Lamotrigine for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 2)

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2020

"I struggle with major anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, PTSD. And I have been put on a few different drugs. I panic every time I change meds because Prozac, I had a very bad reaction too. I have been on Lamictal for a few months just recently upped my dose to 100mg. I go slow about upping dose because of panic. It seems so far doing me very well. I don't notice a sudden change. I just notice over time I am stabilizing. I do take Ativan frequently for my panic. But my intrusive thoughts are not constant anymore."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2016

"I've had a seizure disorder for 10 years but hadn't had a tonic-clonic in about 6 years, so I've been off Lamictal for a year. I have GAD, PTSD & minor depression - but the massive anxiety nearly killed me. I had become borderline agoraphobic, could not slow my heart down, lost 90 lbs in 2 years. I really thought I was dying & actually reached the point of being okay with death as long as the anxiety stopped. I've been on benzos for years but need to get off. I was admitted to the hospital for chest pains and mid Ativan push, had a tonic-clonic seizure. Enter Lamictal. Today is day one. My heart rate is normal. The bald eagles/vultures in my stomach (not butterflies) are gone. I feel more relaxed than I can ever remember. Fearless. Thank God."

• ABa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 27, 2017

"I've had debilitating anxiety and depression most of my life, and going into perimenopause made it a thousand times worse. I was on Seroquel and Lexapro, but my mood swings, depression, extreme fear, panic attacks, and anxiety were still absolutely paralyzing. I also developed intrusive thoughts. My doctor started me on Buspar, Bio-Identical Hormone therapy, and Lamictal. It changed my life. I have had no serious side effects other than mild memory impairment at first. I control the Lamictal rash on my face with 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Cream and Hydrocortisone cream. Prayer, faith in God, and coping mechanisms have also helped me tremendously. My mind is clear, and I feel normal. Give it a shot!"

• Vol...
• June 1, 2017

"I have had anxiety and bouts of depression my whole life. I've tried ADHD meds, anxiety and SSRIs, and have self-medicated too for years. My wife, a therapist, has been telling me I have bipolar 2 for years. Well, recently I've been having anxiety and near panic attacks every day. So I started taking lamotrigine 2x25 a day and after 3 days my panic went away, and my racing thoughts and depression too. I never thought a drug could work this well, but it's been amazing. I really can't believe it."

• 64t...
• November 7, 2022

"Amazing improvement in anxiety after years of trying other meds. I have been through a pharmacopeia of meds to learn that I have been treating the symptoms rather than the source of my problems. I can only share with everyone my issues, and maybe this will help someone, but I am no doctor. I have had anxiety issues for years and have been managing with benzos until the doctors decided benzos were bad and forced everybody off of them, regardless of the devastating withdrawal and the return of anxiety. I suspected a malfunction of my HPA axis. What had been eluding me and my doctor was the presence of too much glutamate. I learned that glutamate is the most prevalent excitatory neurotransmitter in our bodies. I also learned that this excessive glutamate was causing excitotoxicity, effectively destroying the neurons, causing not only anxiety but a host of other issues along with it. The lamotrigine inhibited the release of glutamate, which alleviated the debilitating anxiety I had for years."

• Eda...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 28, 2018

"Bipolar II: Lamictal has given me a balanced and more meaningful life. My past was not so good before Lamictal. It partly contributed to my relationship breakdown. My moods and anxiety traveled with me for years. I have been on 225 mg Lamictal for about 5 years now with no noticeable side effects, and I think with clarity and I seem to have much more energy. I cannot jump into a long-term relationship at the moment as I am caring for myself and trying to cope with work and my well-being, but there have been big strides forward - my experience with Lamictal has been very positive - thank you."

• Ans...
• March 3, 2017

"I suffered for 39 years of chronic anxiety. I've taken many meds (SSRIs, benzos), CBT, meditation, etc. They helped to a certain extent but the crippling anxiety was always there, waiting for me every morning. Anxiety affected everything in my life: the job I did, the women I dated, the manner I interacted with others, and many other aspects of my life. Then I tried lamotrigine and once I reached 100 mg, I felt normal for the first time in my life. This is a miracle drug. I'm currently taking 300 mg. I had a rash when I was on 100 mg. Many people overreact and stop taking it, thinking their skin is going to fall off. I just went back to 75 mg for a few more weeks and slowly increased the dose without any issues. 99.9% of the rash is innocuous."

• Wal...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 28, 2019

"I love Lamictal. I have anxiety, depression, and epilepsy. I can’t take SSRIs because they are too activating for me. Lamictal helps so much with my anxiety, depression, and racy thoughts. Lamictal is not that activating, however, it keeps me up at night, so I started taking it in the morning. I take it along with a low dose of Topamax, and they both help with my mood too."

• mmo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 22, 2023

"As someone diagnosed with OCD, PTSD, ASD, and ADHD, I cannot explain how bad my anxiety was or how I could NEVER relax. Well, I stopped taking benzos 3-4 months ago (over the years, I found they were making it worse) and started Lamotrigine about 8 weeks ago. I cannot explain what an incredible difference it has made. I feel like for years the swirling thoughts and feelings had me gagged, and all the world saw was a mask, and that the person behind the mask is finally able to speak. I can RELAX, watch TV at night, and drift off to sleep. I still feel ALL of my emotions and don't have any weird sensations or sexual side effects like SSRIs (it's actually BETTER now). I feel like I've lost NOTHING except the excess intrusive thoughts and spiraling emotions. My mind has slowed down, but I don't feel dumb. Actually, I feel wittier and clever again since I'm able to be myself. If nothing else has ever really worked for you, it's worth trying, even for off-label things."

• Tex...
• September 6, 2019

"I am on my third month of the med using for anxiety. I was on 25 mg and just went to 50 mg this past week. It has helped with my anxiety. I am now able to go out places and not freak out. I rather stayed home before, but I can do more now without the anxiety. I also use Latuda for bipolar and Ambien at night. Since starting this, it has truly helped me all around. I have lost some weight and had a bad acne breakout, dizziness, and memory loss, but I’m going to continue it to see what happens. Thanks."

• vis...
• April 15, 2015

"I have been on a small dose of this for about a month. It has done wonders for me! I have struggled with anxiety my entire life and have been on several different meds over the years. This has really helped to calm me down. I have even lost about 7 lbs over the past month because it is curbing my desire for food. Everyone notices the difference."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2023

"This drug has pretty much changed my life. I've had an anxiety and panic disorder since I was a child, and recently I had panic attacks most of the day. I felt hopeless as Venlafaxine wasn't helping. My panic and anxiety pretty much vanished after the 3rd dose. I feel like myself again, which I didn't think was possible."

• btm...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 23, 2018

"I have been taking 100 mg lamotrigine twice daily for several months now and feel really good on it. The only reason I gave it a 9 out of 10 is because I still struggle with mood issues with PMS. I first started to titrate 25 mg 2xd and bumped up to 50 mg 2xd. I felt like I was getting too anxious and dropped back to 25 mg 2xd. After my anxiety was under control, I began to titrate back up and things went really well. I actually think I was getting more anxious before because I was so used to feeling anxious, and not feeling anxious was so foreign to me. Anyway, I'm glad I tried it and I'm glad I'm on it!"

• fir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2022

"I never leave reviews for meds, but this has literally been life-changing! I've been in a dark hole for over 2 years that no SSRI/SNRI and other meds could help. Since starting lamotrigine, I've had no panic attacks, and my anxiety for the first time ever has decreased significantly. I'm so relaxed, and my anxiety finally isn't controlling my life. I was having panic attacks up to 3x daily some days and was in the hospital multiple times. I was so afraid to start this med after so many failed attempts with other medications."

• Jen...
• July 15, 2017

"I never knew I would ever be able to feel normal again, whatever normal is. Anyway, I too have struggled with anxiety and depression/PTSD for over 20 years. I began taking Lamotrigine a couple of months ago, and literally within a couple of days, I noticed that big ball of anxiousness I used to feel in my chest was gone. I started with 0.25 mg and now I'm at 200 mg and am feeling way better. The downside, if you want to call it that, is that I am starting to have feelings again. I cry at almost everything, but it's appropriate feelings that I think I was prevented from feeling because of the psych meds I took for so long that did nothing but ruin my life and give me terrible side effects. I am grateful to have found this medication."

• My ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2018

"This is one of the only medications I’ve had help with anxiety. Although it doesn’t take care of the issue entirely (at 150 mg currently), I have noticed some improvement. I’ve tried around 15 to 20 other medications and have had no luck other than with gabapentin, and that only helped for around a month before I’d need to increase dosage again. My rating is more based on how it’s the only thing to help over how much it has helped me. I will review this medication again in the future under the same nickname in around 6 months, as long as I’m still taking it (and remember to do so). Hopefully, this helps the general public in some way."

• Loz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2021

"I have been having really good results with lamotrigine for anxiety. Tried numerous SSRIs, SNRIs, Buspar, Pregabalin, and nothing seemed to work, everything was too activating. I’ve been on clonazepam for around 6 years, and I’ve managed to reduce my dose of this by 50% already while taking lamotrigine. My outlook on life has also changed for the better. If you have tried the drugs above and found them too activating or ineffective, definitely try this. I’ve been using it for 8 weeks at 100mg per day. No side effects at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2020

"My anxiety is severe, where I experience nerve pain. I was prescribed the medication lamotrigine from my psychiatrist 2 months ago, but I was scared to take it. I recently got over the fear of taking this medication and started it 8 days ago - I feel no difference, just feel more anxious and jittery. No problems in sleep, but I would wake up feeling super jittery from chest to legs. Will continue to take it and see how it goes in the next few weeks."

• anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2022

"I was feeling a bit overwhelmed at work as I had discontinued my antidepressants (with permission of my prescriber) for over 6 months. I really didn't want to go back to the same prescriber, so I opted for an app service. They prescribed lamotrigine as a mood stabilizer. The first two days on this medication, I felt worse than I had ever felt in my life. Suicidal thoughts just popped out of nowhere. It was really scary. I felt so depressed, in emotional pain, and hopeless. I couldn't sleep. If I slept, I had vivid dreams and night sweats. I told the prescriber, and they said side effects should wean in 5 days. So, I continued taking lamotrigine for about a month. The suicidal thoughts kind of went away, and the impending doom feeling in the pit of my stomach got better. However, I had horrible headaches, vivid dreams every night, and insomnia. The anxiety was constant and worse than before I started taking lamotrigine, and this was only 25 mg a day. I finally stopped taking it altogether."

• Sal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 3, 2022

"I was on Lexapro for years when I decided to step off. The process was slow and difficult, and I experienced brain zaps and other scary side effects. About a year later, I had a severe mental breakdown and ended up in a crisis center. I was completely hopeless, frightened, and experienced a primal fear. A fear you get when being chased by a wild animal. I saw a psych, and she started me on Lamotrigine - and slowly went up over the course of three months to 200 mg. I am four months into this medication and am so proud to say that I haven’t had a panic attack in a month. Not long ago, I had them every single day. I experienced none of the side effects that SSRIs gave me, and I feel like I’m getting control of my life back. I’m so happy I gave medication another try. There is no shame in taking meds. You deserve to feel your best and love this one life we have to the fullest."

• Her...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 5, 2024

"I have been suffering from Bipolar 2 disorder + Anxiety (Generalized anxiety disorder) for the last 6 years. I started with antidepressants (XET 25 every day) (to cure anxiety), but it led to rapid cycling. Then I removed antidepressants and started Lamotrigine 300 OD every day. I am definitely more stable on Lamotrigine 300 OD. No more highs and lows of mood. But, some anxiety still persists (due to leaving antidepressants altogether). Curing a case of bipolar 2 + general anxiety is always tough. Because, General Anxiety is cured by antidepressants and Bipolar 2 is cured by mood stabilizers. But antidepressants cause rapid cycling. This was a problem in my case. Anyways, now coping up well with Lamotrigine 300 OD + 90 - 120 mins of daily exercise and once a week therapy. (Although, personally I think therapy isn't of much use in cases where the problem is more genetic and less due to any trauma/incident of emotional factors as such.)"

• Bel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2021

"I was diagnosed with anxiety/depression at 19. I saw a psych who gave me SSRIs and have been on them most of my life. Fast forward 45 years. Recently had a panic attack so severe that I was on the verge of a stroke. I immediately saw a psych who told me I had been misdiagnosed all those years and that, in fact, I was Bipolar 2. He prescribed Lamictal 25 mg. The first 2 days I felt like I was in a fog and a little bit nauseated. Called my doctor and he recommended taking it at night. What a difference! He slowly weaned me off Celexa and Buspar and slowly increased the Lamictal. I am now stable on 100 mg at night. No weight gain, and I'm back in the gym weight training. No more panic attacks. I'm a bit more emotional, but I think it's situational as I just lost my dad 4 months ago. I highly recommend it!"

• Ama...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 17, 2021

"Lamotrigine changed my life. Since I can remember, I’ve suffered from severe anxiety, unstable mood, and episodic depression. I’ve been taking it for 4 years now, and it’s amazing how much my mood has stabilized. I’ve never had a side effect and can still feel a range of emotions. Paired with gabapentin, my anxiety is finally manageable (almost to the point of non-existent). I feel like I can live life again and have no idea how I functioned on a daily basis before it."

• Jfb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2019

"Lamictal made my anxiety worse. With each increase in dosage, I became more agitated. I stopped at 100 mg and stayed on it for one month; during that month, I experienced more panic attacks than I'd ever had in such a short time. My doctor weaned me off, and my anxiety got better. We are now trying a different medication."

• van...
• August 5, 2021

"After a series of bad events (long-haul COVID, bad experience with Lexapro, trauma, and bad experiences with weed), Lamotrigine has been my saving grace. I was suffering from panic attacks and mental breakdowns. I could not find pleasure in anything or even go to work, I was completely nonfunctional. Lexapro just escalated this feeling and made me suicidal, it is a 'fit-all' drug that just made me so much worse. It is now my third week on Lamotrigine, and the panic has calmed. I still get anxiety, but these thoughts are not all-consuming. Almost no days stuck in bed with dark thoughts. I am able to face daily challenges now without absolutely crumbling. I am now on 50 mg and considering going up only because the improvement has been great. In my opinion, this drug is much more effective than SSRIs, it simply cuts out the extra brain activity and lets your mind rest enough to start enjoying life again :)) It does get better, and give Lamotrigine a try!!"