Lamotrigine for Seizure Prevention User Reviews (Page 2)

• Jaynea
• July 17, 2015

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "I've been on Lamictal for a few years and while it eliminated all my daytime seizures my night time sleep seizures continue. I spoke to my neuro and he raised the dosage to 400mg..But I was a zombie with no memory, aphasia, and confusion. Finally I went back to 200mgs and decided to just live with the nighttime seizures. my dr suggested using Xanax to control them. It worked. The odd part that they occur every six weeks like and last for about a week... Anybody else has such regular onset?"

• Urrggh
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 17, 2017

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "I guess I mostly have a lot of questions. I had one seizure in August, 2014 or at least that's what I was told when I woke up in a hospital. I was put on Keppra 750mg 2x a day. In 2015 I was diagnosed as Bipolar. I was put on Lamictal 100mg 1x a day. I've had many EEG's and MRI over the past 2 years, most recently November, 2016. I just met with my Neurologist last week and he said that my latest EEG confirmed, yet again, I have 'abnormal electricity full brain every 4-5 seconds', which I've had since birth. Now I have to do an Ambulatory EEG for 3 days/nights and bloodwork. Urrggh!!! Somebody please wake me up from this nightmare! Questions - Why Lamictal for Bipolar when it's for seizures? Why a 3 day EEG? Why Keppra & Lamictal?"

• Gano
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 23, 2018

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "I have been on Lamictal for 13 years. For the first 12 I had similar symptoms as others - poor memory, exhaustion, inability to walk a straight line. No idea why but now my symptoms are slowly going away. My dizzy spells are rare, straight lines aren't difficult and best of all my memory is coming back. It's not as good as before I was on the meds, but I'm happy for anything I can get. My issue is that I'm soon going on Medicare and the cost of this medicine is $12,000/yr. I'm looking into generics and based on the research it seems they have gotten better, but I'm not ready to make the leap yet."

• Anonymous
• August 15, 2011

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "I'd been having partial seizures every 2 weeks lasting a few days for about 3yrs before having a tonic-clonic seizure and finally agreeing to go on medication. I started on Keppra and the seizures came once a month for about a week, similar to a girl's period, and I became suicidal and uninterested in anything. About 2 yrs later I had another tonic-clonic seizure. Shortly after that I switched to Lamictal and am no longer suicidal but am still depressed and uninterested in anything and the seizure now come more frequently and randomly."

• zzz
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2022

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "The longer I'm on Lamictal, the more problems I have - I'm taking it for nocturnal seizures (I had 1-2/yr before meds). When I began taking it, I erupted in a burning facial rash so we scaled the dose back. Since then, my days begin with vertigo/severe fatigue, my vision has become blurry (optometrist saw no literal vision changes during testing), I have tremors periodically, my short term memory is practically non-existent, difficulty concentrating, my limbs feel weak/tingly, and I'm still having seizures! I've been doing all sorts of tests and haven't been diagnosed with a new health problem. Why do anticonvulsants all cause so much misery? I'm essentially a stiff, wobbly, forgetful zombie on this medication. I'm really sad that it isn't working, because I heard it was a tried and true medication. My neurologist is weaning me off, thank god. I wish there was something out there that actually worked and didn't crush you under the weight of debilitating side effects."

• KTC
• August 13, 2009

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "After having every allergic reaction in the book and experiencing every single side effect of Dilantin my doctor quickly switched me to Lamictal. I love it. Not one negative side effect to mention! If only it helped me lose weight! (P.S. My Petit seizures are well under control and I haven't had a grand mal since before I was medicated 6 years ago)."

• cirianz
• July 3, 2008

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "I've been taking Lamictal for 5 years now and am very pleased with it. I have experienced moderate to severe difficulties with cognitive function and memory on all other anti-epileptics. Lamictal has enabled me to reduce my carbamazapine intake to such a level that these difficulties are minimal and I am now doing very well at University. Unfortunately, while it has reduced my seizures to lower than ever before, it has not been able to stop them altogether."

• Jaz_4
• January 13, 2017

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "I was diagnosed with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in my left parietal part of my brain in 2015 after I had a stroke at 21. I had it removed in 2016. I was on dilantin and it made me feel horrible. After my surgery in the hospital I had a seizure 3 times and they came in increments of 3. I was then put on Keppra with Dilatin. No good. My moods went crazy. Then they switched me to Lamical with a low dose of dilantin eventually weaning off of the dilantin. I was put on 400 mg of lamictal. Just recently I had a bad seizure and now they increased my does to 600mg. It is working but I feel very disconnected and spacey. Its helping with seizures but not liking the side effects. I am now looking into a device called Responsive neurostimulation (RSN). looking for alternatives but so far lamical works"

• Kay
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 27, 2020

"Lamotrigine changed my life! I had undiagnosed partial seizures in my sleep, as well as absence seizures during the day. At 22 y/o I began trying several medications (Topamax, Keppra, etc.) and had terrible side effects (weird dreams, sleepiness, aggression). I am on 500mg of Lamotrigine daily. I do have mild forgetfulness and slight trouble with words on occasion. It doesn't bother me and it is worth it. I no longer have seizures and my mood has improved. It took a few weeks for my body to get used to. I would be wide awake and never get tired. But after a little while my sleep returned to normal. Bottom line, I can't imagine my life without Lamotrigine. I recommend it above all other seizure medications."

• Anonymous
• August 19, 2009

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "LOVE IT! I take 600mg a day. I don't think it causes the comprehension problems like Keppra, hard to tell though as taking both medicines at same time. If my medication has to be increased this will be the one. I can't increase Keppra anymore. "

• Justice
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 1, 2018

"I had my first seizure at 41, partial complex. I started in Keppra and it was awful, I turned into someone that I didn’t know: angry, negative, sleeping 16-18hrs a day. I stared Lamotrigine and at first I had a lot of memory problems but it has since levelled out. After 3 years, I haven’t had a seizure for 12 months and it keeps me level and not emotional/moody. I do recommend anyone to try Lamotrigine bc I feel my old self again but better."

• Megster
• June 13, 2015

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "I have started taking lamotrigine with the intention of weaning myself off phenytoin. Unfortunately after 2 weeks and 2 days I have had terrible side effects, splitting headaches, vomiting, nausea, dry mouth and extreme irritability "

• Mr St...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2016

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "I was diagnosed with grandmal epilepsy in 2004, had been on life support twice, longest for 17days, not good, they said it was temporal lobe sclerosis/ skull fractures etc, from playing rugby. I've had many medication changes from clonazapam to keppra & every thing in between" I am currently on 1000g morning/night of Keppra and have started taking 50g lamictal morning/night, as was still have severe absences which keppra couldn't stop" The Absence events have all but stopped after 3mths, although I have not had a good time with constant saliva, spitting. Which I believe is from the "flavour/effervescent" make up of the tablet. Does anyone else have this problem??"

• Brutod
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 3, 2016

"I have been on lamotrigine for about 25 years. I can tell you that this drug has saved my life. I have been on many different doses so I know what works for me. I was taking all of my pills in the morning but I still had seizures. The doses I was taking gave me blurred vision one's and a while. My Dr said that was to much at one time and it did not last the full 24 hours my doses was changed to every 12 hour and haven't had a seizure since. I hope this will help someone."

• J_I_M
• July 23, 2015

"My daughter was on Lamictal for many years which controlled her seizures. A year ago her insurance stopped covering it so we were forced to go to generic Lamotrigine. She started having seizures, so we did a little research and found out that the Lamotrigine she was taking was manufactured by a company in India. We switched to Lamotrigine made by another company and her seizures disappeared. Do some research on your products"

• Pepil...
• August 28, 2015

"While the cognitive side effects weren't too bad, I had to go off this medication because it made me develop a condition known as persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD), along with noticeable facial flushing. Initially, it gave me some pep in my step, and seemed like a pleasant surprise, but after a few months, the side effects intensified to the point that I couldn't look at a man without my face turning bright red, along with intense and painful arousal that wouldn't subside. These side effects went away when I discontinued lamotrigine, and I'm only insanely aroused during ovulation - like most adult women. lol. I just wanted to share my experience because PGAD isn't really discussed as a side effect."

• Mike
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 7, 2023

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "I am not sure if my depression, abnormal thoughts, blurred vision, rash, and memory issues are related to this drug or not. They are listed as side effects and seem to be getting worse the longer I'm on them. However, Lamictal has helped keep my seizures mostly under control. I have tried other medications in the past but my stomach couldn't take them."

• victo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2024

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "I was actually prescribed this med for sudden seizures. Coincidentally, I also suffer from Major Depressive Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I've struggled since I was 12 (I'm 29 now). I've tried many different antidepressants and none ever worked for me, even at therapeutic doses for my depression. However, they did help with anxiety (Celexa, Zoloft with and without Abilify added on, Effexor, Trintellix, and most recently Prozac). I got on Prozac a few months ago, and then also got prescribed this med but was told I might be able to get off Prozac because this med is also a mood stabilizer. Interestingly enough, I've been feeling tired for months and thought it might be due to this med (I've titrated up 25mg every 2 weeks). Now I'm on 200mg (100mg in the morning and 100mg at night), but I got off Prozac and instantly felt better. Now I'm only on Lamictal and I feel great – nothing has ever helped me this much. I've had no side effects at all besides decreased appetite and weird dreams!"

• kater...
• November 14, 2007

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "I have had adverse reactions to five different medicines for seizures. I started taking Lamictal about 6 months ago and am very pleased. I have hardly any side effects at all. My only problem is that I dont have insurance because I am self employed, and Lamictal is very expensive. I am not sure if a generic is available for Lamictal. Lamictal has been a relief with minimal side effects."

• Beci1...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 28, 2017

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "I had a series of severe episodes in '14 and that's when I began this drug. Initially it made me really drowsy but it was manageable. Otherwise I've had absolutely no problems! Only downside is that its levels can be easily affected/lowered with other drugs. In order to take birth control pills I had to nearly double my lamictal dosage as the estrogen made my lamictal levels plummet."

• MBD
• September 16, 2020

"My pharmacy (and likely yours) changes the manufacturers of generics regularly to get the best price that year. It turns out that sometimes the best priced medications are not therapeutically the same. Unichem makes lamotrigine that maintains my drug levels and prevents my seizures. A seizure results in the temporary loss of driving privilege. Truly, you don’t want to seize while driving and hit someone. The restriction continues for six months. If you can’t imagine it, imagine being sixteen again and staying out too late one night with your parents car. They ground you for six months. It’s like that. Especially for seizure meds, insist on the same manufacturer every time you get your prescription filled."

• orego...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2013

"While going through titration I had intense mood swings. Extreme happiness and seething anger over ridiculous things. When I forget to take a pill it makes me EXTREMELY ill. Nausea, dizziness, fogginess, etc. On a day to day basis: Sometimes I forget words, phrases and even once, my ATM pin number. It's like I'm grasping for them and they're just not there. I also get lightning-like, "zinging" headaches. They were worse during titration, but they haven't gone away. They usually happen when I'm at work. In addition, I often feel like I'm in a fog, and have had a few instances where my words will slur together like my brain just can't quite form them right."

• Bernard...
• September 13, 2015

Lamictal (lamotrigine) "I developed epilepsy from a blood clot hours after a operation for a brain Tumor. I tried epanutin, poor side effects, keppra which didn't seem to work. I am now on 325mg morning and night, my grand mal siezures are reduced to head shaking and nearly no side effects after the seizure, I'm 14 stone, a doctor told me I could go to 350 twice a day, but I don't know, I have always had them every three months, thankfully 90% when I'm in bed. Multitasking and memory is effected but I can live with that as it's not bad. I heard doctors say max 325 twice daily, but he thinks I can go to the 350. Thoughts?"

• Barnzy
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 24, 2018

"This medication is excellent for seizures. I have about 2 seizures a day, started lamotrigine 5 years ago. I thought maybe I will grow out of it, so I stopped taking it, 2 days later I was back to having seizures. Highly recommended for epilepsy, however as a "mood stabilizer" doesn't seem to work for me."

• Mgcon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2022

Lamictal XR (lamotrigine) "This medicine has genuinely been so much better for me than Keppra or Aptiom. It feels like I went from one of the worst medicines I've ever been on for side effects to once of the best in terms of overall wellbeing. It's been a long titration but at every step I mostly felt significantly better and have had zero seizures for 60+ days. At 50mg and 100mg I felt slightly more edgy/flippant where at 75mg I felt quite cheerful. I'm now on 150 going to 200mg of the Lamotrigine Extended Release. Not only have I not had any seizures but I also feel like I genuinely feel happier and don't carry anger or stress with me as long. Of course you have the risk of rash but to be honest it was made out to be way scarier than what I think the reality is for most. I feel like this should be the first medicine on the list for most everyday people. The zombie and rage effects of some of the other common seizure meds are just awful by comparison to how beneficial Lamotrigine's "side effects" are."