caitastrophe Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 I seem to remember somebody telling me that this was a possible thing with Lamictal. Being sensitive to light, or sunlight. The reason I ask is because friends have noticed I have been getting progressively worse about being dazzled/blinded by headlights while driving even when they're not on high beams, and just by generally being outdoors in the sunlight, etc. I know it can cause weirdness with skin, which is what prompted me to look into it, because I recently got a sunburn that I felt like was a lot worse than it ought to have been especially when no one else in my group sitting in the same spot and none of us with sunblock did not get sunburned? idk it might just be because I'm a weenie and Caucasian whiter than sour cream. this kinda feels like a dumb question but you guys seem knowledgeable about this and I want to know if it's something I should mention to my doctor when I see him next time. (I'm on Wellbutrin as well...? So who knows what is causing what if anything.) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BipolarSpinster Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 4 hours ago, caitastrophe said: I seem to remember somebody telling me that this was a possible thing with Lamictal. Being sensitive to light, or sunlight. The reason I ask is because friends have noticed I have been getting progressively worse about being dazzled/blinded by headlights while driving even when they're not on high beams, and just by generally being outdoors in the sunlight, etc. I know it can cause weirdness with skin, which is what prompted me to look into it, because I recently got a sunburn that I felt like was a lot worse than it ought to have been especially when no one else in my group sitting in the same spot and none of us with sunblock did not get sunburned? idk it might just be because I'm a weenie and Caucasian whiter than sour cream. this kinda feels like a dumb question but you guys seem knowledgeable about this and I want to know if it's something I should mention to my doctor when I see him next time. (I'm on Wellbutrin as well...? So who knows what is causing what if anything.) Oh god this explains things if so! People in my building think I’m a weirdo cause I wear sunglasses all the time. Not if it’s truly cloudy...but if it’s cloudy and the tiniest amount of sun is above it hurts. So maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 If I recall correctly, all of the anticonvulsants and many of the anti-psychotics cause photosensitivity. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BipolarSpinster Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 (edited) 3 minutes ago, jt07 said: If I recall correctly, all of the anticonvulsants and many of the anti-psychotics cause photosensitivity. Damn, 35 years into this and I’m clueless still. Edit: thanks! Edited June 3, 2018 by BipolarSpinster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 (edited) Having light colored eyes (blue or green) makes your eyes more sensitive to light. My eyes (blue) are very sensitive to light, I did not notice this increasing when I took Lamictal but many meds have this side effect in some people, Lamictal is one of these meds. It may or may not happen to you. https://www.dukehealth.org/blog/myth-or-fact-people-light-eyes-are-more-sensitive-sunlight Edited June 4, 2018 by notloki add link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 My eyes are hazel, but they’ve always been very light-sensitive, and it’s gotten much worse in recent years. While we’re on the subject, I have another question. I can no longer look at images flashing by rapidly. Like, when my husband fast-forwards something on tv I have to cover my eyes. And sudden bright flashes of light are an insta-migraine. I didn’t think to associate any of this with LTG. Is it really a possibility? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caitastrophe Posted June 4, 2018 Author Share Posted June 4, 2018 My eyes are darkish green/hazel so I'm not sure it counts tbh. But this is all good information to have. I unfortunately had to cancel my psych appointment on account of not having money to go, but the next time I definitely want to bring up this (specifically the skin not necessarily the eyes bc I wanna know if I need to be putting sunblock on just to go outdoors at all) and other problems I"ve been having like clenching my jaw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 Oh, the sunblock I can answer. Yes. Absolutely yes. You burn now; even if you never have before, you do now. I don't leave the house without sunscreen. I can recommend a whole host of good ones if you so desire. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Haiku Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 I have taken lamictal for a number of years and yeah, my skin is more sensitive to the sun than it used to be. I've always attributed this to an autoimmune problem I have, but it could also be aggravated by lamictal. My eyes are light blue-gray and I also have to wear sunglasses all the time when I'm out, but I always figured that was because they're light colored. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 Other thrilling things LTG has done to my skin: minor wounds don’t heal as fast or as well-I scar more easily. Bug bites might as well all have been delivered by radioactive insects. If you’re exposed to poison ivy, I suggest you chew off the limb before the rash can develop. If you want to talk about chemical sensitivities to skin care products, I can go there, too. I’ve been on lamictal since 2011. It’s 100% worth it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 I had no side effects at all until I approached 600 mg/day. Then major problems. Keep in mind Lamictal is an anticonvulsant, that is what it had indications for: seizures (and none for bipolar). It was intended to be started at 600 mg/day and people went up to 1200 mg/day. 100-300 mg/day is really nothing. It is a very small dose. A few may be sensitive to it but it is largely side effect free up to 300 mg/day n the general population. This board does not represent the general population. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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