Lamotrigine and moods

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gnault

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I don't remember seeing anything on the site about this particular Lamotrigine side effect. My wife seems to get quite frustrated with me due to my lack of emotions/emotional expression. I know its a mood stabilizer when dealing with Bi-polar or mood disorders. Just curious if anyone else notices similar issues. I rarely/hardly feel excited about things, usually consistently indifferent to things.
 
While not a common side effect of Lamictal, apathy is listed as a less common occurrence.
http://www.rxlist.com/lamictal-side-effects-drug-center.htm

Any medication that changes brain chemistry or function can have unexpected outcomes in some people and since Lamictal is a mood stabilizer it could cause apathy, maybe by blunting the emotional highs and lows you are stuck in the indifferent middle, or maybe you used to be a more outgoing and excited person because you operated in a mildly hypomanic state and now the Lamictal has slammed you back to normal.
 
I rather apathetic then I get this intense emotional out burst upset myself and others then it passes and I don't understand why I got worked up cause mayhem and I back to apathy.I ask myself is it meds I been on is it me have I always been like that or is it age and frustration of bad memory...I have be honest I do abuse colbazam which don't help
 
i was on it for 6 months, and my boyfriend swore up and down that it made me a total bitch...I got off it and switched to Vimpat....and I think it's just my life in general and having E on top of it all that makes my life so miserable..lol...I do remember though having a rather "snap" in my temper though while I was taking it...getting angry right quick like...I described only a few minor things to my neuro, and he switched my meds immediately...and I told my family that I wasn't going to keep switching meds every time I turn around, every time they have a complaint either...they have no idea what that's like to go through that...making sure also you can afford it, coming off one med, starting another....risk of a seizure...."just because blah blah blah"...I really do think that E changes a person...personality wise over a long period of time...it affected my way of thinking so much that I ended my marriage ...made me numb....unreasonable at times...and I honestly to this day swear it's not the medicine that has made me this way..I'm sorry for what you are going through...I deal with depression a lot...regret from my choices I've made and I also think that E makes us much different than the average person on a daily basis anyway...and anyone who doesn't have it will never understand that....I still get made fun of for going to bed at 8:30 at night, and taking naps in the afternoon...again...no one can comprehend that...how I don't want to go to the bars and sit there till 1 am because I can't stay awake..lol...I could go on and on, but I won't...just wanted to tell you that you are not alone!
 
Don't regret your choices history constructs what we are..You read as intelligent girl knows strengths and weakness that itself gift.As for going bed 8.30whats wrong with that so do I.In fact I not got out of bed for two days what's point one has to go back to bed so may aswel stay there.
I got lovely sea and beach less than 30seconds away I should be out enjoying it but not be bothered.
I cutting back on Lamotrigine because of this cant be arsed feeling but not made a lot of difference.I got garden needs doing plants put in check my frogs and other amphibians it sunny day and I in bed watching James Bond as I done nearly everyday for over a month.It not all e think in my case it part meds part e and pain with arthritist bad vision a mother round corner in old folks home apparently she now calling me a whore that joke not got energy bit awkward my neighbours work there.I not had so many intense moods swings since cut lamotrgine down in fact got no mood just complete apathy .I going Luxonberge next week normally my horror of flying kicked in by now but nothing.I usually tearing my hair out or half cut so near to flying but seem dead brain.
So you not on your own hunny but I read so many posts on yanks worried by costs of meds
Very sorry but a surpposely Civerlized country who citizens have these worries is a little obscene .On my arthritist forums I read so many people suffering who work all their lives it so sad
certain conditions e as one should give you free pass for medical treatment anything that has potential to kill you or others should be automatic
 
as usual, I get a swift kick in the ass when I feel down in the dumps...I just got home from church, and there has been a homeless man coming for two weeks now...he is 78, and lives in his truck....a retired steel worker...doesn't even appear to have any health problems...and I go on about my "pathetic" life...lol...I don't have much, but I do have a roof over my head..ALWAYS food on the table, and medicine...I need to take a step back sometimes....and think about what I DO have going for me I guess...lol
 
I have just started taking it (lamictal) Although I woke up depressed this morning that is nothing unusual. I have been on Keppra for many years now (I'm phasing off that to Lamictal).
It would have to be really bad to make me feel any worst (than I feel on Keppra).
But everyone is different. It might just be me and my situation not Keppra at all.
God Bless, I hope you find something that helps you.
 
Don't say that carpenter girl he 78 living on streets that your welfare system at fault not you needing kick up Arse and your health system failing both of you
 
I take Lamictal as a mood stabilizer for schizoaffective disorder bipolar type (and at the equivalent dosage for mood stabilisation). I can't say I've noticed any side effects from it. It works fine for me. I can't say what it would do at higher dosages as my dose is a relatively low dosage. It has not had any effect on my seizures.
 
People say simply the result of the seizure can sometimes affect things such as your personality. Its a question that I want to ask my neurologist when I see him.

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I would definitely agree...the best way that I can describe my personality since Epilepsy has taken over is to draw a basic picture of my body...and just color it in with a bunch of white puzzle pieces....every time I have a seizure, I feel like one of the white puzzle pieces has been removed..and a different colored puzzle piece is put in it's place...changing my personality somewhat....throwing it off...bit by bit....
 
The personality change or effects make it difficult for us and the people around us.

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