How long does Lamictal take to work, I'm increasing my dose and not feeling any effects?

I’m not really going to answer the question as my doctor just prescribed Lamictal today. I’m feeling hopeless and tired and just don’t want to go on anymore. It takes everything in me just to get out of bed in the morning. Everything I enjoyed is a struggle. I’m only still alive because of my husband and kids. I’m anxious to get started on Lamictal. It will be taken with Lithium and Viibryd. Plus I take vitamins as well. I just want to feel better and know that I’m not alone in this fight! Depression and bipolar are lonely issues.

I have been on Lamictal for a week now, first few days I was like "whatever" and thought it was great, then yesterday just felt nothing. Does this change?? I know I just started it, but I have been on everything under the sun and my psych said since nothing else has helped she would add this. It is hard for me to be on stuff like Wellbutrin because it makes my neck dystonia (spasms) worse. I have been on Cymbalta for 10 years now and seems to have lost its effectiveness, though it does help my neck pain. OMG i just want to be happy and "feel" something! my psych does not think i have bipolar, but said that Lamictal is a mood stabilizer. thanks for any input!

I agree with the others. I take 100 mg twice a day (the time released is better but my insurance doesn't cover it, so splitting the dose works). When I upped to twice a day it was a while when all of a sudden I realized I was feeling "normal"/great! However, I have issues with mania more than depression. It's a great drug with few side effects so be patient and I hope it works for you! In the meantime, I found an amazing meditation app that is 5-10 minutes every day that I am absolutely loving. I don't know if you can mention names here but it is called Balance. You can use it for free unless you want more than the free version. Hope this helps.

Those are very beginning dosages. Doctors typically start any new patient on Lamictal, at a low dose, increasing it by 25 to 50mg every couple of weeks gradually, to prevent a bad rash that can be a common side-effect to the medicine. I was around 150mg before I started to feel it and had to tweak to 300mg, for my perfect dose. I also know people at much higher doses ranging up to 700mg daily. In other words, don’t feel bad - you’re still at a very low dose and I don’t know anyone who takes it less than at least 100mg.

Here is a link with more detailed info. below. Good luck.

https://www.drugs.com/dosage/lamotrigine.html

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I have been on lamictal for about 4 weeks now. Started at 25mg and every 2 weeks increasing my dosage at 50%. I have experienced deep depression while taking this medication as well that I feel like I’m going crazy and it’s never going to work. The mania has been pretty much nonexistent and rarely I’ll be in a good or decent mood. In a week, I’ll be going up to 200mg and I’m praying it’ll start working finally.

I felt better after day 1.

I just started today on 25 mg Lamictal titrating up 25 mg every 2 weeks for treatment resistant unipolar depression. Yes it is indeed inspiring to read all your stories - not only the success ones but the other ones too because it helps you feel like you're not alone in your struggles. People who don't struggle with mental health issues have zero idea how good they have it, don't they?

It's really great that I'm reading this because I have just started taking Lamictal after being pulled off of lithium for messing up my thyroid coming off of lithium and starting the Lamictal ihave hit a very deep depression trying to avoid psych at all cost so I'm very inspired by the responses here I am sure hoping it works on me and I'm hoping it's the miracle drug that I need so as a 46 year old woman. With bipolar 1 rapid cycle mixed episodes , I can get my life back!

I am so tired of all the pills. I tried these and they did not work for me, I've tried everything. I had a traumatic brain injury 5 and a half yrs ago... and now have Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures and I feel lost now that I have anxiety this bad all the time. I stay in my apt to myself all the time. I've lost pretty much everyone due to the fact I just can't pull myself together and I used to be that guy... you know the one who helped with every event, was there for everyone, impacted the community... now I'm a mess who sits at home and cries/depressed but plans on how he'll #ChangeTheeWorld. Any suggestions?

I started on lamictal 100 mg. 6 months ago. Within a couple of weeks I could see a positive response. After 2 months it was raised to 150mg. Seems to be working well. Could it be that your Dr has just started you on too low a dose for it to be effective? Good thoughts your way.

I noticed very minor effect after a week of 25 mg Lamictal. I had a huge difference at 50 mg Lamictal. I titrated up to 200 mg and it works perfect. I have bipolar 2 and also take 1200 mg lithium. I think being on a large dose of a second mood stabilizer helped the lamictal work faster. I feel completely normal and have not had any mood episodes in a year. I love it, but I did fear the rash which I never got. I know this is an old post, but want more people who have been on it awhile to post.

Hi, I started on lamotrigine today. Diagnosed bipolar ll. Have had racing thoughts for years and years, PTSD in the past. Sadness, fear and anxiety that leaves vacuum in me which causes more racing thoughts, fast cycling between different states, and eventually had to be addressed. Am proud of myself for taking this step toward correcting my mood imbalances. I was worried about the possibility of a rash side-effect, stalled taking treatment even after psychiatrist had written to my GP and me with recommendation of the right treatment for me. Today I have started taking lamotrigine (Lamictal), and trust it will work. My psychiatrist is certain it will work for my particular issues, and I look forward patiently to positive changes.