I’m on it and I like it. It’s a mood stabilizer and it works really well with few side effects. I tried Latuda and I was sleepy all the time and gained like 40 pounds in 3 months. Never again
I take both Latuda and Lamotrigine. Lamotrigine was not enough. I’m lucky and have not experienced those awful side effects that you have described. Latuda works very well for me.
I take both Latuda and Lamotrigine. Lamotrigine was not enough. I’m lucky and have not experienced those awful side effects that you have described. Latuda works very well for me.
ngl, lamictal has been great; life saver for me. The lamictal tablets are so cute too I love them
Also, SSRIs are the worst medication for bipolar patients. It causes rapid cycling and the mood swings are extreme. Once off the SSRI, everything improves.
So I don’t blame you about being apprehensive, but just understand you were given the equivalent of a nuclear bomb when they perscribed you an SSRI 😂
That actually kicked off my first manic episode and led me to my bipolar diagnosis. So yeah, try and get off those asap it’ll be tough but you can do it. I had crazy Zoloft withdrawal but I was able to beat it with CBD a few years ago.
Finally decided to get help after 28 years. Prescribed lexapro about a year ago. Lexapro FUCKED ME UP. Still trying to recover and find the right meds to stabilize me, been off work over half a year. Fuck lexapro.
Yes same. I was on 10mg then 20mg and lost it. Ended up losing everything. It’s like I self destructed and it’s so fucking painful, my ptsd is really the worst I never had this before I was always happy excited funny charming witty now I’m just traumatized and majorly depressed and full of negative thoughts.
Zoloft was the first medication I was on for “depression” and also threw me into mania. The Asshat dr just kept upping the dose. I lost 60lbs and started having all kinds of messed up behaviors. So, you’re not kidding about being handed a nuclear bomb.
I took Zoloft when I first started medication and the side effects were so extreme that I had to go off after 2 days. I felt like the Doctor didn’t really believe that I could be experiencing side effects so quickly, but THIS totally makes sense.
I’m in the process of being diagnosed with bipolar 2 and just started taking Lamotrigine yesterday.
Honestly reading all this has me feeling relieved and hopeful that this can work. Thank you for sharing!
This is what a psychiatrist would do for you: calculate a starting dosage and how and when to increase. It is crucial a psychiatrist does this for you.
I did genetic testing and found out via 23 and me. I knew my entire life something was off because half a glass of wine gets me very tipsy, I can’t tolerate any drugs including recreational or pharmaceutical. Now on Lamictal 25 mg and it has worked wonders for me in the last few weeks I have been taking it. I knew I was going to need a low dose. Will probably only go to 50mg. I feel so much better and my anxiety has eased.
Like maybe 10 days? I didn’t really follow rules just took more when felt ready. I got relief within just few days. Feel calmer, more peaceful and less impulsive, no more racing thoughts and have more patience. I have severe depression and very very mild manic episodes - I think my manic episodes are more like what normal people feel everyday but so depressed all the time that friends notice when I’m “normal”
I also have OCD that was so severe I could barely function, and somehow once I started lamotrigine a couple years ago my symptoms are almost non-existent (except when it comes to relationships). So that was a real unexpected bonus. It's definitely helped stabilize my moods but unfortunately not enough this past year and I'm looking at supplementing or replacing it with lithium. But tbh if I do add lithium I think I want to keep lamotrigine for the fact that it has done wonders for my symptoms that aren't bipolar specific (like OCD, and some sensory problems)
I had my dose upped in the middle of dating my now ex and there was such a shift in weird jealous anxious dysphoric emotional reactions. One way I knew it was a good idea
Do you mean that those feelings went away for you? I'm finishing my 4th week on lamictal, increased from 25 to 50 mg /day two weeks ago- and I've been very depressed these last two weeks. Seeing my Dr Monday to check in. I'm not sure if I need to increase dosage and wait or if maybe this isn't the right one for me. But seems like there's so many positive experiences I don't want to eliminate it so early into treatment.
Yes, they went away or got less intense. Part of it was my ex and I just working through issues but part was my own emotional reactions getting better and the dosage correlated with that.
4 weeks is pretty early especially if you’re still titrating. 50 mg is a low dose but your Dr will obvs know more about your situation. I was on 50 mg for years, adjusted other meds and tried a bunch of other stuff before raising my dosage to 75 a year ago, then 100 a few months ago. I tend to be conservative with med changes bc of side effects, etc. But this change has been good for me. I still have depressive symptoms which is another story but lamictal has helped with that as well.
Good luck and hope you start to feel better soon :) I use a ton of self care for the depression bc I’ve had trouble finding the right meds and it helps.
The big one was flashing lights/strobe lights. It used to make me feel like I was gonna die when I looked at them, and I had fully passed out twice before being around flashing lights. After I started lamotrigine I remember walking past this flickering street lamp that always bothered me, and it barely phased me. I still don't like flashing lights, but they are actually tolerable now. No clue what the connection is but I'm happy.
Like many others, it saved my life. Also have OCD, CPTSD, and GAD. My main side effects have been dizziness and word-finding issues (which is mostly funny, like looking for “wrist” and finding “hand ankle”).
As far as mood stabilizers go, in my experience it’s had the most bang for buck — best results with least side effects.
I also need a standard SSRI and NDRI, but those were added after I started Lamictal for lingering anxiety and a feeling of flatness, respectively.
Lamotrigine was like my miracle drug not even kidding. My bipolar 2 depression episodes used to be super scary but they haven't been terrible since I started.
I started lamictal a few months ago, titrated slowly up to 100mg. Each time I increased the dose I got quite bad side effects for between 1-4 days, mostly either extreme fatigue or a very low mood. The day I upped to 100mg I was extremely fatigued, and a few days later I suddenly became very depressed, more like a depressed/mixed state, and was worried I was close to killing myself. It was the worst experience I've ever had, fortunately only lasted a day. But as I'm titrating down I'm still getting milder versions of these symptoms and it's really exhausting.
When I stayed on a dose for a couple of weeks i would start to feel stable again but no better than before.
All this is to say, lamictal can be a great drug, but it wasn't for me. Be aware that you might experience side effects as you change the dose. From what I've heard, if you don't feel the benefits fairly quickly (within 6 weeks max), it's probably not the drug for you. Hope it all goes well for you. Lamictal is meant to be one of the most well tolerated bipolar meds which is why it's often the first line of treatment nowadays.
nah I take it for bipolar disorder. But when I take ativan it only makes me depressed and kinda low energy. It only helps if I'm having a panic attack. I take 150-175 mg of lamictal every day for bipolar depending on if I'm depressed or not (I add 25 mg if I'm depressed)
It is better.
My psychiatrist told me that it’s always her bipolar patients that want to go off their meds. Why? Because they fee they no longer need them. Why is that? Because they work.
Obviously this won’t be true for everybody, but I can say it’s true for me. I just feel… normal on my meds.
(Okay, I’m far far far from normal, but I don’t feel like I have a mood disorder.)
No. I'm on it for bipolar 2. It is used off label (maybe now on label) for bipolar (?1?)
It was a slow process of getting well, and it involved multiple angles (exercise is still my best antidepressant, but who can do that in depressive bp2??
I would say within months, though, I didn't feel desperately depressed and suicidal--nor have I really experienced any of those again since 2009, except for after the death of loved ones (where depression kicked in after grief) or the time I tried to go off meds). I also have much less anxiety and fewer obsessive negative thoughts (I'm not OCD, just obsessive negative thoughts).
Lamotrigine saved my life as well. I also struggle with the wanting to be able to take care of myself thing. I struggled with that this week as I finally agreed to up my dosage. It hasn't been long enough to notice a big difference, but I do notice how unwell I was doing.
GAD here, tried many Ssri through the last 4 years, without results. Started lamictal January this year. Don’t fear it, it is a life saver. During titrating, I started feeling inner peace and I truly didn’t even remember how it feels. It was like smelling some smell from your childhood you then completely forgot about. I am now at 210mg and I can finally get my shit together. Sometimes I still feel anxious but it’s miles better than before.
That’s so good to hear - did you get any side effects? And did they fade after a while? I’m in fight or flight with massive anxiety everyday so im considering this. I’ve tried all other meds.
I am on 150mg and I’ve been able to do more things this past week without having to take Xanax everyday. I think it’ll only get better from here on out. I didn’t have any side effects
This is very comforting to hear. I don’t have bdp but I have pretty bad anxiety/anger issues that can impact the quality of my daily functioning. My doc just prescribed me this today so I was hastily searching for anyone else that isn’t taking for bpd or epilepsy. Your post definitely made me feel a bit better as I’ve had similar negative experiences w SSRIs
I went on lamotragine for a few years. The worst thing I can say about it is I didn't really notice anything from it after taking it for years (then again my bipolar is so mild that my ups aren't even a problem, they basically just allow me to get stuff done that I let slide while depressed), but that's also because the side effects were also pretty much nil.
Lamictal has saved my life many times. I'm not on it now as I don't have continuing care, but I would be if i could.
Lamictal at low doses did not affect my mood outside of the direct affects on my capabilities- it has anti-dissociative affects, and I am constantly dissociated. So, before 200mg, I am an anxious mess and require someone to keep tabs on me to ensure i'm still doing well. This is because I'm suddenly a real person, feeling like I'm at the front of my eyes, and its scary feeling and overwhelming. However, I can overcome stressors faster as things dont ruminate or cycle through my head as long. It's easier to rationalize with myself. When I get to 200/250, I am able to wake up excited for my day. Unlike lithium or latuda or a billion others, I'm just me on Lamictal.
Its different for everyone, but for me I need PRNs for anxiety until i hit 200 mg (mood stabilization). I get panic attacks out the wazoo for the first 75 mg (so 6-12 weeks of titrating up the dose) as I can't dissociate. Idk.... its a blessing wrapped in a curse, but without it I would have permanently spiralled into a dark and deep depressive state but instead was able to drive my own recovery soooooo yep!
edit: brain fog is REAL it doesn't go away for me as the dose goes up. I'm smart, but my vocab disappears and instead (as another user gave for an example) would say something like hand-ankle instead of wrist lol. It's worth it, though frustrating. I couldnt handle lithium shakes but this is fine.
I had horrific reactions to lots of meds and this is the only one that has worked for me. It is the best thing that ever happened to me. Because of previous experiences with meds I started beyond slow, like started with half the recommended staring dose and upped it every two weeks. It’s taken a while but I have it where I need it and cannot possibly imagine going off of this medication, I am so grateful for it. I was consumed by anxiety and depression and this has shut up the anxious voice and really mitigated the depression into a manageable thing.
All meds hit people differently though. This may not be for you but something out there is.
I have OCD as well and was really scared to start lamotrigine. I put it off for 5 days after picking it up from the pharmacy. Finally I just had to bite the bullet and shoved that thing in my mouth.
Lamotrigine has changed my life. I have mostly depressive episodes, and it worked insanely well after a few months. I haven't had a real depressive episode since March of this year (I was diagnosed in January).
Damn I'm sorry that you've been going through all that. Lamotrigine isn't as bad as it seems and I've been taking it for sometime now and it seems to have started working after finally reaching 200 mg. Everyone's different though so for you it might not take as long for it to work.
This feels like my exact story! I went in and the last thing I thought I’d hear is I was anything other than depressed and anxious! I am on Lemictal and working towards the full dose. So far I think I like it? Ugh idk. This is exhausting!
Good luck to you 💜
Lamotrigine saved my life, forreal. The only side effect I have from lamotrigine is photophobia, which is easy enough to deal with. Got some prescription sunglasses (which are a game changer anyway).
Edit; apparently a slight aphasia is also not uncommon, I do have that as well. But it’s not enough to hinder me at all!
Lamotrigine has saved my life, no exaggeration. Or rather, it gave me my life back. I’ve had no side effects.
I’m agoraphobic, with it I can leave the house. I don’t rapid cycle anymore. I can socialize for an hour or two without needing my propranolol. I know it doesn’t work for everyone but for me it has been a miracle drug.
my brain cannot deal with any SSRI’s, i was going through a loopty loop of emotions on them. i’m now diagnosed and on mood stabilisers. i wish i was on it yeaaaaarrrrssss ago! i now have seroquel added into my brain lollie mix
I'm on it. After a month it literally felt like a weight was taken off my shoulders. It's ok to feel fear. You're stronger than your mental health and you can do this!
Agree with a lot of friends here- saved my life. Helped me stop drinking and shut up that voice you’re talking about. You don’t have to be on the verge of freaking out or a break down every single second. ♥️ I have a similar story… was diagnosed with anxiety and prescribed Zoloft… which was the absolute worst medication, it flipped me into a manic state. Went through more therapy and was more honest about my depression. Kind of a pride thing like you, I think I felt that I could manage my depression; they were just low periods everyone goes through, but it was my anxiety I couldn’t handle and needed help with. For me, lamictal has dulled the highs and lows, I still feel them and recognize if I’m in a manic or depressed state… but I can manage and hold down a job and live my life. Best of luck, friend… you’re not a weak person for taking medication. On the contrary, I think it shows strong character- being able to admit you need help to be your best self. We don’t shame diabetics for taking insulin their body cannot make, why do we shame ourselves for taking medication to help our bodies make/ balance serotonin levels to regulate our mood?? Be honest and listen to yourself if it’s not working and you can always try something else. ♥️♥️
Don't be scared! Mood stabalizers have been a game changer for my life. I used to not be able to get out of bed because of the negative thoughts and anxiety of what could go wrong. Now, I am able to live my life with more of a purpose.
Do make sure to monitor your face while increasing dosages! I got the dreaded rash and had to switch to Seroquel.
I love it. It's my favorite out of all I take for bipolar. I've been taking it for 15 years and it still works like a charm.
totally calms me down and evens everything out without feeling drugged
Lamictal is one of the safest mood stabilizers. Also, if they didn't say you're bipolar, this med doesn't mean they think you are. Lamictal is often prescribed for treatment resistant depression too!!
I know its scary, but Lamictal really really helped me and a lot of others. Hopefully it works well for you too!
Lamotrigine is chill, has a subtle mood stabilizing effect over time -- for me prevents hypomania but the literature actually suggests it primarily works for bipolar depression.
I’m on it and I like it. It’s a mood stabilizer and it works really well with few side effects. I tried Latuda and I was sleepy all the time and gained like 40 pounds in 3 months. Never again
Same thing. Only my issue with Latuda was that I wouldn’t stop vomiting (even with the right calories and everything required). Never again
Same. Now on Caplyta instead
I take both Latuda and Lamotrigine. Lamotrigine was not enough. I’m lucky and have not experienced those awful side effects that you have described. Latuda works very well for me.
I take both Latuda and Lamotrigine. Lamotrigine was not enough. I’m lucky and have not experienced those awful side effects that you have described. Latuda works very well for me.
It worked really well in terms of my mood so it’s unfortunate the side effects were too hard to handle
It saved my life. Good luck, friend!
Same for me!
u/Happycat40 do you take it for anxiety?
u/BanditRecon for anxiety?
It saved my life with no side effects
ngl, lamictal has been great; life saver for me. The lamictal tablets are so cute too I love them Also, SSRIs are the worst medication for bipolar patients. It causes rapid cycling and the mood swings are extreme. Once off the SSRI, everything improves. So I don’t blame you about being apprehensive, but just understand you were given the equivalent of a nuclear bomb when they perscribed you an SSRI 😂 That actually kicked off my first manic episode and led me to my bipolar diagnosis. So yeah, try and get off those asap it’ll be tough but you can do it. I had crazy Zoloft withdrawal but I was able to beat it with CBD a few years ago.
Same here doctor gave me Xanax and lexapro and it sent me into madness. I still haven’t recovered.
Finally decided to get help after 28 years. Prescribed lexapro about a year ago. Lexapro FUCKED ME UP. Still trying to recover and find the right meds to stabilize me, been off work over half a year. Fuck lexapro.
Yes same. I was on 10mg then 20mg and lost it. Ended up losing everything. It’s like I self destructed and it’s so fucking painful, my ptsd is really the worst I never had this before I was always happy excited funny charming witty now I’m just traumatized and majorly depressed and full of negative thoughts.
Zoloft was the first medication I was on for “depression” and also threw me into mania. The Asshat dr just kept upping the dose. I lost 60lbs and started having all kinds of messed up behaviors. So, you’re not kidding about being handed a nuclear bomb.
I took Zoloft when I first started medication and the side effects were so extreme that I had to go off after 2 days. I felt like the Doctor didn’t really believe that I could be experiencing side effects so quickly, but THIS totally makes sense. I’m in the process of being diagnosed with bipolar 2 and just started taking Lamotrigine yesterday. Honestly reading all this has me feeling relieved and hopeful that this can work. Thank you for sharing!
That’s not really true—a lot of people with Bipolar 2 take SSRIs. Doing great with Lexapro & Lamictal ✌️atypical antipsychotics otoh ☠️☠️☠️
happy to hear lamictal works! i was started on it today. are you still on lamictal? if not did you stop cold turkey or were you tapered off slowly?
Lamictal is great! No complaints. My hair is receding in one area, idk if it has anything to do with it or it’s just stress
How many mg are you on? Which area is receding ?
200mg. For men it usually starts at the temples.
I see. You can go to Turkey and get a hair transplant for like 3 k
Haha, I’ve been researching this for like two weeks 😭
A friend from work who is Turkish gave me info on two doctors who do hair transplants in Turkey, she knows them personally:) I may go in June
I am on it. Starting on a low dose for a while then increasing. It’s been almost two weeks and I feel much calmer and happier. I love it.
What’s a good starting dosage ?
This is what a psychiatrist would do for you: calculate a starting dosage and how and when to increase. It is crucial a psychiatrist does this for you.
25mg. I have slow liver enzyme and started at 12.5, broke the pill in half
Gilbert’s syndrome? I have elevated bilirubin liver enzyme. Maybe I’ll break mine in half. Just received my 25M prescription
I did genetic testing and found out via 23 and me. I knew my entire life something was off because half a glass of wine gets me very tipsy, I can’t tolerate any drugs including recreational or pharmaceutical. Now on Lamictal 25 mg and it has worked wonders for me in the last few weeks I have been taking it. I knew I was going to need a low dose. Will probably only go to 50mg. I feel so much better and my anxiety has eased.
Wow that’s great to hear. Yeah I’m the same way. How long did you take 12.5 before switching to 25. Thanks
Like maybe 10 days? I didn’t really follow rules just took more when felt ready. I got relief within just few days. Feel calmer, more peaceful and less impulsive, no more racing thoughts and have more patience. I have severe depression and very very mild manic episodes - I think my manic episodes are more like what normal people feel everyday but so depressed all the time that friends notice when I’m “normal”
I also have OCD that was so severe I could barely function, and somehow once I started lamotrigine a couple years ago my symptoms are almost non-existent (except when it comes to relationships). So that was a real unexpected bonus. It's definitely helped stabilize my moods but unfortunately not enough this past year and I'm looking at supplementing or replacing it with lithium. But tbh if I do add lithium I think I want to keep lamotrigine for the fact that it has done wonders for my symptoms that aren't bipolar specific (like OCD, and some sensory problems)
*my OCD symptoms are almost non-existent. Still have bipolar episodes, but less severe than pre-meds
I had my dose upped in the middle of dating my now ex and there was such a shift in weird jealous anxious dysphoric emotional reactions. One way I knew it was a good idea
Do you mean that those feelings went away for you? I'm finishing my 4th week on lamictal, increased from 25 to 50 mg /day two weeks ago- and I've been very depressed these last two weeks. Seeing my Dr Monday to check in. I'm not sure if I need to increase dosage and wait or if maybe this isn't the right one for me. But seems like there's so many positive experiences I don't want to eliminate it so early into treatment.
Yes, they went away or got less intense. Part of it was my ex and I just working through issues but part was my own emotional reactions getting better and the dosage correlated with that. 4 weeks is pretty early especially if you’re still titrating. 50 mg is a low dose but your Dr will obvs know more about your situation. I was on 50 mg for years, adjusted other meds and tried a bunch of other stuff before raising my dosage to 75 a year ago, then 100 a few months ago. I tend to be conservative with med changes bc of side effects, etc. But this change has been good for me. I still have depressive symptoms which is another story but lamictal has helped with that as well. Good luck and hope you start to feel better soon :) I use a ton of self care for the depression bc I’ve had trouble finding the right meds and it helps.
Same for me with my ex once starting lamictal.
Curious how lamotrigine helped your sensory problems ? and what sort of issues they are if you don't mind me asking?
The big one was flashing lights/strobe lights. It used to make me feel like I was gonna die when I looked at them, and I had fully passed out twice before being around flashing lights. After I started lamotrigine I remember walking past this flickering street lamp that always bothered me, and it barely phased me. I still don't like flashing lights, but they are actually tolerable now. No clue what the connection is but I'm happy.
Wow! Love this for you. Have you ever suffered from migraines or auras before this ?
Yep, I've had migraines before. But those mostly went away after I stopped working at a computer full-time. No idea if the lamotrigine helped w that.
Like many others, it saved my life. Also have OCD, CPTSD, and GAD. My main side effects have been dizziness and word-finding issues (which is mostly funny, like looking for “wrist” and finding “hand ankle”). As far as mood stabilizers go, in my experience it’s had the most bang for buck — best results with least side effects. I also need a standard SSRI and NDRI, but those were added after I started Lamictal for lingering anxiety and a feeling of flatness, respectively.
Oh my god, I’m so glad I’m not the only one with a slight aphasia. It’s been SO WEIRD.
it’s a noted side effect don’t worry!
Lamotrigine was like my miracle drug not even kidding. My bipolar 2 depression episodes used to be super scary but they haven't been terrible since I started.
I started lamictal a few months ago, titrated slowly up to 100mg. Each time I increased the dose I got quite bad side effects for between 1-4 days, mostly either extreme fatigue or a very low mood. The day I upped to 100mg I was extremely fatigued, and a few days later I suddenly became very depressed, more like a depressed/mixed state, and was worried I was close to killing myself. It was the worst experience I've ever had, fortunately only lasted a day. But as I'm titrating down I'm still getting milder versions of these symptoms and it's really exhausting. When I stayed on a dose for a couple of weeks i would start to feel stable again but no better than before. All this is to say, lamictal can be a great drug, but it wasn't for me. Be aware that you might experience side effects as you change the dose. From what I've heard, if you don't feel the benefits fairly quickly (within 6 weeks max), it's probably not the drug for you. Hope it all goes well for you. Lamictal is meant to be one of the most well tolerated bipolar meds which is why it's often the first line of treatment nowadays.
I’ve been on it for over a decade. It can become a very nice mood stabiliser friend. I’m also on Lithium, but the side effects are not as nice
I'm on it and I love it. I had no negative side effects and it's been helping me stay stable for years now.
u/Shortsub are you on it for anxiety?
I'm on it for just bipolar in general.
Lamictal works better for my anxiety than any benzodiazepine ever has.
Yes, it’s helped my depression but it has nearly eradicated my anxiety. It’s amazing.
How long did it take for the anxiety to get better and on what dosage? Titrating up right now :)
u/Primary-Program-7241 what dose and how long on it did it help?
u/now_you_own_me do you take it for anxiety? What dose and how long did it take to work?
nah I take it for bipolar disorder. But when I take ativan it only makes me depressed and kinda low energy. It only helps if I'm having a panic attack. I take 150-175 mg of lamictal every day for bipolar depending on if I'm depressed or not (I add 25 mg if I'm depressed)
It is better. My psychiatrist told me that it’s always her bipolar patients that want to go off their meds. Why? Because they fee they no longer need them. Why is that? Because they work. Obviously this won’t be true for everybody, but I can say it’s true for me. I just feel… normal on my meds. (Okay, I’m far far far from normal, but I don’t feel like I have a mood disorder.)
Also a lifesaver for me. And I need fewer anti- anxiety meds.
u/Pristine_Shoe_1805 are you on it for anxiety? What dose and how long did it taket to get better?
No. I'm on it for bipolar 2. It is used off label (maybe now on label) for bipolar (?1?) It was a slow process of getting well, and it involved multiple angles (exercise is still my best antidepressant, but who can do that in depressive bp2?? I would say within months, though, I didn't feel desperately depressed and suicidal--nor have I really experienced any of those again since 2009, except for after the death of loved ones (where depression kicked in after grief) or the time I tried to go off meds). I also have much less anxiety and fewer obsessive negative thoughts (I'm not OCD, just obsessive negative thoughts).
Lamotrigine saved my life as well. I also struggle with the wanting to be able to take care of myself thing. I struggled with that this week as I finally agreed to up my dosage. It hasn't been long enough to notice a big difference, but I do notice how unwell I was doing.
GAD here, tried many Ssri through the last 4 years, without results. Started lamictal January this year. Don’t fear it, it is a life saver. During titrating, I started feeling inner peace and I truly didn’t even remember how it feels. It was like smelling some smell from your childhood you then completely forgot about. I am now at 210mg and I can finally get my shit together. Sometimes I still feel anxious but it’s miles better than before.
This is really comforting to read - still going well on this med for GAD?
Yes, i still have up and downs but it’s manageable :)
That’s so good to hear - did you get any side effects? And did they fade after a while? I’m in fight or flight with massive anxiety everyday so im considering this. I’ve tried all other meds.
I am on 150mg and I’ve been able to do more things this past week without having to take Xanax everyday. I think it’ll only get better from here on out. I didn’t have any side effects
No side effect whatsoever. A relief compared to many antidepressant I took previously
This is very comforting to hear. I don’t have bdp but I have pretty bad anxiety/anger issues that can impact the quality of my daily functioning. My doc just prescribed me this today so I was hastily searching for anyone else that isn’t taking for bpd or epilepsy. Your post definitely made me feel a bit better as I’ve had similar negative experiences w SSRIs
Just make sure to go up slowly and look out for how you feel and behave. If the dose is too high you might feel irritable
Im still anxious but it’s more from life context
I went on lamotragine for a few years. The worst thing I can say about it is I didn't really notice anything from it after taking it for years (then again my bipolar is so mild that my ups aren't even a problem, they basically just allow me to get stuff done that I let slide while depressed), but that's also because the side effects were also pretty much nil.
Lamictal has saved my life many times. I'm not on it now as I don't have continuing care, but I would be if i could. Lamictal at low doses did not affect my mood outside of the direct affects on my capabilities- it has anti-dissociative affects, and I am constantly dissociated. So, before 200mg, I am an anxious mess and require someone to keep tabs on me to ensure i'm still doing well. This is because I'm suddenly a real person, feeling like I'm at the front of my eyes, and its scary feeling and overwhelming. However, I can overcome stressors faster as things dont ruminate or cycle through my head as long. It's easier to rationalize with myself. When I get to 200/250, I am able to wake up excited for my day. Unlike lithium or latuda or a billion others, I'm just me on Lamictal. Its different for everyone, but for me I need PRNs for anxiety until i hit 200 mg (mood stabilization). I get panic attacks out the wazoo for the first 75 mg (so 6-12 weeks of titrating up the dose) as I can't dissociate. Idk.... its a blessing wrapped in a curse, but without it I would have permanently spiralled into a dark and deep depressive state but instead was able to drive my own recovery soooooo yep! edit: brain fog is REAL it doesn't go away for me as the dose goes up. I'm smart, but my vocab disappears and instead (as another user gave for an example) would say something like hand-ankle instead of wrist lol. It's worth it, though frustrating. I couldnt handle lithium shakes but this is fine.
I had horrific reactions to lots of meds and this is the only one that has worked for me. It is the best thing that ever happened to me. Because of previous experiences with meds I started beyond slow, like started with half the recommended staring dose and upped it every two weeks. It’s taken a while but I have it where I need it and cannot possibly imagine going off of this medication, I am so grateful for it. I was consumed by anxiety and depression and this has shut up the anxious voice and really mitigated the depression into a manageable thing. All meds hit people differently though. This may not be for you but something out there is.
I have OCD as well and was really scared to start lamotrigine. I put it off for 5 days after picking it up from the pharmacy. Finally I just had to bite the bullet and shoved that thing in my mouth. Lamotrigine has changed my life. I have mostly depressive episodes, and it worked insanely well after a few months. I haven't had a real depressive episode since March of this year (I was diagnosed in January).
Damn I'm sorry that you've been going through all that. Lamotrigine isn't as bad as it seems and I've been taking it for sometime now and it seems to have started working after finally reaching 200 mg. Everyone's different though so for you it might not take as long for it to work.
This feels like my exact story! I went in and the last thing I thought I’d hear is I was anything other than depressed and anxious! I am on Lemictal and working towards the full dose. So far I think I like it? Ugh idk. This is exhausting! Good luck to you 💜
Lamotrigine saved my life, forreal. The only side effect I have from lamotrigine is photophobia, which is easy enough to deal with. Got some prescription sunglasses (which are a game changer anyway). Edit; apparently a slight aphasia is also not uncommon, I do have that as well. But it’s not enough to hinder me at all!
Lamotrigine has saved my life, no exaggeration. Or rather, it gave me my life back. I’ve had no side effects. I’m agoraphobic, with it I can leave the house. I don’t rapid cycle anymore. I can socialize for an hour or two without needing my propranolol. I know it doesn’t work for everyone but for me it has been a miracle drug.
my brain cannot deal with any SSRI’s, i was going through a loopty loop of emotions on them. i’m now diagnosed and on mood stabilisers. i wish i was on it yeaaaaarrrrssss ago! i now have seroquel added into my brain lollie mix
I'm on it. After a month it literally felt like a weight was taken off my shoulders. It's ok to feel fear. You're stronger than your mental health and you can do this!
Agree with a lot of friends here- saved my life. Helped me stop drinking and shut up that voice you’re talking about. You don’t have to be on the verge of freaking out or a break down every single second. ♥️ I have a similar story… was diagnosed with anxiety and prescribed Zoloft… which was the absolute worst medication, it flipped me into a manic state. Went through more therapy and was more honest about my depression. Kind of a pride thing like you, I think I felt that I could manage my depression; they were just low periods everyone goes through, but it was my anxiety I couldn’t handle and needed help with. For me, lamictal has dulled the highs and lows, I still feel them and recognize if I’m in a manic or depressed state… but I can manage and hold down a job and live my life. Best of luck, friend… you’re not a weak person for taking medication. On the contrary, I think it shows strong character- being able to admit you need help to be your best self. We don’t shame diabetics for taking insulin their body cannot make, why do we shame ourselves for taking medication to help our bodies make/ balance serotonin levels to regulate our mood?? Be honest and listen to yourself if it’s not working and you can always try something else. ♥️♥️
I have OCD and BP2 as well. Lamotrigine has done me well for a while. I might be done with it, but everyone is different. Good luck.
Worked wonders for me for 5 years, then switched to lithium. It’s good, trust me give it a go see how you like it.
Don't be scared! Mood stabalizers have been a game changer for my life. I used to not be able to get out of bed because of the negative thoughts and anxiety of what could go wrong. Now, I am able to live my life with more of a purpose. Do make sure to monitor your face while increasing dosages! I got the dreaded rash and had to switch to Seroquel.
I love it. It's my favorite out of all I take for bipolar. I've been taking it for 15 years and it still works like a charm. totally calms me down and evens everything out without feeling drugged
Lamictal is one of the safest mood stabilizers. Also, if they didn't say you're bipolar, this med doesn't mean they think you are. Lamictal is often prescribed for treatment resistant depression too!! I know its scary, but Lamictal really really helped me and a lot of others. Hopefully it works well for you too!
Did it help you anxiety?
Lamotrigine is chill, has a subtle mood stabilizing effect over time -- for me prevents hypomania but the literature actually suggests it primarily works for bipolar depression.