raine Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 (edited) I started Lamictal three weeks ago. I began at 25mg for two weeks and was on 50mg for the third week. At the beginning of the second week of 25mg, my eyes started becoming sensitive to sunlight. I thought, "oh it's my contacts or allergies," because it's bad allergy season where I live. Although I've never had quite this allergic reaction before... So the sensitivity continued and eventually my eyes started swelling, and tearing constantly, and had pulsing pain. Still believing it was contacts or allergies, I left my contacts out and things didn't change. Once it was happening for about a week and a half, I called my pdoc and he said to stop the Lamictal and go to the ophthalmologist. So I went and he said it was either allergies or an infection, he wasn't sure. But, I don't think he knew anything about Lamictal, and I had told him I had just begun taking it. I just looked at the PI sheet and it says it binds to melanin containing tissues, such as the eye, and can have effects on these tissues. Just curious if anyone has had a similar experience? I would kind of like to give it another chance but don't want to harm my eyes... Sorry so long... Edited February 17, 2008 by raine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mghalt Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 After 100 mg, I couldn't even SEE in my right eye because of the Lamictal. I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on but the only difference was the fact that I was on Lamictal. I weaned off of it and sure enough, my sight came back. I brought the eye issues to the pdoc and she looked it up on Google and just said, "it doesn't look like a side effect." It seems like they better do some more studies on this stuff because it obviously IS! I am not the only one who has had problems like this either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raine Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Wow, that's awful! Yeah I stopped the Lamictal and all of the eye symptoms have gone away. I've been looking up info everywhere on the internet and found other people that had some major eye issues on the Lamictal. I think I'd rather lose a kidney on lithium than my eyesight... oh the sacrifices! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamer Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Yes, terrible eye problems with Lamictal. Very itchy and sensitive. Couldn't wear my contact lenses - even for months after I quit taking the Lamictal. Also had a terribly itchy skin rash. Be careful with this med; allergic reactions can be very serious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raine Posted February 21, 2008 Author Share Posted February 21, 2008 Thx dreamer. Yeah, I'm surprised to just be finding out about these serious, less discussed allergic reactions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HarborT0m Posted March 3, 2008 Share Posted March 3, 2008 Wow, that's awful! Yeah I stopped the Lamictal and all of the eye symptoms have gone away. I've been looking up info everywhere on the internet and found other people that had some major eye issues on the Lamictal. I think I'd rather lose a kidney on lithium than my eyesight... oh the sacrifices! I had some serious eye pain. Went to the Eye Dr and was told I had some dry spots on the eye and use special drops. I tried it and it didn't help. Stopped taking Lamictal after 13 mos and it is getting better. I feel better too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 I started out on 25mg and now at six weeks am at 75mg. Severe headaches, blurred vision, soreness of eye, conjunctivitis/pink eye, itching of eye, and today my eye is yellow. I stopped the med 2 days ago... This drug scares me with all the side effects I've read, including death from rash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest soon2bdownunder Posted May 18, 2008 Share Posted May 18, 2008 . I just looked at the PI sheet and it says it binds to melanin containing tissues, such as the eye, and can have effects on these tissues. Just curious if anyone has had a similar experience? I would kind of like to give it another chance but don't want to harm my eyes... Sorry so long... I got nystagmus while on 600mg. Dropped it to 400mg & it stopped. Still have an issue on the one eye, but I'm sure that is because the damn "activity" is still going. Neuro also said to see a neuro-op. I had to add 25mg recently & the blurred vision returned. So back to 400 I will go & up my 3000mg keppra to 3250 & see how the "activity" goes. Dr'.s don't have the time to read the PI, but here is a good Epi. to ask if questions arise. I will have a copy of this response from Dr. Ficker when I inform my neuro that I upped the keppra dose. Epilepsy Keppra 04/25/2008 07:09PM Question: I heard the max. level (3000mg) has been changed to 4500mg. Any truth to that? Answer: The current maximum FDA recommended dose of Keppra is still 3000 mg per day. The dose is often increased beyond 3000 mg per day in patients who do not respond to lower doses. For more information: Go to the Epilepsy health topic, where you can: Read articles on this topic Browse the previously asked questions Ask your own question. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Response by: David M. Ficker, MD Associate Professor Department of Neurology College of Medicine University of Cincinnati Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reborn Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Lamictal binds to melanin in the human eye. GSK states that they do not know the long term effects of this, but no studies have shown eye damage. Don't freak out about it, but you might want to keep that in consideration. BTW, am I sadistic if I think the phrase "death by rash" is funny? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowCat Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 I started Lamictal three weeks ago. I began at 25mg for two weeks and was on 50mg for the third week. At the beginning of the second week of 25mg, my eyes started becoming sensitive to sunlight. Oh... I just got that today for the first time... I went outside to go to a pdoc appointment and I kinda went "aaaah!!! natural light... get it off me!!!". I thought it was just my natural geek tendencies coming to the fore (seeing as I hadn't stepped outside all week), but it seems I'm a tad photophobic right now. I hope it doesn't get worse like yours did... I'd really like the Lamictal to work because rash risk or not, it has a hell of a lot less side effects than most mood stabilisers (or is it maybe they're just not listed as accurately?? Well at least I do gather it doesn't make your IQ decrease by 50 points a la Lithium and Sodium Valproate...) I'm at 50mg right now, about to go up to 100mg. I'm kinda really hoping it works and stabilises me... in fact I'm screwed big time if it doesn't (rent will go up seriously within 2 months: no job by then=no be able to pay rent...) :ph34r: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stars Posted May 25, 2008 Share Posted May 25, 2008 I just started lamictil and I'm experiencing some eye swelling, or puffiness. My eyes look like allergy eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackson Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 (edited) Im on Lithium 900mg, Lamictal 200 mg and Wellbutrin 300 mg.. what an awesome combo for moods. But I'm very very sensitive to outside light, wear my sunglasses in doors sometime, tearing up a lot, contacts are burning like hell, cant wear them most of the time ... I cant tell you which drug it is but I haven't seen anything like what all you guys said on the Lithium or Wellbutrin forums. I feel a lot less depressed with this combo so I totally recommend it, the obsessive desire to kill myself or how I f-ed up my life has gone away completely.. now I just think a lot of how much I want a girlfriend but that seems more sane. I think I'm going to have to wean off the Lamictal, I really don't want to.. I love love love the drug and I highly recommend it but I don't know if I can live like this .. I feel like I'm crying and Im not even feeling down right now. The biggest irony of this whole thing... a month ago before this med combo I was crying I was so depressed.. Its like some cosmic joke. I pray that the lithium and wellbutrin alone are enough to keep me sane. we'll see... Edited May 8, 2010 by jackson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesme Posted May 8, 2010 Share Posted May 8, 2010 I'm like Jackson in that I also feel like crying my eyes out, but can't. The only thing I've noticed is that it seems to make my vision a little more fuzzy or that could just be the insomnia that's been plaguing me lately and xanax I've had to take because of it. I'm only up to 100 mg. and I don't feel better or worse. Only thing positive it's done is subdued my appetite and I've lost weight because of it. I think that's the only thing I'd miss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bc boy Posted May 23, 2010 Share Posted May 23, 2010 Yes, terrible eye problems with Lamictal. Very itchy and sensitive. Couldn't wear my contact lenses - even for months after I quit taking the Lamictal. Also had a terribly itchy skin rash. Be careful with this med; allergic reactions can be very serious. I am getting off lamictal at the moment down to 50mg from 200mg. Ever since i started lamictal I havent been able to wear contacts either. So I am hoping it wont take to long to be able to wear them again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ken Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 It has been the best thing in my life for helping me be happy and finally makeing me feel normal. I'm 53 and obviously been bi polar all my life been taking for about a year and experiencing eye pain especially in the sunlight. I don't want to go back to being a miserable person that can't function normally in society. I guess you just have to pay a price for anything good, would rather go blind than have the life I had before! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConnorBonnor22 Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Good drug awful side effects!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ConnorBonnor22 Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 I wish everyone the best and thank u for posting!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Hi, ConnorBonnor22, this thread was started 6 years ago. You are more likely to get answers about Lamictal if you start a new thread. Don't feel that you have to dig around that much to come up with something helpful. There have been lots of long Lamictal threads started by different people, you won't be the first or the last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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