Lamictal User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• roy...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 21, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I sing the praises of Lamictal. I have been on 150mg in the morning for over 7 years along with Seroquel XL 100 mg at night. The combination has changed my life. I could not imagine life without depression and anxiety before I started these medicines. No side effects from either one. I feel fortunate."

• Daz...
• July 29, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "Recently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder II after many years of battling against depression. Used to self-medicate with cannabis regularly, but the strength of it induced psychosis, so have been 6 months without it. The first five months off it were dreadful: hopelessness, poor diet, no exercise, spending all time in bed, not interacting with the world and a downward spiral of self-pity. My doctor prescribed Lamictal, and I was doubtful of its effectiveness. However, I noticed a stabilization in mood after just 3 days of taking 25 mg per day. And after a week, the improvements have increased so that I no longer feel hopelessness with no future. In fact, I feel normal, very normal. My diet has improved and my self-care - washing, cleanliness, etc - has returned. The drug really works and has greatly improved my self-confidence and made everything so much easier. I would recommend it to anyone suffering from depression as it really does work."

• tha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 7, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I have suffered from bipolar disorder for more than ten years but only recently sought help for it because it was getting way out of hand. I was put on a few different medications in the beginning, including Wellbutrin and Risperidone. Those eventually made things worse so I opted out of that treatment, and was prescribed Lamictal. It took about a month to fully kick in, but I have noticed a huge difference in my mental state. I have not had a major depressive episode since starting treatment. I have not gone manic yet. For the first time in many years, I feel normal; I get happy when good things happen and sad when bad things happen. My feelings are not influenced by my illness anymore (at least not yet). Thanks, Lamictal!"

• Hel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 13, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking Lamictal for about 3 years now. It has helped me tremendously. I initially started taking it for anxiety as a mood stabilizer. It was an interesting prescription for anxiety but acted as a mood stabilizer for me. This was really helpful at the time because I was experiencing extreme, crippling, paralyzing anxiety. I was also diagnosed with bipolar disorder and found this to help with some symptoms as well. Unfortunately, it does not help me reduce feelings of mania. I do experience most side effects of this drug but very mildly and manageable. I was able to function normally again after beginning this journey on Lamictal."

• Cam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I tried Lamictal several years ago for mood swings without having received a proper diagnosis, and experienced extreme rage. I was also in an unhealthy relationship at the time and was taking about 100mg Lamictal. Since seeing a psychiatrist, I have been officially diagnosed as Bipolar Type 2, and have come to realize that I am extremely sensitive to medications (and everything else on the planet). I have been taking 25mg (pediatric dose) of Lamictal for about a month now with extreme improvement in moods. Similar to another review - you don't really notice how wonderful Lamictal works until you are put in a situation that would cause you to be anxious or react negatively. It has improved my overall view of myself, I haven't cycled, and I'm dealing with stressful situations in a much healthier way. I also have not had any side effects from this medication so far! Highly recommend."

• Fra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 1, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "I was diagnosed with bipolar type two at age 17, and have PTSD and anxiety, all of which have worsened in recent years (I'm 29). Have tried lithium, SSRIs, and all types of therapy. I started Lamictal less than a month ago. Started on 25 mg and after 2 weeks, 50 mg, the dose I'm currently on. I feel compelled to write this review because, for me, it's been nothing short of a miracle. I have never felt this happy. I feel so alive and awake, like the cloud of irritation and gray has completely dissipated, and I don't mean that in a (hypo)manic way. I felt the change almost instantly, and with 50 mg, the mental clarity has increased. Really hoping things stay this way. For the first time in my life, I'm optimistic they will :)"

• For...
• March 26, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I used to be on Seroquel for my bipolar 1. It basically ruined my high school education, making it almost impossible to wake up and stay awake in the mornings because it was physically painful to endure. Lamictal changed all of that and turned my life around. I have now been on Lamictal for 4 years. I have experienced no negative side effects. I am now in college with a 3.5 GPA. My mood is now more controllable, but it doesn't drug me to the point where I am a zombie or a different person. I feel like I can still be extremely euphoric, which is something I don't want to give up. I do sometimes still feel very angry or depressed, but I am able to manage and contain it better than I used to. I highly recommend this to those with bipolar."

• Hea...
• January 13, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I have been taking 300mg of Lamotrigine each day for about 3 years. When I first took it, it made me feel sick and anxious and gave me headaches, but after following some simple advice from my psychiatrist I now don't get any side effects at all!! He told me to increase the dose slowly (25mg per week) and to always eat when I take the tablets. I've found this medication very effective as an antidepressant but not effective at controlling mania/hypomania. Despite this, I still rate it very highly because it is so much more bearable than any other psychiatric medication that I've taken in the past."

• Kra...
• March 2, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I've suffered with undiagnosed bipolar 2 for almost 3 decades. For almost 20 years, I was on various antidepressants that didn't work and made my depression worsen. My primary doctor suggested I see a psychiatrist for my lingering depression. Due to the stigma of mental illness, I put it off, but finally saw a psychiatrist. She diagnosed my condition, and I started a low 25 mg dosage of lamotrigine. My dosage will slowly increase over the next 6 months to a year. The first time I entered the psychiatrist's office, I was filled with melancholy and regret. My first follow-up visit to the psychiatrist, I was filled with hope and resilience."

• MP1...
• May 4, 2016

For Bipolar Disorder "I've abused alcohol for 12 years now. I just started taking Lamictal the other day and instantly made me feel so much better! I have not had any alcohol cravings either, and I'm looking forward to the future. I'm so grateful."

• Doe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 14, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "It worked well, but over the course of 1.5 years, I had hair loss on my head, and even body hair was not growing back. My tests came back indicating minor hyperthyroidism, and I had constant constipation and gas. I gained a lot of weight too, which is weird. It turned out the Lamictal was causing problems with my biotin and vitamin B intake. After talking to my psychiatrist and stopping Lamictal, and taking biotin supplements, I could finally pass stool easily, and slowly my hair grew back... though I sort of missed my leg and underarm hair not growing. My weight and TSH level went back to normal after a few months too. Overall, it worked, but the side effects weren't good for me. So again, it helped me a lot, but"

• msm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I just started this med, and I am on week 5 of the 'starter' pack. I know it's a little soon to give my opinion, BUT I want to give words of encouragement if you're struggling with your diagnosis and taking 'that pill'. I spent so much time in a deep, dark hole, and I started getting 'scared' that I wasn't going to see sunshine in my life again. I became desperate enough to call my Doc and agreed that I was 'probably' bipolar (she saw it, and I was in denial!) and I was willing to talk 'meds'. After the first two weeks, I noticed that life was looking better, and I felt like participating a little...by the end of week 4, I was able to have a conversation. I'm starting to see beautiful colors in my once bleak world!"

• Jil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 15, 2023

For Bipolar Disorder "I had a very frightening experience with this medication, and I thought I might warn others. I had only been on the Lamictal for 6 weeks, was at the 50 mg dosage, when I started to feel worse - crazy anxiety and suicidal thoughts. So, I decided to go down to 12.5 mg to try to wean myself off. During the weaning process, I became even worse - I really felt I was going to end my life. The withdrawal was awful. I had to wean very slowly and carefully."

• Ash...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 18, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Worked wonders for me. Prescribed by my psychiatrist after I spoke to them about my symptoms. I used to feel out of control with my emotions, and I would spiral into severe bouts of depressive episodes with heavy thoughts of suicide. This medicine makes me feel like I can control myself, and I hadn't had a depressive episode in a while. This medicine gave me my life back. I feel like I came out on top of Bipolar II."

• Jhu...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 6, 2018

For Bipolar Disorder "I've taken this med on and off since it was approved for BP. It's like day and night when on or off it. Every time I start taking it again, I always think 'why did I ever stop this'. I've taken so many drugs over the last 30 years, and this is the only one that works."

• sam...
• June 5, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "Lamictal has been great for my bipolar disorder! Only 10 days on the medication and I’m slowly increasing the dosage. Within less than 2 weeks, I began feeling better, more stable. No more sudden emotional outbursts, overreacting over small matters, getting angry, and going off on the people I love. I feel like I’m going back to my old self, and it’s definitely significantly improved the quality of all my relationships. I’m so thankful for this medication."

• sou...
• March 8, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I have, since I was very young, displayed what I know now as Type I Bipolar disorder. Probably one of the worst feelings in the world is to have emotions ebb in and out like tall crashing waves. Then the sun comes out and the water is calm. Then a couple of days later, here comes the storm. It is the worst feeling to think there is nothing that will help. I felt that way... time after time, different meds. Abilify, to be one exact example, led me to have hypothyroidism, a condition I have to have meds for the rest of my life. I have, after trying many different meds for depression, found only one medicine I would suggest, and that is Lamictal. If you are compatible with this medication, it will help the mood swings a great deal."

• Sof...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "So, so, so, so grateful for this. Have had severe anxiety, depression, severe OCD and depersonalization, ADHD. Who knows?! Lots of trauma in my past, and doctors have tried Wellbutrin, SSRIs, Buspar, Remeron. Been on so many things, and this thing brought some emotions back, way lessened intrusive thoughts, increased a completely non-existent sex drive, helped me with extreme fatigue. Went off, and obsessions and worthlessness came back. Went straight back on, and I felt a difference immediately. Been able to stop sleeping until 12-2 pm too. Wake up in the morning at 7 am, put on a podcast, and I don’t feel like death. Be self-compassionate and have hope. I take it in the morning, 200 mg, because it can give me insomnia if I take it at night. I can cry, I can laugh, I don’t feel like I’m drowning. Oh, pretty much no side effects I can note besides insomnia if taken at night."

• Mis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 21, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "Duration: 3 years. I am 23. This medication changed my life, and I am not exactly sure why I take it because I feel 'normal'. I wasn't bipolar, however, I was just flat out raging, deeply depressed, would stay up all night. I did crazy things. I also had horrible, life-threatening anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, and couldn't sit still. I almost stopped taking it when I finally went to a doctor because I couldn't go to college anymore, I was a complete wreck all the time. Every tiny little thing threw me into anger, depression, and jealousy. The medication made me sick in the beginning, but the doctor told me to keep taking it, this is how these medicines work. After around 3 months, I was not depressed ever, slight mood, but I'm OCD and moody in general! The antidepressant did not work."

• Nic...
• March 9, 2013

For Bipolar Disorder "Depression ever since I can remember. Had 15 good years on Prozac, but it stopped working. Have been trying all kinds of antidepressants & in December I was put on Lamictal. Worked up to 100 mg, stayed on for a while, not much happening - thought it was just another med that wasn't going to work. My doc said the 'therapeutic' dose so am slowly titrating up to 200 mg - currently at 175/day. Just yesterday I think I started feeling the miracle of Lamictal kicking in! Yesterday and today I have felt better than I have felt in soooooo long - don't stop before the miracle happens (unless you have bad side effects, like the rash, which thankfully I do not have). I want to shout my gratefulness from the rooftops!"

• Pug...
• March 8, 2017

For Bipolar Disorder "I am bipolar 2 and take 300mg per day. Has changed my life so much. Helped me kick my alcohol addiction and impulsiveness. The last two years have been great. No drug is perfect however, and the withdrawals can be bad. Make sure you take it every day. So I gave it an 8 because I feel great if I keep up with it. I take it right after I wake up because it helps wake me up and gives me energy. Also makes me very patient with myself, other people and just life in general throughout the day. At my current dosage I wouldn't hesitate to call it a smart drug for me because it lessens my impulsive tendencies and quickness to anger. If this doesn't work for you, don't fret, I study medicine, and there is usually always something available to help."

• LJD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2015

For Bipolar Disorder "I am so glad I was prescribed Lamictal two months ago after struggling with bipolar disorder for the majority of my life. I had been getting progressively worse over the years with manic cycling frequently to the point I couldn't function. I was very skeptical of numerous medications over the years. I thought nothing would help and within three weeks my life completely turned around. The constant edge is gone, I'm calm, thinking clearly and I feel in control. I am so grateful this works for me, hope it works for you."

• Dan...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 3, 2019

For Bipolar Disorder "I don't want to ever be without Lamictal again. I've tried a lot of psych meds over the years, but they either didn't work or had unbearable side effects. SSRIs should NOT be used for bipolar I or II...many doctors still don't know this. Lamictal controlled my moods and relieved depression with NO side effects. Nothing is a cure, so you have to want to get better and work at it also. I love it, no one is the same, but please try it because it changed my life."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2014

For Bipolar Disorder "I was on Lamictal in the past and it was wonderful. It really helped me control my mood and anger issues, but of course, like any bipolar person, I stopped taking medicines. I was put on other meds that affected me the wrong way. I am now back on them and can't wait until I am at my right dosage. You have to give it time and slowly get to the right dosage. It can and will help. In the past, I was on it for 2 years."

• Chr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 7, 2024

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm bipolar 2 and have been taking Lamictal for 10 years. The first 8 months it worked wonders and then stopped. I was only able to reach 100mg daily, which obviously was not enough for me. Eventually, I also went on lithium, which incidentally was a wonder drug for me for several years and then I found I couldn't get to a therapeutic dose anymore due to intolerable side effects. Having tried a few antipsychotics which I stopped due to intolerable side effects (mainly sleepiness and weight gain), I looked again at trying to increase my lamotrigine. Why I hadn't thought of this before, I don't know, but I started to take low doses at night as well as my morning dose and titrated in 12.5mg doses up to 100mg and am now on 100mg twice per day. The result has been so great I'm finding it hard to believe. Food cravings have gone, I'm losing weight again, no naps in the afternoon, wanting to mix with people again, and my clarity of mind is fantastic."