Hi Julie,
I was taking generic Lamictal for 4 weeks during December, but around Christmas the side effects-headache, anxiety-became too much on 50mg. I know you’re not a doctor, but in your experience do these subside over time. I’m a street musician in Portland and just getting turned on to your bi-polar crusade. Your work looks pretty amazing.
Regards,
Ted
Hi Ted,
Well, side effects are so tricky as they depend on the person. For example, I take 500mg of generic Lamictal (also called generic Lamotrigine) and have more side effects when my dose gets too low!
The normal Lamictal dose is 250mg- but that is just an average. What matters is that it works- the dose depends on the person taking the meds.
My first question would be just that- did it work? If it did, you may want to wait out the side effects if you can- if they are even moderately tolerable. It’s such a great drug when it works, but the side effects can be tough. I had them for three months until they got better. Mine were severe neck stiffness and breathing problems. Now I get the restless legs and twitching! It is an anti epileptic drug, so it makes sense it would really affect our nervous systems. If the side effects really are impossible to live with, you have some options.
If you are well enough to function in terms of bipolar- then you can talk to your doctor about going onto a lower dose until you can tolerate the side effects and then very slowing going up in dose. You have to be really careful about going down in dose though as withdrawal can be tough and painful!
This is definitely something to talk about with your doctor. I would have a list of questions to ask so that you can get the most out of an office visit. I don’t suggest doing this on your own as you need to be closely monitored for mood swings. I went down too quickly once and got super depressed.
It can take many months for a medication to work and many months for the side effects to lessen. Sometimes, they don’t go away and you have to switch meds. I hope your side effects can get better as Lamictal is such an amazing drug.
Good luck, maybe I will see you when I walk around in Portland!
Julie
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Hi Julie and Ted!
I am just learning more about the use of several meds (esp. the anti-epileptic meds) and have been made aware of the fact that these meds can demand very lengthy introductions and very a gradual increases (or decreases, if/when decreases are “in order”) in hopes of evoking fewer side-effects.
This time of adjusting can sometimes seem like a very long time and can become a bit disparaging.:(
I was not able to tolerate lamotrigine, much to my dismay.:( I had started a “serious” rash (and more) even though we were increasing on a painfully slow dosing schedule.
After assessing the rash, the dermatologists had verified lamotrigine was not an option for me.
(I was very disappointed, as it seems to be a great option for many.)
I have tried some other AEDs, in hopes of tolerating them. I have a limited tolerance. One of the other AED drugs had started a drug-induced autoimmune lupus for me.
Is it likely that all of the anti-epileptic meds need comparatively slower titration (than with some of the other drug classes) in order to allow for better tolerance?
Thanks for any input you share!:)
Best wishes!:)