Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

Max. allowable dose of lamictal

Fri, 11/19/2010 - 11:36
In scanning several threads, I've noted that many people are on fairly high doses of lamictal (whether or not combined with other drugs). The highest dose I've read about so far in this forum is 450 mg. I am currently on 200 mg, and potentially will be increased to 250 - 300 mg. I've read that at doses of 300 mg. and higher that lamictal is being used as a med for bipolar (and perhaps depression, but I'm not sure). I definitely don't have either of those conditions, and probably none of you taking these higher doses does either. This leads me to the following questions: 1. What is the max allowable dose of lamictal? 2. Do higher levels of lamictal offer even greater seizure control? PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought lamictal's effectiveness for controlling seizures "plateaued" once you reached 300 mg, and that's why at these higher doses it is considered a bipolar drug rather than an AED. Thanks in advance for any help!

Comments

Re: Max. allowable dose of lamictal

Submitted by johnny on Fri, 2010-11-19 - 22:13

I'm not sure what max is by itself, but I was taking 800mgs daily. That was combined with 4000 mgs Keppra and 400 mgs carbatrol also at the time. I'm not sure if the doctors know when to say when though. I also took another anti-depressant too. I started vomiting...I could'nt hold it down. By doctors not knowing the limits, mine tried to add another 1000 mgs Keppra to my 4000mgs that I take.5000 mgs which is not humanly possible to hold down of that medicine on top of everything else. I was an emotional wreck in tears non-stop and sick to my stomach. I called hospital to complain ,left a message with a nurse and got a call back immediately. It was a colleague, another neurologist yelling at me for taking that much keppra. He said what do you think you are doing on this much Keppra and I said why don't you make a phone to your "buddy" that works down the hall from you and ask him. He wrote the script. and incisted that I needed. I don't know these doctors all push it and push it some more. Take a good look at the watches they wear and other jewelry,cars....it's all kick backs from the pharmacuetical companies for the meds they write scripts for. Your at the right place though you take all the responses and it gives you an idea what the max close to.

 Take care , Johnny      

I'm not sure what max is by itself, but I was taking 800mgs daily. That was combined with 4000 mgs Keppra and 400 mgs carbatrol also at the time. I'm not sure if the doctors know when to say when though. I also took another anti-depressant too. I started vomiting...I could'nt hold it down. By doctors not knowing the limits, mine tried to add another 1000 mgs Keppra to my 4000mgs that I take.5000 mgs which is not humanly possible to hold down of that medicine on top of everything else. I was an emotional wreck in tears non-stop and sick to my stomach. I called hospital to complain ,left a message with a nurse and got a call back immediately. It was a colleague, another neurologist yelling at me for taking that much keppra. He said what do you think you are doing on this much Keppra and I said why don't you make a phone to your "buddy" that works down the hall from you and ask him. He wrote the script. and incisted that I needed. I don't know these doctors all push it and push it some more. Take a good look at the watches they wear and other jewelry,cars....it's all kick backs from the pharmacuetical companies for the meds they write scripts for. Your at the right place though you take all the responses and it gives you an idea what the max close to.

 Take care , Johnny      

Re: Max. allowable dose of lamictal

Submitted by dbrownpilot on Sat, 2010-11-20 - 06:41
I'm taking 800mg of Lamictal and 3000mg of Keppra per day. I'm nauseated and dizzy all the time, even tough they told me I'd get used to it. I haven't had a seizure since surgery in June. They say I can get off at least one of the meds in 2 years. I can't wait.

Re: Max. allowable dose of lamictal

Submitted by cryinghappily on Fri, 2012-06-29 - 20:07
I used to take Keppra but only 500mg a day. I feel sorry for those guys taking 3000+ because I think Keppra worsened my depression and made me drowsy, though it did seem to somewhat control my seizures. It made them come monthly for one week, exactly like a girl's monthly cycle, and it was only deja vu, no full seizures. I'm taking 800mg of Lamictal a day and I don't think it's controlling my seizures very well. I still get deja vu monthly and lately they've been growing into full seizures. Though I think it's got rid of my depression but that could have gone away on it's own; I had very good reasons to be depressed (within one year my girlfriend broke up with me, my mom died, my grandma died, and I fell out of tree puncturing a lung and a kidney) Though I still think it could be they Lamictal keeping me happy. I can't think of much reason to be happy yet I don't have any reason to be depressed, but, hence the user name, Lamictal may be making me so happy it makes me cry. Since this past seizure I've been put on Vimpat and Potiga along with the Lamictal. Anybody else got some experience with those drugs they can tell me about?

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.