Lamotrigine and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2020

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I've tried almost all meds for depression/bipolar but no success. I started Lamictal 25mg about 4 weeks ago and I'm currently on 50mg per day. It has really lifted my depression. It's the best medication I have ever taken for bipolar. I have more energy, less irritable, less appetite, and increased sexual desire. However, it has some side effects (insomnia, nausea, mild constipation, and pains on my sides) which are all gradually fading away. I also take 40 mg Prozac per day. Lamictal is a wonder drug. I haven't reached the therapeutic level. I'm titrating slowly. I felt a great need to do this review to help others because other people's reviews have helped me in the past. Good luck!"

• MT ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2019

For Depression "I’ve been on Lamotrigine since mid-August. I titrated up slowly and am at a maintenance dose of 200mg daily. I was on every depression/anxiety medication you can think of for the past 20 years. I had to wean off those as Lamotrigine was introduced. So far, it has made a remarkable difference in my moods, my depression, my motivation. I love not laying in bed all day. Going on it was not easy, however, my anxiety was high, migraines, fatigue, insomnia. These have resolved but it’s taken 3 months. I’m thrilled at the difference it made in me and pray it continues to work! Remember it took months and a 200 mg dose until I felt better."

• Bee...
• April 30, 2020

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "I have been taking Lamotrigine for over 6 months. I am now at 150 mg. At 100mg or less, it was a bit sedating so I took it at night. After reaching 150mg, I got some pretty bad insomnia so I take it in the mornings now. I may need a sleeping pill because benzos aren't helping the insomnia. Before taking Lamictal, I've been on over 20 medications for PTSD. Every single one made symptoms of anger, PTSD, depersonalization, and bipolar much worse. With Lamictal, it just doesn't do that. It helps instead of hurts. I used to be too afraid to leave my room to pee. Now, I went to a job interview yesterday. I spent 2 years not leaving my house, not eating, not living. I was ready to give up on ever healing. Lamictal hasn't fixed everything for me. No medication can do that. It takes a lot of trial and error, a whole lot of self-work, but without Lamictal, I don't think I would have even started making changes in my life."

• Pot...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 19, 2019

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "This drug genuinely saved my life. I'm 25 and have exhibited depressive symptoms for the past 10 years, which is way too long to wait to get properly treated. It took getting on Effexor and experiencing mixed-states/rapid-cycling/suicidal thoughts before I was correctly diagnosed with Bipolar II. I started feeling positive effects on 100 mg Lamictal. I have been stable on 200 mg for a year now, and the only side effects I experienced were fatigue and mildly fragmented sleep the week after increasing dosage. One of Lamictal's bonus effects for me was tamping down my anxiety and panic to almost nothing - this and lifting my omnipresent depression have truly been a life-changer. No side effects now and I am the most happy, productive, and fulfilled I have been in a decade!"

• Mel...
• May 4, 2020

For Anxiety "I had tried Lamictal about a year ago for anxiety and depression and worked my way up to 100mg dosage. Mostly I noticed that I would get very emotional while on this medication, to the point that it was completely overwhelming and uncontrollable. My first two days on the medication, I felt good. But I started having very violent and vivid nightmares and insomnia. I would have panic attacks daily. I experienced some uncontrollable tremors and shaking over my whole body for hours. I felt very sick and nauseous. Recently I’ve noticed I had strong impulsive thoughts which triggered panic attacks and just left me unable to function. At this point I feel like I’m not able to function in my daily life. I have had to take clonazepam multiple times daily since I’ve been on this medication when I had gone over two months without taking any."

• Sof...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2021

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "So, so, so, so grateful for this. Have had severe anxiety, depression, severe OCD and depersonalization, ADHD. Who knows?! Lots of trauma in my past, and doctors have tried Wellbutrin, SSRIs, Buspar, Remeron. Been on so many things, and this thing brought some emotions back, way lessened intrusive thoughts, increased a completely non-existent sex drive, helped me with extreme fatigue. Went off, and obsessions and worthlessness came back. Went straight back on, and I felt a difference immediately. Been able to stop sleeping until 12-2 pm too. Wake up in the morning at 7 am, put on a podcast, and I don’t feel like death. Be self-compassionate and have hope. I take it in the morning, 200 mg, because it can give me insomnia if I take it at night. I can cry, I can laugh, I don’t feel like I’m drowning. Oh, pretty much no side effects I can note besides insomnia if taken at night."

• CTA...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 24, 2019

For Depression "Having suffered from treatment-resistant chronic depression and GAD for years, I had been on so many medications - either efficacy was short-lived or side effects unacceptable (weight gain, lethargy, hyperness, insomnia, agitation, +++). In 2013, my MD prescribed 100 mg Lamotrigine with 20 mg Trintellex once a day. I can’t begin to describe the amazing efficacy these two medications have had on my depression and anxiety. Everyone has their ups and downs, that’s life - but chronic depression is nothing but days of downs - so hard to live with - for the first time in 30 years, I feel ‘normal’. Trintellex has the added benefit of reducing brain fog, and my thinking is clearer. Lamotrigine enhances the overall control of major depressive disorder, and I am so grateful for the relief these two medications provide. One downside: Trintellex is still under patent, but Takeda offers cost reduction support because it is terribly expensive."

• Wal...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 28, 2019

For Anxiety "I love Lamictal. I have anxiety, depression, and epilepsy. I can’t take SSRIs because they are too activating for me. Lamictal helps so much with my anxiety, depression, and racy thoughts. Lamictal is not that activating, however, it keeps me up at night, so I started taking it in the morning. I take it along with a low dose of Topamax, and they both help with my mood too."

• Chl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2024

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I was having extreme mood swings and lows and then even lower lows. I would cry EVERY SINGLE DAY without fail, and I’m not even joking about 10 times a day. I felt so lost and didn’t want to be here anymore. I decided to do my own research as I had tried pretty much every antidepressant. Lamotrigine had more positive reviews than any other MS. I started taking lamotrigine in the middle of July at 25 mg for 2 weeks and then was increased every 3 weeks. Side effects at the start were tough: dizzy, nauseous, being sick, difficulty sleeping, and blurred vision. My anxiety increased also, so I now take 100 mg pregabalin, which works a treat. I take 200 mg now. I am a lot more chilled, I am less snappy and argumentative, and I cry a lot less. Before, someone could look at me funny, and I would go mental. I still have mood swings, but they don’t last as long. I’m starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I hope this helps someone who is where I was 3 months ago, 100% recommend."

• FTF...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2020

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I just started Lamictal a few days ago and am already seeing a huge difference in my mood. I’m actually happy and productive. It does cause a bit of insomnia, but other than that I haven’t noticed any side effects."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2019

For Depression "Really, really bad experience. After two months being on it, I started experiencing crazy side effects. Never been so sick in my life. Sore throat, dry red eyes, dry mouth, muscle pain, muscle spasms, disorientation, neck pain, back pain, lost 12 kg, no sex drive, burning sensation on the skin, tiredness, insomnia, vivid dreams, hard to breathe, chest pain, flu-like symptoms, confusion, memory loss, constant nausea, vomiting, fatigue, constant headache. Really bad, bad drug. I will never take any other drug again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2013

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I have been on Lamictal for approximately a month now for bipolar 1, slowly working up to what I am now at 100mg. I have noticed a dramatic drop in depression but hypomania only slightly changed. I think it only feels like it has worsened because the depression isn't there to bring me back down. I still can't sleep at night, I still panic, feel the doom of anxiety, and racing thoughts among other things. I have had an incredibly increased libido. Overall, I can't believe how well it's working in such a short time without the terrible side effects that other medications can give you. I'm a mom of 4. I have no time to be a zombie, confused, tired, and slow. I look forward to seeing the next few months."

• anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2022

For Anxiety "I was feeling a bit overwhelmed at work as I had discontinued my antidepressants (with permission of my prescriber) for over 6 months. I really didn't want to go back to the same prescriber, so I opted for an app service. They prescribed lamotrigine as a mood stabilizer. The first two days on this medication, I felt worse than I had ever felt in my life. Suicidal thoughts just popped out of nowhere. It was really scary. I felt so depressed, in emotional pain, and hopeless. I couldn't sleep. If I slept, I had vivid dreams and night sweats. I told the prescriber, and they said side effects should wean in 5 days. So, I continued taking lamotrigine for about a month. The suicidal thoughts kind of went away, and the impending doom feeling in the pit of my stomach got better. However, I had horrible headaches, vivid dreams every night, and insomnia. The anxiety was constant and worse than before I started taking lamotrigine, and this was only 25 mg a day. I finally stopped taking it altogether."

• Non...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 9, 2019

Lamotrigine for Epilepsy "Lamictal did not work for me, 200 mg in the am and 200 mg pm. No changes with seizures in my sleep, but side effects were insomnia, constipation, and hair loss. I had to take a sleep aid to get a decent night's sleep, or else 2 or 3 hours was all I could get."

• Kir...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 10, 2017

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I started on Lamictal after having manic episodes on Zoloft as well as Wellbutrin. I was a heavy cigarette and marijuana smoker. In the first couple of weeks of starting Lamictal, I was able to quit smoking weed and cigarettes! I didn't have insomnia as I previously did when trying to quit marijuana. My mood was much improved. I had been suicidal before, and I started exercising again on Lamictal. I developed an unknown rash about 2 years into Lamictal and stopped immediately. The rash disappeared. It looked like 8 mosquito bites all over my legs. I was forced to try Abilify, which made me gain over 40 pounds and take naps during the day. Today, I have started back on Lamictal and am back on track with exercising and enjoying life."

• Ant...
• October 27, 2014

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I'm on Wellbutrin already and was recently put on Lamictal. It stabilized my moods a bit, but I stopped taking it due to the horrible insomnia and very vivid dreams. Every time I went to bed and managed to sleep, I woke up exhausted due to my brain consistently running through the night. I had to stop it, I was tired all the time because of the horrible insomnia."

• Man...
• June 10, 2011

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Before I started taking this medicine, my moods were up and down: anger, anxiety, not sleeping at night, back pain, fear of leaving the house, etc. This medicine has changed my life completely. I don't feel like the same person. I never enjoyed living the way that I do now. I'm up early in the mornings, doing things and being productive, which is so different from what I used to be. Thanks to this medicine, I'm actually living. I've tried so many things, and nothing else works. Miracle by far. No anxiety, no sleep problems, energy, and relationships are improving so well."

• Pra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 19, 2017

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "The way Lamictal works faster or slow is due to your metabolism. I could go up doses very fast without having the rash, but wow, I suffered so much while going through this process. It does get worse before it gets better. Once you get to the therapeutic dose, then things start to improve. Now, some of us have vivid dreams. Scary sometimes, but you get used to them. Also, it took me at least 5 months until I got its full benefit. And it may cause you insomnia; need some Ambien for that. Ambien stopped working after 5 months. So when I tried melatonin, it worked pretty well. Melatonin didn't work in the first months on this drug. Only worked after the 5 months, and then after a few 2 months, I didn't need it anymore. I was sleeping well without it."

• lan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2019

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Starting Lamictal with the smaller doses did not offer much alleviation until I was titrated up to about 75-100 mg. It's been a wonderful experience so far with 100 mg, and I do believe it can be an extremely effective drug for Bipolar 2 patients! The only side effects I faced upon starting and a few days after titration include dizziness and mild insomnia."

• The...
• September 16, 2013

For Post Traumatic Stress Disorder "Been taking for five days (post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar). I am really surprised by it, I have virtually no anxiety at all! Only 25 mg this week. Taking mirtazapine as well. Apart from insomnia, there are no side effects."

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

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Works for me at a low dose of 50 mg. I tried 6 months at 100 mg, and it affected my memory and sleep. Overall, it does help depression, but it is trial and error to find the lowest effective dose and if you should take it am or pm. Tapering back from 100 mg down to 50 mg wasn't too bad either, nothing like the torture I have experienced with SSRI meds."

• Yol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2023

Lamotrigine "I have tried about 6 different SSRIs and SNRIs, and none worked. Most had unpleasant side effects. My whole family can tell the difference in my mood! I am much less anxious. I didn't even realize how anxious I was before taking Lamictal because it had become the norm. I don't feel like a zombie. There are no sexual side effects. My intrusive thoughts are gone, and I don't feel so impulsive. I still feel things, but it's like it's not an overwhelming feeling. I have thought to myself several times over the last two months, 'This is what normal feels like.' Relatives have thought for years that I had bipolar type 2, but no doctor would diagnose that. I'm so glad I asked my psychiatrist to try me on this! Please be an advocate for your own mental health. Dosage - 50 mg once a day. Side effects - mild insomnia (other than that, NONE). Time - 2 months. Prev drugs: Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, Paxil, Pristiq."

• 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!"

• San...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 10, 2021

For Epilepsy "Got first-time clonic tonic seizures 6 months ago (3 the same day) and was prescribed Levetiracetam. Asked to change after a month as I was sleeping 18 hours a day and having mood swings. The neurologist at first didn’t want to change my medication, which infuriated me, she didn’t want to listen. I am now on Lamotrigine and I have all the side effects: insomnia, acne problem, low concentration, bad memory, can’t stand light or noise. I am refusing to take more than 100 mg a day for that reason. I am so scared to get another seizure (I didn’t have any since then but I have huge headaches/migraines almost every day) that I don’t want to stop them yet. But it changes who I am completely. Neurologists have no idea what they are talking about, they just prescribe medication and let us deal with it! This medication is a nightmare!!!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on lamotrigine for nearly a week now. For the last 4 years, I've not been able to control my depression, causing my personal and professional relationships to suffer drastically. Three hours after my first dose, I was able to confidently leave the house with a smile on my face. My manic reactions ceased day one, and I have a clarity in my mind I remember from childhood. It is too early for me to discuss any possible side effects other than less sleep, but going from 14 hours plus sleep a day to 6-8 most likely has a lot to do with it. Yesterday, my car broke down on the side of the road on a hot Australian spring day, and my anxiety was a complete non-event. I wish I had this diagnosis and drug much sooner in my life. It has completely stopped any suicidal thoughts that used to plague me daily. I recommend anyone on the fence to break down your anxiety regarding seeing someone for help. This has changed my outlook on life in a way I never thought possible."