138 patient evaluations for Lamotrigine
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Sep 27, 2008 (Started Aug 01, 2008)
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EffectivenessSlight (for Other)
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EffectivenessModerate (for Treat my mood condition(s))
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EffectivenessModerate (for Increase effect of another treatment)
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Side effectsMild (cramps in calf muscles, hair loss, sedation, slowed reaction time, vision problems)
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenA little hard to take
Dosage:
100 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
Don't take more than 100mg for Bipolar a day quickly. The side effects go from mild to moderate. The distorted sparkes went crazy, slight pains like growing pains appeared, the calf cramps made it hard to walk, it made me really sedated, and my reaction time was 5X slower. My friends would hit me in the face, and I didn't respond to it until 2 seconds later.
At 100mg a day and over a month into it, the side effects are pretty much non-existent.
If you experience calf muscle cramping, it's from a Calcium deficiency. Lamotrigine decreases Vitamin D, which absorbs calcium. Take one or two Calcium+D tablets a day.
It is a glutamate inhibitor and sodium channel blocker, so MSG has no direct mental effects. I was worried that it would make the effects less effective, but then I heard about a woman who took it for migraines that were sensitive to MSG. That also means that L-Glutamin is fine to take as a weight lifting supplement.
Overall, it has made me much more reliable and stable. I get mild hi, lows, and mixed swings still, but that's nothing compared to what I'm capable of. The mixed swings have increased, but again, they've been really mild.
It also has a slight elevating effect so that mood swings tend to be in the positive direction.
Socially, it has killed my over-hyperness and anxiety. I think that's a very good thing. I can actually talk to people without being a d*ck or a creep.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
vision problems, hair loss, cramps in calf muscles, slowed reaction time, sedation
- 2 helpful marks
Jan 1, 2009 (Started May 08, 2008)
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EffectivenessCan't tell (for Other)
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Side effectsNone
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
150 mg
Daily
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Dec 13, 2008 (Started May 08, 2008)
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EffectivenessSlight (for Other)
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Side effectsNone
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
150 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
Itchiness is one thing, but if you develop any rash (no matter how small or insignificant you may think it is) go the nearest hospital emergency room. Rashes caused by Lamictal can be fatal if not treated immediately.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Nov 29, 2008 (Started May 08, 2008)
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EffectivenessCan't tell (for Treat my mood condition(s))
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Side effectsNone
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AdherenceAlways
-
BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
150 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
risk of dangerous rash. if your develop a rash, go to the nearest emergency room
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Sep 1, 2008 (Started May 08, 2008)
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EffectivenessModerate (for Treat my mood condition(s))
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Side effectsNone
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
150 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
I started Lamictal SLOWLY because it is necessary. I did not have a rash (which can be life-threatening-GET TO THE ER) but did have a lot of itching for the first month, talked to my psychiatrist and he said not to worry about it and then it stopped. I was worried I would not be able to take Lamictal and was disappointed because it was the first medication I was given as I am recently diagnosed. I am able to take Lamicatal and I am so happy with this medication. It has really helped my mood disorder. I notice if I am a couple hours late taking my dose I get really irritated. It really does make a big difference. Some days, of course, my mood is all over the place or totally up or totally down. I believe medications are great, but sometimes I think no medication can controll all mood fluctuations when you have bipolar disorder. I have been on the same dosage for months and sometimes think I need a higher dose, but my psychiatrist disagrees at this point. I listen to him because he knows more than I do about mood disorders. I have never handled my mood swings very well on my own (hence, alcohol & drugs).
Cost:
$25-49 monthly
- 2 helpful marks
Jun 23, 2009 (Started Jan 06, 2009)
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EffectivenessMajor (for Treat my mood condition(s))
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Side effectsMild (dry mouth, word fishing, sore throat, headaches, problems concentrating, nasal congestion, word finding difficulty)
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenA little hard to take
Dosage:
200 mg
Daily
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
sore throat, word finding difficulty, word fishing, dry mouth, headaches, problems concentrating, nasal congestion, problems concentrating, nasal congestion
- 2 helpful marks
Oct 24, 2008 (Started Jan 02, 2006)
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EffectivenessSlight (for Treat my mood condition(s))
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Side effectsNone
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
100 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
after going off it for a few weeks, i noticed increased feeling of depression that lasted for a almost a week until my doctor put me back on at a lower dose. now i am at 100 mg daily and seem to be doing fine.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Aug 28, 2008 (Started Jan 02, 2006)
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EffectivenessSlight (for Treat my mood condition(s))
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Side effectsNone
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
100 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
not too helpful for unipolar depression.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
- 1 helpful mark
Nov 24, 2008 (Started Oct 03, 2008)
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EffectivenessModerate (for Treat my mood condition(s))
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Side effectsMild (headaches, problems concentrating, sleepiness)
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AdherenceSometimes
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
300 mg
Daily
Cost:
$200+ monthly
Side effects:
sleepiness, headaches, problems concentrating
- 1 helpful mark
Apr 22, 2009 (Started Apr 22, 2009)
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EffectivenessModerate (for bipolar disorder)
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Side effectsSevere (insomnia, nausea, weight gain, problems concentrating, nightmares, dizziness)
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenVery hard to take
Dosage:
300 mg
Daily
Cost:
$100-199 monthly
Side effects:
insomnia, weight gain, nightmares, nausea, problems concentrating, dizziness, problems concentrating
- 1 helpful mark
May 3, 2009 (Started Sep 03, 2008)
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EffectivenessCan't tell (for bipolar disorder)
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Side effectsMild (weight gain)
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AdherenceNever taken as prescribed
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BurdenVery hard to take
Dosage:
100 mg
Daily
Cost:
$25-49 monthly
Side effects:
weight gain
- 1 helpful mark
May 15, 2009 (Started Nov 23, 2008)
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EffectivenessNone (for bipolar disorder)
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Side effectsNone
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
375 mg
Daily
May 12, 2009 (Started Nov 23, 2008)
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EffectivenessNone (for bipolar disorder)
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Side effectsNone
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
25 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
This treatment doesn't seem to be working for me.
Cost:
< $25 monthly
- 1 helpful mark
Jun 24, 2009 (Started Sep 25, 2008)
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EffectivenessMajor (for bipolar disorder)
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Side effectsNone
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
200 mg
Daily
Advice & Tips:
so far I think it's helped me quite a bit.
- 1 helpful mark
Dec 7, 2010 (Started Jan 16, 2010)
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EffectivenessSlight (for seizures)
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Side effectsSevere (night sweats, blood pressure decreased, spinning dizziness (vertigo))
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AdherenceUsually
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Advice & Tips:
I had SERIOUS problems with this mediation. When I missed so much as a single dose, I would start having serious chills and night sweats and felt like someone coming down off heroine or something. The neuro told me that could not possibly be a side effect. But it happened on three separate occasion after that - and again when I had to wean off of it to go on some other similar med. BEWARE!
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
spinning dizziness (vertigo), night sweats, blood pressure decreased
Dec 1, 2010 (Started Jan 16, 2010)
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EffectivenessCan't tell (for epilepsy)
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EffectivenessCan't tell (for seizures)
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Side effectsSevere (night sweats, blood pressure decreased, spinning dizziness (vertigo))
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AdherenceUsually
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
spinning dizziness (vertigo), night sweats, blood pressure decreased
Jan 18, 2010 (Started Jan 16, 2010)
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EffectivenessCan't tell (for seizures)
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Side effectsModerate (night sweats, blood pressure decreased, spinning dizziness (vertigo))
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AdherenceAlways
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BurdenNot at all hard to take
Dosage:
200 mg
Daily
Cost:
< $25 monthly
Side effects:
spinning dizziness (vertigo), night sweats, blood pressure decreased
- 1 helpful mark
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