Lamotrigine and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 4, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I've been on 200 mg lamotrigine for two years. Before I started this med, I would swing back and forth every few months between being happy and energetic and then not being able to get out of bed or eat for days at a time - and then back to happy again. Lamotrigine changed my life. I still have up and down days, but not nearly to the same extent. My condition doesn't control my life anymore, and I'm not constantly wondering when I'll next wake up and not be able to get out of bed. Side effects - I had insomnia for the first few months, and some mild rashes as I titrated up (not the bad rash). Other meds - fluvoxamine for OCD."

• Som...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2021

"Seems to help a lot of people, but for me it was absolutely awful. Instant depersonalization, bizarre thoughts, moodiness, irritability, depression, suicidal thoughts, insomnia, and gave me rosacea. All on just 25 mg."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 10, 2021

Lamotrigine for Epilepsy "I won't talk about my experience of how it controlled epilepsy because I don't know. When I was on Keppra, I was a terrible person when I was taking it alone, feeling angry and depressed all the time. After another violent seizure, I was prescribed Lamictal on top of Keppra. I tried to refuse to take it but ended up taking it anyway (along with Keppra). Once I reached 100 mg bd, all of the Keppra side effects were gone, and I felt like a different person. But like any anti-epilepsy medicine, there are side effects, and I had two: 1- I couldn't sleep more than 5 hours at night, I never used an alarm to wake up (you wish to need it once you reach this level). 2- Dry mouth, nostrils, and eyes, dry to the point I can't open my eyes when I wake up, and I needed an eye drop to open my eyes. My mouth was dry despite not being thirsty, my eyes and mouth literally felt like sandpaper."

• Epi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 11, 2021

For Epilepsy "No longer depressed. No longer having seizures. My mood has been stable. But I have been physically fatigued more often than not, to the extent that I wouldn't get much work done. I would get restless at night, hours after taking the pills. Insomnia and body pains. Otherwise, for its purpose, I have been able to go through days without depression and seizure episodes. I would just like to address the other side effects."

• Cat...
• November 16, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I have only been on lamotrigine for three weeks now, but it is starting to work for me already. I started at 25 mg for the first two weeks, then increased to 50 mg last week, as directed by my NP. I was misdiagnosed for 13 years with major depression before this. I tried several different antidepressants that did not work in the long run. When I was re-diagnosed by my NP and a clinician at the local mental health institute, I went on an anti-seizure med that also treats bipolar (can't remember which one), but it made me sleep for over 12 hours each night, and I was extremely groggy the next day. So I was put on lamotrigine. So far, the only side effects I have are increased hunger and worsened insomnia (already have insomnia no matter what)."

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

Lamotrigine for Seizure Prevention "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."

• PNW...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2023

Lamotrigine "In August, I hit my lowest low. I had a huge emotional breakdown (out of nowhere) and felt out of control. My emotions were all over the place. After meeting with various doctors about my depression and feeling of helplessness, one suggested we try a mood stabilizer to see how that would help in addition to the Prozac and Adderall I have been on for years. I was surprised how quickly it helped! My crying bouts decreased, and I started to do things I had known I should do but hadn't wanted to do in a long time (brushing my teeth, showering, getting dressed). The only negative side effect was, unlike many, it made it very difficult for me to go to sleep. I just increased my dose from 50 to 100 yesterday and didn't have trouble falling asleep but woke up early, super dizzy (unstable on my feet) and with a headache. I am hopeful that after two weeks at this level, I stabilize and these symptoms subside. It was so nice to not be a pile of emotions with highs and lows - I hope this works out."

• Bob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 26, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I used it for a while, and I can honestly say it mixed badly with one of my regular meds. Now, though, I am off it. The brand name is better for me for antidepressant effects. I can't say I really liked this med, but at a higher dose, perhaps it's better. I would say you have to be on 200 to really give it a go. I got the rash, though, and now I'm on to try other things. Maybe even lithium. I can honestly say I got insomnia from this one, though, too. I kept waking up every couple of hours. Other than that, there was not a lot of positive I can say. I lost a lot of hair. You have to take a high dose to really see, but I did lose a lot of hair, and it was making me feel not good with my other med, so I guess that wasn't great. Again, since the rash spread all over, I decided I wanted to take a med with not such a high risk of SJS."

• JT ...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 27, 2025

For Anxiety "I’ve been putting off writing this review because I’m superstitious, but I must say this medication saved my life. I could not find a medication that worked. I must have tried 6 over a 2-year span. I began to suffer from insomnia, and the last medication before Lamictal made it worse. Eventually, I went into psychosis. I went through a horrific time but was eventually introduced to Lamictal (among others I take at night for sleep). I started at 25 mg, and within a week, I was myself again. I missed me! I’ve gone up slowly, and 3 years later, I’m on 137.5. No more panic attacks, the depression has lifted, and my anxiety is under control. I am finally functioning and thriving. Do not hesitate to try this med! Go up slowly to prevent side effects."

• eur...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 4, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I was (unsurprisingly) diagnosed with BPII around 2 years ago. Family history of 'eccentric behavior' on my mother's side, which we have recently realized is a history of BPII. Like a lot of people, I was a bit hesitant to start taking 'head meds' because of how I was raised, but I now regret not swallowing my pride and starting sooner. I currently take 1x 150 mg lamotrigine and 1x 300 mg bupropion XL per day and have never felt more like myself. Little annoyances bother me less, I'm able to care less about what others think of me, and I'm able to identify why I'm feeling a certain way far more consistently. There was a bit of insomnia in the beginning, but I have now settled into a regular routine and almost never get any side effects (besides maybe mild nausea now and then). One of my biggest concerns with starting a mood stabilizer was that I would feel duller in some vague way. Not only do I still feel mentally sharp, my thinking feels less 'noisy.' Overall, a lightweight and effective med."

• Don...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 24, 2023

Lamotrigine "I have had insomnia, daily migraines, nightmares, and muffled ears. Worst medicine I’ve ever taken, at least for me."

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2012

For Seizure Prevention "I have been on Lamictal for 4 months. The first couple of months I felt good. However, since then I have had confusion, headaches, dry mouth and lips, and insomnia."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "Gave me horrendous headaches, insomnia, and depression. Lack of energy. Also gained weight. Had to come off it after just 8 weeks."