that has made me almost homebound and terribly disabled. Yet, I don't have depression. I have every other emotion. I definitely learned quick that sadness is NOT depression.
Side effects:   Unfortunately the last month, I feel very nervous. Now, it hurts me to focus on anything visually. I can't describe it but it's like the nerves in my brain. I hear this sound in my head like a car idle with an ocean wave. If I breath very deep less than a minute it goes away. Since they destroyed my lungs in that biopsy; I don't know if it is nerves or oxygen causing that. I know the vision and nervousness is nerves most definitely. I think I may be developing side effects from Lamictal.
Comments:   I'm not for sure about the side effects. I sure hate the thought of life without Lamictal!I am really suspecting it, though.

 

Lamictal review by 20 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Epilepsy
Dosage & duration:   100mg taken 1 tablet twice daily for the period of 3 Years - Still on Lamictal
Other conditions:   None
Other drugs taken:   Epilim
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Lamictal stopped my seizures as well as Epilim, but it gave me a considerate amount of energy. Some would see it as a benefit to not have an appetite, even though it's bad for your health to not eat. My depression went away with Lamictal. Even when I had an appetite I still wouldn't eat much, which helped me greatly, since Epilim gave me terrible cravings.
Side effects:   I experienced hair loss at times. I wouldn't have an appetite and throw up if I had something to eat. I get terrible mood swings. In the beginning I would suffer from sleeplessness. My body would be tired, but my brain wouldn't stop working. Don't know how to explain it. I've had a little rash, but nothing serious. I've been an athlete my whole life, so training and staying in shape is a big thing for me, but since I've been on Lamictal I've gained a considerate amount of weight and not being able to lose it. I've carried on training, but my weight just stands still, after all my weight gain. I've managed to lose 5kg's in 3 years and that was an amazing achievement for me. My weight has made me terribly depressed, since my body isn't accustomed to it. I went back to my Neurologist, but after driving 400km's and paying R800, he told me that I'm talking nonsense, because Lamictal has never been said to make a patient pick up weight. There's a first time for everything you know. I just don't know what to do, because I just can't carry on like this. It has affected my cycling, my running, my swimming, but he clearly doesn't give a damn.
Comments:   I was on Epilim for a few months, but went over to Epitec (Lamictal) because Epilim made me very tired and depressed. Apparently Epitec was the tablet with the least side-effects.

 

Lamictal review by 32 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Epilepsy
Dosage & duration:   150mg taken twice a day for the period of 8 yrs
Other conditions:   Osteoporosis, Dystonia
Other drugs taken:   Dilantin, Topamax, Zanaflex, Forteo
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   some control of partial seizures- they decreased from 3-4/wk to 1-2/mo
Side effects:   I've taken lamictal before (different combo of anticonvulsants) and the dose was high enough to make me vomit-- I'm very underweight and was on a dose of 500mg in a split dose 150mg am/ 200mg noon/ 150mg pm. While it did somewhat control my partial seizures, I was sick ALL THE TIME and had such severe headaches it sucked! That was 8 yrs ago for about a year. This time around we decided to try it again with the Dilantin/Topamax combo to get rid of the partial seizures as the generalized seizures were licked. Smarter doctor got me on 150mg am/150mg pm for a total of 300mg a day. I'm doing well this time with rare bouts of nausea, a little increased acne during titration, some headache during titration, some sleepiness but no other side effects. This dose has mainly controlled my partials but I still get 1-2 per month.
Comments:   150mg AM/150mg PM brand name tablets.
 


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