Lamictal-Doped up

[Angelita14]

Hi,
Today is the first day of my full dosage of Lamictal. I've been building up the dosage over the last few weeks now. I'm taking two tablets a day and I feel absolutely doped up to my eyeballs! I'm feeling a bit depressed too. Is this the norm? I know I have to get used to taking new needs but I don't want to be a walking zombie either. Thanks

 

[katzy]

I was depressed and was planning suicide the first few months of starting Lamictal. I told my doctor this and she said that Lamictal is actually used to treat depression in people with bipolar disorder, so I was conflicted. Then it went away after a while, so hang in there

 

[Penny]

I was depressed and was planning suicide the first few months of starting Lamictal. I told my doctor this and she said that Lamictal is actually used to treat depression in people with bipolar disorder, so I was conflicted. Then it went away after a while, so hang in there

That's funny because when I started it 7 years ago my psych told me that it was for epilepsy but they were just finding it worked for bipolar two. onder:

 

[katzy]

That's funny because when I started it 7 years ago my psych told me that it was for epilepsy but they were just finding it worked for bipolar two. onder:

lol that's funny

 

[lindsayschu2]

I have found that a lot of side effects go away or mellow out in a couple of weeks to a month or two if you stick with it. Maybe that will be the case for you.

 

[horsehead]

I'll be going up to 100mg in a couple days . i kinda wish I felt doped up. I can't sit still and can hardly sleep. Hope it will pass.

 

[kirsten]

When I start a med that makes me drowsy, I always feel depressed as well. It takes between two weeks and two months for the drowsiness to go away but if it's too bad, my doctor tapers it slower. I always stick out the time, because the drowsiness has, so far, always gone away eventually.

Lamictal was first FDA approved as an add on epilepsy treatment and to prevent bipolar mood swings and then later approved as a partial seizure treatment. It wasn't approved to treat bipolar depression but apparently the language in the FDA report was confusing on that point:
http://pro.psychcentral.com/2013/lamictal-miraculous-not-quite/001628.html#

 

[Angelita14]

The depression has lifted a bit thankfully. Katzy, I really don't know if I could cope with feeling like that for so long.I had to ring the pharmacy yesterday to ask a question about Lamictal and I just casually dropped in the conversation " it's for partial seizures" I know them quite well & didn't want them to think I have bipolar. Horsehead, I hope your increase to 100 mg goes well. That's a super strength size! Crikey! Thanks for the support x

 

[masterjen]

When I was on lamictal 3 years ago (250 mg) the only side effect I had was eye sensitivity. I don't have issues with depression, but just the same I like how it made me feel mentally; kind of mellow. Problem is it worsened my myoclonics at the level the partial seizures were finally showing a degree of control, so the decision was to switch to a different medication.

 

[Angelita14]

100mg, 250mg? I'm only on 50! This is like a baby dose. How on earth would I cope at the higher doses?! I'm wondering now if I should be taking more? I'm still getting some partial seizures but it's early days yet. I'll see what my Neuro says. Hopefully he'll be referring me to the Epi nurse anyways. Things move so slowly over here.

 

[masterjen]

The key is seizure control; it doesn't matter how much you take compared to someone else. Everyone is different If you you get control on a low dose, that's fantastic!

 

[Angelita14]

Yes, you're right. All this is new to me and I'm still in the 'anxious about everything' phase. I don't want to start a competition on who's taking the highest dose or anything jk

 

[horsehead]

Thank you angelita 14. I've done fairly well so far with the seizures . Only had one really bad day since I started the meds

 

[katzy]

When I was on lamictal 3 years ago (250 mg) the only side effect I had was eye sensitivity. I don't have issues with depression, but just the same I like how it made me feel mentally; kind of mellow. Problem is it worsened my myoclonics at the level the partial seizures were finally showing a degree of control, so the decision was to switch to a different medication.

I have sun sensitivity too. I can't keep my eyes open on a sunny day, my eyes hurt.

 

[Matthew74]

I took Lamictal for months or maybe even a year, and I think I was doped up, but I don't remember much from that time, which tells me I was probably doped up.

 

[Jackiehend]

Stop!!! Immediately look at the side effects of Lamictal. Suicide and depression is number 2. I went from a completely rational person to someone that thought about killing herself constantly. I mentioned it to my doctor who blew me off. Two years later I finally looked it up online because my dosage was increased 3 times in 6 months and all kinds of crazy things were happening and the warnings are everywhere that it causes suicidal thoughts in one out of every 500 people. Please monitor this

 

[Janus]

Hi, I have recently moved over to Lamictal from keppra because of side effects. I am at a full dose now of 150 2X's /day. I also have and have had for years a chronic, clinical depression. I have had to have meds for this for 30 years now. I still have a med for this and the docs told me that one of the only side effects of lamictal is that some people get happier. I have not had depression or suicide thoughts. I have had outward rage attacks that embarrass me t'boot . but it may be that i am still taking some keppra at night, 500 for safety as i had some seizures with my new lamictal. I have only this site to refer to as my source of info on that drug. All i can say is beware of what info you may find on a google search out there. Even here, i am sure, is not 'perfect' but we share lots of sides of things, not the least of which is personal experience. Let us know how it goes.