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Share your experience: submit a drug review
Below are Lamictal (Lamotrigine) reviews, ratings, comments submitted by patients and caregivers. 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. |
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| | 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.
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| 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) |
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| | 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. |
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| | 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. |
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| | 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. |
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| | 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) |
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| | 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. |
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| | 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. |
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| | 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. |
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