Lamotrigine and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• hop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2014

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Started this medicine slowly, 25 mg a day for two weeks, then went up to 50 mg for 2 weeks. Still did not feel much better, went up to 100 mg a day for 4 days, feeling lethargic. The fifth day on it, started feeling a little better. But, I started getting itchy all over and developed a very small rash on my side near my butt. My doc told me to stop it, cut the dose in half last night, and then stop. He put me on Tegretol today, taking my first dose at dinner."

• 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."

• Bea...
• June 5, 2017

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "I have bipolar 1 disorder. I am on Abilify (currently getting off) and Lamictal. Lamictal has helped me level a lot. Been a good medicine for me, the only side effect I noticed is I started yawning a lot after taking it."

• 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 :-("

• pav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2018

For Depression "I have been on fluoxetine, escitalopram, venlafaxine, bupropion, for 2 years and never thought I was in such severe depression, although I had brain fog, decreased concentration, lethargy, inability to get up from my bed, inability to take a shower or go to classes (for your info, I am an MBBS student), which was all due to my depression. None of the drugs have worked so far. Then my psychiatrist suggested bupropion 150 mg, lamotrigine 100 mg, and risperidone 1 mg. I felt better than before. I am able to concentrate on my studies, although not as good as I was in the first year of medicine. Right now, I am in my final year. So Lamictal has worked well so far, but I hope to increase my dose to 150 mg and expect positive effects in a few days so that I can do well in my exams."

• 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."

• Emm...
• August 28, 2021

For Depression "I don't usually rate medications, but I just went off lamotrigine because I thought it was making me tired, and 1) going off it didn't make me less tired, and 2) I almost committed suicide. I think this medication is genuinely keeping me alive and out of depression right now. Highly recommend."

• rc1...
• February 5, 2018

For Anxiety "Had high hopes for this one, but again it just didn't work for me. I honestly don't know what will work because I have been on a few meds for anxiety and nothing helps. So the only thing I use is lorazepam and it just makes me yawn. I just started gabapentin so will see how it does."

• Pau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2022

Lamotrigine for Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal has helped my mood, but I’ve got bright red rings and bumps around my ankles and halfway up my legs with swelling, but I don’t believe it’s Stevens-Johnson as I don’t have a rash anywhere else. This drug is making me so exhausted that I sleep well all night, but I have to take a nap between 2-4 hours a day. I get nothing else done as I sleep so much. I’ve been on 50 mg for six weeks. I’m calling my doctor tomorrow."

• lil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2024

For Bipolar Disorder "This medication was worth it for me. Took quite a bit of time slowly upping dosages and waiting (started mid-spring semester at college and really kicked in and stabilized by May. Now on 150 mg once a day). There were a few times it worked-ish, but once it really stuck with me, it was great. Only side effects were being very tired and having very deep sleep with vivid dreams and sleep paralysis, but this ended after about a week or 2 max. My mood is significantly more stable and generally positive most of the time. If I miss a dose or 2 too frequently, I typically have hypomanic episodes, depressive swings, and anxiety. Took a few days to fully stabilize again, but afterwards, I was feeling back to normal. I highly suggest it for BPD/bipolar."

• Kyl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 10, 2020

For Epilepsy "This is the second drug I have taken for my epilepsy, after switching from Keppra for side effects. Lamotrigine has worked well for me, reducing my simple partial seizure activity down to once or twice a month (from 2-3 times a day). The only side effect I have had is making me tired, specifically while increasing my dosage (something that must be done very slowly), though even while on a steady dosage for a while, I still felt it a bit. However, discussing this with my doctor, I discovered this comes in an extended-release form, and unless I'm increasing the dose, I no longer have any issues of feeling tired from this. I am currently taking 450 mg a day. Be forewarned, I recently had to change healthcare coverage, and my new insurance company will not cover the ER form and wanted me to go back onto the multiple times a day form."

• Van...
• November 30, 2022

For Borderline Personality Disorder "An absolutely life-saving drug. I felt far more regulated very quickly and experienced minimal side effects. The only noticeable side effect is tiredness, but taking it in the afternoon/early evening makes it far more bearable. I wouldn’t have progressed this far in my mental health journey without it. Be careful with missing doses and titration, I’ve heard it can be quite dangerous if not done in consultation with your doctor."

• Ell...
• December 13, 2020

For Borderline Personality Disorder "I am diagnosed with BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder), depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I am also on Wellbutrin (after failed attempts with Prozac and Lexapro), Buspar, and Seroquel. I was started on lamotrigine 25 mg and was gradually increasing. One week into being on 50 mg, I developed a rash in the back of the roof of my mouth and a very sore throat. After freaking out, I found out this could have been from Lamictal? I stopped the Lamictal, and within two days, my throat was totally cleared up, however, it was still a bit sore. Throughout my time on Lamictal, I have felt increasingly worse. My body hurts and is tired, I feel flat and emotionless, and I am in a weird and constant state of pain. I get exhausted just taking a shower. Lamictal has increased my anxiety, I have episodes where I can’t breathe, my heart is pounding, and I feel like it is the end (like a panic attack but more intense). These episodes happen frequently, almost every day. They are getting worse and more frequent."

• Bea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I’ve been on lamotrigine for a little over a month now, and the results are astounding. My anger and mood swings have practically disappeared. I’m able to control my emotions and think things through rationally. My memory also seems to have improved a bit. The only downside is I am a little more tired throughout the day, but nothing that I can’t brush off. Finally, getting my life back on track."

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2017

For Epilepsy "This drug does work, but some of the effects that come along with it suck. I take this drug along with two others, Keppra and Trileptal, three times a day. Most of the time, I feel tired and would like to sleep. Also, my long-term memory is affected, and my eyes are photosensitive because the bright sun causes them to give me blurred vision. I guess that I will have to take the bad with the good. Although it has decreased the amount of seizures that I have had, the side effects that come along with it suck. I am 50 and wish that I did not have to take any types of these meds, because the side effects that go along with them are not pleasant."

• bdi...
• November 30, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm 31 and have been on this medication (off and on) for 6 years now. Before that, everything I took made it worse or made me a zombie. I was only off it while I was pregnant and for about a year after. I had forgotten, when I got back on it (this and Prozac is my combo), how much better I feel. I'm not losing my temper every time someone is annoying, not crying constantly (my spending habits are still ... horrible ... but it's almost time to increase my dose lol). I feel in control of my emotions, and I'm not feeling everything so deeply. I take them before bed because they make me extremely tired and give me blurred vision and a headache if I take them and stay up. Also, I really like the vividness of my dreams when I take them just before sleep. I have a lot of nightmares (not from the meds, I've always had lots of really bad nightmares), but honestly, I don't mind it that much. I like being able to remember my dreams so clearly."

• LSK...
• May 6, 2023

For Depression "I’m taking this for anxiety/depression with extreme irritability. It’s been almost 3 months. It’s making me so tired, so of course, I’m not feeling the other negative feelings I had. It puts me in a deep sleep. I can legit sleep the whole day or two. That being said, it has stopped intrusive thoughts from causing me insomnia."

• Har...
• October 22, 2016

For Depression "I am being treated for clinical depression. My anxiety was getting bad. I could not sleep but was always tired. So my doctor prescribed me this in a low dose. I knew there would be side effects. But these made me feel terrible, I had absolutely no energy at all. Still had problems falling asleep, and when I slept, it was even harder to get up, I can't even hear the alarm clock go off. When I got up, I would have absolutely no energy at all for the entire day till night. I took them for 2 1/2 weeks and stopped. After a few days, I felt better. I go back to the doctor, and he gives me a higher dose?? I took half of a pill and felt like a zombie again for 3 days straight. I called my doctor, but he isn't in till next week. Don't know why he told me to keep taking them."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2018

For Schizoaffective Disorder "My doctor has me on a half tablet of lamotrigine in the morning and half at night (100 mg a day) and Abilify in the morning. The Abilify makes me so tired I can't function and take care of my kid. What other medications can I take with the lamotrigine? I need to be able to stay awake with my kid."

• Hor...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 8, 2017

For Epilepsy "I've been on this for 5 years, and when I started taking it, I had no mental health issues, not even a drop of depression. Now I have bipolar depressive disorder and severe anxiety disorder with chronic tics. The doctors now have me taking 700 mg a day, and because it makes me so forgetful, I have forgotten that I took my dose, so I ended up having two accidental drug overdoses. I have become extremely tired all the time. I wasn't told that this medication was bad for pregnancy, so I have also lost 2 babies because of this horrible pill. To top it all off, I still will have a random seizure, but just not as often."

• ZZZ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2022

For Seizure Prevention "I suffer from nocturnal seizures and was only having 1-2 a year prior to meds. Since I've been on Lamictal, I haven't had seizures (taking it 2x/day), but man... I'm struggling with the myriad of side effects. I'm only 30, and ever since I introduced prescription meds into my life, I have SO many 'health' problems. Other than my seizures, I had zero physical problems prior to being on meds. Now I have insomnia, my vision is blurry, muscle spasms/vertigo in the mornings, my coordination sucks, I'm always lethargic, and I get tongue-tied and slur all the time. I also got a severe rash on my face and neck the first week I was on Lamictal. But the worst part? I can't remember ANYTHING, can't concentrate, and I'm zoned out all the time. The cognitive impact is negatively impacting me at work and is causing frustration within my relationships. It feels like I just can't win with anticonvulsants. Is all of this really worth it? I don't know anymore..."

• asd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2023

For Cyclothymic Disorder "Would not take it again. I took it to combat what is supposedly 'cyclothymic disorder,' although as we know, self-reported conditions are a soft science at best. But certainly, my moods were unpredictable and got in the way of my success big time. Effects were subtly noticeable on day 3 or 4 at the 25 mg level. Made my lows not as low and highs not as high, but more worryingly, it reduced motivation, energy, and purpose, giving me a flat 'what's the point' feeling and caused narcolepsy and also light-headedness when standing, almost like I was going to faint. The dip in motivation made me stop it, and the withdrawal effects included a new empty kind of depression I hadn't experienced before, different from the dopamine drop of quitting Adderall, say, as well as just being exhausted and anhedonic. All the rave reviews are kinda suspect to me, and one of the things that made me take this drug was all the rave reviews I saw on here. I now see that there were some less-than-stellar reviews."

• mic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 4, 2023

For Depression "I added 50 mg of this on top of 150 mg of Sertraline and a low/medium dose of Bupropion for irritability and some emotional outbursts. I was so certain that it helped enough that I wanted to stay on it while the other two meds mentioned seemed to lose effectiveness and I was trying other SSRIs. Two to three years later and the prescriber wanted to up Lamotrigine alone to 150-200 mg. Three weeks now titrating up and as much as I want to stick with it and give it six weeks, can't do. This has been a bad choice for me. I feel sore and weak, exhausted after six hours of work, and need an early evening nap every day, which is hard to rouse from. Generally unwell. Lastly, just nothing that would indicate my mood or anxiety is improving. My advice is just to be sure to be clear and precise with your symptoms with the doctor before trying this. This three-week titration was also while taking 200-400 mg daily of Gabapentin for pain, and could very well be having an interaction as I think Gabapentin and Lamotrigine work similarly."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "It is making me feel like a zombie and completely exhausted. I slept 16 hours last night and am still tired, like I didn't get any sleep. I am on week 3 of the orange starter pack and am also crying a lot more than I used to as well. This medication is not for everyone. I called my psychiatrist and can't wait until she tells me how to wean off this medication and stop it for good."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "It is making me feel like a zombie and completely exhausted. I slept 16 hours last night and am still tired, like I didn't get any sleep. I am on week 3 of the orange starter pack and am also crying a lot more than I used to as well. This medication is not for everyone. I called my psychiatrist and can't wait until she tells me how to wean off this medication and stop it for good."