Lamictal and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• alt...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 17, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking this drug off and on for BP1 since 2004. I do not think it has pulled me out of a major depression alone. However, I do think I have been less depressed during those years I took it. I took it alone consistently from 2004 to 2011 and only had about two depressions which were partially circumstantial and were moderate. I did not become suicidal in either one. After I went off it in 2011 on the advice of an anti-psychiatry psychiatrist, I had suicidal thoughts on several occasions and became moderately depressed at least once a year. I lacked insight at the time, but in retrospect, I was missing the protection Lamictal has given me. I take it with Lithium now, and it is a good combo."

• kpe...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 18, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "Dosage makes all the difference with this drug. I am a 44-year-old female. Heavyset. Bipolar 2 for ten years. I also take 50 mg of Topamax and 2.5 mg of Zyprexa. At 75 mg of Lamictal, my depression is stabilized: I have energy, joy, my emotions don’t feel fragile and overwhelming, I have confidence and think more clearly. But starting at doses of 100 mg and above of Lamictal, I become angry and arrogant, brash and oddly lacking in empathy. I can’t believe how much a medication can alter one’s personality: from caring and humble to hubristic and slightly mean. Watch this drug. It can be heaven or it can be hell."

• Shr...
• December 1, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal has been effective for me. I had not realized some of my symptoms until I was unable to afford it and went off it for a couple of months. I had more depression, began to emotionally overeat, increased difficulty in making decisions and paying attention, and a feeling of being overwhelmed. I am fortunate enough to have the means to get back on my medicines. I function without it, but this makes my disabilities more manageable."

• mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on Lamictal for about a month now. I started on 50 mg, 2nd week 75 mg, and 3rd week 100 mg at night. 1st 2 days in on 50, I felt borderline aggressive and very irritable. This evened out on the 3rd day, and I began to feel very motivated and able to think clearly. I still experienced a few depressive episodes, but I hope to get onto an antidepressant once my dose is high enough. I've begun taking 25 mg in the AM to slowly move up to 100 in the AM on top of my 100 at night. Since I have, my memory, attention, and anxiety have worsened, and other side effects have been sweating, raised heart rate, some trouble sleeping, and slight photophobia. Most of these have subsided as I adjust, so overall, it's best to stick with it for a bit."

• Anonymous
• August 15, 2011

For Seizure Prevention "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."

• Ano...
• May 4, 2011

For Bipolar Disorder "I haven't been on Lamictal for very long yet. But I want to thank all the people who shared how it has helped them. I am having a very hard time hanging on right now. I am getting married to the love of my life in 2 1/2 months and could care less. I am actually thinking about canceling the wedding altogether. Depression is impacting my work and my relationships with my family. I don't see much point in hanging on at all. Reading about how others have benefitted gives me a ray of hope that it will help me too at some point in the future if I can just hold on long enough. Thanks."

• Nad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on generic Lamictal for nearly 2 months, on 300 mg for 1 week so far. I feel great when I wake up, depressed late am and afternoon, then decent in the evenings. Has anyone else had this with Lamictal? My hope is that a higher dosage will do the trick. Thanks for any responses!"

• Mot...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I changed to Lamictal due to being manic bipolar. This medication changed my life. I am able to feel like myself with stability. I was taking Lithium, it made me sick, depressed, drowsy. It calmed my racing thoughts. Not feeling manic all the time. Or depressed like I used to be."

• kcg...
• January 25, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "Well, I don't know if I'm the only one on here, but this did not work very well for me. My skin started being much more red (especially in my face). Under my eyes looked sickly. I had a harder time falling asleep. I even began to have ocular problems. I still was having panic attacks and severe depression--I suppose I was less manic though?"

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

For Seizure Prevention "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."

• Dog...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2023

"I thought my life was over. None of the drugs the psychiatrist prescribed helped the narcolepsy and made me even more tired. The first time I tried 25 mg, it was too strong, and I slept all weekend. I said I'd never take it again and threw away the prescription. A month later, my doctor had me take 12.5 mg, and it worked the second day. It was like it made me normal. I can do yard work and work out, go places, do things, talk to people, and look forward to life again. In one day, my sleepiness, depression, anxiety, and jitteriness went away. It has been about a week now. I am going up to 25 mg tonight."

• Luc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I have only been on Lamictal for just under 2 weeks, so I can't say I've given up on it yet, but so far this med has done nothing noticeable to help me at all. In fact, every day when I take my 50 mg, exactly 1 hour after I've ingested the pills, I feel painfully depressed and lethargic. Also, my vision is blurry, I have little clusters of zits all over my face when I usually have pretty good skin. Disappointing, but I'm not giving up yet. If it weren't for my lithium, I would have to quit the Lamictal because of the severe depression I feel."

• Con...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Not so much sharing as a question. I was recently told I am bipolar II and was given Lamictal and have been taking it for only a week, but absolutely hate how I am feeling. I feel nonhuman. I can't stay awake. I feel helpless or hopeless, not really sure which. Please tell me this gets better, or am I beyond help? Do I just live with the ups and downs that I've been living with for almost all of my 48 years..."

• kin...
• September 11, 2009

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking Lamictal for about 2 or 3 months. I still find myself occasionally hearing things and depressed, but not as bad as I used to. I also take Abilify and buspirone for anxiety, mirtazapine to sleep and eat. I think I am bipolar 1, I am not sure, but I am more stable than I used to be. I am able to concentrate more, though, and I give that to lamotrigine (Lamictal). I wish I could gain weight, I am too skinny."

• Coo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 16, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I was always wondering... Is this just how I am? Is this just my personality? After turning 35, I finally visited a psychiatrist and she prescribed me Epitec. I've been on this drug for almost a year now... Gradually moving up to 250 mg a day. I seriously am a changed person! I'm happy with who I am, I love myself again, my relationships are better with everyone. No constant irritability, mood swings, anger, depression. 10 out of 10!"

• cau...
• February 7, 2012

For Bipolar Disorder "For bipolar 1, Lamictal has worked wonders for me. I did have to watch my moods because, with all mental health medicines, it can make side effects better or worse, and it did induce me into a state of depression. Other than that, I have been on it for 9 months and it has been doing good so far."

• Wow...
• June 30, 2022

"At 19 years old, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. I have taken a series of medications for over a decade, and only two of them have worked successfully but have discontinued themselves after 2 years. It wasn't until 2 weeks ago that I was diagnosed with cyclothymia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In terms of the cyclothymia, I explained to my doctor the constant shifting moods that consisted of depression, anxiety, extreme agitation, extreme brain fog, and low energy. The psychiatrist prescribed me atomoxetine and Lamictal, and I must say, though it has been only two weeks, this drug was an absolute miracle. I feel like I'm becoming myself again, and after all else failed, I finally found something that works well for me."

• ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 21, 2022

"I don't think I have bipolar, but I tried this med to try and help lift my treatment-resistant depression. I started it in mid-2020 alongside Effexor (which did NOT work for me) and then alongside Zoloft, and I'd read so many positive reviews on here that I had hope. But sadly, it did nothing at all for me. I slowly titrated up (I was scared of that burning rash thing), and after weeks, I still felt no change. I may as well have been taking Tic Tacs or chalk! Only once I got above 150 mg per day did I finally notice something, and that was an even more extreme sense of boredom, apathy, and lack of motivation than I already had, and a cognitive decline (like I'd lose track of what I was saying in the middle of a sentence, and not be able to find words when usually I have a wide vocabulary). Eventually, I just tapered off it after a few months when I couldn't even find the mental energy to go back to my doctor."

• Kri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 23, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I still have minor anxiety and depression, but wow, my life got changed."

• Meg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Gave me crippling depression pretty much instantly. Would not recommend."