I was on Lamictal from '98 to 2 weeks ago.  The one nice (for me) side-effect was weight loss.  I lost 65 lbs in a year.  It never controlled my szs (no med did) so I had surgery.  No seizures since surgery.  Since coming off the lamictal, which started in '07, I've put back on 20 lbs.   Also, my "dyslexia" disappeared as I came off Lamictal.  If you're rarely having szs, so you really want to go back on meds?

I have been on Lamictal going on 2 years now. So far it has been doing very well for me. It has actually stopped my grand malswhere I would go into extremely violent convulsions and will not wake up for a few hours. My last one was in November 2007. I am 27 and started having seizures right after I turned 24. This happened August 2005 right after my birthday. I have been having the same type of seizures you have had the same seizures you have for the first part of 2008 about every other month before my periods So I was put on Keppra and so far it has worked great. My last seizure was in September. It took a while for my docs. to find where my seizures where comeing from and then I was able to have surgery doen to my Left temporal Lobe this past November. My MRI's have been great but I did have a psychological evaluation where they checked my short term memory tosee if there is any changes. I have noticed for the past several months that I have been having trouble speaking and forgetting words and numbers just like you, but no seizures. I ope things get better for you and you are able to handle the Lamictal as well as I have. You take care.

I've been on Lamictal for about 5/6 years.  I am 30 years old and I think I've had seizures since I was a child but I was diagnosed when I was 19.  I suffer from complex/partial seizures that I have never had complete control over.  As compared to other meds, the side effects of this drug are what I would consider somewhat minor, except for the acne.  I began taking Lamictal while on birth control.  Last year I went off my birth control to try to get pregnant and I couldn't figure out why in the world I was experiencing sever acne when I have always had pretty nice skin.  I never knew this was a side effect until the hormones from the birth control were taken away if you will.  As far as the side effects you've mentioned above, I'd say forgetfulness is a definite, my long term memory is fine but my short term is ridiculously bad.  I have trouble thinking of words sometimes, which I'm sure could make me come across ditzy.  I've also noticed that it speeds up my metabolism.  I gained 40 lbs. years ago when I was on Depakote and once I went off of it and started Lamictal, I lost it all in about 2 months if that.

 I wish you the best of luck...

I am on 700 mg of Lamictal.  Well above the target dose of 400 mg a day for Epilepsy.  If you look at the Package Insert cognitive issues do not show up as a side effect.  I even talked to a pharmacist, my doc (an epileptologist) and the medical information department of the manufacturer.  I have found that my issues with word finding and misplacing things, etc. are due to the partial seizures I have.  I did have problems with insomnia as well.  I take the bigger dose in the morning and a smaller dose at night.  That has helped enormously and the insomnia is mostly resolved.

I have been on more than 6 different combos of drugs to control my Comlex/Partial seizures and have found that most have caused tolerability issues.  That being said, after much research, lamictal does not have some of the more severe baggage that other agents do.  I gained weight on lyrica and became absolutely unreasonable and irritable.  Topamax made me stupid.  Zonegran made me feel sick.  Acetazolamid messed with my kidneys. I am on both Keppra and Lamictal now and see some irritability with the addition of Keppra.  As long as my family is not noticing the difference in mood then I will perservere and hope it does not reach Lyrica proportions.  It does exhaust me and I am sleeping during the day and have less energy.  That is still better than a seizure and a trip to the ER. 

The long and short of it is........side effects will be an issue with any drug taken for any reason.  You just have to decide if they are worth the risk.  Some of the drugs do have a once a day and data does suggest that the slower release might minimize side effects.  I am switching to the once a day Lamictal as soon as it is at the pharmacy.  I will take it in the morning to hopefully improve my sleep even more.

Hi,

My doctor had me switch from Keppra to Lamictal because Keppra was making me anxious. So, I started taking Lamictal and became extremely emotional, like cried on the phone discussing my dental insurance, very irratible, annoyed very easily, anxious as well and I do forget recent and past experiences.  However, I do thing the forgetfulness is from seizures, not the drug.

I must say that once you are a few weeks into taking Lamictal, you get used to it and all those side effects go away.  I hope you are not the 1 of 2,000 that get a really bad rash on your face which is one of the possible side effects of it. I thought that was pretty weird, but I didn't get one.

I hope that helped.

Kim

I've only had 2 seizures in my life, simple partials.  My doctor put me on Lamictal after the second, May 2009.  I'm still not on my full dosage of 100mg 2x day.  Going through the first week or so, I felt a little detached sometimes, would have some of the symptoms you described, loss of words, unable to focus, etc., but they have gradually either gotten less frequent or disappeared all together.  Just be patient and journal how you feel everyday and see if the side effects lessen with time.  If not, or they get worse and you can't live with them, talk to your doc and try something else. 

Also, take the advice rikk gave, it all adds up to a healthier lifestyle and that can only help with our sz.

Be well ~ 

hi,

i will except that you have read the negatives.   so to the other information.  it will take about 4-6 weeks to get to a full dose.  that is the normal.  the twice a day dose is usually 200-250mg twice a day.  every medication has side effects.  in reality most things we take into ourselfs has side effects.  some of the side effects you will get over, others you will learn to tolerate.  The end of the medication thing is that if it is not tolerable you and the doc can always try something else.  It is just a trial and error.  The inital side effects.  They will more tolerable if you practice a healthy life style.  rest, sleep, diet, exercise, and time just to have fun.

It will allow you to be at the best you can be, while you are in the process of getting use to the medication.  You need to educate yourself on what to do and not where lamictal.  there are some diet concerns, but that is something that you need to investigate.  if you smoke, quit, but do it gradually.  To cold turkey any addictive substance, can induce seizures.  not smoking is better for you.  simple more oxygen to the brain less chance of seizure because of irratation.  no nicotine less irratation.  drinking.  unless you are addicted to it.  stop.  none a day is the right amount.  it is not only a depressant, it lowers the level at which a seizure can occur.  The public speaking and computers, is a individual issue.  the rest and things should help but there is nothing that is certain.  hope it helps.  rikk