Anyone here on Lamictal?

I have Bipolar 2 w/ psychotic features. I see my Doctor for the first time in six months on the 5th of July. Budget cuts have hurt County Mental Health funding here deeply this year. I've recently come off a 7 month bout with depression and I'm looking for something to suggest to the doctor when I see him(her.) From what I've read on the web Lactil has had successes with people in my situation. Do any of you have any experience with it? Does it ease depression? Are there any side effects that would be a deal breaker?

I've been on Lamictal since my Dx. I've found that it serves as an anti-depressant per se and more as a mood stabilizer. Granted, this means anti-depressant effects by extension. I've noticed no side effects. The only one to watch out for is a rash which is indicative of a serious reaction. It's quite rare and I'm sure your doc will talk to you about it. For that reason, Lamictal (Lamotrigine is the generic) is titrated up quite slowly. After the first month or two if you don't have a rash you're in the clear.

I've found it helps a lot. It has lessened the severity of my mood swings considerably. Also, because it's generic it's really cheap.

Hope it works for you.

Yep! I'm on 200 mg of Lamictal. They work you up in dosage, and I really felt more stable at 200mg. It has lessened my suicidal thoughts dramatically, though I still get them once in a blue moon, and I have had no side effects from it.

I've been on Lamictal on an off for 4 years. While initially, it worked well for me (I was able to get a part time job, and finished high school and started college), but I have a bad habit of going OFF lamictal, more than any other med I've been on. I'm on it again, along with a few other meds, and I haven't had any improvement yet, but it's still early.

As they said above, one thing you need to watch out of is the rash, which, if it shows up from the chest up, it can be really dangerous. But if you don't see it after a while, you're usually good.

Hopefully, when you see the doc, you will get a medication (possibly lamictal) that will help you considerably. Just remember: not all meds are foolproof. Medications that work for one person may not work for another.

Good luck, stay safe, and I hope things improve for you.

Hugs.

I have BP1 with psychosis and episodes of severe depression as part of this. I am on lamotrigine as one of my mood stabilisers and it has helped a lot. It worked really quickly and it has levelled me out a lot. It exacerbated my lithium tremor which is a pain but overall it is worth it. I am glad I was put on it. It has helped me.

Cracked

I've been on Lamictal on and off for the past 3 years. More time on than off. It really helps me and keeps me from swinging. It's the only drug I've been on that I experienced absolutely no side effect, only a good response to it. It's certainly a life saver for me.

I think it's a good one to bring up to the doctor and see what they say. It's frequently used for BP (of course, it's a mood stabilizer). Although keep in mind that everyone is different.

- EGD.

I started on lamictal a couple of weeks ago... It takes a really long time to graduate up.. Doc thinks I'm going to need about 200 but I'm only on 50 atm. So far I've been extremely depressed and anxious, the anxiety being through the roof more than usual, and I can't tell if it's because I'm switching meds or the lamictal is making me that way... I'm just going to hang in there for the long run and hope that it works, it's supposed to be a really good drug... Bipolar II with psychotic symptoms.

I was on it and wish I could still take it because it definitely helped with my moods, especially the depression. I had to go off it due to side effects.

my depression has lessened since i started on lamictal like 2 months ago
im only on 100mg a day and DEFINITELY need a significantly higher dose. because when i say lessened, i mean i'm not suicidal and i can function on the most basic level, but anything beyond that is pretty impossible.

but i have had zero side effects except the head fog that comes with like, any psychiatric med.

Yes I started Lamictal over a year ago and it helped calm me down a lot. It took 200 mg a day ultimately to become stable, and this took 2 months to accomplish. But it was worth it. No side effects.

I'm actually on the generic now... insurance issues and can't afford the brand name. While the brand name was perfect and kept me sane, the generic does absolutely nothing. Exactly 4 weeks after switching to generic I became completely manic and then rapid cycled with suicidal depression. My new insurance kicks in next week and I plan to go back on the brand immediately.