Anyone else have these side effects with lamotrigine?

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For me it just lasted a few weeks. But I've never been on the XR (extended release) version.(I've always preferred doing divided doses for some reason).
 
i so want to go on this drug! ive heard from so many sites that its the best when it comes to side effects! i cant stand what im on now and i cant seem to get changed! :(

i hope u feel better when everything is settled :)
 
So far it seems to be better than the Keppra, as I was also dizzy on Keppra at first. Though I've been feeling quite anxious for the past week or so; however, I don't know if that's related to the Lamictal or just life at the moment.
 
Please keep us updated on how you are doing RunningGirl. My daughter has recently started taking Lamictal but is only up to 50mg so far. Hope the anxiousness calms down and that things work out for you.
 
I can say for a fact that the side effects to this med are random and hard to work with(at times). Since it is also an anti-depression med you may need to have a shrink or a sleep specialist added to your list of doctors(to help you out when you get upset about the med).

Watch how much you sleep it could be a problem with your vitamin D or Iron levels, a few months ago I was sleeping about 12hrs a night and still needing naps..... my iron level was VERY low, my primary dr had me on the highest dose of iron that the stores will carry 2x a day. now to keep my iron levels in check I take a lower dose of iron once a day(not fun needing to take more then just a milti-vitamin).

if you have any questions you can send me a message
 
Jane,

Sorry it took me so long to reply - somehow I missed your message :) The Lamictal seems to be doing better. I just upped the dose again (next week should be the last time) to 250 mg. I've been pretty sleepy the last couple of days since upping, but the other side effects don't seem to bad. I've been feeling less anxious, but that also may be due in part to my increase in my antidepressant, which I think my body had adjusted to and wasn't really working anymore (aka, I was back to my former Keppra state of random crying spells).
 
Thought I'd chime in breifly, I'm coming off Lamictal as I developed Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, I just thought I had bad sleeping habits and was totally unaware of my accessive twitching during the night, so I had a polysomnography, which showed up the myoclonus. Not sure if this is helpful to anyone, but if anyone is getting sleep disturbances on Lamictal may be something to consider. :)
 
Since this thread was all ready started I figure I'll ask here. Has anyone seen more bruising with Lamictal? I've been bruising pretty easily lately (I usually don't ). I'm also getting all sorts of random new injuries (my foot. . Grrrr). I know it's running related but it's so random and I am wondering if my meds are affecting blood flow/bones / other random things related to bruising and/or exercise. Just a general question I guess!

Sent from my Vortex using Tapatalk 2
 
i got insomnia and starving at night i got up and cooked something 2am today
 
Hi, i am currently on 2 types of aed lamictal and keppra. does anyone know if either of these drugs effect your immune system. its just i constantly seem to be getting the cold/flu have ear infections and tummy bugs.
 
I am on Lamictal and as far as I know it doesn't affect your immune system. I do not have my Lamictal combined with Keppra though, mine is combined with Epilim Chrono and Topomax.
I do have the flu jab ever year, this would eliminate one for you.

Good luck J
 
Cez said:
Thought I'd chime in breifly, I'm coming off Lamictal as I developed Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, I just thought I had bad sleeping habits and was totally unaware of my accessive twitching during the night, so I had a polysomnography, which showed up the myoclonus. Not sure if this is helpful to anyone, but if anyone is getting sleep disturbances on Lamictal may be something to consider. :)
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Thank you Cez, this could be very helpful to me. I am on Lamictal and I have been cutting it down slowly with the doctor's orders. I will start taking my strongest dose in the morning instead of at bedtime.

I have insomnia at night and sleep all day. I have severe jerking of my arms, tremors of my head all of the time. I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease as a result. They do not have a test for Parkinson's yet. They almost have one.

Three years ago I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It turns out that I do not have it. My memory is shot, though.

I am going to ask for the polysomnography to see if I have myoclonus istead of Parkinson's. Periodic Limb Disorder.

I was wondering if my jerking of my limbs and tremors could be a type of epilepsy. Anyone have any ideas?:e:
 
Ruth said:
Thank you Cez, this could be very helpful to me. I am on Lamictal and I have been cutting it down slowly with the doctor's orders. I will start taking my strongest dose in the morning instead of at bedtime.

I have insomnia at night and sleep all day. I have severe jerking of my arms, tremors of my head all of the time. I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease as a result. They do not have a test for Parkinson's yet. They almost have one.

Three years ago I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It turns out that I do not have it. My memory is shot, though.

I am going to ask for the polysomnography to see if I have myoclonus istead of Parkinson's. Periodic Limb Disorder.

I was wondering if my jerking of my limbs and tremors could be a type of epilepsy. Anyone have any ideas?:e:
Click to expand...
Hi Ruth. This is very interesting. Earlier this month I was DX'ed with partial seizures even though I have been haing them for 3 1/2 years. I didn't realize what they were.

Anyway, I have also had trouble sleeping for a long time so I had a sleep study done one year ago. The study shows I have periodic limb movement disorder. I now wonder if it isn't really some form of seizure. I have an appointment with my neuro on Monday and I need to make another appointment with the sleep doctor so I will put it on my list of questions to ask
 
Hi MAB, glad to meet you.

I was wondering if it is a type of seizure too. I am 70 years old so the doctors blame everything associated with "getting up there in years."

For 3 years I had my husband and son as caregiver's and lived my life as an Alzheimer's patient. I researched it and learned the problems that caregivers go through. It was an education. Then I changed Neuro's and found out that I have MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) instead. That is just mild forgetfulness.

Now, Parkinson's which is worse than Alzheimer's. It is still kept "in the closet."

With my Lamictal, since I found out that it keeps me awake all night, I put my strongest dose in the morning so I could stay awake all day. I will see how it works.

I am going to see what the doctor says about the possibility of my having something else, like another kind of seizure.
 
Ruth said:
Hi MAB, glad to meet you.

I was wondering if it is a type of seizure too. I am 70 years old so the doctors blame everything associated with "getting up there in years."

For 3 years I had my husband and son as caregiver's and lived my life as an Alzheimer's patient. I researched it and learned the problems that caregivers go through. It was an education. Then I changed Neuro's and found out that I have MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) instead. That is just mild forgetfulness.

Now, Parkinson's which is worse than Alzheimer's. It is still kept "in the closet."

With my Lamictal, since I found out that it keeps me awake all night, I put my strongest dose in the morning so I could stay awake all day. I will see how it works.

I am going to see what the doctor says about the possibility of my having something else, like another kind of seizure.
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Ruth, after I see my neuro next week and ask her about the periodic limb movement I will try to remember to post back here to you.
Take care,
Margie
 
Hi MAB, it seems like you are going through a pretty tough time! It's very interesting about the Parkinson's as the only drugs that treat Periodic Limb Movement are Parkinson's medications and some benzo's.

It's a problem with the basal ganglia that controls involuntary movement, again much like Parkinson's, although totally benign. The reason I had the polysomnography was because they thought my seizures may be uncontrolled at night but it turns out it was this sleep disorder.

I read that up to 90% of people with epilepsy have an underlying sleep problem. Seizures could definitely be a possibility if you are getting uncontrolled movement, however, there are other conditions such as Dystonia which can be a permanent state of uncontrolled movement in some people and others get "attacks". It's probably best to find a good neurologist and discuss these options with him as there are so many movement disorders out there. Best of luck! I hope everything works out :)
 
Cez said:
Hi MAB, it seems like you are going through a pretty tough time! It's very interesting about the Parkinson's as the only drugs that treat Periodic Limb Movement are Parkinson's medications and some benzo's.

It's a problem with the basal ganglia that controls involuntary movement, again much like Parkinson's, although totally benign. The reason I had the polysomnography was because they thought my seizures may be uncontrolled at night but it turns out it was this sleep disorder.

I read that up to 90% of people with epilepsy have an underlying sleep problem. Seizures could definitely be a possibility if you are getting uncontrolled movement, however, there are other conditions such as Dystonia which can be a permanent state of uncontrolled movement in some people and others get "attacks". It's probably best to find a good neurologist and discuss these options with him as there are so many movement disorders out there. Best of luck! I hope everything works out :)
Click to expand...
Thanks, I see my neuro on Monday and I have a list of questions for her.

Today will be a long day. I went to bed at 9PM last night and woke at 2AM. Now it's time to get ready for work.

I have always had sleep problems but they seem much worse since I started the lamotrigine and I'm only on 50mg once a day.
 
Hello, I am Irish, I live in London, I have epilepsy for about 8 years. I take lamotrigine.... I take 50 mg a day, 20mg at night and another 25 mg before bed. This has worked well over the last few years. OK I still get the odd one or two sezuries a year... I can count on one to be exact....

Any way in the past 2 months,,, I had a seizure, gosh I have since then get tingling in my left hand from time to time and am feeling very very dizzy near all the time. I have knocked coffee on the head but that didn't help. I would have perhaps 2 cups or may 3 cups of nescafe a day. I do like a glass of red wine but have knocked that out as well but jez I really really feel dizzy. I am afraid to up my does of lamotrogine as I do not want it to change my personality haha. but gosh I do feel so so dizzy, I have lots of pressure at work maybe that is kinda getting me dizzy. With regards developed insomnia..... yes I have also about four months ago... I go to bed about 11 most nights, I never drink coffee after midday. but sometimes or most of the time need one or two glass of red wine to wind down. over the last 4 odd months gosh. I wake every morning at about 3.45 am and thats it. Counting sheep does not help.

any way I was surprised to see your post as haha we both seem to be on the same boat.

cheers

k
 
I have been on Lamictial since mid Oct. My vision is very blurry, especially in my left eye. It stated about a week ago. I saw my eye doctor 6 months ago and he said my vision had not changed in the last 3 years.

Also I have always had problems sleeping but it is worse now. Friday I got up at my usual 5 am but didn't go back to sleep until 10pm Saturday night. I managed to sleep after the 4th sleeping pill.

I am on a low dose, only 50mg in the am and 50 mg in the pm. I had my levels checked last week so I expect to hear from the doctor this week.
 
Thank you MAB, on a quick note.... did you have epilepsy a number of years before your
stroke...... or is it something that came alone/happened after. I am afraid with the tingle I get in my left hand and was wondering was my heart starving my head of oxagine thus leading to my hands tingling.


k
 
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