After reviewing the medications I was already taking (to avoid any conflicts) she recommended Lamotrigine for my intense anxiety. I am VERY familiar with off-label drug uses, but I can find no information re: the use of this drug for my situation. It is a drug used for bi-polar disorder and seizures. I thought that Atavan would be the drug of choice, and after reading more about Lamotrigine, I have become actually quite shocked about this recommendation.
I am just taking the minimum amount that I need to lamotrignine as an off-label additive for major depressive disorder. My doctor says that I am not bipolar because I only needed 25-50 mgs for it to be effective along with the wellbutrin. I used Seroquel as an additive in the past, but I gained a lot of weight and "puffed-up". I think that I am going to go back to the Cymbalta/wellbutrin combo I was on a few weeks ago, let things settle, and try it again in a few weeks.
I have been taking lamotrigine now for 2 months gradually titrating the dose. It hasn't made any noticeable difference to my symptoms only giving me wierd dreams and broken sleep. Spoke to my neuro earlier this week he says if meds didn't work then my symptoms can't be related to seizure activity! I haven't had an EEG tho so don't know how he can tell this. I have had 2 MRI scans which have both been reported raising the possibility of a ganglioglioma.
Did your doctor prescribe it to you for this? If not, STOP right now...'experimenting' with prescription medications, which are extremely addictive can NEVER have good outcomes.
They all have reported feeling better daily - this off label approach is a God Send! Now I will finish out the 12 weeks - they will do the viral load test again at that time and then 12 weeks post treatment test again to declare me officially SVR!!!
NO HORRIBLE INTERFERON OR RIBAVARIN THIS TIME FOR ME!!
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%.
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.
topamax is not an atypical antipsychotic rather an off-label anticonvulsant (antiepilepsy) drug to stabilize BP. Strange one of the side effects is anorexia (loss of appetite). The only drug i know which doesn't cause weight gain is lamotrigine. But aside from it all the AC's, lithium, AP's even AD's cause weight gain. In short all BP drugs increase weight. That's a price we pay. I recall once Oprah had a program for BP and all the guests were rather heavy weight persons.
I am at the moment weaning off epilim to go on to lamotrogine to get pregnant as I have been told that there is alot lesser rick during pregnancy to be on lamotrogine. I am just wondering what you think is a ok level during pregnancy, my neurologist has put ,e on 200mg twice a day??? Is that safe???
Since being on lamotrigine I have had broken sleep and weird dreams- anyone else had this? ALso at the moment I'm waking in early hours with tingling/itching in my feet. I have tried alsorts to relive it- the best I have found is to get and ice pack from the freezer and put that on. I hope freezing my feet doesn't do any harm! I think I'm going to gradually come off the lamotrigine cos it hasn't made any difference to my symptoms anyway.
I was taking Lamictal (anti-seizure medicine) while getting ECT treatments. SHOULD I HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF LAMICTAL BEFORE THE INDUCED SEIZURES? I am experiences extreme memory loss and cognitve function. Unable to speak articulately since the ECT. It doesn't make sense that I would be on an anti seizure medicine. Would this require more electricity to be used to induce the seizure? Would more electricity risk brain damage? Which I feel I have.
I´ve been taking 200 mg of lamotrigine for a while -about 3 years. But. My swinging moods along the year have not really changed. My doctor insists in the 200 mg. doses. I´m esceptic. Conclusion: I´m about to drop lamotrigine and start all over again. I´m a natural optimistic. Thanks for answering.
Hi. I'm bipolar with psychosis and am currently tapering off of ziprasidone 80mg twice daily. I totally dropped my second dose along with lamotrigine,and Lexapro. So right now I am currently taking ziprasidone 80 mg, chantix 1mg, topamax 50mg 3x day, and ropinirole for side effects 1 mg once a day. I can't believe I actually made it through the night last night.
There should been some medications that can be taken during pregnancy. Some have a specific notation on the prescription label they cannot be. However there should be some that can be. See if your general physician can provide a referral to a psychiatrist perhaps one with specific knowledge in this area who can then discuss this concern with your ob-gyn.
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