Lamotrigine for Borderline Personality Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• Tyrell
• January 30, 2020

"I was on Zoloft 100mg & Buspirone 15mg for depression/anxiety before I went to a psychiatrist who recommended a mood stabilizer Lamictal 100mg 2x a day. I weaned myself off all 3 cuz I was feeling wonderful/stabile. it only took 2-3 months and my behavior was back major mood swings, sadness, depression, and alcoholism was back full blast. I did a lot of damage to relationships & my health. I have been put back on Lamictal 200mg again and in 6 weeks I’m at peace & rational. I have no side effects except decreased libido. That is a blessing right now cuz multiple sexual partners was a struggle while off meds. I’m going to go back on Zoloft because I need more antidepressant than what Lamictal offers. I still feel melancholy and random crying over happy & sad things. I TRULY RECOMMEND LAMICTAL with other medications such as antidepressants and anti anxiety’s! It is worth your time to try it!"

• MissL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2018

"I requested to be put on this medication due to problems with BPD that the Seroquel/Effexor combo wasn't helping. I wanted, so badly, to help with the agitation and obsessive thoughts I was experiencing, but my psychiatrist warned me to stop the medication if I noticed a rash. Unfortunately, I was on it for 2-3 weeks and a rash broke out on my face. I immediately stopped the medication as directed."

• Pixie...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 18, 2023

"I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety at 15 and medicated from 16. I tried Sertraline which gave me serotonin syndrome, Fluoxetine which made me angry and irritable, Venlafaxine which gave me withdrawals that had me bedridden for a week and Quetiapine which made me a zombie. I was diagnosed with BPD at 18 and after 2 years of switching medications, I was put on lamotrigine. I had very mild, minimal side effects and nothing persisted after about 1-2 weeks. I was slowly increased up to 200mg every morning and I’ve stayed on this dose for 3 years. I was suicidal, constantly anxious, frequently had hysterical episodes and panic attacks, couldn’t leave my house and couldn’t keep on top of my job or degree. After I adjusted to the dose, I found that my mood was more stable, my emotions were less likely to overwhelm me and when they did, it didn’t last for as long. I would recommend it to anyone with mood dysregulation."

• Great...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2022

"I’ve started taking lamotrigine 25 mgs for about a week now (I know what you’re thinking but just listen) and it’s helped phenomenally. I can finally just chill and relax, and be happy naturally instead of trying to force it. I'm more in control of my emotions, and it has decreased my dissociation amazingly. I'm thinking a higher dose would work better for me, but we’ll see after two weeks. I have BPD, GAD, MDD, and ADHD. I also take Sertraline 125 mg and hydroxizene 10 mg just when I feel extra anxious. It has seriously helped with my motivation to do stuff, I get more stuff done now. I just feel… better. Please try this out, there is light at the end of the tunnel I promise."

• Staying...
• May 29, 2017

"This medication is absolutely wonderful I never thought I would be happy again but causes weight gain and I can't have that with the borderline personality disorder it's just too strong of a disorder to overpower weight gain in my mind .I continue to hope that I can be positive . I keep trying the medication for no weight gain. This is truly a great medication. Hope you give it a try. It could change your life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2022

"This drug saved my life, after 3 years of constant dissociation, panic, depression, anxiety, dp/dr and a recent diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)..not saying it’s a miracle drug but I feel better than I’ve ever felt. I still struggle but it’s tolerable, like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It’s only been 3 weeks but I wake up and I’m calm, I have energy, I’m working out everyday I even made a resume and applied for jobs, even socializing. after years of SSRI’s never working this was such an incredible change. I have been emotionally numb for probably 7 years and slowly I am starting to feel like a person again, I can feel good emotions instead of just feeling bad ones or nothing at all. Everything felt jumbled before, now I can think straight and it is helpful to recognize obsessive thoughts. But putting in the rest of the work is crucial. diet, exercise, therapy, meditation and affirmations, hobbies and self care. Side effects suck in first week"

• wenzy
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 7, 2017

"I was on venlafaxine which was effective for depression for a couple of years but it eventually didn't work as well along with side affects like no libido, I was started on mertazapine along with the venlafaxine then the lamotrogine was added, I have found the lamotrogine not only helped with my depression it is a great mood stabilizer and has helped with the BPD immensely."

• Rose
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2023

"I have BPD. I've been on different medications for around 5 years, nothing really helped. This one though, made me feel so much more stable.. Finally I feel better!! Also I didn't have any side effects."

• Asif...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2024

"Suffering from BPD for a long time, fear of abandonment, intense but unstable relationships, angry outbursts, intense anxiety from rejection and triggers of anger, all have subsided significantly after 2 months of 50mg. Life was an agony and miserable without it, not a cure but definitely helps."

• Kacutie
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 10, 2017

"I started lamotrigine as per my psychiatrist to stabilize my anger and agitation from BPD. I tapered up slowly and had no issues with a rash. The more I took it and the higher the dose went I noticed it was helping more and more with my anger and agitation but not with depression or suicidal thoughts. I was crying daily after months on it and could not feel any happiness or positive emotions although it was helping with outbursts for sure. That's when the physical side effects began. I developed severe painful cystic acne whereas before I had fairly clear skin. This was some deep painful acne that was so painful I could not touch my own face and have to now be on antibiotics for months which is another story. I now have nerve damage at 24"

• Shalie
• May 4, 2017

"I have been on Latuda since January 2015. And Cymbalta for several reasons, one being depression. Since November 2014, I was unable to get up and act like a normal human being. With suicidal ideations and one attempt. I was sleeping 24/7. I was unable to cope in a realistic manner. I had lost all hope, all joy, all energy, all motivation. Until 2 weeks ago. My insurance got changed so Latuda was no longer an option. I asked my doctor to put me on Geodon and Lamictel again. I slept 24/7 the first week, then some miracle happened. I started feeling alive and had energy and my mood was fantastic. To say my life has changed positively is an understatement. I am a normal acting person again. Only problem is weight gain. I think from Geodon."

• Tony
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2022

"Been on this for two months now and have worked my way up to 200mg. Have been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. This has been like taking a sugar pill. Absolutely no help at all for my severe agitation and constant irritation, low moods or anxiety. I’m actually more depressed reading how much this has helped others. Nothing seems to help me, but that’s my ‘whoa is me’ BPD I guess. lol."

• laigh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 9, 2017

"Been on this for about a year, 100mg. Took away my libido, I still get depressed/suicidal, still self harming. It's made me lose my self. I've been told that BPD can only SOMETIMES be managed with medications. I also take an antidepressant 75mg. It helps if you get good support- good therapist and good doctor. I really hope they come up with better things to treat bpd."

• Danking
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2019

"Been on this drug now for three weeks gradually increasing 25mg per week until I get to 100mg then review with my psychiatrist. Was on Quetiapine and the XL version for the passed year which did nothing for me. I’ve been on every anti depressant out there and nothing has really helped me. Zoloft being the worst. I’m skeptical with Lamotrigine as I’ve noticed no difference at all but keeping my fingers crossed as it has a really good success rate. I’ve had no side effects so far. Fingers crossed as my dosage increases it works for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 18, 2017

"I wasn't taking Tegretol for just for complex partial seizures, we thought it might help with my extreme mood disturbances as well. Had some luck with the seizures, however I was still having extreme lows, paranoia as well as intense and explosive rage. 100mg of Zoloft gave me some relief for the lows, but started on 25mg of lamictal to help with the paranoia and rage. I've been taken off of tegretol now, and I'm currently taking 250mg of lamictal, increasing to 300mg. It's literally changed my life. No rage, no paranoia, it's levelled out my moods (with the help of Zoloft), and my seizures have stopped."

• Bpdme...
• January 22, 2021

"Hello. I am a super sensitive person. I was very afraid of developing a rash so I wanted to add to this thread and say there is a 2mg tablet available. I see people starting on 25mg and going to 50mg then giving a bad review. I started Lamitrigine on 2.5mg. My symptoms before medicating are mood swings, anger, suicidal, anxious panic, depression. I have been diagnosed borderline personality disorder (BPD). I have previously tried Pristiq, Lexapro, Prozac (do NOT take Prozac if you are BPD and have anger symptoms as it makes it 100 times worse), Tegretol, Valium, Sodium Valporate, Queitapine and probably others but i think thats it. Tegrotol was the best thing that worked for me but i got the itchy blood side effect after 3 months on it. So i am trying this other mood stabiliser Lamitrigine from my own research. The point I am making is you can start very low."

• Jessi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 21, 2016

"I was diagnosed with BPD yrs ago. I find lamictal stabilizes my impulsive behaviours and tones down my anxiety. My Dr says lamictal is good for depression which I agree . It has an antidepressant property. I went off it for awhile just to see if it was still working and I found myself getting progressively more impulsive...... I take Abilify and Brintellix as well. Take good care everyone"

• Rebekah
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 17, 2021

"I’ve been taking lamotrigine for over 5 years. Quite a low dosage, just 100-150mg a day split into two doses. No side effects. Has helped me considerably with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and depression. Thanks to it I was able to get my emotions to settle down and work on myself in therapy to learn coping mechanisms for other symptoms. I am now able to have stable fullfilling relationships. It also keeps depression at bay, I am off antidepressants and haven’t had another depressive episode. On top of that I haven’t had a panic attack in years too. Therapy and lamotrigine have been a huge help. But it is not a magical cure, just a crutch to help you in therapy. Having a support system from family/friends/partners is still the most important thing."

• della
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2022

"I was just diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) a few days ago but I have known that I have it since I was around 15. I have been prescribed a few different SSRIs for the depression caused by BPD, but they never worked for me. Starting Wellbutrin again a couple years ago has helped, but the addition of Lamictal has COMPLETELY changed me. I am able to take a moment to think before I act/speak, I don’t catastrophize and break down over every little issue I encounter, my previously constant irritability has diminished significantly, I could go on. Being on this medicine has improved my relationship with my partner as well. I can’t even express how much my life has changed for the better. If you have BPD as well and have tried multiple antidepressants to no avail, definitely give Lamictal a try. The effect is almost immediate. I never thought I would say this, but I am so incredibly grateful to have been prescribed this medication."

• sidet...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 2, 2022

"I'm 44, and my mentality has been all over the place throughout the years. Instability, just to name one. I have taken many various types of various meds. But this one BY FAR has been a game changer. Not only does it help me have a better life, and a better quality of life, but my 19 yr old son also started taking it after not being able to maintain job/ relationships and kept him self secluded from the world. Once prescribed it, he has come out of his shell and changed his life."

• Cat...
• March 11, 2017

"I was diagnosed with BPD over 12 months ago.. and tried many Anti-depressants, only one worked Valdoxan ( others weight gain, no libido etc ) which seemed to help with suicidal thoughts. I have been on Lamotrgine for just under a month (50mg) a day and it has really helped with my outbursts and insecure thoughts, my partner says he has noticed a difference. But saying that l feel the dosage should be increased as sometimes l do let my thoughts run away with me, and then we have major problems!"

• Confu...
• August 7, 2019

"Thank you all so much for your brave sharing. I now FINALLY UNDERSTAND the unexplainable and therefore increasingly unacceptable behavior from a new friend of mine. I am a very patient loving person and even I was at my wit's end after trying to end this relationship and getting sucked back in several times only to be treated worse each time. I knew he (admittedly, even) had some issues, don't we all?, and I think he wanted to stay in the more socially acceptable area of depression/anxiety and yes even drug use/abuse, so he never mentioned BPD and it was one of the diagnosis I wasn't really up to pace with until tonight.. "

• Ashley
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2022

"so, I have to stop taking this medication (I’m on day 4) because it’s giving me flu symptoms and it’s difficult to swallow. That said though, it was nice to feel grounded for a few days. I definitely felt a bit more stable immediately. I wish it didn’t make me sick. I haven’t felt as much of that agonizing emptiness in the past few days and this is the first medication that’s done that for me. Wish I could’ve given it a full trial."

• Vanis...
• November 30, 2022

"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 w your doctor."

• Row
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2023

"I have complex PTSD, borderline personality disorder and ADHD and the last 5 years have been hell, constantly sabotaging when I am well and getting triggered by attachment ruptures into frenzy and terrible OCD. The worst thing is that my OCD can be around medication and what to take. I am suicidal most of the time. I have on and off taken olanzapine but it's a strange drug and I can never work out whether it's good for me. I become over-talkative on it, over sharing and I put on loads of weight. I'm now in my 3rd week of Lamotrigine now at 50 mg. Really hoping it has an effect of stabilizing me, and I'm still in bed with depression and OCD unable to make any decisions. I'll titration up to 200 mg and follow my psychiatrist. So hoping it will help! Will update!"