Lamictal level blood test

Common Questions and Answers about Lamictal level blood test

lamictal

Avatar n tn Just recently he went to the family doctor for routine blood work and they called the other day to say his lamictal level was 9.5. They say a normal level is 1 to 4. Should we be concerned about this number? What should we do? Our neurologist is in Colorado and is a 3.5 hour drive. We have never had any problems and now are wondering if we need to do something.
Avatar n tn I have taken Lamictal for 7 or 8 years and have never had blood work done because of taking the med. Maybe the blood work would be to monitor a specific condition or maybe it depends on the dose?
Avatar n tn Can stress have an effect on the blood level of Lamictal?
767237 tn?1332640177 s also important that you do your blood test exactly at 8 hours after taking it to have the most accurate level showing. Many docs don't realize that, I found that out from a lab tech, and they won't do one if it's been more then 10 hours since you took a dose.
Avatar f tn How long does it take for an increased level of Lamictal work? My doctor upped my mgs from 125 for 1 week, then 150. I've felt more restless and have a hard time comprehending things when my husband asks me a simple question, such as where is something. I don't like this feeling, but I'm holding out that this will help me, along with my current meds (Depakote, Cymbalta, Geodon). At this point, I just don't know what's working and what isn't.
574118 tn?1305135284 Unlike Lamictal, they can determine what is the proper dose with blood tests for lithium level. Blood tests should be done monthly and full blood work every 3 months. If that is done and the levels are within a normal range lithium is considered safe and effective.
Avatar m tn As for Tegretol (the clinical name of what the other medication was) I tend to be concerned about that one because it made me psychotic and it can often lower the blood level of an antipsychotic in people, which is the reason why. However, some people find it effective.
1666903 tn?1383332156 I've read that Lamictal is sometimes used to help with blood sugar control--especially to lower the levels. Most people on this drug, who are diabetics, do seem to experience this effect. My psychiatrist just increased my Lamictal from 300mg. to 350mg. daily, and plans to up it further. It has definitely decreased my depressive symptoms, for which I'm quite grateful.
Avatar f tn Hi, I'm a 53 year old male and my ammonia blood test just came back at 89 umol/L. I bellieve the normal range is 10-45. I'm also taking Valproic Acid (2500 mg/ day), Lamictal (300 mg/ day) and Dilantin (500 mg/day) for seizures. All my other blood tests are in range. Can anyone tell me if this is a dangerously high level, i.e., liver or kidney damaging?
Avatar f tn Sometimes with Lamictal I find that getting a blood level can be helpful. Also Geodon and Lamictal is very different from just a higher dose of Lamictal in terms of therapeutic effects - do you need to have a replacement for Geodon? Third I would look at the time course of your symptoms, when did you start feeling which symptoms? You have had two changes in medications - what were the effects of those changes.
Avatar m tn Thanks for the advice. What were your SE's if you don't mind me asking?
1303966 tn?1296740010 Sorry to hear about everything! I know how you feel...have been on a number of different anti-seizure meds for 14 years now, and totally understand how you feel. If it helps, things usually improve somewhat after you've been on the meds for 5 or 6 months....kind of get used to the dosage, although it isn't easy to deal with all the side effects.
Avatar f tn I was diagnosed as Bipolar II after having been treated marginally for social anxiety and depression for 15 years. I withdrew from Paxil. I am slowly weaning from Klonopine while adding Lamictal. My beginning dose for one week was 25mg. This week, I am on 50mg. My racing thoughts have diminished as have confusion and rapid speech. I can't believe I am saying this, but I think I am too happy. I worry that I am having mania. I have trouble controlling my laughter in public.
Avatar n tn My neuro is switching my meds from Lamictal to Topamax. Although it's only my fourth day at 25mg of Topa, I'm very sleepy! I'm not being weaned at all from Lamictal until I've reached my therapeutic dose of Topa. Is it possible I've misunderstood the nurse? In other words, is this typical? Any other time I've been weaned off of one and switched to another med, it's been simultaneously. I'm wondering if this is why I'm so tired. Thanks is advance!
1983010 tn?1326397026 t do a blood test, it would show on the bill. Soooo have no idea if all this is normal or out of the norm, just would like feedback w/ people on the same medicine as me and I will accept other feedback to I guess. Would appreciate anything at this point to help me out and help me decide for me what I should discuss with my doctor.
505907 tn?1258369340 Yes a regular blood test is needed with lithium to check Lithium levels and Thryoid function - at the start its likely to be every 4-6 weeks and later every 3 months or so depending on your maintenance and how well you maintain theraputic levels.
767237 tn?1332640177 Hi a theraputic level is the level that the drug needs to be in your system for it to have any beneficial properties. This is why for lithium you have the blood test to check the levels, I beleive drug levels vary per person but the range is normally 750 to a max of 2000mg of lithium, im on 1000mg. You should get your doctor to explain it for each drug so you know why each drug at each level is used, this is why they use a combo.
Avatar m tn I'm currently on the combo. It's working alright for me. I still get frequent manic episodes and psychosis (I'm schizoaffective, but neither drug does anything for psychosis anyways) but I've only had one depressive episode in the last 5 years, and I'm a rapid cycler.I had about 10 depressive episodes in 2-3 years and they stopped completely when I started lamotrigine (well, apart from the one, but it was work related).
Avatar f tn First thing we need to know is whether you took your Armour dose before the blood draw for those tests. If so, how long between taking the med and the blood draw? Second thing is that test results need to be compared to reference ranges from the lab report. So please post those. How you are feeling is more important than test results, so please tell us about any symptoms you have.
574118 tn?1305135284 Please only make decisions in consultation with your psychiatrist but they have you on a fair amount of medications and they should consider titrating you off some as they raise others (generally one antipsychotic at a working dose is more effective and safer than 3 at a subclinical dose) but as Lamictal takes a long time to build up to a proper blood level that may take a while. SSRI's can bring on mania in a person with bipolar.
Avatar f tn I'm on Lithium 900mg and 150mg of Wellbutrin and 300mg lamictal. I have been on Depakote as well but my body was absorbing it to fast and I never really styed at a level good enough. Since I've been on the lith and well/lamictal I seem to cycle more then with the depakote well lamictal. Has anybody on these meds for Bipolar been at a level an even level and stayed at it. I was on 1100mg of Lithium and the Dr had to reduce due to the fact I was so flat unemotional like a robot.
Avatar m tn m sure the said test including biochemistry test on ALT level. What other items on biochemistry she has to ask her doctor other than ALT level. I'm not sure whether HBV DNA count has been included in the weekly blood test. Thanks B.
Avatar n tn Good luck - I also agree with others to see a dermatologist, report this to the treating physician and get an up-to-date blood test to rule out any other deficiencies.
Avatar f tn t have any experience with Lamictal, but lots of other people on here are currently taking it.. so hopefully someone taking lamictal will answer your question. I think the question here is, how long have you been taking the meds? If you have been taking them 2 months + then it could be that this dose is not enough to control your symptoms.. if you have been taking them for 6 weeks or less it could be that they have not reached a therapeutic dose in your blood.
Avatar n tn Freddie has been building up on lamictal since May and it now on his level of 100mg in the morning and the same in the evening. His seizures have become more frequent since we reached this level (once to twice a week lasting for no more than 40 seconds) and noticeably within an hour or so after taking his morning dose and certainly more prone if taken without enough food in his tummy.