Bipolar Support Group

I just started Lamictal today. I am wandering what to expect. Will it help with mixed episodes and anxiety?

Also what are the side affects? Does it cause weight gain? How long does it take to work?

Hi there.

I just started lamictal this week. Prior to doing so I read as much as I could about it. The best place for me the Wikipedia article on it. Here it is for reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamotrigine

From this article, and other sources I found, lamictal works well for the depressive side of Bipolar. It's the only drug that I found in the reading that works on the depression without causing mania. So, in theory, it might help a bit with the mixed states. I have not experienced that yet myself.

Side effects seem to be pretty low for the most part, but you really have to look out for any rashes. If you get a rash at all anywhere on your body while taking Lamictal, you should get to a doctor immediately. My Pdoc told me even going to Emergency is justified - the rash could be potentially fatal. See the Wikipedia article for details.

If you search the forums, you'll find lots of good info.

Hope that helps.

There have been a LOT of posts since I began taking Lamictal last summer on this forum. It's been a fairly benign drug for me. I don't how well it's helped, but those around me think it does, in fact, help.

Good luck to both of you!

H.

I have been taking limictal for 5 years and absolutely no problems.

Dean

Limictal is a drug for depression. I take Limictal and have three closets of clothing because I never know what size I will be but the research I have done says it does not cause weight gain.

Dean

I think the Lamictal DOES IN FACT cause weight gain. I know my jeans are fitting a lot tighter then they did before I started the lamictal.

LRose,

Did you start taking geodon and lamictal at the same time?

I feel 100% better on lamictal.

capecod- No I was on Geodon long before the lamictal was added in and supposedly the Geodon doesnt cause weight gain. But I think they all do. At least my clothes say they all do. I have a hard time finding things in my closet that will fit these days.

Post edited by: Lrose35, at: 02/07/2010 05:23 AM

The stats say that Limictal doesn't cause weight gain but when someone eats less than 1000 calories and you have 3 closets filled with all different sizes clothing and you never know what will fit something is wrong. Personally I think that every single one causes weight gain. I wore a size 10 before I started this medication and now blessed to get into a 18. So the only place it could come from is the medication. I suppose you weigh your options. Fat or crazy. What a choice?

Dean