Lamictal and joint and tooth pain

[Whizdum]

I've been on 300mg Lamictal per day for 5 years. I remember having back, joint, and tooth pain a few months after starting it but because I was also starting other meds, I didn't make the connection that Lamictal was the cause. Since starting Lamictal, I've had tooth erosion and I've lost 5 teeth despite very good oral hygiene. I've also had ankle pain and popping in my knees that has prohibited me from many activities such as running. I went off it a couple of months ago for electroconvulsive therapy and am now getting back on it and am experiencing the issue with teeth and joints, so I know it's the Lamictal causing it.

My doctor doesn't seem to have any opinion on the cause. I think that Lamictal probably reduces the absorbtion of certain nutrients. I know that healthy teeth and joints require more than just calcium and vitamin D. I am asking for advice from others on this board who may understand what supplements I might take to address this issue. Thank you in advance for your educated input in this matter.

FYI, I am a 35 year old male

[Nebulous Nurse]

I have also been on Lamictal for five years. I've never been able to tolerate a dose higher than 100 mg due to the achy joint and muscle pain it brings with it. All anticonvulsants have been implicated in osteoporosis in long term use, especially in women. As a nurse, I have received an educational update a few years ago encouraging all women on long term use of anticonvulsants to be on calcium and Vitamin D supplements. I am curious if the article only mentions women because anticonvulsant use is more common amongst them, and they are already at higher risk for osteoporosis. The problem with looking at data purely on a physical characteristic level as a opposed to a cause and effect level is that it leads to recommendations like that which ignore the implications for unique individuals. Statistically it may be more of a problem amongst women, but if men are affected as well, they need to know. I'm ashamed that I didn't even think twice when that info came out, but incorporated it into my personal med routine and requested it for all my female patients on anticonvulsants. I had plenty of male patients on them as well, but didn't think twice about it.

I would recommend following all of the guidelines for prevention of osteoporosis. Try to eat a diet rich in Calcium - yogurt, cheese, broccoli, Kale, etc. Calcium supplements in small amounts throughout the day with food. Read up on the latest recommendations for Vit D, as new research is showing we need much higher levels depending on how far north we live and our sunlight exposure. I would probably request a Vitamin D blood test. Mine was critically low when they took it two years ago, and despite very heavy supplementation (5,000-10,000 IUs a day), it is still not optimal. There are certainly other supplements you may want to research, but I don't have enough knowledge to comment on any of them.

Strength and resistance training are also very important.

I would certainly not ignore the symptoms you describe, and your doctor's lack of opinion or advice doesn't impress me. But in our current specialized medical system, if the side effect of a medication prescribed by one specialist impacts a body system outside of their specialty, nobody wants to take responsibility for addressing it. I've never been encouraged to take Calcium and Vit D from a professional, and there have been many different MDs, nurses, and pharmacists who could have made the recommendation.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is a big class action lawsuit ten to twenty years from now.