Kimelou Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 I'm suppose to start lamictal tomorrow ... Is it like speed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 No, why would it be? It's an anti-convulsant, not a stimulant. Lamictal is one of the more difficult titrations. People experience a lot of side effects while s-l-o-w-l-y titrating up to a therapeutic dose. Things like aches and pains (especially legs, but everywhere), extremely vivid and disturbing dreams, headaches, mood swings, not to mention both minor rashes, and "THE RASH." And that is what I came up with off the top of my head. For most people, the side effects goes away once they have reached their personal therapeutic dose. So don't give up if you have most of the above side effects. You should contact your pdoc about rashes that break out, although any AC can cause rashes. But with Lamictal in particular, rashes should be handled conservatively Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimelou Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 I'm suppose to start lamictal tomorrow ... Is it like speed? Of course it's not. Where on earth would you get that idea? crtclms is right in saying that the titration on lamotrigine (I take a lamictal generic) is reeeeallly slow. I started off on 12.5mg, then doubled that every two weeks. I am finally at 250mg after a few months and STILL not at my target dose of 400mg. It requires a lot of patience. if this med works, it works really well. The big issue (and the main reason for the slow titration) is with rashes, so contact your pdoc the minute you see one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zxrtpky7g Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I hope that lamictal will work for you. It did not work for me. Make sure that once you are on it, that you don't stop it cold turkey and resume taking it again at the full dose. Make sure you stay on it as prescribed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I hope that lamictal will work for you. It did not work for me. Make sure that once you are on it, that you don't stop it cold turkey and resume taking it again at the full dose. Make sure you stay on it as prescribed. ^THIS. It really works well for me also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 No, it's not like speed. They don't really make pmeds like speed because they would get extremely abused and whatnot.. It's probably going to be the opposite. What would give you the idea its like speed? The titration can be rough, like said above. Its slow, and you may need a PRN like ativan for anxiety. You'll go up about 25mg a week or every other week until you hit the target dose, which is around 200, 250 or even 300mg. When you hit the sweet spot, the target dose for you, you'll know it. You'll feel a lot more stable, the annoying side effects from titration will go away, and you'll be calmer and the bipolar or mood symptoms will level out. It's a good med. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjimjam Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 For me it was like speed at first but I think that's cause it made me hypo. Once I was stable with an AAP added, it wasn't stimulating at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catnapper Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 It makes me drowsy so I take it at bedtime. My pdoc says about 20% of his patients find it sedating. But it's a great drug and has done wonders for me - I've been stable for over five years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vjmartz3 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Are the vivid dreams weird? Im supposed to start this med and the thought of vivid dreams sort of gives me some anxiety. I don't like the high feeling some meds give you and im scared of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Are the vivid dreams weird? Im supposed to start this med and the thought of vivid dreams sort of gives me some anxiety. I don't like the high feeling some meds give you and im scared of it. For me, the vivid dreams are very realistic, but those could also be from other meds that I am on. Are you on any other medication/s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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