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 - 11:36In 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
My son has been on Lomictal
Submitted by Vickieliupakka on Thu, 2017-07-20 - 19:46
My son has been on Lomictal ER 600mg in am and 400mg pm along with Topamax 100mg BID. This dose for a year and HES been seizure free for a year but just recently has had shaking, coordination issues, dizzy, blurred VISION and absent of time. HIS Lomictal levels were extremely high and they reduced his dose to 400mg BID. I'll keep you posted on his progress. He is 21 years old and started having seizures at 16 after a cat fish barb was embedded in his hand for two hours while the emergency removed it. It's just odd that is first seizure was 15 hours after this incident
Get him off the Topomax. I
Submitted by Karlyloraine22 on Sun, 2017-11-05 - 09:13
Get him off the Topomax. I was on both and the Topomax really messes you up especially academically. I have been on just lanictal for ten years now and all good.
Just FYI, neuros don't just
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2014-10-15 - 01:39
Just FYI, neuros don't just "guess" at lamictal levels if they're good at their work. They should be performing monthly blood tests until you're within therapeutic range. Generally, therapeutic range is between 12 and 17 and it's up to your doctor to decide where you need to be on that scale. It's different for everyone and varies due to severity of seizure activity, weight, age, and gender. In order to get me within therapeutic range I'm prescribed 700mg a day. I still some times get petit mal seizures but for the most part I'm covered. Love ya babes, be well.