Lamictal and oversensitive gag reflex?

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Krista2882

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I've been taking Lamictal for a number of years, but recently, my gag reflex has become hypersensitive. I gag at least once a day and it's either because of food, while taking my meds, smelling something bad, or seeing something gross.
It's the scariest when I'm gagging while taking my meds because I'm afraid of choking as a result (it also doesn't help that the lamictal pills are flat and rough and get stuck to your tongue or throat easily!)
I can't think of any cause other than side effects of meds... but I've been taking Lamictal for so long that it is strange that a new side effect should show up (I also take Keppra, so it could even be that).
I did see gagging on a list of side effects of Lamictal, but has anyone else here experienced this side effect?
 
I actually get this with Keppra! Sometimes it is better than others but I usually have issues just about every day. It is sort of like morning sickness for me (although I've never been pregnant so I can't really say!). Usually breakfast makes me gag in addition to taking my AM meds, brushing my teeth at any point during the day, drinking coffee, certain smells, etc. It's definitely worse whenever I change my med dose in either direction and settles back down after a month or two but is always there. Glad to know I'm not the only one out there with this reaction to AED's. It is sort of odd that this is new after being on the same medication and dose for so long but who knows what is going on in these brains of ours.
 
Thank you both, that's really helpful.
Well, maybe it is from the Keppra instead of the Lamictal... but I've been taking this dose for a few years now. I've had a gagging problem for a few years (like a couple times a month gagging while I'm eating), but it's just been the past 8 months to a year that it's gotten a lot worse and in the past couple of months it's the first time that smelling something bad or seeing something gross will make me gag.
 
Of note is that there are some neurological disorders that can be associated with difficulty swallowing, and they are often in the category of neurologically-based movement disorders.
Swallowing difficulties can also be psychological (ie. "I've gagged on this before, so it will likely happen again" kind of thing, and it does. Bad smells and seeing unpleasant things can also be a psychological reaction rather than physiological. Since it has become worse and changed in the past couple of months (I'm assuming you have ruled out being pregnant . . . ) bring up what has been happening with your family doctor or neurologist as they may have a solution.
 
Masterjen is definitely right about the psychological aspect of it. I'm chronically nauseous on keppra so that's part of it but god forbid I gag while swallowing a pill. It sets of a psychological chain of reactions for me on top of the nausea.
 
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