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Lamictal and depression: has this happened to anyone else?

Mon, 09/22/2008 - 15:04
I started lamictal nearly a year ago and had very few problems when I first went on it. I was first on depakote but due to the idea that I may go away for college I had at the time, I went on lamical. For the a good few months I felt fine and like my old self. Back in the spring I had started to feel bad on myself which at the time I attributed to the fact I couldn't get the loan I needed to go to my first choice college but  recently I have been feeling so much worse. I feel like I am not worth people's time and and like I was never meant for anything in life. Life has just become a dull repeat everyday already and I don't know how to deal. I want to know if this happend to anyone else who has taken lamictal to help to determine treatment.

Comments

Re: Lamictal and depression: has this happened to anyone else?

Submitted by gcvmom on Fri, 2008-09-26 - 12:26

Sorry to hear you are feeling this way.  I would recommend contacting your neurologist to let them know about this new symptom.

Lamictal is known to help with depressive symptoms in people with mood disorders.  My DH takes it for his temporal lobe simple-partials and it helped his depression immensely.  Perhaps Lamictal is not the best choice for you if it is the cause of your depression.

 Again, I urge you to contact your doctor about this.

Sorry to hear you are feeling this way.  I would recommend contacting your neurologist to let them know about this new symptom.

Lamictal is known to help with depressive symptoms in people with mood disorders.  My DH takes it for his temporal lobe simple-partials and it helped his depression immensely.  Perhaps Lamictal is not the best choice for you if it is the cause of your depression.

 Again, I urge you to contact your doctor about this.

Re: Lamictal and depression: has this happened to anyone else?

Submitted by khigginsmeaney on Sat, 2008-10-04 - 00:58

Some anti-convulsants do have more of an effect on influencing depression but more than likely Lamictal is not your problem.  However, I understand how you may feel.  I'm not sure when you were diagnosed with epilepsy, but I was when I was 4 years old, and now I'm 22.  If it is more recent for you that may also have an effect.  I've been dealing with my condition for most of my life and have tried about 10 medications, but now have been taking Lamictal for almost a year.  I had brain mapping when I was in high school, but it proved that I would not be able to have the surgery.  If your good at hiding your depression, like I have been for most of my life, have the courage to let someone know, it is the best thing you can do for yourself or it may get worse and the feelings will build up until you become miserable.  I have had that problem for a long time, but I have finally learned that keeping things bottled up is not the best way to go through life.  Have courage and believe in yourself!

Some anti-convulsants do have more of an effect on influencing depression but more than likely Lamictal is not your problem.  However, I understand how you may feel.  I'm not sure when you were diagnosed with epilepsy, but I was when I was 4 years old, and now I'm 22.  If it is more recent for you that may also have an effect.  I've been dealing with my condition for most of my life and have tried about 10 medications, but now have been taking Lamictal for almost a year.  I had brain mapping when I was in high school, but it proved that I would not be able to have the surgery.  If your good at hiding your depression, like I have been for most of my life, have the courage to let someone know, it is the best thing you can do for yourself or it may get worse and the feelings will build up until you become miserable.  I have had that problem for a long time, but I have finally learned that keeping things bottled up is not the best way to go through life.  Have courage and believe in yourself!

Re: Lamictal and depression: has this happened to anyone else?

Submitted by kazza on Sat, 2008-10-04 - 04:21

Hi Kyrie,

Ive been on Lamictal for about 8 years now and certainly can say that once in a while I break down. It is not often that it happens to me, probably about 3x/year. I know its the drug beause the things that upset me are ridiculous. I also know it is the drugs beause Epilim sent me nearly suicidal when I was a teenager. (I was on a very high dose of this at the time.) I hope it doesnt do to you what Epilim did to me, Im coping with the odd breakdown this time because it is not that common and it only lasts a day. Also, the knowledge this time that it is my drugs makes it a lot easier to deal with. If you are finding that you are collapsing too often then you should talk to your neuro about a change because I can definitely say that it probably will be the Lamictal and you should get off it.

Love, Kazza

Hi Kyrie,

Ive been on Lamictal for about 8 years now and certainly can say that once in a while I break down. It is not often that it happens to me, probably about 3x/year. I know its the drug beause the things that upset me are ridiculous. I also know it is the drugs beause Epilim sent me nearly suicidal when I was a teenager. (I was on a very high dose of this at the time.) I hope it doesnt do to you what Epilim did to me, Im coping with the odd breakdown this time because it is not that common and it only lasts a day. Also, the knowledge this time that it is my drugs makes it a lot easier to deal with. If you are finding that you are collapsing too often then you should talk to your neuro about a change because I can definitely say that it probably will be the Lamictal and you should get off it.

Love, Kazza

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