Lamotrigine

star runner · 31-12-2009, 10:58 PM

Has anybody else had this drug? If so, were you told why you were on it? Also, did it help? Thanks

Bleeding Angel · 31-12-2009, 11:54 PM

Its an anti-convulsent ie epilepsy medication. Its used off lable as a mood stabilizer. I have to say it worked wonders for me, and made my moods stable.

However if your on doube ask the person who prescribed you what they are giving you it for.

bhappy · 01-01-2010, 01:41 AM

I was put on this as a mood stabiliser, mostly depression. It worked wonders for me, unfortunately, I was allergic so had to come off.

Bhappy

Morpheus · 01-01-2010, 11:09 AM

i was on it for over a year, it did help to stabilise my mood a little but not as much as they hoped for so I stopped taking it. the combination i got also made me feel a little numb.

Artychik · 01-01-2010, 10:15 PM

I've been on this a couple of times, as said above it's used as a mood stabiliser.

I was on it to augment whatever anti-depressant I was on at the time.

I would hope any doctor would explain why they are prescribing any medication to you, is there something in particular you are concerned about?

Ami · 01-01-2010, 11:56 PM

Ive been on this. I was told it was bing used for me as a bipolar mood stabiliser where depression is more prominent.

wagg · 03-01-2010, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qvazzy

i was on it for over a year, it did help to stabilise my mood a little but not as much as they hoped for so I stopped taking it. the combination i got also made me feel a little numb.

Me too, I was on it for a couple years actually. It was originally prescribed for mood stability and to help with self-harming urges. I felt really numb and empty and... boring? :-/ I didn't realize it until I went off though.

I was also on 3 or 4 other meds at the same time so these side effects may not actually be from this drug.

Sigma · 03-01-2010, 03:40 PM

I've just started taking it as a mood stabiliser along with an anti-depressent (diagnosis depresion - usually mild but with short and intense swings into more severe & suicidal). Too soon to know if it works yet, as I'm working up slowly to a therapeutic dose to hopefully avoid serious side effects.

Geranium · 04-01-2010, 02:53 AM

It's for epilepsy/ mood disorders (especially bi-polar but not only that).

I've been on it for 2 yrs -taking it for recurrent depressive episodes, sometimes sudden and very severe ones -because therapy/anti-depressants didn't help.

I was in a long long patch of pretty constant depression and it did seem to pull me up out of that - but I'm still have horrible short lived episodes. Anyway all these things work differently for each person.

They should tell you why they're giving you a certain drug. If your not clear do ask.

CeNedraLivesOn · 04-01-2010, 06:50 AM

As others have said it's a mood stabiliser. I was prescribed it because it was supposed to have less side effects that the other things I was taking and was supposed to be a one-stop, ie I'd only take that and come off the other 3 things. It was supposed to help with my anxiety as well as depression and I've heard it can be really useful. Interestingly, contrary to what others have said, it was supposed to be less numbing that other AD's. Dunno. I had an alergic reaction so had to stop it. Read the pamphlet and stop taking it immediately if you get a rash or other allergic symptoms.
Ce

wagg · 04-01-2010, 07:55 AM

Yeah I had to go on it extremely slowly because of the risk of Steven Johnson's Syndrome, which can be life threatening.

grazygal · 15-01-2010, 12:12 AM

i have just started taking this and i am already getting the side affects in always sick and dizzy. i am in hospital but i have to ask for something to stop me being sick it really annoying and i cant sleep i also think it is damaging my kidneys. anyone else had any side affects from this?

Geranium · 15-01-2010, 06:16 PM

Hi grazygal, I had very mild feelings of sickness/dizziness at first, but they went away after a few weeks. Mine were not much though.

I went from a tiny dose to full dose very slowly (partly because there's less risk of "the rash" that way - the rash is a sign of a dangerous syndrome.) I'm wondering if they've put your dose up a bit fast? - can you ask?

I've not heard of kidney damage with this, and it's not on the leaflet that comes with it which usually would mention rare side effects. What makes you think it's effecting your kidneys?

grazygal · 26-01-2010, 10:34 PM

they have taken me off this now and put me on olazapine instead so not feeling as many side affects now