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side effects of lamictal

By theresa | 10 posts, last post
Kate Smith answered this How Do Anti-Seizure Medications (Lamictal) And Hormonal Birth Control Methods Interact?
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theresa

Hi--I have recently started treatment of my depression with lamictal do try to eleviate the very low mood swings. I am also taking 300 mg welbtrin and have been for over a year. I am using a sample pack and since hitting the 100mg dose, i have had boughts of uncontrollable crying, agitation, headaches, suicideal thoughts and yesterday such anxiety that i ws shaking and could not rid the awful pit in my stomach or keep any inner calmness.

is there any advise out there? should i hang in there at the 100mg or drop back down to half of the 100 pill? :'(

I'm scared i'll loose it at work on 1/2/07. I also keep misplacing everything.

longyear18704

theresa- are you on lamictal just for depression or for bipolar?
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longyear18704

are you on lamictal for depression alone or bipolar??
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seriouslysleepless35202

I also have crying attacks for stupid things and agitate very quickly/easy. I think it is the Lamictal too. I am on 400 mgs a day! I hear sounds and voices. I am so freaked out! My Pschyatrist will not take me off it. What should I do?
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minster37453

Oh my gosh you guys take control of your healthcare. If you are on 400 mg of the drug see if you can go down. I find doctors always want to go up. With my lamictal I went up and everything got worse. If you are more agitated then maybe another drug would be a better fit. Also try working out or taking a walk. However be in tune with your body and be in constant communication with your doctor. They are not mind readers. Journal whats going on with you and try to find patterns. If you don't like how you are feeling see if there are alternative medications. But do it all with your doctor.
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Guest

I'm on Lamictal for epilespy and when I first started taking it I also went through severe mood swings and depression, but my doctor said that lamictal wasn't shown to do that. After a while my mood swings stopped. I'm thinking that it just takes a little time for the body to adjust to it is all.
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Guest

Lamictal IS known to be capable of causing terrible mood instability, esp at the lower, starting doses. It is unconscionable for a dr. to deny that, or to be so behind on the literature in his/her field.

I'm so sorry for those of you who've had to go through such hell. Ativan helped me, and adding trileptal helped, too. Hate taking so many drugs. Bipolar II
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Guest

To whoever just posted in regards to the Lamictal and mood instability: I've been experiencing horrible effects with it at the lower doses, and I've had to titrate it very slowly but I'm trying to just come off it altogether as it's been such hell.

"Lamictal IS known to be capable of causing terrible mood instability, esp at the lower, starting doses. It is unconscionable for a dr. to deny that, or to be so behind on the literature in his/her field."

Can you please give more information about this? I would really like to find out more, esp the literature you mentioned. Thank you so much!!!
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Guest

I know this was ages ago that you posted looking for more information on mood swings, and uncontrollable crying but I'll respond in case google searches brings others here.

 

First - it's insane to think that one person above was on 400 mg for bipolar disorder.  I have been bipolar for many years, and spent several on Lamictal/lamotrigine and never went past 200 daily.  Now that I've been diagnosed additionally as epileptic I have found out that it can be increased beyond the 200 up to 400 or in extreme cases, 600.  Never would I have been prescribed that high of an amount if I wasn't also suffering from Epilepsy.  You need to stand up for yourself and for your mental health.  Never take a doctor as the be all on your brain.  If you're experiencing something, it doesn't matter if it's a listed side effect or not (which, btw depression and mood swings are) your doctor needs to take you seriously.

 

On to the mood thing - I stopped taking Lamictal for 6 mo. to try a different medication for Epilepsy and wow! Did it make a difference!  I stopped the uncontrollable crying, I had my normal bipolar mood swings, but they weren't as debilitating and out of my control as they are now that I'm back on it.  I didn't associate these side effects with the drug, but going back on it my psychiatrist mentioned that uncontrollable crying is a very common side effect his many patients have described, but that it's not listed as one officially yet.  Hopefully my neurologist will think it's as disruptive and terrible a side effect as those who actually experience it do!  There are few things less embarrassing than crying over the littlest things, with no regard to where you are or who you're around.

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Guest

I'm on 100 mg of lamictal drug, but have run out and been off of it for five days and now my legs are cramping very badly. I just wondered if anyone else had this problem?
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Happy

I have the following side effects from lamictal- headache, dizziness, nauseousness. Should the above side effects be more severe when dosages are increased? I experienced these symptoms when going from 25 to 50 ml, and then 50 to 100. Are these symptoms dangerous enough to stop taking the medication?
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