How fast does lamictal work for you?

I mean, as soon as you take it? I didn't take mine for three days because of a stevens-johnson rash scare and I felt like crap for those three days, but I just took it again about three hours ago and I honestly feel way better. Is it just my imagination or does lamictal work for you as soon as its absorbed? I realize that you probably can't tell if you take it every day so I'm probably going to have to hear from someone who didn't take theirs for a few days for whatever reason.

I've been on Lamotrigine/Lamictal for quite a while now. With help from people close to me, I have never been off of it for more than a couple days. But I do have a memory of when I started taking it. Literally nothing worked for me. I've tried many different medications for different things (not just mental health) and most don't seem to have an effect. The ones that do work usually don't work until I take a fairly high dose. Even Tylenol. There was something different about this drug though. I do remember noticing a difference relatively quickly, and I had never felt that before, with ANY drug. Feeling that initial difference was really powerful for me because it made me believe in the meds, and now it helps remind me to keep taking them.

Thank you for your reply, I'm really glad you found something that works for you!

The first time I took Lamictal a few years ago, my pdoc had in his notes that I said it didn't help me. It was a while ago, so I don't remember.

This time on Lamictal, I sensed it working very quickly. It's only been 3 weeks, and it's changed over that amount of time, but I definitely sense something different than every SSRI or SSNRI I've been on.

That being said, for the first few days, even though I felt better, I had trouble concentrating, and had some other side effects here and there. What's helping me, is to just quickly note them down in a notebook, and not think about them. Overall, the positives happened quickly. I am hopeful that if my pdoc raises the dose, I will continue to have more positives. Last time the dose was raised, i didn't do well----but I am hoping that things will be different now.

I'm assuming that all meds take time to for the brain and body to adjust. And everyone's chemistry is different so what one person experienced won't necessarily be true to you.

neurosies wrote:Thank you for your reply, I'm really glad you found something that works for you!

Sure thing, and thank you too.

One thing I didn't mention before was that although it worked rather quickly, It also lost its effectiveness sort of fast too. My p-doc kept having to up it. Every time my dose was increased that process slowed down a little, but it took a while to have longer-term stability. I'm on 400mg now and it seems to be steady there for the time being... But as SelfCareIsNotSelfish said, everyone handles it differently.

It is awesome that it's working for you now. I'm sorry about your side effects but... same. My concentration is $#%^ on 400mg and so is my memory, but not being cripplingly depressed is damn worth it. I hope you find it to be worth it too.

You're right about everyone's biology being different. I was just wondering if it was my imagination that it worked instantly once I started taking it again after I stopped for a few days or if it can really happen. I know it doesn't really matter... if it's a placebo, who cares? As long as it helps. But, you know. I care anyway.

But yeah, you're right. And I am glad your pdoc is increasing your dose too. Just because my concentration is still $#%^ doesn't mean that side effect won't go away for you because like you said, everyone's biology is different. I hope everything works out!