lamictal level

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.

Can stress have an effect on the blood level of Lamictal?

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.

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!

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.

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.

I was in a deep depression for a long time, When I went to the psych she put me on lamictal, when I went back to see her I asked how fast it got into the system because I thought I noticed a change from day one. After talking about my behavior, she said no, the lamictal takes 2-3 weeks at least to get in the system and she thought I was going manic. She then put me on lithium to stop the mania. After my first blood test .3 way to low she upped me to 900.

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.

Lamictal worked for a long time for me. Many people I know have taken Lamictal long term and things have worked out well. Lamictal is generally used long term and works that way. Sometimes its just a matter of getting medications fine tuned and then its okay after that.

I was on Lamictal for a couple of years and it was a great medicine for me. Excellent mood stabilizer in my opinion. Finding a therapeutic level took a little while and you have to go up slowly with Lamictal but I think it is a good med.

How is cognitive deficit defined by neurologists? Can a combination of Lamictal and Provigil cause cognitive deficit or cognitive impairment?

There are no required bloodtests but when I was on it a once a year bloodtest for liver function was suggested so I got it. Lamictal is more effective on depression than mania but many mood stabilizers have a trade off one way or the other except for lithium but that's the only mood stabilizer originally developed as a mood stabilizer first. However, Lamictal is FDA approved as a first line mood stabilizer and has somewhat of an antipsychotic effect as well. See how it works out.

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.

Hello All! I am really hoping that someone can help me with information on this. I recently found out (about 3 weeks ago) that I am pregnant - quite by surprise and we all know what that means - wasn't taking great care of myself. I even fasted a couple of days trying to lose weight! Anyway, I drank over the course of this time - I don't think anything too crazy but I honestly wasn't keeping track. My psychotropics are what I'm really afraid of.

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.

Has anyone ever been on Lithium and Lamictal at the same time? If so how did it work out? Yes I know everyone reacts differently. I am currently on -1350mg Lithium Carb ER -Klonpin 1mg X up 6 per day -Adderall 20mg X 2 per day I was on Celxa 40mg for about 4 months and was not good for me. Made me mad, no patinces, irrtable, ect. I would like to try Lamictal for BiPolar Depression?

I was not aware that one needs to take blood level count when taking limictal? Is there a standard blood test that should be taken when taking lamictal?

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.

Unfortunately, we have only tried lamictal and my daughter got a horrible ringworm rash, which could have been actually triggered by lamictal so she's now on keppra. Thank you!

I thought I remember a while back someone posted that they were doing OK on Lamictal but when the doc increased the dosage, the person started having anxiety attacks. Is that true? I recently went up to 200mg/day and I've started having anxiety and now wondering if I should ask the doc to decrease the dosage. He also discontinued the Seroquel but now I'm having major depressive episodes.

The guillotine is a French device used much during the French revolution for carrying out executions by decapitation and apparently is still used. now i am just returning from a visit to my pdoc. Today mania started because I dared to take seroxat/paxil for 20 days 20mg but what can I do, I had depression. I stopped going to work and tomorrow I shall send a paper saying I have vyrimia i.e. attacked by a virius. Last time i said my mother was severly ill. I hope they believe me this time.

I'm only on 50mg myself, but that's because I'm taking Depakote as well. Depakote increases the level of Lamictal in the blood by two...or maybe 3 times, I forget which one it is.

Borderline Personality Disorder is primarily relationship problems with high drama, fear of abandonment and mood fluxuations. Bipolar is a mood stabilization disorder with mania or hypomania (lower level mania) alternating with depression. Lamictal is a antiseizure med that is also a mood stabilizer that is primarily used for bipolar and seizure disorders. Some pdocs give lamictal to people with BPD to help with the mood fluxuations (lower mood changes than with bipolar).

When did you start the lamictal? Some people get really revved up in the early stages, and then start to stabilize at around 100 mg. Sometimes clinicians give an antipsychotic (they are much more fast acting) to tide you over. You might also look into ambien for sleeping at night to help you be more awake during the day. Getting plenty of morning sunlight, less light (especially blue light) at night, and exercising are also things you can do to help regulate things.

s, university level surgens, psych, etc. my only confirmed diagnosis is bipolar, lamictal was given as a trial mood stabilizer, as many other had bad side affects, a coincidentally, i had a seizure therefor resulting in them keeping me on lamictal, Neurology and brain imaging found nothing, as conluded seizure derived from Tramadol(lowering seizure threshold) as well as dehydration. i just would like to know how affective is laictal for a mood stabilizer.

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.

I found that lithium worked well but had some trouble tolerating it for other reasons that were physical but did very well on Lamictal especially on rapid cycling. Each person reacts diffferently though. Speak to your psychiatrist about what is going on and if other options might be considered.

Common Questions and Answers about Lamictal level

lamictal