The Lamictal Switch

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Robert

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Hello, I'm new here. I've taken a Depakote/Dilantin combo for quite some time. A switch to Lamictal will gradually be made within months and I'm stressing at the thought of the unknown sides.

Can I get feedback on the good, the bad and the ugly regarding Lamictal?
 
Welcome Robert

It seems there is a lot of people here on lamictal. Here are 2 of the threads that might help you out
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/depression-lamictal-11301/

http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/anyone-else-have-these-side-effects-lamotrigine-11275/

http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f34/typical-11313/#post114708

Also keep in mind that everyone reacts differently to all anti-epileptic drugs so you may not get any of the effects that everyone mentions or you may get some that weren't mentioned at all.

I would suggest you try using the "search" option at the top of the page (3rd from the right). There's a fair bit of talk about it.

I also moved your post to the foyer so that everyone can say "hi" and welcome you here.
 
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Hi, Robert,

Welcome to the forum!

There are lots of us in here that are on Lamictal. I'm one of them. Everybody reacts differently to each drug. You are an individual, and your experience may or may not be the same as ours. Most people that are on Lamictal do well on it - it controls the seizures and has far fewer side effects than the other AEDs.

That said, here's how I've been on the stuff:
I feel like I am on speed. I have severe insomnia - I am sleeping 2-4 hours every night. Most nights 3-1/2 hours, so I'm a walking zombie. My eyes are blurry around the edges and I become exhausted when I read or do other work that uses my eyes. I have a constant headache, but that's gotten somewhat better over time. I'm dizzy, but that got much better with a reduction in my dose. My joints and muscles hurt, and I have a stabbing pain that feels like it's inside my bones. I've gained weight - a lot of it. I think my blood pressure has gone up, too. I have a sinus infection antibiotics are not getting rid of, and we suspect the Lamictal. There are some other side effects, too, but I consider them annoying and not serious (like acne).

The good news is that Lamictal is known for having the least affect on cognitive functioning. In other words, it doesn't make you dumb as a post like Topamax and the other drugs can. I can think and remember on Lamictal relatively well. Except that not sleeping has made that worse for me, too. Anyway, I think Lamictal is the first drug that I've thought I might be able to go back to work again, as soon as we get some of the worst side effects under control.

A good place to read about other patient's experiences is at www.askapatient.com. Patients input their experiences directly. There is no filtering by doctors or the government (FDA).

Good luck on the lamictal. It takes a really long time to titrate up on it, but once there most people like it.
 
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Hi Robert,

I'm on Lamictal too. It does the trick for me, with tolerable, if annoying, side effects (weight gain, blurry vision, dry mouth and eyes). Some of the initial side effects (hair loss, headache, dizziness, restless sleep and vivd dreams) faded as my brain and body adjusted to it, and I also backed off my dose a bit which seemed to help. My cognitive function seems to be fine on it.

The process of ramping up onto to Lamictal is very slow -- but with good reason. The process of having slow increases in tiny small increments reduces the chances of developing an allergic reaction/rash. So even though it may feel like it's taking forever, make sure you follow the tapering instructions of your doctor.

Best,
Nakamova
 
welcome Robert,

I have been on lamictal for a year now and the dry mouth is a big problem for me but just keep some water on your night stand and you'll do good.

side effects can be very upsetting at times, my memory is wonderful but if you ask me to remember something that happened right after I got up its lost in space. A lot of people seem to be losing sleep but it seems all I do is sleep, family member's used to wake me up to take my morning dose(no joke).

I used to be on Depakote and the weight gain was a big issue, my "reg" doctor was going to put me on blood pressure meds she was so concerned about how high that was.

you said your on a Depakote and Dilantin combo, how did that mix happen? dilantin has been working for my mom for years on its own. thus the reason all people are different and not the same.

hope to see you around more and stay safe ~Sharon~
 
i was switched from epilim to lamicital and ever since it has made my life hell i think due to the simple fact that the tabs i was on before were slow release but since i have been put on lamicital i have discovered that the slow release version of lamicital although made in the uk is not available for use in the uk although if you live in the states you can get it easily
 
Lamictal has been excellent for me. Obviously we're all different. I gradually went on it and stayed on it for over ten years. It flipped a switch to turn off seizures. However, there could be one caveat. Brand name only! Expensive, but worth a higher quality of life.
 
although the extended release version of lamicital is made in the uk you cannot get it on prescription so the answer is no i am not on it anyway just getting stuff together ready to have my three day holiday wired for sound and stuck infront of a video camera in the hallamshire hotel (hospital ) sheffield so i will try and carry on having a chiwag with you all provided i can get away with it while being wired up to the national grid lol
 
It's not officially labeled as slow release, but it does fill in the gap where other drugs miss.
 
oic but to me it doesnt matter if its labled as "someone dropping an elephant on your car" does it i cant get it what ever its called lol
 
sorry for that just not in good mood with having to go to hospital today for telemetry testing (which sounds like a joke when you considder that i fly birds of prey and if one flies off i use telemetry to find it but how are the two related enough to have the same name )
 
Robert said:
Hello, I'm new here. I've taken a Depakote/Dilantin combo for quite some time. A switch to Lamictal will gradually be made within months and I'm stressing at the thought of the unknown sides.

Can I get feedback on the good, the bad and the ugly regarding Lamictal?
Click to expand...
Hi Robert, I am new on here to and joined because my son has seizures of all types. He has been on Lamictal for quite some time with no problems but as he began to have breakthrough seizures we had to keep increasing the dose and as we increased the dose it began to upset his stomach. I wish you the best.
 
wired for sound and vision

Well I arrived at the hallamshire hospital at 12pm its now 4.25pm and I am on a ward with 3 other blokes all of us wired up for EEG and being watched on CCTV camera mounted on the ceiling above the foot of each bed . One good point is that at least telemetry patients don't have to pay for use of the tv which should save me around 30 pounds
 
Lureswinger,

They put 3 people into the same room for eeg monitoring? And they CHARGE for TV in the rest of the hospital? Gosh. I'm beginning to appreciate my local hospital a lot more. It wasn't like staying in a 4-star hotel, but I had a room to myself, no extra charges for any kind of entertainment (and there were lots of different kinds including cable tv, video games, and wireless internet), and there was restaurant-type 24x7 menu in-room dining. They'd even make something special off-menu, if you made a request.

Did they take you off your meds? Are you feeling okay?
 
Although looking at the weather on tv it looks like I am in the best place for this weekend
 
They haven't taken me off meds yet they gonna give it till friday an if they haven't seen what they want that's when they remove meds but that will mean I will have to spent the weekend in here bored to tears
 
Here we come, Lureswinger. We are ALL coming to visit you, right now. Goodbye boredom, hello party. How big is your room? How many will it hold?????

;)

.
 
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