Has anybody had good results with Lamictal against anxiety attacks?
Question posted by Anonymous on 29 Feb 2012
Last updated on 8 April 2021
Hi, I have bipolar and suffer with horrendous anxiety attacks... My psychiatrist recently prescribed Lamictal for my Bipolar but said it has helped many people with anxiety. One reason being that the neurotransmitters that trigger the anxiety can be treated similarly to the ones that trigger epileptic fits... (Lamictal being an anti epileptic) The other reason she says the Lamictal can help is by improving general mood which can relieve anxiety as well... Similar to some anti-Depressants...
My question is this : Has anybody had success against anxiety with Lamictal? I don't mean with numerous benzo's as well... ( However I do take Diazepam for my anxiety but my dosage is increasing as my attacks seem to overpower the effectiveness of the Diazepam) If Lamictal has helped with really bad anxiety attacks or reduced their severity or helped reduced your Benzo intake, I'd love to hear some positive feedback...
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19 Answers Page 2
QU
Quinnie
10 July 2013
Lamictal has helped to give me back my life!! I suffered with anxiety for years then moved to NYC and my anxiety swelled to agoraphobia.
I tried a myriad of drugs with varying results. Paxil helped but only for awhile. Depakote helped moderately at hi doses with side effects. Ativan helps but is a quick fix. Lamictal has all but cured my anxiety!
I used to get panic attacks going to the corner store, riding the subway, sitting in a crowded theatre. Now I take 2 lamictal before bed and live my life without panic :)
Votes: +5
IN
Inactive
11 July 2013
Thanks Quinnie.. I was put on Lamictal and Seroquel at the same time... I didn't agree with this as I wanted to see which one if any, was working... I decided to start the Lamictal at my own discretion for about 4 weeks... I was told to increase up to 250mg which I did... I felt an "Activating" effect but was still getting horrendous anxiety attacks... I then started on the Seroquel and worked my way up to 200mg XR at night... Since then I was able to drop my Diazapam dose from 8x5mg (40mg) per day down to 10mg/day... I realize the lamictal may have been helping a bit but I didn't get relief from the anxiety until I started on the Seroquel... I decided to wean myself off the Lamictal, mainly because I was on about 20 tablets (I mean in total a day at one stage) ... I have dropped from 250mg Lamictal gradually down to 50mg with no problems... anxiety hasn't increased and My total daily tablet intake has dropped from 20 down to 10...
I have been on Avanza (Mirtazapine) for 3 years and have been telling my Doc that they haven't helped with my depression or anxiety... They just send me to sleep when I take them... I have since requested to try "Prozac" or Lovan as it's known here in Australia... Weaned myself off the Mirtazapine and am waking much earlier without the "Hangover" feeling... As we in the "Bipolar" and Depression" circles all know, anxiety can be minimized with a good anti-depressant as well... I'm on the lowest dosage of Prozac and my mood is much much better... I'm out doing things now rather than laying around with no energy or "Drive".. Dropping from 20 tabs a day down to 10 has made me less depressed... Knowing I'm on the lowest dose of Prozac/Lovan and quite a low dose of Seroquel XR gives me comfort that I can increase either of them if I need to... I actually asked my Pdoc to give me the Seroquel... Reasons being that they have anti anxiolic properties and being an anti-psychotic, they would help with the almost psychotic and fearful thoughts that came with massive anxiety attacks... So far I'm doing quite well... I still have my lithium which I'll have to be on for the rest of my life but dropping certain meds and feeling better has definitely improved my mood... I want to thank you all for your feedback and I hope with my story you may find something that helps yourself... Thanks again, Brett
QU
Quinnie
11 July 2013
Glad to hear your anxiety has improved - it's truly fascinating how debilitating our own thoughts can be!!!
Just wanted to provide some more insight FYI. Before I was on the lamictal, a previous doc prescribed seroquel to be taken in conjunction with the depakote. I'm glad the seroquel is working for you b/c it had disastrous effects on me. I gained 30 lbs in a month and became suicidally depressed. Seeing this I forced the doc to wean me off the seroquel. I changed docs weaned off the depakote and started my current regiment of adderall (2)20mg and lamictal (2)25mg.
I went from taking 10 pills to 4 pills a day. I know how taking a lot of pills can be depressing - making you feel like a deviant or defunct. Remember everyone's different, and we all medicate ourselves in different ways: be it medicine, acupuncture, meditation, diet. As long as your treatment is leading you on the path to good health and wellness, that's the most important part! Good luck with everything!
FL
Flora40
20 Aug 2016
What mg was you on? I'm on 25mg twice a day and still having panic attacks
KA
KaleighBart
21 Sep 2016
I also was put on seroquel and Lamictal at the same time, when I was taking them right I felt great but the seroquel dose in the morning has always made me super groggy, so I stopped taking them. Talked to my doc and she told me to take the Lamical in the am and not seroquel so now im in the process of both getting back on my Lamictal and off the seroquel
I have been taking Lamictal XR for bi polar disease for a year. I did not think that my anxiety level had dropped in that years time. I recently dropped to the generic and dropped the MG. My anxiety level has sky rocketed. I'm assuming it is the Lamictal that has kept me less stressed.
Votes: +0
RO
Rodger OConnor
3 Sep 2012
I think it has helped me. I was on Klonopin for many years, the doc took me off of it 6 months ago. I think the Lamictal has helped. I have been on Lamictal for many years. I am thankful to have a decent mood stabilizer
Votes: +1
IN
Inactive
3 Sep 2012
Hi, thanks Rodger... so you were put on Lamictal as a mood stabiliser or for anxiety? Or both? I currently take Lithium as a mood stabiliser for my bipolar, it has been very effective with no side effects... I was put on lamictal firstly to stop the triggering of my anxiety attacks, (Panic attacks can be triggered by the same neurotransmitters as epileptic seizures) Secondly she said it will act as a mood stabiliser and also a slight "Upper" effect similar to some anti-deps... In saying all this, I saw you mentioned you're thankful to have a good mood stabiliser but in regards to my question, did it help with anxiety?
Cheers, Brett
RO
Rodger OConnor
8 Sep 2012
mark,
I am sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I am not quite sure how this system works. Anyway, I was in a constant sate of panic before I was given Lamictal. Even though I was on Klonopin for 30 years, when I was taken off it cold told turkey, I think the Lamictal and zyprexa helped.. Be well. Rodger
IN
Inactive
9 Sep 2012
Thanks Rodger... I would have liked to drop one of these meds which was my main reason for posting... My anxiety became less severe with the Lamictal as far as the severity of the attacks but the anxiety was still there lingering all the time.. After tapering up to 150mg Seroquel XR at night and another 25mg instant release at 5pm the following day, my anxiety is almost non-existant.. Thanks heaps for both of your feedback and I wish you both all the best in the future..
I was put on lamictal, and it was the best med I have ever been on, which is very many, I ended up with a small rash so now I'm refused to be put on it again, I regret not ignoring the rash to see if it was something else, I have been put on a lot since, with not so much luck, lamictal was what I needed and now can't have. So just to let you know my experience, give it a chance, if you react the way I did it will work wonders. My doc has me on seroquel xr I stopped it 5 days ago now, couldn't handle what it did to my mind, but can say I didn't need to take any of my 6 mg of Xanax while on it for anxiety, seroquel take away all anxiety , down side in my experience, it also took away everything else normal in my mind. Good luck. Wish you well.
Votes: +3
IN
Inactive
1 March 2012
Thanks for your feedback, Yes apparently a small percentage of people on Lamictal can get this rash... sometimes it just goes away after a week or so, others can get it really bad... So did the Lamictal help with your anxiety? It is known to give people an activating affect which my Pdoc says won't cause my anxiety to worsen... As for the seroquel, I was prescribed it for anxiety and started taking 25mg with a valium but was still having anxiety... I started to wonder if the seroquel was giving me anxiety because it certainly wasn't helping even though I'd read so may great reviews on it's effectiveness on anxiety...
My PDoc said that 25mg is a miniscule amount (Wasn't even making me drowsy) I was told to increase to 3 x 25mg/day even 4 x 25mg, but I've just started on the Lamictal (I am up to 75mg and working up to 100mg) so I want to know which one is working rather than increasing them both at the same time and not knowing which is working for me... Hope that makes sense... I started the seroquel primarly for anxiety but I too have the mixed thoughts... I plan on increasing it (Seroquel) after I have been on 100mg of Lamictal for a few weeks... That way I will know how effective the Lamictal has been and will also know if the seroquel is working for sure... Can I just ask again, did you feel the activating affect from Lamictal and did you have any relief from anxiety whilst taking it.?
Cheers
BR
breann71
9 Aug 2016
It is a miracle drug for my anxiety. Even through the most stressful times I have not been anxious. If your doctor won't give it to you again, go to another psychiatrist and don't tell him about the rash. It is worth it.
PE
Pelle
26 June 2017
I have been on Lamictal for four weeks for my General Anxiety Disorder. I feel terrible !!! My doctor said it will take time before it works. What is your experiences? Did you also feel bad in the beginning? If so, for how long?
I would appreciate answers. (Excuse my English, I am Swedish.)
PE
Pelle
26 June 2017
I have been on Lamictal for four weeks for my General Anxiety Disorder. I feel terrible !!! My doctor said it will take time before it works. What is your experiences? Did you also feel bad in the beginning? If so, for how long?
I would appreciate answers. (Excuse my English, I am Swedish.)
SU
suehk
8 Nov 2017
I had severe panic attacks in my teens. While, through my 20's -40's, I was symptom free. Several years ago, I began having panic attacks (full blown all out sweating, hyperventilating, unable to walk and even just falling over on the ground). My primary doc put me on buspirone, but it made me incredibly dizzy, sweaty, and I would fall asleep at the drop of a hat. He then had me on a short term dose of a beta blocker, which worked miracles. When my panic attacks returned about a month or so ago, I was unable to see my regular doc, but his nurse practitioner. She was leery of putting me back on a beta blocker due to my severe asthma, but put me on lamictal instead. Yes, this med needs to be increased to a therapeutic level over several weeks, but once I hit 100mg, it was like I had a new life. I could walk across the parking lot at my work without having a major panic attack, I could go to the mailbox, the grocery store etc.
I had no side effects and yes it does take time to work, but it has been great since I got to 100 mg. It does take time to work, which in the moment seems like forever, but it has been great since I hit a therapeutic level.
