Lamotrigine for Anxiety User Reviews

• Kat...
• June 4, 2020

"I never review meds but I feel like I’m doing a disservice by not sharing. I was prescribed lamotrigine at my lowest point. I was struggling with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and PMDD. I was facing constant intrusive thoughts about death and sadness. I came home from the doctor's after being prescribed and read these reviews and bawled my eyes out. I was so afraid of taking this medication. Yet, I needed something to help ASAP. I have now been taking lamotrigine for 3 months and my anxiety is much lower, my emotions are not out of control before my period, and I have more peace of mind. I don’t have any bad side effects. My biggest recommendation is to start with a low dose (50mg) and after two weeks increase to 100mg. I feel like taking more than this ups your chance of having a bad reaction. We are all different so there is no guarantee. Just know that this website is usually used if you have had a relatively bad experience so take that into consideration."

• Sb1...
• October 25, 2019

"I have struggled with anxiety off and on over the years. I tried SSRIs in the past and those never gave me much relief. I got to a point where I was in a downward spiral of anxiety (crazy thoughts, wild mood swings, uneasy digestive issues, sleep issues, etc.). I decided to give medicine another shot. My doc prescribed me lamotrigine and now I'm on 100mg. I am MUCH more stable. I don’t have the crazy intrusive thoughts as much, and my perspective on life is much more positive. It did not make me dull or cause any other negative side effects. It just gradually allowed me to be myself again and enjoy life. Please do know that medication in general can absolutely help. Do not listen to outsiders who do not understand how you feel. Medication is a personal option that you should feel no judgment about. If it helps you, then that’s all that matters! It may take a while to find the right medication for you, but it is worth it. Never give up. There is something that will help you."

• kan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 10, 2020

"I have taken lamotrigine for years with no side effects. It takes approximately 1.5-2 months for lamotrigine to take full effect. Side effects are typically avoided by starting at very low doses (I started at 25 mg once a day) and slowly increasing the dose over time. Taking higher doses too rapidly or without physician consultation increases risks of side effects, and you shouldn't expect to see full results within a couple days or even a couple weeks. I hope this helps someone feel less anxious about trying out this medication and feel more informed! (I am educated on this topic because I'm an MD student.)"

• joe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 29, 2019

"This made life so much better. I think my doctors prescribed every SSRI and SNRI there is. Each one made me sicker than the last one. A couple of them made me miss weeks of work at a time. I started on such a low dose that it made no difference, I was just happy it didn't make me sick, so I kept taking it. Finally, I went up to a full 25mg, and I will never forget the first time I felt this stuff kick a panic attack's ass! I literally felt it stuff it down and smother it! 6 months later I'm up to 50mg, and on the rare occasion I feel an attack coming on, it is never as severe as it used to be. After doing some reading on this med, it is the last resort for anxiety. If you get sick on antidepressants, stop messing around and demand your doctor prescribe this. I was worried that this was a seizure med and was skeptical, it has exceeded expectations. I doubt there is anything that cures anxiety, but lamotrigine sure works for me."

• Jan...
• March 2, 2021

"I started on lamictal as I have bad mood swings, depression, severe anxiety, and OCD type thoughts. This medication was a lifesaver, I thought. I started at 25mg and noticed very positive changes. My anxiety got better. When I went to 37.5mg, my anxiety stopped, OCD thoughts stopped, and depression stopped. I was so happy I thought I found the medication for me. When I went up to 50 mg, I got a small rash, my anxiety and thoughts spiraled out of control, my depression worsened, and I felt suicidal. Now I am trying to get off the medication. I’m very sad. Has this happened to anyone else?"

• car...
• February 3, 2020

"Lamictal completely changed my life. Before I started it, I'd have bursts of anger due to pent up anxiety over the nit-pickiest things. I thought I was just a jerk and didn't understand why. Quickly after I started taking Lamictal (250mg for anxiety) I noticed a huge difference. I felt relaxed for once. Not euphoric, or like a different person, just... Normal! Calm, collected, but still sharp. Lamictal was like a valve that drained my anger out when I was just about full of rage. I personally haven't noticed many side effects, at least none that I don't already have from SSRIs. Loss of coordination is a big one and I only get tremors if I haven't eaten, but that might just be low blood sugar. In conclusion, being someone who suffers from chronic general anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, I can definitely see Lamictal being an effective long-term medication. Works great for me."

• San...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2019

"I was put on this for severe anxiety 6 weeks ago, and it has given me my life back! I can now go to public places without having a breakdown, and my family has noticed a huge difference. I’m taking better care of myself and have the energy and desire to walk again. The only downfall is you have to titrate up slowly, so you can get discouraged at first thinking it isn’t working. I’m now on 200mg, and it’s been a game-changer. Don’t give up on this medicine as it is a miracle worker. The only side effects I’ve had are a runny nose and headaches when starting it, but I’d take that any day over the crippling anxiety I once had."

• jec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2022

"These reviews really helped me when I started, so I want to help others who are checking this site regularly. I started Lamictal after my Prozac wasn't as effective anymore. I was dealing with no sleep, no appetite, constant fear of impending doom, depersonalization, and horrible mood swings. It was one of the hardest times of my life, and it was right after my wedding which made me feel worse. My NP put me on Lamictal and because of the slow dosage increase, it took a while to feel the effects. I didn't get any major side effects, maybe less of an appetite. I started on Oct 5, and it took 1.5 months to see the positive results. I feel much better now at 100 mg. I also take lithium orotate and weekly therapy. To those reading this looking for comfort, hope this helps and you got this!! ❤️"

• goo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2019

"Have been suffering from anxiety, panic, and bipolar depression for 20+ years. Have been on every cocktail imaginable and was at my best on Klonopin, Remeron, and Zyprexa. Zyprexa caused me to gain 60 lbs over 4 years and made my blood sugar levels crazy. Trying to come off it was really awful. I tapered from 10 mg to 5 mg to 2.5 mg to 1.25 mg over months. After several failed attempts with Latuda, Abilify, and Seroquel, my doctor prescribed Lamictal, and it has completely changed my life. My depression is all but gone, my moods are better, anxiety is lower, and I have been Zyprexa free for 2 months and lost 19 lbs. I am currently at 50 mg, and our goal dosage is 100 mg. It took a few days to kick in, but I'm getting better day by day. Finally getting my life back!"

• Sho...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 15, 2020

"This pill literally changed my life. It took away a lot of social anxiety and a lot of depression. No antidepressants helped me, they all gave me awful side effects. But this pill worked wonders! I take 200mg every night and it's the only medication I take. I used to be on 3 different pills but now this pill alone has worked the best! Truly grateful for this pill!"

• BRU...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 7, 2016

"Lamotrigine is my wonder drug. I was suffering from debilitating anxiety. My doctor tried several antidepressants (Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, Viibryd), and I had no benefits, only side effects. We also tried all kinds of benzodiazepines, and they did nothing for me. Ambien would grant me only 3 hours of sleep. My symptoms would go from clammy hands and feet, heart racing, and high blood pressure to sheer terror. My first day really on Lamotrigine and I already felt the symptoms subside. On the following days, I felt even better. In two weeks, I was feeling like myself again, so much that I was able to jump on a plane and travel to Brazil by myself. If nothing is working for you, give Lamotrigine a try. I am grateful I did."

• Tjn...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 16, 2017

"I have a family history of severe mental illness (schizoaffective and bipolar on mom's side, and severe anxiety/panic attacks on dad's). About 3 years ago I started falling into depression and having severe anxiety attacks. I'm generally a happy and optimistic person, and out of nowhere I'm barely functioning, having some existential crisis, and sitting around at home crying and scared for my husband to leave even to go to the store. On top of that, I started becoming really afraid I would develop psychosis after growing up seeing what my mom dealt with. Decided I wasn't going to put off dealing with it and saw a psychiatrist. Lamotrigine has literally given me my life back without making me feel numb. I still feel like my old, slightly wild self again."

• aus...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 29, 2018

"Lamictal has changed my life for the better. I tried SSRIs (made me a zombie) and Bupropion (gave me daily panic attacks). On 25mg of Lamictal, I'm myself again. I still get anxiety, but the kind that everyone gets (when it makes sense to be). No more panic attacks, it works quickly, and I no longer feel overwhelmed all the time."

• Fib...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 28, 2021

"I suffer from severe fibromyalgia and an undiagnosed mood disorder, crippling waves of anxiety have always been the most prominent of my symptoms relating to my mental health. I've been on 100 mg of lamotrigine for almost two years now, and this drug has been a lifesaver for me. For the couple of years prior to me going on this medicine, my mental health was deteriorating, my depression/anxiety was so bad during certain episodes that I'm lucky I didn't harm myself. I ended up in an emergency room (ER) and was given this drug as an outpatient. Lamotrigine has allowed me to function normally again and regain control of my mental health with minimal side effects."

• Roe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 12, 2018

"As a MH clinician and anxiety sufferer with co-morbid depression, I can assuredly say that if SSRI's failed you, you *need* to try lamotrigine. Buspirone gave me that common 'weird' feeling. And while I don't have bipolar, I got hypomanic symptoms and seriously worsened depression/anxiety with SSRI's (this is widely unknown but a common occurrence). After confirming I have a gene that causes the latter, I spoke with my amazing prescriber about giving this a go. Since then, my world has changed for the better. I'm at a higher dose so I often feel a little lethargic, but I'll take that side-effect over SSRI's many terrible ones any day. Lamotrigine completely changed my world - highly recommended. I really do suggest taking a genetics test as well. You very well could come up with the same result."

• lae...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2019

"I just started taking Lamictal about 2 weeks ago. I have severe anxiety disorder. I was prescribed this medication to help as a mood stabilizer. As far as that goes, it has helped quiet my mind, but I have noticed it gives me anxiety attacks mostly after I eat, and fluttering in my heart when I lay down at night, as well as shaky vision at times. I am supposed to move up to 100 mg this coming week as I started 2 weeks ago on 50 mg. It has helped stabilize my thoughts, but I still have bad anxiety on it, so I am not sure if I will stick with it or not. I hope this helps someone."

• Rai...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 10, 2021

"I have had excellent results with this medication. I have paralyzing anxiety related to PTSD. I have not had any side effects. I know it works because I chose to lower my dosage and at a certain level the anxiety was unbearable and slightly increased the dosing, and I had perfect control over my anxiety again. It works."

• 10s...
• December 17, 2020

"Truly life changing! I started taking lamotrigine when I had intense anxiety and some depression. After around a month, I started feeling more moments of happiness, and now almost two years down the line, I feel like I am living a different life! Not everything is perfect of course, and I still have anxiety, but it is not a crushing feeling of doom. I look forward to things in life again! I would recommend trying it to anyone who has tried multiple medications and hasn’t found something that helped. Just be careful starting it and make sure to watch out for the rash! Odds are you will be totally fine, I had zero side effects."

• Dst...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2016

"I have Bipolar 1 along with some horrible, horrible anxiety. Started taking Lamictal a few months ago and I'm now on 200mg. I haven't felt this stable in many, many, many years. My anxiety has pretty much disappeared, it feels so strange living a normal life again. I'm so happy. Please give it a go :-)"

• Mel...
• May 4, 2020

"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."

• San...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 14, 2024

"Lamotrigine has helped me a lot with my anxiety. I have generalized anxiety disorder. I have been taking Venlafaxine for a long time, but it has not helped me completely. My doctor added Lamotrigine 200 mg to me. I am completely free of anxiety again."

• Aud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2019

"I’ve been taking lamotrigine for about 3 months now for my anxiety, and it’s been pretty good. My social anxiety is completely gone, and it’s truly life-changing. Sometimes I’ll feel more empty than I did before I started taking it. Overall, it’s very balancing and helps me feel more relaxed."

• due...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2017

"Let me start by saying that I have been dealing with anxiety and depression for about 5 years. My first years were terrible. I was always anxious, sad, fearful, and I developed cold intolerance among many symptoms. I had many trips to the ER, stress tests, and MRIs, blood work, and nothing but low vitamin D and hypertension. Anyway, I tried most of the SSRI meds but had terrible side effects. I moved to natural supplements but nothing seemed to work. My mental health doctor recommended Lamotrigine, she said that this med was a mood stabilizer and might help with my anxiety. Well, so far, it's working great. It's like my anxiety switch in my brain was turned off. I take 25mg a day in the morning and dare I say that I'm looking forward to the future again?"

• Roo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2015

"No side effects. I've been suffering from depression and anxiety since I was a teenager. It has helped so much. I am so thankful for this medicine, it saved my life. I would suffer for days with no sleep. Anxiety is a killer. I am glad this med is on the market. I would have committed suicide because of the anxiety. I give many thanks to my doctor for finding something that helped. I can live my life finally."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2018

"The only thing I've tried that's helped my anxiety and not had debilitating side effects. You have to slowly ramp up the dose to avoid the potential rash. 25mg, then 50mg, then 100mg, etc. It's also a bit stimulating for a few days whenever you increase the dose, and this can manifest in anxiety if you're not moving around. But I can say that this drug is great - it helps all of my co-morbid symptoms to some degree - anxiety, bipolar, mood, etc. I'm now on 300mg extended-release and feeling a lot better than I did before I started this. It brought my anxiety from an 8 down to a 5, I'd say, which still isn't great but I'm actually functional now. Been taking about four months."