riseandshine Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 --------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muriel Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Yes, it can improve over time and with different (higher) dosages. You may just need to sit at, say, 200mg for 3-4 weeks to start feeling better. It's hard to tell until you try. You can add some supplements to your diet for the hair loss if it becomes a problem again-- that can help sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenahandbasket Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 If you are so cognitively impaired that you can't function, then even significant"improvement" is not enough. I have taken a lot of meds, and this one was by far the most dangerous in it's cognitive side effects. The only reason I made it past my lamictal period financially is with my spouse's help. Otherwise, I may be homeless. Y That stuff is toxic and should be banned. I'm lucky it didn't effect me permanently. There are a lot of other meds to try. If you're pdoc can't think of any, check this site. A lot of time pdocs don't even know half the options. They're education is old and they haven't kept up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Just because a medication didn't work for you, doesn't mean it's "toxic" and should be banned. I am on Lamictal and I haven't had any cognitive side effects at all. To the OP - honestly, if I were in school and I were feeling like that, I would ask to try another medication. Maybe if you can't find anything else by next summer, you can do the Lamictal titration while you're off school? Unless you have tried TONS of stuff and are really out of options, in which case it might be worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muriel Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I have taken a lot of meds, and this one was by far the most dangerous in it's cognitive side effects. The only reason I made it past my lamictal period financially is with my spouse's help. Otherwise, I may be homeless. Y That stuff is toxic and should be banned. I'm lucky it didn't effect me permanently. A little alarmist, huh? I took Lamictal for 5 years and suffered no cognitive side effects. In fact, it was pretty side effect free for me. It just depends on the person taking it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I take Lamictal, and it is in no way "toxic". I found that the side effects go away after about 2 weeks following a dose change. I don't have any side effects from it at all now, and I've been all the way up to 600 mg. I would agree that now is probably not a good time to do the titration if you are in school since you will be changing the dose every couple of weeks (and then have to get used to the new dose alll over again each time). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Lamictal helps to keep my poor brain on an even keel, but it does have some cognitive side-effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancesintherain Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 You definitely wouldn't be seen as non-compliant if you decide the side effects are too much for now while you're in school and ask for an earlier appointment to see if there's an alternative. You would potentially be non-compliant if you either stopped on your own without talking to your doctor or stopped after the appointment against medical advice. But there's nothing wrong saying that right now the side effects don't work. My lamictal-related side effects did fade and I've reached a great dose w/ no residual issues. I swear by it. But that doesn't mean it's the right time in the year for you to give it a go. Do you have summers off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notfred Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 danceintherain, thanks for the comment. I guess I am non-compliant, but not intentionally so? I am just too timid/afraid/shy to reach out to the pdoc after-hours or between appointments. I never want to seem like a burden or to bother them, but being so avoidant probably just digs me deeper into a hole. I don't have summers off to mess around with meds, but without meds, something's gonna give. Oh, this complicated life! Remember who is paying whom for services. Don't hesitate to call. It is not that complicated, only it you make it though. I call my doc all the time between appointments. nf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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