Lamotrigine for Depression User Reviews (Page 3)

• SallyD
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 5, 2019

"Lamotragine returned peace to my spirit; what a relief! Prozac, Lithium, Paxil, and the dreaded benzodiazepine Xanax (benzo's are pure poison, avoid them at all costs) didn't work very well over 35 years and life was hard. Life continues to be taxing, however I now laugh spontaneously again and racing thoughts are well controlled. It's worth the risk of adverse side effects, of which I had none."

• Patrick
• June 6, 2017

"I never write reviews but this time I had too. I am 24 years old and had depression since I was in fifth grade. It was manageable up until I graduated high school. When I started working in taking on more responsibilities I started getting depression really bad . To the point I cannot handle anything anymore. I tried Venlafaxine for 5 years. It worked good on the mood and the depression but as it went on the side effects kept getting worse and worse which made me stop taking it. Terrible withdrawal. I then took mirtazapine for 6 months didn't work. Now taking lamotrigine at 100 mg - (after upping slow) Took about two months, I have never felt this good in a long time! No more worrying no more depression! I highly recommend this!!!"

• Colin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2015

"I have been on various anti depressants since my late teens. Everything's from fluoxetine citalopram, clomipramine and in a full breakdown; a combination of mirtazapine and Effexor. It was this last one which took me sky high and so I stopped, also due to 30kg weight gain. After a couple of months I was suicidal and because I was diagnosed with bipolar since the mania on the antidepressants I was recommended going on to a cocktail of quetiapine, depakote and lithium. No way was I taking that with the side effects and the horror stories about weight gain as I've lost the 30kg in weight I put on. Lamotrigine I heard was the only one for helping without the weight gain so I gave it a go. It took about 2 months but it works a treat now on 300mg"

• KaraCmp
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 9, 2017

"I've always had depression as a struggle of mine. Fast forward at a low point my doc put me on numerous anti depressants throughout a period of 2 years that temporarily helped me to be functional before the extreme fatigue returned. We started lamictal. After 4 weeks I went up to 50mg. At first some tummy issues, wasn't prolonged. I'm currently on 50mg and it's been 6 weeks. I've felt huge difference that I can clearly see. I have ADHD too. I'm much more focused. My intense cravings for sweets is gone. I'm much more positive. I'm able to focus on the long term. I'm less tired & my anti-d & my concerta is working now! I've lost weight and not needed to sleep during the day. Mornings are easier. At night, I'm ready for bed :-) hope it stays"

• Nadia
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2024

"After trying several antidepressants that didn't work, Lamictal really helped with my depression. I would still get somewhat depressed at times, but overall it made me happy. I took 300mg along with 80mg Prozac. No side effects from Lamictal. Don't give up! You will find what works for you!"

• Shann...
• March 23, 2017

"I was very hesitant about adding any new medication to my relatively mild SSRI & Klonopin regimen, but despite this combo, my depressive symptoms not only persisted, but grew more intense during active phases. I say "active" meaning "severely more depressed than usual." I *alway* felt depressed, but every few months, I would fall into a debilitating state where I could barely function, couldn't leave the house, cried all the time, just hated myself, and it got to the point that getting up and showering felt overwhelming. I started Lamictal, felt nothing at first, but after 8 days, I literally *snapped* out of it. I felt normal & hopeful for the first time ever. I would definitely give this a chance if your doctor feels it is a good choice."

• Ari
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 12, 2019

"Lamotrigine is my miracle drug. I’ve dealt with severe depression since 15, had a bit of remission but when it came back full force in my early 20’s nothing would help. HIGH dose Zoloft, Effexor, Seroquel, lexapro... I react quickly to drugs. I had hit a new low, then started effexor and I knew in two weeks, but it was almost immediate for me I started to feel better. Suicidal thoughts slowly started to fade, less spending all day in despair, less sleeping, less crying. I still have to augment with Wellbutrin and Xanax and Prazosin, but Lamotrigine was what flipped the first switch."

• marisol
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2016

"After 10 years of having nearly every SSRI' and SNRI work and then fail, I developed Sertonin Syndrome on a cocktail of both. I was so afraid to try any antidepressant...but my depression became life-threatening. I'm on only 50 mg. of lamictal (going slow!) for a month...and I am becoming cheerful! Amazing. I do have a slight facial rash I'm carefully watching. No other side effects."

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2024

"I was diagnosed with depression about 8 years ago. Over the years, I've failed Lexapro, Prozac, Trintellix, Cymbalta, Fetzima, Rexulti, Vraylar, Pristiq, and Wellbutrin. Pristiq with Wellbutrin helped for a period of time. Vraylar also helped, but the severe fatigue was not tolerable for me. I did my research and found anecdotal evidence that Lamotrigine, off-label, was great for treatment-resistant depression. I decided to take a chance and ask my doctor. At 25mg, I didn't notice too much, some improvement in mood. At 50mg, I noticed a big change in my mood, my outlook on life, my ability to get things done, a sense of happiness. A feeling I was never sure I'd feel again. Currently at 100mg plus Pristiq, and I couldn't be happier with the results I've had. This medication has lifted that constant daily depressive outlook on life. Just 1 month in, and hopefully it continues."

• Diffi...
• October 15, 2019

"Took about 6-8 weeks on lamotrigine, but the depression went away. Side effects seem to be much worse nervousness/fear/anxiety, extreme weight loss and starvation (metabolism revved up). Dramatic increase in migraines which may be due to hunger and stress."

• Cano
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 5, 2019

"I’ve been on Lamictal for 5 years at 200 mg, I still have severe depression & cry almost everyday, I have a lot going on in my life so maybe that’s why nothing is working, I am also on 10 mg of Lexapro, still depressed, hard to get out of bed & going in the morning. I look forward to sleep so I don’t have to think about anything. I feel like all the meds I’ve tried either don’t work or make me gain a ton of weight if I knew Lamictal had these awful side effects including depression I would have never started it, going to try & wean off of it slowly"

• Wings
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2021

"I suffer from drug resistant major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. I titrated up slowly over a one month period to 125 mg per day, and stayed on 125 mg per day for 3 weeks. Lamotrigine made my depression much worse. I became completely hopeless, and suicidal. After discontinuing the Lamotrigine, I still feel persistently sad and filled with worry, but I no longer feel suicidal. Lamotrigine was not a good drug for me. I found zero benefit from this medication."

• Vibro
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2017

"Wow what a difference. I've tried 4 SSRIs, 1 SNRI, Wellbutrin (Made me irritable and couldn't sleep), Viibryd, different ADHD stimulants, and the list goes on. Currently, I'm on sertraline (Zoloft generic) 100mg and it was working out okay, but still struggled with my temper and depression. After 5 weeks, I'm finally on lamotrigine (Lamictal generic) IR 100mg once a day. It took 3 days after I started the 100mg to notice a big difference in my behavior. Side effects you might notice while starting it are Dizziness (minor), slight sedation or tiredness, and depression. My depression is now gone. I believe it was my brain adjusting to this miracle of a medication."

• Steve...
• August 11, 2016

"I've battled depression for 10 years plus im on 40 mg Citalopram and have been on this for 8 years. 2 year's ago i was put on quetiapine brilliant results but horrid side affect then my consultant put me on 300 mg (slowy increased) lamotrigine same result and no side affects i noticed results within the first week and progression carried on for a good wile i feel a normal member of the human race again. I still have little episodes but are managible i am very happy with this drug its changed me for the better."

• Mermaid
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 21, 2019

"I'm on lamotrigine 400. It was doing great, I thought by mistake they gave me regular lamictal. What a difference ! Buuuutttttt the insurance wants to charge me over $400 for lamictal, 2 dollars for generic. Has anybody else experienced the difference between the 2. I've been on it for years. So depressed right now. The insurance company ants me to try 3 other drugs before they will give me lamictal! Everybody on here knows what that would be like. So frustrated"

• mika
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 9, 2013

"If you suffer from depression this might be a medicine to take. It very helpful in controlling your symptoms. I've had depression symptoms for a while but never did a thing about it. I finally did through my primary doctor refer pain management & they refer me 2 see a psychologist."

• Kadeto
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 31, 2023

"I was on antidepressants for a long time for major depressive disorder and something always felt a little off— like I could feel like the turning point for feeling normal again was just out of reach. After a total meltdown, I was put on lamictal as a mood stabilizer, and it changed my life. It lifted enough of the debilitating fog for me to be able to really work in therapy and connect with my own mental health recovery."

• The...
• April 29, 2019

"I had high hopes for this one. It made my anxiety way worse and did nothing for depression. All I got was tightness in chest, forceful heart beats, bad memory problems, feeling super fuzzy in my brain, loss of appetite, and way slowed down ability to think. I stuck it out for 3 weeks but couldn't take another day."

• MomKath
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 26, 2017

"Looking back, I think I've had anxiety and depression most of my life. When I started to have mood swings and also feel like crying almost every day, I finally decided to seek treatment. This was about 5 years ago. The generics for Welbutrin and Lexapro helped, but I still had many times when I was depressed and somewhat suicidal. My psychiatrist tried prescribing several add-on meds, but either they weren't effective or caused side effects like weight gain. I am now on 100 mg of lamotrigine, and I don't think I've ever felt better! I am cheerful, motivated and feel like myself, without anxiety or depression. Only side effect is that I sometimes feel itchy on my scalp, arms or legs. No rash."

• Tano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2019

"I was put on Lamitrigine after Citalopram stopped working, and Escitalopram made me suicidal. I expressed that I'd wanted to avoid certain symptoms of SSRI's again and med nurse prescribed this. I've been on it for about two months -- titrating up from 25mg/2weeks, 50mg/2 weeks, and 100mg now. I haven't noticed any improvement in my depression, nor anxiety, or other symptoms therein in addition to the ones caused by and exacerbated by my ADHD. If anything I think I might be a little more unhinged (overly sensitive, mood drops happening with more frequency, lots more bouts of crying) but that could easily be because of something else. So, I haven't noticed any bad side effects (lymph nodes got a little swollen? which was something I was told to look out for, but it's Sick Season) but it hasn't helped in the slightest, either. I don't have any energy or motivation, which is kind of needed to make any progress in therapy, so.. definitely switching meds the first chance I get."

• MikeR
• August 7, 2019

"My depression got worse. With medication so far the more the dose increased, the got worse I felt. 25mg and 50 mg then 3rd or 4th week I went up to 75mg. The second day I broke out in acne all over my face made me feel worse anxiety, self esteem and isolating my self. I got worse I tapered to 50mg and the inside of my mouth has rash and canker sores it’s really irritating and painful my doctor hasn’t answered me for over a week I see him Thursday I’m going to get off it as soon as possible"

• kelly...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 10, 2018

"I feel Lamictal has made a big difference in my depression and mood swings. My twin sister takes it too for Borderline personality disorder for and she says it helps her impulsivity and mood swings as well. I also have an erratic mood and nice a difference on this drug. I'd say it mostly helps with depression though. I went from sleeping all the time and feeling numb to having some feeling again."

• Jessica...
• October 27, 2015

"Thank you all for sharing. I am currently taking Lamictal for pain, because the side benefit is actually pain relief for peripheral neuropathy. I have suffered from depression and anxiety for my whole life, but after starting Lamictal, it has gotten worse. I also take blood pressure and hydroxyzine for sleep. Has anyone else had increased depression?"

• Macluv
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2021

"I recently started lamictal about 4 days ago 100mgs a day. So far its done nothing but heightened my anger and make me cry. I need a miracle here. I'm also on paxil 20mgs, cymbalta 120mgs, abilify 5 mgs and clonazepam. I also suffer with partial onset seizures. If anyone can offer advice. I was told and have read that this is a great medicine and begged my Dr to put me on it. My anxiety is so horrible I still have extreme suicidal thoughts and feel empty, I've had so many different diagnosis I honestly don't know what I have. Please advice?"

• BOAZ
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 4, 2018

"On it for 2 years already. So far, so good. Currently at 100 mg daily. I've tried any antidepressant, anti psychotic, anti everything available with no use at all. Took Prozac for 10 years, which was so so for my depression. This one really makes a difference in my day to day. Only side effect, some vision impairment and some shoulder pain that comes and goes (but it could be caused by some personal issues that I am going through now) Anyhow, this medicine is one of the two that really showed me how is to not feel depressed (the other one is Lyrica, which sadly is the fastest way to weight gain). BTW, one thing I know for sure is that any of the SSRI available (for example Lexapro), just block your emotions good and bad. For me, a price that I discovered pretty high to pay. Peace !!!"