Kris Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 On day 5 of .25 of Lamictal and was instructed to take at bedtime. Do any of you remember not being able to fall asleep even tho you were tired/exhausted? It doesn't seem to rev me up, but even tho it seems like my whole body is sleeping, my brain is not..... Is this a common side effect that will go away? Any tips? Should I cut it in half and take 1/2 in the am and 1/2 in the pm? ALso, I know if varies but how soon did anyone see relief? I'm not bi-polar just adding to quiet my chattering mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waterfall Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 I have to take my Lamictal in the morning or it interferes with my sleep as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aimees Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 I did have this experience on the lower doses of Lamictal. Once I got up to 100 and up that went away and I usually slept pretty well, actually at 150, 200 and 300 sleep was really nice, but I am someone that HAS to take OTC sleep aids. I tried taking mine during the day and it was awful for me. I couldn't get off the couch I was so exhausted. I really didn't start to get much benefit until around 75/100 mgs (i think, it's been a little while), but I was still a rapid cycling basket case with many head aches, so I had to stop taking it. Maybe taking 1/2 in the a.m and 1/2 in the p.m, like you said, would be a good start. Do you take anything to help you sleep at night? That might also be a suggestion. Good luck. aimee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirMarshall Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 This is a well known effect with Lamictal. Some people find it activating, some find it sedating. I had the same problem taking it at night. I would be wider awake 3 hours after taking it than before meds. I switched to morning meds and it stopped right away. Take your dose in the morning. give it a try. a.m. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scatty Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 I have to take mine in tha a.m as well. I started seeing results on 50 mgs but I was also taking depakote. Good luck with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncc1701 Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 Heya Kris, Welcome to the weird world of Lamictal. I for one got the very *first* full-night sleep of my whole 32 years the day I took 25 of Lamictal. Some people have that effect. Others get activated/awakened by it. Sounds like you might benefit from trying it in the morning. I take it at 6:30 pm, get sleeeepy from 7:30 to 10:30, and if I haven't goneto bed before 10:30, I'll be up late. It's weird. As for mood stabilizing, well, once I started sleeping I felt more stable. But I would say I felt better once I got up to 150 or so. I was on birth control, which cuts the Lamictal in half. So, like, 75 ish was actually in me. At any rate, as you can see from the *extensive* coverage given Lamictal on CB, it's a weird drug. I hope it's a good one for you, as it has been for me. If not, well, as they say, there's other fish in the sea. --ncc-- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NARS Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 What they said. It sedates some people at first, and others get activated. Me, it didn't matter when I took it; I slept better and got the antidepressant effect. As I increased the dose I tried taking it all at night or all in the morning but eventually discovered that I do best taking half in the morning and half at night. I must metabolize it quickly, because taking it all at once seemed to leave me nekkid at some point during the day or night. Let your pdoc know if you're switching from day to night or whatever, and definitely let him know whether it's sedating or activating for you. Remember that at higher doses the effect may change or go away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loon-A-TiK Posted April 20, 2006 Share Posted April 20, 2006 I don't know...I've said in posts before (I've taken the stuff for about a year at 400mg) that I don't have any side effects at all from it- ONE drug that doesn't give me issues... I take it in the AM just because it is easiest to take it then. I can also take it at night. Some have a different reaction to it and need to take it at a certain time. Just go with what your body tells you. Your pdoc will be increasing your Lamictal and you'll need to feel comfortable with the dosing, so getting comfortable now will get you in the game. loon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bxt227us Posted May 10, 2006 Share Posted May 10, 2006 Hi, I just wanted to say that I (and many others I think) went through a phase of different flavors of weirdness. This disapeared for me and it REALLY helped the mind-noise/static, and anxiety. It took me until 100mg to notice an improvement but I went through little phases of mixed states after every dose escalation; I've read that from others as well. So hang in there with this med if you can and good luck! On day 5 of .25 of Lamictal and was instructed to take at bedtime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wifezilla Posted May 10, 2006 Share Posted May 10, 2006 Hubby takes it in the morning. Since sleep disturbance is a major issue for his manias, we didn't even take the cahnce of having him take it at night. Working well so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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