Important Lamictal question. Intense feelings never felt before taking this medication?

As with any medication if your symptoms/mood swings are bad on 25 mgs, they most likely worsen as you increase the dosage. I started on 25 mgs for two weeks then to 50 mgs. My Doc wants to increase the dose in two weeks to 75 mgs. I am doing well except that my family has noticed that I have become mildly manic. For me this means irritable. I am wondering about the increase to 75 mgs. I have switched to mania after one week on Abilify, so I am hopefully optimistic that my body is simply adjusting to the Lamictal. If you feel like you are living he'll, then I am thinking Lamictal is not for you. Good luck.

I have been diagnosed with Bipolar just because I went “crazy” after a 17 yr marriage ended. I lost so much and as anyone my stress level went thru a roof. I was unable to work as a RN during this time and found myself homeless. All this stress caused me to have a couple of seizures. But as far as being on Lamictal 200mg for one year has made me feel more confused and lose so much short term memories. I don’t know how to convince how bad this medicine is making me feel:(

Anxiety and Depression have been something I have worked on for 16 years with mostly therapy and sometimes medication. More recently ADD and cyclothymia were brought up. So I restarted the medication route to get a handle on things and I am on Lamotrigine 75mg / day. After 3 weeks I feel very angry at times. I am going to ask for a switch to something else tomorrow and wish me luck on the next medication I am likely to be prescribed.

I am going to mention the cyclothymia diagnosis piece, doesn’t seem right to me, because I felt way more bipolar with this medication than ever before. I will keep trying to sort things out. Thanks for the supportive environment here!

I realize this post goes back a bit, but Incase anyone reads it, I'd like to chime in. So. To whom it may concern.
I have been diagnosed bipolar first twenty five years ago(denied it for twenty years). Then again five or six years ago. Correct diagnosis is vital. I was tried on all antidepressants prior. These alone can worsen it. I became a clear danger to myself and others.
The Rage alone was... suffice it to say... horrifying. Since accepting my diagnosis I was put on Lamictal 5 or 6 years ago, Gradually, SLOWLY increasing the dose. I improved Over Time dramatically. The manic episodes decreased and the more psychotic episodes stopped.
It can help for some. The correct diagnosis (and acceptance/compliance is key). Understand, you must be patient.(with yourself and the process) And realize that medications can and do affect people differently. Most of all, don't give up on yourself or your loved ones. Be blessed. Be well.

Hi I have have had great results with this medication. However. I have been on other meds that have made me feel everything you have experienced. It took me a very long time . But everyone is different. I hope I have helped I some way..

I'm curious to see how your doing @cls0349. I'm going through these exact symptoms and need to know if I should continue this medication. Message me if possible.

Anyone have any updates? I've been like this since starting too. Someone mentioned or is it just making us see the light. I sort of feel like it's making me see people for who they are. But it's also making me insanely question all of my life choices including my husband.

I have been on it, 2 pills in the morning (25mg each) and then two at night. Sometimes I feel like the world is a bedded field where I can smile... but at times, a lot of times, rage comes. But here is another question I cannot answer, "Is it making us angry,or just opening our eyes?"

The funny thing about meds. used to treat bipolar is that they can cause bipolar symptoms if taken by someone that isn't bipolar. Since this is a new diagnosis by a new psychiatrist you definitely need to talk to them ASAP. They could be wrong and the medication is mimicking bipolar now. I've taken it for years and have never had this kind of response, not even when i had a mixup with pharmacy that should have had me starting over at 25mg but jumped straight back to the 200 I was at.

Wow! I was diagnosed with bipolar and started lamictal a few months ago . I increased to 150 but was having mania, including hyper sexuality, aggressiveness, crazy driving, etc... I went up to 200 and suddenly feel intense rage. Sometimes it comes on suddenly or when something unjust sets me off. Of course, I am not physical, but verbally angry and unable to calm down. At first the meds seemed to balance me out a little better with mood, but now I get worked up so easily. Not sure what to do, but I can relate

I have been put on this for anxiety at 50mg for two weeks then 100mg after that and I hate it. The VA doesn’t want to prescribe Xanax because it gets abused by people but this is ridiculous. I am so angry all the time and sleepy. The last thing I need is a medication that also causes an increase for carb consumption because I am a type 1.5 diabetic as well.

Hi there! My name is Sara.
I was wondering how you are doing now? I started Lamotrigine today. I'm scared to death it'll do the same to me. I'm so sorry you are going through this. You're in my prayers. Please keep us updated. Thanks

This is so crazy but i am on Lamictal to and I feel the same way I feel like a new person which is just fine because I've been dealing with depression my whole life and after a recent divorce depression got a lot worse so that's when he put me on Lamictal it works great I feel a lot happier but I'm so angry I can't explain it and it comes out of nowhere people really can push my buttons and it doesn't take much for me to react I feel like a happy Hulk what did your doctor recommend? What happened?

Very similar story from the Original Post. I have only been on it for two weeks and the endless rage and anger is out of control. At any moment I feel like I could punch a wall and break anything in sight. I have never had such a long period of severe anger. I am not an angry person at all and this stuff is turning me into a monster. I called the on-call doctor to see if I can stop taking it. I was also prescribed Xanax for severe anxiety and it does not have any impact at this point. Extremely frustrating and can’t stop thinking about how angry I am for no reason.

I started with a new psychiatrist about 2 months ago. I take lamictal, venlafaxine, and very occasional lorazapam..about 5 tabs of 0.5mgs a month. The new psychiatrist increased the lamictal to 400mg a day from 300mg a day. i am hyper and agitated on this dose, but he decreased effexor. This combo is making me very cranky.