Any experience with Lamictal?!
Question: Any experience with Lamictal.?
My doctor has prescribed me Lamictal to help stabilize my moods (bipolar disorder). I am incredibly nervous about taking it because of the entire rash ordeal.
It sounded like a good idea at first, but then, of course, I kept reading into the rash and whatnot and I suppose I have succeeded at freaking myself out about it.
Anyways...anyone on here have any experience with it.? Good.? Bad.? Do you know anyone who has taken it.? What was their experience.?
I'm considering going back to him and telling him I just don't feel comfortable with it, and trying a medication I took before that helped-I stopped taking meds/going to the psych two years ago, and now need them again-going to a new doctor though because my old one is no longer in private practice =[
Thanks in advance for any help.Health Question & Answer
It sounded like a good idea at first, but then, of course, I kept reading into the rash and whatnot and I suppose I have succeeded at freaking myself out about it.
Anyways...anyone on here have any experience with it.? Good.? Bad.? Do you know anyone who has taken it.? What was their experience.?
I'm considering going back to him and telling him I just don't feel comfortable with it, and trying a medication I took before that helped-I stopped taking meds/going to the psych two years ago, and now need them again-going to a new doctor though because my old one is no longer in private practice =[
Thanks in advance for any help.Health Question & Answer
Answers:
Like most other medications, lamictal can be very good for some and not so good for others. The simple fact is that some people who take this medication will develop a rash. No matter what anyone else tells you on this forum, this is just a fact. If you take it, you may get a rash. There are several things you can do to minimize the chance of getting a rash: First of all, take lamictal exactly as prescribed. Lamictal is titrated slowly from a small dose (usually 25mg/day) to a therapeutic dose (about 200mg/day) (unless you're also on depakote (valproic acid) or tegretol or something like that then that changes things). The slow titration to a therapeutic dosage lessens the chance of developing a rash. It is also very important to take lamictal everyday. If you miss Lamictal for a few days, you have to start the titration all over again or else the risk of developing a rash increases. So be sure to take your meds as prescribed. Finally, it's important to know that the vast majority of rashes that occur with lamictal are completely benign. The problem is, it is sometimes difficult to tell which rashes are benign and which ones are not. Sometimes, people on lamictal develop a rash associated with a very serious medical condition called Stevens-Johnsons Syndrome (SJS). This can be life threatening. For this reason, it is very important that if you develop a rash while taking Lamictal that you tell your doctor immediately so he or she can make appropriate interventions in your treatment. I have seen people do very well on lamictal and I have also seen people develop rashes. I have never seen anyone develop SJS on lamictal but it can happen. My suggestion would be to take the meds but do the things I've stated above. This will give you a chance to reap the benefits of a medication that is very helpful to many people while minimizing the risks. But of course this is a decision only you can make for yourself. Best of luck! Hang in there!Health Question & Answer
I know the rash can be a scary thing but I worked at a boarding school for troubled teenagers for 4 years and I never once had a kid to breakout in the rash and we had alot of kids on Lamictal there. The truth is you can read the side effects to every medication and it will freak you out but if you are still worried then talk to your doctor about Abilify. Health Question & Answer
I have taken it to help control my epilepsy for the last several years. When I first started it, I felt a little more drowsy, but that stopped after my body adjusted to the Lamicatal. I have not had any rashes or major side affects since I started taking it, and it definitely helps control my seizures. So, all things considered, I would say taking Lamictal has been a positive experience. The only real complaint I have is it somewhat expensive with my current health insurance. However, I saved cost by trying the generic version of Lamictal and I did not notice any change in performance and I did not have any side effects.Health Question & Answer
I take Lamictal without any problems. Starting at a very low dose and slowly working up to around 200mg seems to be the best way to minimize side effects and to steer clear of the rash. The deal with the rash is you need to look at your body daily in the mirror to just check all looks normal. If you do this, you'll know a) you don't have it and b) that you'll catch it early enough to be completely cured of it. Lamictal at 300 mg had some minor balance effects and a little bit of slowed cognition. At 200mg I don't have any of those problems. Good luck.Health Question & Answer
I've been on it for a few months and never got the rash.
You'll start out with a small dose and then work up to a dose that works for you, so you'll be at a minimum risk for the rash. There's only a small percentage of people who get it.
Good luck! :)Health Question & Answer
You'll start out with a small dose and then work up to a dose that works for you, so you'll be at a minimum risk for the rash. There's only a small percentage of people who get it.
Good luck! :)Health Question & Answer