Lamictal for Seizure Prevention User Reviews (Page 2)

• Gay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 21, 2017

"I've been on Lamictal for 1 year for seizure prevention/mood swings. I gained weight, have a dry mouth, and insomnia. I told my neurologist I wanted to come off seizure meds as I haven't had a seizure for 5 years, he said no because the next seizure I have may be fatal! Great bedside manner! Now I have to live with side effects as I'm scared to come off Lamictal."

• KTC...
• August 13, 2009

"After having every allergic reaction in the book and experiencing every single side effect of Dilantin, my doctor quickly switched me to Lamictal. I love it. Not one negative side effect to mention! If only it helped me lose weight! (P.S. My petit seizures are well under control, and I haven't had a grand mal since before I was medicated 6 years ago)."

• Jaz...
• January 13, 2017

"I was diagnosed with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in the left parietal part of my brain in 2015 after I had a stroke at 21. I had it removed in 2016. I was on Dilantin, and it made me feel horrible. After my surgery in the hospital, I had a seizure 3 times, and they came in increments of 3. I was then put on Keppra with Dilantin. No good. My moods went crazy. Then they switched me to Lamictal with a low dose of Dilantin, eventually weaning off of Dilantin. I was put on 400 mg of Lamictal. Just recently, I had a bad seizure, and now they increased my dose to 600 mg. It is working, but I feel very disconnected and spacey. It's helping with seizures, but not liking the side effects. I am now looking into a device called Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS). Looking for alternatives, but so far, Lamictal works."

• cir...
• July 3, 2008

"I've been taking Lamictal for 5 years now and am very pleased with it. I have experienced moderate to severe difficulties with cognitive function and memory on all other anti-epileptics. Lamictal has enabled me to reduce my carbamazepine intake to such a level that these difficulties are minimal, and I am now doing very well at University. Unfortunately, while it has reduced my seizures to lower than ever before, it has not been able to stop them altogether."

• Gan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 23, 2018

"I have been on Lamictal for 13 years. For the first 12, I had similar symptoms as others - poor memory, exhaustion, inability to walk a straight line. No idea why, but now my symptoms are slowly going away. My dizzy spells are rare, straight lines aren't difficult, and best of all, my memory is coming back. It's not as good as before I was on the meds, but I'm happy for anything I can get. My issue is that I'm soon going on Medicare, and the cost of this medicine is $12,000 per year. I'm looking into generics, and based on the research, it seems they have gotten better, but I'm not ready to make the leap yet."

• Anonymous
• August 15, 2011

"I'd been having partial seizures every 2 weeks, lasting a few days for about 3 years before having a tonic-clonic seizure and finally agreeing to go on medication. I started on Keppra, and the seizures came once a month for about a week, similar to a girl's period, and I became suicidal and uninterested in anything. About 2 years later, I had another tonic-clonic seizure. Shortly after that, I switched to Lamictal and am no longer suicidal but am still depressed and uninterested in anything, and the seizures now come more frequently and randomly."

• Anonymous
• August 19, 2009

"LOVE IT! I take 600 mg a day. I don't think it causes the comprehension problems like Keppra, hard to tell though as taking both medications at the same time. If my medication has to be increased, this will be the one. I can't increase Keppra anymore."

• Meg...
• June 13, 2015

"I have started taking lamotrigine with the intention of weaning myself off phenytoin. Unfortunately, after 2 weeks and 2 days, I have had terrible side effects: splitting headaches, vomiting, nausea, dry mouth, and extreme irritability."

• Mik...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 7, 2023

"I am not sure if my depression, abnormal thoughts, blurred vision, rash, and memory issues are related to this drug or not. They are listed as side effects and seem to be getting worse the longer I'm on them. However, Lamictal has helped keep my seizures mostly under control. I have tried other medications in the past, but my stomach couldn't take them."

• Mr ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2016

"I was diagnosed with grand mal epilepsy in 2004, had been on life support twice, longest for 17 days, not good. They said it was temporal lobe sclerosis, skull fractures, etc., from playing rugby. I've had many medication changes from clonazepam to Keppra and everything in between. I am currently on 1000 mg morning and night of Keppra and have started taking 50 mg Lamictal morning and night, as I was still having severe absences which Keppra couldn't stop. The absence events have all but stopped after 3 months, although I have not had a good time with constant saliva, spitting. Which I believe is from the flavor or effervescent makeup of the tablet. Does anyone else have this problem?"

• 123...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 11, 2024

"Lamictal changed my life. After realizing I was experiencing focal aware seizures, this was the first AED I tried, and I never intend to change it unless it stops working. I have had ONE focal aware seizure since titrating up to 200mg Lamictal 8 months ago, and it was a day I forgot to take my morning dose. Split dose (AM/PM) works best for me. Pros: cured my focal aware seizures, reduced sensory overwhelm I've experienced MY WHOLE LIFE, eliminated my PMS and made my periods much less painful and more regular (this drug lowers estrogen), stabilized my moods, and CURED MY 3X/WEEK CHRONIC MIGRAINES AND FACIAL NERVE PAIN. WOW!!! Cons: itchy skin after raising dose for 1-2 weeks, increased anxiety after raising dose for 1-2 weeks, increased alcohol tolerance, my short-term memory and creativity have taken a slight hit, some word dropping, slight hair loss."

• kat...
• November 14, 2007

"I have had adverse reactions to five different medicines for seizures. I started taking Lamictal about 6 months ago and am very pleased. I have hardly any side effects at all. My only problem is that I don't have insurance because I am self-employed, and Lamictal is very expensive. I am not sure if a generic is available for Lamictal. Lamictal has been a relief with minimal side effects."

• Urr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 17, 2017

"I guess I mostly have a lot of questions. I had one seizure in August 2014, or at least that's what I was told when I woke up in a hospital. I was put on Keppra 750 mg 2x a day. In 2015, I was diagnosed as bipolar. I was put on Lamictal 100 mg 1x a day. I've had many EEGs and MRIs over the past 2 years, most recently in November 2016. I just met with my neurologist last week, and he said that my latest EEG confirmed, yet again, I have 'abnormal electricity full brain every 4-5 seconds,' which I've had since birth. Now I have to do an ambulatory EEG for 3 days/nights and blood work. Urrggh!!! Somebody please wake me up from this nightmare! Questions - Why Lamictal for bipolar when it's for seizures? Why a 3-day EEG? Why Keppra and Lamictal?"

• Kev...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 7, 2023

"I had a traumatic brain injury 6 years ago and have been on Lamictal for 5 years. When I was taking a higher dose, I had side effects: itching, mood swings. But now I'm on a lower dose. The medication is highly recommended. It's been great for me."

• Ber...
• September 13, 2015

"I developed epilepsy from a blood clot hours after an operation for a brain tumor. I tried Epanutin, poor side effects, Keppra, which didn't seem to work. I am now on 325 mg morning and night, my grand mal seizures are reduced to head shaking and nearly no side effects after the seizure, I'm 14 stone, a doctor told me I could go to 350 twice a day, but I don't know, I have always had them every three months, thankfully 90% when I'm in bed. Multitasking and memory are affected, but I can live with that as it's not bad. I heard doctors say max 325 twice daily, but he thinks I can go to the 350. Thoughts?"

• Bec...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 28, 2017

"I had a series of severe episodes in '14, and that's when I began this drug. Initially, it made me really drowsy, but it was manageable. Otherwise, I've had absolutely no problems! The only downside is that its levels can be easily affected or lowered with other drugs. In order to take birth control pills, I had to nearly double my Lamictal dosage as the estrogen made my Lamictal levels plummet."

• Cem...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 3, 2015

"I have been taking it for many years now for tonic-clonic epilepsy and had been well for 3 years. However, out of nowhere, last week I had 4 seizures, had did some major damage. Has anyone else had this? I also take Epilim."

• Van...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 4, 2024

"I had a brain tumor and cortical dysplasia which were causing me to have seizures non-stop. I got them removed and started taking Lamictal. I did not have another seizure until I was pregnant with my daughter 3 years after the surgery. I had a seizure when I was about 6 months pregnant and then one during delivery, which made me stop breathing. My daughter that I had is now 17 and I haven’t had another seizure since then and I still take Lamictal 3 times a day. The doctor said that during pregnancy my Lamictal level went way down because of the baby. That means there is something in my brain still causing seizures, but it is being blocked by taking the Lamictal. The doctor plans to keep me on it for life and I am fine having babies. Taking Lamictal during pregnancy with her did not cause her any problems. I know there is an increase for cleft palate in babies that the mom is taking Lamictal during pregnancy."

• vic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2024

"I was actually prescribed this med for sudden seizures. Coincidentally, I also suffer from Major Depressive Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I've struggled since I was 12 (I'm 29 now). I've tried many different antidepressants and none ever worked for me, even at therapeutic doses for my depression. However, they did help with anxiety (Celexa, Zoloft with and without Abilify added on, Effexor, Trintellix, and most recently Prozac). I got on Prozac a few months ago, and then also got prescribed this med but was told I might be able to get off Prozac because this med is also a mood stabilizer. Interestingly enough, I've been feeling tired for months and thought it might be due to this med (I've titrated up 25mg every 2 weeks). Now I'm on 200mg (100mg in the morning and 100mg at night), but I got off Prozac and instantly felt better. Now I'm only on Lamictal and I feel great - nothing has ever helped me this much. I've had no side effects at all besides decreased appetite and weird dreams!"

• jt2...
• August 24, 2009

"I have dealt with seizures for 6 years. I started off with Depakote and changed over to Lamictal back in June. I started off with 100 mg split in 1/2, 50 mg (morning and at night). Now I'm taking three pills in the morning and night, 75 mg. I don't see that much of results. With Depakote, I didn't experience seizures."

• pat...
• May 9, 2009

"My neurologist used Lamictal effectively for over eight years for a diabetic seizure threshold. After one episode, when my glucose was brought down too quickly, I had one seizure. To prevent another, he put me on low dosages until I received a pancreatic transplant and no longer have diabetes."

• Are...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 12, 2017

"I've been taking Lamotrigine for close to a year now, as an alternate for my previous seizure medicine. I am able to continue using Depo birth control, and although there's a small chance I get slight insomnia, it works quite well for me. Two a day, 100 mg each."

• cra...
• January 13, 2008

"I have taken Lamictal for over a year. It helped with the seizures and the headaches and also my anxiety. Problems I had were memory loss and weight gain, but all in all, it was a good medication."

• Anonymous
• October 28, 2009

"I have taken Lamictal for 13 years. The day before I started it, I had the last tonic-clonic seizure I have had."

• jen...
• December 2, 2013

"With Lamictal and Keppra, my seizures are currently controlled."