Lamotrigine and Depression: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Vel...
• March 1, 2017

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I've used Lamictal for several years, and I feel that it is a very effective drug with little to no side effects. Moods are quite stable; although I still do get some depression. Overall, I've been extremely stable for the past 3 years, taking it with a combination of Lexapro for depression."

• Mac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2021

For Depression "I recently started Lamictal about 4 days ago, 100 mg a day. So far, it's done nothing but heightened my anger and made me cry. I need a miracle here. I'm also on Paxil 20 mg, Cymbalta 120 mg, Abilify 5 mg, and clonazepam. I also suffer from partial onset seizures. If anyone can offer advice. I was told and have read that this is a great medicine and begged my doctor to put me on it. My anxiety is so horrible I still have extreme suicidal thoughts and feel empty. I've had so many different diagnoses. I honestly don't know what I have. Please advise?"

• whi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2016

For Anxiety "I have been on this medication since July 2016, and it has done wonders for me, especially my mood swings. Started at 25 mg and slowly went up to 125 mg. I still get anxiety attacks, but not as bad as before I went on this medication. I think learning how to manage the anxiety, along with this medication, can make a difference. Still get bouts of depression, as I have been diagnosed with persistent depression."

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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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!"

• ify...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2017

For Depression "Made my depression and anxiety worse, which I wasn't expecting as this drug seems so well-tolerated by others. My maximum dose was 50 mg bd (50 mg twice daily). I just wanted to make people aware that this can happen. On the plus side, it did get rid of my visual migraines."

• Ups...
• March 28, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been on various antidepressants and benzos for 25 years due to depression (bipolar II) and anxiety. Lamictal has changed my life. The depression lifted and the anxiety went away. I dropped the Xanax and Prozac and feel unbelievably well on 300 mg of just Lamictal. I've felt this way for two years so far. I wish I had found it years ago. I do think that the Prozac and Xanax were causing anxiety, depression, and exhaustion. I'm doing fantastic on the Lamictal alone."

• Rmp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2022

For Depression "This drug is the worst. Long story short… back in December, I developed anxiety and panic attacks that were situational. I was put on Lexapro and had adverse effects. Put on Zoloft, adverse effects. Put on lamotrigine, and I was seriously suicidal. I have never been suicidal or had depression or anxiety in the past, like I said, my situation was acute. This medication had the absolute worst side effects: suicidal ideations, excessive crying, severe anxiety, panic attacks, depression (that I really didn’t have to begin with), hair loss, itching, labile mood, a rash that did go away, abnormal thinking. And I was only on this for five weeks. I am tapering off this as we speak. I know for some it helps, but honestly, this is poison to me. I want others to know if you experience these side effects and you’re on this medication, it’s not you!!! I have three weeks left until I’m off of this stuff, and I cannot wait. I’d give it a zero if I could…"

• lai...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 9, 2017

For Borderline Personality Disorder "Been on this for about a year, 100 mg. Took away my libido, I still get depressed/suicidal, still self-harming. It's made me lose myself. I've been told that BPD can only SOMETIMES be managed with medications. I also take an antidepressant, 75 mg. It helps if you get good support-a good therapist and a good doctor. I really hope they come up with better things to treat BPD."

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

Lamotrigine 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."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I was newly diagnosed with Bipolar II, and Lamotrigine/Lamictal was what was prescribed to me. For many years beforehand, I'd been on Zoloft. Zoloft worked for many years, but after a while, it seemed like it was becoming less effective, so the switch was made. I've never been unhappier in my life. I never was depressed before to the point where I cry for 3+ hours daily and sleep whenever I don't have another obligation. Nothing gives me joy, nothing makes me happy, nothing motivates me. All I do is obsess over a past relationship and think about how to die. I also have trouble eating, horrible nausea/acid reflux that I never had before, a complete lack of emotion or motivation, and a profound sense of helplessness."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I was newly diagnosed with Bipolar II, and Lamotrigine/Lamictal was what was prescribed to me. For many years beforehand, I'd been on Zoloft. Zoloft worked for many years, but after a while, it seemed like it was becoming less effective, so the switch was made. I've never been unhappier in my life. I never was depressed before to the point where I cry for 3+ hours daily and sleep whenever I don't have another obligation. Nothing gives me joy, nothing makes me happy, nothing motivates me. All I do is obsess over a past relationship and think about how to die. I also have trouble eating, horrible nausea/acid reflux that I never had before, a complete lack of emotion or motivation, and a profound sense of helplessness."

• Rla...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 2, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "Lamotrigine has been pretty good along with lithium (bipolar). Have been on 200 mg for 3 years and lithium for 15. I decided to ramp up lamotrigine to 400 mg, and I had more energy and zest and best moods, but also had more anxiety, math/memory issues, and a touch of hypomania. However, I did have incredible orgasms! Back down to 300 mg, and I am experiencing a bit more depression but seem to be pretty level. Lamotrigine seems to lessen the severity of my depressive episodes but does not eliminate them. It helps me enough to stay on it."

• kcg...
• January 25, 2017

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine "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."

• Mil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2018

For Depression "I have been on Lamotrigine for 6 weeks and up to a dose of 100 mg and have felt no change at all. I am on it for depression and PTSD and anxiety. I suffer badly from panic disorder as well. Unfortunately, there has been no change while on this, and I have tried all SSRIs and none worked, and I am on Cymbalta also. So far, Klonopin is the only thing that has helped me function. Also, I feel the Lamotrigine made me more panicky, tired, and sad :-(. I was so hopeful for this to work and am so disappointed that yet another medication has failed me. I am currently weaning, I went from 100 mg to 50 mg and will be on 50 mg for 2 weeks before I go to 25 mg. After 2 days, I already feel a tad dizzy and off! Ugh, please tell me this will go away :-("

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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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

Lamotrigine 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."