Lamotrigine and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• mma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2017

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "It really does work amazingly! I am bipolar II. I was originally diagnosed as having major depressive disorder, but my depression did fluctuate in intensity quite a bit, so my psychiatrist thought Lamictal could work and that I could be bipolar. So I started Lamictal (ironically, right before I started the Lamictal, I started having hypomania and was then properly diagnosed as bipolar II). For weeks, it really did not help much - and then I reached the full dose of 200 mg. I've been on this dose for a month and have felt completely normal or virtually normal most of the time! The medication isn't perfect though, as the depression occasionally comes on rather hard, but even when it does, it is temporary and NOWHERE near as bad as it was before."

• Win...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2021

For Depression "I suffer from drug-resistant major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. I titrated up slowly over a one-month period to 125 mg per day and stayed on 125 mg per day for 3 weeks. Lamotrigine made my depression much worse. I became completely hopeless and suicidal. After discontinuing the Lamotrigine, I still feel persistently sad and filled with worry, but I no longer feel suicidal. Lamotrigine was not a good drug for me. I found zero benefit from this medication."

• Win...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2021

For Depression "I suffer from drug-resistant major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. I titrated up slowly over a one-month period to 125 mg per day and stayed on 125 mg per day for 3 weeks. Lamotrigine made my depression much worse. I became completely hopeless and suicidal. After discontinuing the Lamotrigine, I still feel persistently sad and filled with worry, but I no longer feel suicidal. Lamotrigine was not a good drug for me. I found zero benefit from this medication."

• Can...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 5, 2019

For Depression "I’ve been on Lamictal for 5 years at 200 mg. I still have severe depression and cry almost every day. I have a lot going on in my life, so maybe that’s why nothing is working. I am also on 10 mg of Lexapro, still depressed, hard to get out of bed and going in the morning. I look forward to sleep so I don’t have to think about anything. I feel like all the meds I’ve tried either don’t work or make me gain a ton of weight. If I knew Lamictal had these awful side effects, including depression, I would have never started it. I’m going to try and wean off of it slowly."

• Sar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 13, 2024

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal has changed my life. I was diagnosed bipolar 20 years ago and have never been 100% happy with my meds. Although I was functioning, I was always battling weight gain, lack of motivation, binge eating (due to antipsychotics), had a terrible episode (manic then severe depression after), was given Lamictal to take. My life has turned around. I’ve been able to lower my 2 other meds. I’ve gone from obese to a normal weight. I read about this happening with others and thought that will never happen to me, but it did. It truly is an antidepressant to me (I still take a lower dose of Seroquel as well). I don’t know if Lamictal would be strong enough alone, I don’t want to find out either, as I’m finally happy on my mix of meds. The weight loss is because I finally can eat a healthy diet and have the motivation to go walking and go shopping to buy proper food. Side effects are mild, kind of makes you more “ditsy” and a bit forgetful. But that’s it."

• seg...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 6, 2015

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I've been on 200 mg of lamotrigine for 5 years. I also take 50 mg of Seroquel at bedtime, which also helps immensely with my insomnia. And yes, it took a moment to pull that last word out of my brain, and I do goof up words sometimes, but so do all the other alcoholics I know and love. I self-medicated for many years, and it worked even better after quitting 2 years ago. I still am a little manic and vaguely depressed under stress, but this treatment has been a lifesaver. I highly recommend giving it a try if you're unhappy with your current regimen, but you'll have to give it time. It took me about 6 months to get the full benefit."

• AFC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2021

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "When I was diagnosed with type 1 bipolar disorder, after coming out of my first and only admission for mania and spending months with depression that only came out a few days, they only gave me valproic acid, which depresses me. Quetiapine worked for a while, but I had to stop taking it at high doses for constipation and rhinitis. With aripiprazole, for 2 whole days, vomiting, with cariprazine for a whole month, with akathisia, and olanzapine only depressed me. I saw that there was Symbyax (olanzapine plus fluoxetine) that in 6 days took me out of the depression. I managed to change psychiatrists. I told him that I was still sleeping 10 hours a day and mentally dull with Symbyax, so I was prescribed 100 mg of lamotrigine and 50 mg of quetiapine, which does not make me fat at such a low dose. Since then, I sleep only 8-7 hours and I can continue with my life without depression, mania, or drowsiness. Thank God they gave me lamotrigine. I am from Spain, and sorry if I made some mistake."

• Mik...
• August 7, 2019

For Depression "My depression got worse. With medication so far, the more the dose increased, the worse I felt. 25 mg and 50 mg, then, the 3rd or 4th week, I went up to 75 mg. The second day, I broke out in acne all over my face, which made me feel worse: anxiety, self-esteem, and isolating myself. I got worse, so I tapered to 50 mg, and the inside of my mouth has a rash and canker sores. It’s really irritating and painful. My doctor hasn’t answered me for over a week. I see him Thursday, I’m going to get off it as soon as possible."

• Jes...
• October 27, 2015

For Depression "Thank you all for sharing. I am currently taking Lamictal for pain because the side benefit is actually pain relief for peripheral neuropathy. I have suffered from depression and anxiety for my whole life, but after starting Lamictal, it has gotten worse. I also take blood pressure medication and hydroxyzine for sleep. Has anyone else had increased depression?"

• Jus...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 22, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "Male, 41, and have been using this medication for 15 years. Back then, doctors were very reluctant to prescribe it. I was on a dose of only 50 mg a day and had fair improvement. 50 mg a day, however, I slipped through the cracks. I got a general practitioner to fill my prescriptions. 50 mg, 10 years without regulation, and as those diagnosed with bipolar II disorder know, the depression slowly crept up unnoticed by me. It was not until traumatized that I knew to seek help. Back on Lamictal for the second time, but this time at a 175 mg dose, without antidepressants or ADD medications. I forgot what it felt like to enjoy life again. To smell, to crave, a libido, self-confidence, self-esteem, and rational judgment. Life is again a wonderful experience!"

• bre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2015

For Anxiety "75 mg is the dose I've been steady on. Worked up at 25 mg every 2 weeks, with a day or 2 of itchiness on each increase. I tried 100 mg for a few days and felt more anxious and depressed. Went back down to 75 mg and feel pretty good. Considering insomnia has been a very serious issue for me, Lamictal is the first med I've been on that isn't an AD and doesn't hurt my sleep (I take it in the AM). When I was trying ADs, the Klonopin barely seemed to work for sleep. I still take Klonopin for sleep, but at least I can sleep through the night now. Nice being off the ADs. Hope this one works long-term and I can get off the Klonopin eventually, which I think is causing my moderate brain fog. Eh, life is much better than it was. I recommend it!"

• IHC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2022

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I was recently diagnosed with PMDD, and my doctor also suspects I may have Bipolar 2. I have had many years of agitation and irritability and other dark thoughts. Doctors have prescribed many types of medications, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antianxiety, you name it, I've tried it. I got off all medication in 2009 because it just wasn't working, and I felt the same whether I took it or not. In 2022, my mental health had deteriorated to the point that I really wasn't sure if I would hurt someone or not because my irritability had grown to blind rage. I could barely stand myself, and other people couldn't stand me, so I tried medication one more time. THANK GOD! My new doctor started me on a low dose of Lamictal and Prozac, and within days I felt calmer. I slowly titrated up until now I am at 200 mg of Lamictal and 40 mg of Prozac. I think this is my sweet spot for both medications. I have lost my rage, irritability, and depression, jumpiness-I could go on and on."

• Inn...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 18, 2021

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I started this medication for possible bipolar/PTSD. I suffered a nerve injury that was very painful and treated with steroids. The combined pain and steroids obliterated my ability to sleep, even with meds. This went on for months - refractory to Ativan, Vistaril, Lunesta, Seroquel, Lexapro. I was becoming severely anxious and depressed, and still trying to hold my job on 2 hours of sleep. Eventually, I began to break down. I got another psych opinion, and the suggestion was Lamictal. I escalated gradually, starting with pediatric doses, all the way to 200 mg. I was using 15 mg of Ambien to sleep in the beginning. That dropped to 10 mg pretty quickly, then 7.5 mg, 5 mg, and then 2.5 mg in divided doses through the night. By 8 weeks, I had my first drug-free night of sleep in 8 months. That was about a year and a half ago. I've tapered to 150 mg, and I'm shooting for 100 mg. I'm not sure if what I have is really bipolar or PTSD, but Lamictal gave me my life back."

• Luc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2018

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I was on this medicine for only a month, but I couldn't take it any longer. I had a constant sore throat and nasal congestion, brain fog, and more, but most difficult to me was how deeply depressed I felt on this medicine, and it didn't lift till I quit taking it. I was always crying, and I'm not a crier. I had no positive benefits, unfortunately. I had high hopes Lamictal would help with the low side of bipolar while my lithium helps keep the mania away."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 12, 2017

Lamotrigine for Epilepsy "I have taken 150 mg of this drug for 3 and a half years for a condition known as benign epilepsy. In that time, I've continued to have seizures every six months on average, as well as experiencing a number of negative side effects including insomnia, constant sighing, impaired short-term memory, lack of motivation, depressive thoughts, and difficulty completing tasks due to lack of motivation."

• Lee...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 31, 2022

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Taken this med for years. Age 15-18 then on and off a bit. Then the last three years very consistently. Did I think it helped? At first, sure. Every time at first, I thought I felt relief. Calmer, less angry. However, my bones hurt, joints hurt, mad migraines… weight gain, horrid sudden depression I had never had before - I dealt with it. I recently stopped taking this medication - the first time I stopped, I got VERY sick. Very sick. So I restarted. I can’t keep going on this medication. I have no motivation. Horrid memory loss. Horrid stomach pains and joint pains. So I stopped. I already feel more energy - less suicidal - this med ruined my life … coming off has been so amazing. As a person who's been on this long term - it’s not worth it for me. I’m ready to enjoy some form of life again. It’ll feel so subtle - the loss of yourself to this drug."

• Mer...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 21, 2019

For Depression "I'm on lamotrigine 400. It was doing great, I thought by mistake they gave me regular Lamictal. What a difference! Buuuutttttt the insurance wants to charge me over $400 for Lamictal, 2 dollars for generic. Has anybody else experienced the difference between the two? I've been on it for years. So depressed right now. The insurance company wants me to try three other drugs before they will give me Lamictal! Everybody on here knows what that would be like. So frustrated."

• Gil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 13, 2018

Lamotrigine for Schizoaffective Disorder "I have been taking lamotrigine for a year now. It has made me more depressed than I was before I started this medication. My emotions are totally numb. I don't have any joy in my life. It's like I am a walking zombie just going through the motions. I would not recommend this drug. It has helped some people, but it's not worth the side effects for me."

• lou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2015

For Anxiety "I had high hopes for this medication. At 25 mg, I thought I noticed a slight positive effect. About when I upped from 25 to 50 mg, I experienced about two weeks of feeling extremely depressed, which continued when I increased to 75 mg. It did somewhat decrease my agitated anxiety, but did not help with my obsessive ruminations. Aside from the depressed mood and mild sedation, I didn't notice any side effects. When I decreased back to 25 mg, I noticed the depressed mood lifting and an increase in anxiety."

• kkh...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 15, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on this medication (Lamictal) for 12 years (100 mgs). I take it in the morning. I have Bipolar I, and it certainly helped stabilize me, and I also take Seroquel (at night) as well as Provigil (daytime) and Buspar (anxiety). One thing to make sure of is that you don't allow yourself to run out. Once I was out of the medicine for two days and felt terribly depressed within 24 hours. I don't know if it is the combination of the medicines, but I struggled for 20 years with Bipolar and numerous medications before getting these meds now for 12 years. I feel 'normal' and have no mania or depression. I think it is a lifesaver."

• Ire...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2021

For Depression "My Dr. started me off on 25 mg. I took half of the 25 mg for 10 days. I'm on 25 mg for 5 days already. I'm so used to not feeling well from not knowing what is wrong with me, from feeling dizzy, trembly, head in the clouds, mood swings, depressed, and constantly irritable, short-tempered, confused, disorientated, forgetful, and extremely tired all the time, racing thoughts and always thinking of what I need to do next, like I'm not present. After taking 25 mg for the 5th day (a full tablet), somehow I feel very relaxed and all these symptoms above - I'm not really feeling them or I'm looking to see if I'm feeling it deep down, but I'm not. That means that the meds are working, right? My mind feels like it's present, I don't feel like my mind is all over the place. I am having a normal feeling that feels rather therapeutic. My mind is clearer, and my concentration has improved quite a lot. I'm starting to see life differently, I'm more confident because inwardly I feel more healed."

• Ems...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 24, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "This is about my daughter...not me... My daughter is 20 years old and has bipolar disorder... She has suffered with this for the last six years...she has seen four psychiatrists...a few therapists...etc...she had to get her GED...she had to drop out of college three times because her moods were not being controlled by ANYTHING. We tried it all, she was also committed twice for mania and depression. Her new psych put her on lithium last year and it stopped the mania, but no SSRI would pull her out of the severe depression she was in for so long, and she tried like eight different ones! Finally, she got prescribed Lamictal, and within a week, she was her old self, happy, no more mixed episodes, no more sadness, and she was humming and laughing. She said she felt like the last six years were a blur. She had to titrate slowly, and she is only on 50 mg right now, but man, what a difference. If you are bipolar, I highly recommend you try this first, it worked wonders for us...blessings...:)"

• Hal...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 28, 2021

For Depression "Lamotrigine has been a lifesaver. Though I do not have any manic disorders, I do struggle with anxiety and depression. I am currently on a high dose mixed with a high dose of Zoloft, and that combination has completely transformed my life and made me feel like myself again. It eased my mood swings, depressive episodes, and anxiety. Since being on it, I have noticed a huge improvement and would recommend anyone struggling with depression/anxiety to bring it up with your doctor to see if it would be a good choice for you. All in all, a very effective medicine."

• The...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 16, 2017

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I left my opinion last year around October. And things have changed just a bit. I understood my illness is genetic because my uncle had it and my dad has it, but I don't accept it, I guess. Anyway, 70% of cases have a genetic background, so feel better about that. You didn't choose this. I feel Lamictal is not working as well after two years, but not a major change. I will increase it from 200 mg to 250 this week. I control my depression with clonazepam. I feel anxiety makes depression worse. So when it kicks in, then I feel strong enough to make a prayer, and it goes away. We need to do some work in our brain. Everything that is negative, you change it for 'yes,' and I can and I will."

• Cou...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2024

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I've been on lamotrigine now for over 8 weeks. I was abused and used drugs as a child. My mum has a diagnosis of bipolar. I saw a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with bipolar type 2 when all the doctors I saw didn't see the signs and kept denying I had bipolar and that I just had EUPD. A few weeks ago, I was severely depressed where I could not stop crying all day and everything was a struggle. Then, a few days ago, I had a hypomanic episode. I was depressed yesterday, but today my mind is clearer and I'm not getting annoyed with everything and everybody. Overall, I feel genuinely a little bit more stable than I was before lamotrigine."