My son is 25 and has seizure disorder. This past Thanksgiving, he had a total of 5 seizures over 24 hours necessitating a hospital visit and stay. They put him on a third seizure medication (Lamotrigine). I spoke with a neurologist at USF who didn't like that a 3rd medication was added before his previous two were maxed out--he was already on Keppra (max dosage) and Depakote (sprinkles--very low dose), so she titrated him up on the Depakote so we could get rid of the Lamotrigine.
Hi,
I've had PNH for over 20 years and for the last 10 years or so the most effective dose was 400mg lamotrigine per day. But annoyingly it's got worse these past few months and I had to increase the dosage. I was discharged at Walton Centre in Liverpool several years ago but feel I'd like a new opinion. Does anyone know who or where new testing and research is taking place in the UK?
It is important to know your detailed medical history, history of seizures and drug dosage and test results before advising you. It is advisable to consult your attending neurologist and discuss your concerns. Do write to me again on how you are doing.
Best wishes and regards!
ve just found out I am pregnant and I have been taking Abilify (Aripirazole) and Lamictal (Lamotrigine) for the last year, against bipolar disorder, my doctor recommended to reduce it slowly and then stop it. He said that I have taken it so far wouldn't harm the baby. I am still very worried and wondered if anybody has any experience with this. Thank you!
I take Depakote before i got pregnant and was taking prenatals just in case. Then when me and my husband found out i was pregnant, i was switched to Lamotrigine which is the safest for pregnant women with seizures. I know its really hard for us women with seizures now that we are carrying a life inside, we need to be extra careful. I understand you...
From your test results your Free T4 was a bit lower than we normally suggest, which is middle of the range, at minimum. Your Free T3 is even lower in its range, which shows that your body is not converting T4 to T3 very well. Free T3 is the thyroid hormone that correlates best with symptoms. Many members say that symptom relief required Free T4 at the middle of its range, and Free T3 in the upper third of its range, or as necessary to relieve symptoms.
I HAVE BEEN ON LAMICTAL( lamotrigine) (FOR YEARS. NEVER MESS AROUND WITH THIS DRUG. IT YOU INCREASE YOUR DOSAGE BY MORE THAN 25MG AT A TIME FOR A WEEK, OR 50MG FOR 2 WEEKS ( AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN ON LAMICTAL FOR SOME TIME AND YOUR DOCTOR FEELS THAT IT IS OK TO INCREASE IT BY 50MG EVERY TWO WEEKS) YOU CAN HAVE SOME TERRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS. YOU CAN GET A RASH THAT YOU BETTER GET TO A HOSPITAL RIGHT AWAY. IT CAN CAUSE DEATH.
Long story short I was on lamictal/lamotrigine for a couple years at 300mg per day. I was told to lower the dosage by 50% every week, and it's been 4 weeks now and today is the day I would go down to 30mg per day for a week. However, the 150mg pill can only get so small before it turns to dust, I am having no side effects from the tapering. Would it hurt me to just stop taking it now (at 37.5mg)?
Ritalin should be given cautiously to emotionally unstable patients, such as those with a history of drug dependence or alcoholism, because such patients may increase dosage on their own initiative. Chronically abusive use can lead to marked tolerance and psychic dependence with varying degrees of abnormal behavior. Frank psychotic episodes can occur, especially with parenteral abuse.
I have Bipolar I, and have been experiencing a great deal of relief from Lamictal/Lamotrigine for several years. However, my psychiatrist is starting to raise the dose, and I don't know why. I haven't been with this psychiatrist for very long. I was on the usual dose of 200mg/day; then, she raised it to 400mg/day. I'm not sure I felt much better from raising it, but it's possible, so I wasn't worried.
Now, though, she wants to raise it to 600mg/day.
My son is 25 and has seizure disorder. This past Thanksgiving, he had a total of 5 seizures over 24 hours necessitating a hospital visit and stay. They put him on a third seizure medication (Lamotrigine). I spoke with a neurologist at USF who didn't like that a 3rd medication was added before his previous two were maxed out--he was already on Keppra (max dosage) and Depakote (sprinkles--very low dose), so she titrated him up on the Depakote so we could get rid of the Lamotrigine.
I went online to check my lab results on 4-26-13 B12 542 range (211-946) on 10-14-13 4.98 range (211-946) TSH 9-5-12 1.39 range (.27 -4.2) on 9-25-13 TSH 5.5 range (.27-4.2}. All that was done was the TSH. The only one who did a tsh and free t4 was the renal doctor on 10-25-13. I reduced it from 112 mcg to 100 mcg.
t apply to everyone) is that FT4 should be about mid range and FT3 should be in the upper 1/3 of its range. Your FT4 is only at 36% of the range and we have no idea about FT3, so we don't know if you are converting the FT4 to FT3 adequately or not.
You should ask for the FT3 test, next time you get TSH and FT4; if she refuses, you should probably find another doctor, because one who refuses to look at FT3, and/or doses based on TSH, will keep you very ill.
Only a few interactions between lamotrigine and other drugs have been identified. Lamotrigine increases the plasma level of carbamazepine and its metabolites. Carbamazepine lowers the concentration of lamotrigine in the blood.
Valproate doubles the plasma level of lamotrigine, and the level of valproate is decreased by about 25% in people taking lamotrigine.
Phenobarbital and primidone lower the plasma level of lamotrigine by about 40%.
Can you post her last few sets of thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report? What thyroid med was she taking and what was the daily dosage? What symptoms was she having?
I think they're confused. If you read the full prescribing information, it's the PILL that screws with the lamotrigine, not the other way around. It's not like a lot of other anticonvulsants. From http://epilepsy.med.nyu.edu/treatment/medications/lamotrigine "Lamotrigine has no effect on other seizure medicines. And unlike some other seizure medicines, it does not reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills.
Is that T4 result for free T4 or total T4. Also, what is its reference range shown on the lab report? Have you ever had the most important thyroid test, for free T3 (FT3)?
Free T3 is four times as active as FT4, plus FT3 correlates best with hypo symptoms, including low metabolism. If you haven't been tested for free T3, that should be done.
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