What dose did lamictal start kicking in for you?

[Persephone]

I know this is a YMMV kind of thing, but what dosage did lamictal start having AD effects for you? Tomorrow I'm starting 50 mg - and so far I'm even deeper in the abyss . For those of you who lamictal is your miracle drug, how long were you on it before you knew?

[dancesintherain]

I felt reasonably good relief at 150 mg and very good relief at 200 mg. We're trying the increase to 250 just to see if there's any added benefit, but will go back down if there's nothing noticeable or if the cognitive effects come into play.

[Karin]

I know this is a YMMV kind of thing, but what dosage did lamictal start having AD effects for you? Tomorrow I'm starting 50 mg - and so far I'm even deeper in the abyss . For those of you who lamictal is your miracle drug, how long were you on it before you knew?

Hi. Lamictal can take about 6-8 weeks before starting to have any effect. To me, as a mood stabiliser, to control the extremes. I titrated up to 200 mg. I also take a separate AD, Wellbutrin 300 mg. I am completely stable, just still battle a bit with anger attacks, which are also coming under control now.

[maybetinymaybesad]

it helped me pull out of a depression when i increased to 50 mg. i am taking it for stubborn depression. i don't have bipolar disorder. however, it is giving me this incredible equanimity....it's a little scary.

[rowen]

150 mg is my sweet spot. I've been on it twice, and each time I felt a little lift with the dose increase, but then I'd sort of drop down again. The first time I followed the titration schedule in the little orange packet thing. The second time I was told to go up when I felt the need to go up. No mood drops at 150 mg, at least so far.

[Littlewing]

Well, at 300mg and rising...I'm still waiting for it to balance me out. But then I rapid cycle so that's not helping matters. And to be honest, I think the BPD is also an issue with it.

[unipolarbear]

I know this is a YMMV kind of thing.... For those of you who lamictal is your miracle drug, how long were you on it before you knew?

I have titrated up to 350mg and it seems to be working well (meaning 'makes me more even-keeled'). I went to 400 too fast and it made me feel like I had bugs on my face sometimes and gave me incredible orgasms. Okay, too much info, but that's what it did for me. 350 seems to be good for me (I rapid cycle).

But there is a lamictal blood test. My pdoc relies heavily on it, and I've had several done. The range is like 4-18 or something. I'm not sure what the measure is, but I was at a 4 on 300mg and we're now hoping for a 6 on 350mg. My pdoc says this will be a good, therapeutic dose. But YMMV, as you said. When it works for you, then it works for you and when it works for me is sortof irrelevant.

Hope this helps, Andrew

[mika]

I started feeling happy right away at 25 mg! Unfortunately I am taking it for seizure control and had to titrate up to 500mg. It's too bad because I would rather take it just for moods. It doesn't work that way at 500mg. Trust me, lol.

[fuchsia groan]

I wound up needing 300 mg, plus 2 other meds, though I did get some relief before that. No side effects at 300 mg, except for very twitchy peripheral vision (always seeing something out of the corner of my eye).

I hope it will work for you soon.