crazynblonde Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Anyone else have bad side effects from lamictal?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunaRufina Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 (edited) Sometimes. Is that why you want to discontinue? If so- are you sure they aren't transient? Follow up question, what is your actual PLAN for discontinuing? ...do you have a plan for discontinuation? It is an anticonvulsant. As with most meds, it is not generally recommended you just suddenly stop lamictal, but even more caution is advised as you risk more than a "general feeling of blah". More potential for pretty bad shit. Edited June 21, 2014 by LunaRufina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
writehellarandomshiny Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Um... This is posted in "introductions", so while i haven't had any experience w/ that particular drug, i'm going to say hey, welcome to the boards, and hope that you enjoy and find some help here. welcome! so.... yeah! enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjimjam Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 (edited) I had some mild side-effects. Heartburn, dry eyes, dry mouth, nausea and diarrhea. ETA: Hi and welcome to CB Also, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions for weaning off the Lamictal. Going off cold turkey is unpleasant (trust me) and puts you at risk for rebound seizures, even if you're not epileptic. Edited June 21, 2014 by mcjimjam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 This belongs on the anticonvulsant (AC) board, so I'm moving it there. Please feel free to introduce yourself to us formally, and be sure to read the rules if you haven't already done so. Mia (AC moderator) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 We need much more information to answer your original question properly. Luna and mcjimjam pretty much covered what we need to know. The most important thing is that you do not do this on your own. We are not kidding when we say that this needs to be done slowly and carefully because of the risk of seizures. Even if you've never had one in your life before this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susieb Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 I cannot stress enough that for me PERSONALLY, stopping lamictal cold turkey was the single worst thing I have EVER done, psychiatric medicine-wise. I am still recovering from the residual effects of cold turkey-ing Lamictal and Klonopin. No, I never had a seizure, but... I have had an odyssey of other physical issues that have lasted SEVEN months-- And I mean-- ZERO ability to go out, have a normal life... I spent most of the first 5 mos in & out of E.R. rooms. I am in menopause/perimenopause-- extremely uncomfortable, trust me... that may or may not have been precipitated by my 'messing around' with stopping Lamictal and Klonopin. I am having my gallbladder removed, I lost sooo much weight so quickly after: stopping Lamictal and Klonopin and only taking Wellbutrin. I was hospitalized for 5 days in a psychiatric hospital-- after nearly 30 yrs of successfully navigating/handling my bi-polar disorder just fine--no hospitalizations. Having read all that-- I hope you take everyone else's advice, talk to a GOOD psychiatrist-- that is, I hope yours IS good, reasonable, and receptive/ truly caring and capable (mine was NOT) and you titrate off Lamictal responsibly, if that is your final choice. To be honest-- I actually loved how Lamictal made me feel, my low grade depression lifted after what felt like years of just... dealing with it on Depakote/Wellbutrin. MY psychiatrist insisted I go up to 100 mgs of Lamictal, instead of simply keeping me at 50 mgs... again, I felt great, and I had minimal side effects at that dose. dry nasal passages, that's what I remember the most... the nausea, vomiting, peeling skin on my fingers (mild, NOT 'THE RASH'), did not start until 100 mgs. I have since tried to re-take Lamictal, and currently, I cannot-- too much nausea. I am actually going to ask my p-doc if I can re-try to titrate up on it super slowly--- just once more, AFTER my gallbladder removal & recovery. I liked Lamictal that much. Good Luck. Please be safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shesellsseashells Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 I was told by a pdoc that one needs to wean off Lamictal very slowly and carefully under supervision. On the side effects front, I found for a while that I had some cognitive issues with my short-term memory. i was on 200 mg for a couple of years and titrated to 400 mg a few months ago. Recently the side effects have improved: my memory is a bit sharper and I'm not having as much trouble word-finding. I wanted to ditch it, too, but it has been such an effective mood stabilizer for me at the current dose that I wouldn't give it up for (almost) anything! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shesellsseashells Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 I cannot stress enough that for me PERSONALLY, stopping lamictal cold turkey was the single worst thing I have EVER done, psychiatric medicine-wise. I am still recovering from the residual effects of cold turkey-ing Lamictal and Klonopin. No, I never had a seizure, but... I have had an odyssey of other physical issues that have lasted SEVEN months-- And I mean-- ZERO ability to go out, have a normal life... I spent most of the first 5 mos in & out of E.R. rooms. I am in menopause/perimenopause-- extremely uncomfortable, trust me... that may or may not have been precipitated by my 'messing around' with stopping Lamictal and Klonopin. I am having my gallbladder removed, I lost sooo much weight so quickly after: stopping Lamictal and Klonopin and only taking Wellbutrin. I was hospitalized for 5 days in a psychiatric hospital-- after nearly 30 yrs of successfully navigating/handling my bi-polar disorder just fine--no hospitalizations. Having read all that-- I hope you take everyone else's advice, talk to a GOOD psychiatrist-- that is, I hope yours IS good, reasonable, and receptive/ truly caring and capable (mine was NOT) and you titrate off Lamictal responsibly, if that is your final choice. To be honest-- I actually loved how Lamictal made me feel, my low grade depression lifted after what felt like years of just... dealing with it on Depakote/Wellbutrin. MY psychiatrist insisted I go up to 100 mgs of Lamictal, instead of simply keeping me at 50 mgs... again, I felt great, and I had minimal side effects at that dose. dry nasal passages, that's what I remember the most... the nausea, vomiting, peeling skin on my fingers (mild, NOT 'THE RASH'), did not start until 100 mgs. I have since tried to re-take Lamictal, and currently, I cannot-- too much nausea. I am actually going to ask my p-doc if I can re-try to titrate up on it super slowly--- just once more, AFTER my gallbladder removal & recovery. I liked Lamictal that much. Good Luck. Please be safe. I got a full-body rash (not THE rash) the first time I took Lamictal. The second time I started it my pdoc titrated me up even more slowly, and I didn't get a rash. I hope your slow titration works for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Basically, this post: Sometimes. Is that why you want to discontinue? If so- are you sure they aren't transient? Follow up question, what is your actual PLAN for discontinuing? ...do you have a plan for discontinuation? It is an anticonvulsant. As with most meds, it is not generally recommended you just suddenly stop lamictal, but even more caution is advised as you risk more than a "general feeling of blah". More potential for pretty bad shit. Thanks Luna. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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