Lamictal and Side Effects

Dr. Pagnani of Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates discusses possible side effects of lamictal (lamotrigine). This mood stabilizing medication can be rather effective for preventing both manias and depressions, and unlike many mood stabilizing medications, may have low risk for weight gain and sexual side effects. With that said, it needs to be titrated slowly, as it does carry the risk of Stephen's Johnson Syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis and Asceptic Meningitis (all rare, but possible side effects).

Dr. Pagnani is the founder and medical director of Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates, an Instructor at The Johns Hopkins Hospital for the Department of Psychiatry, he supervises psychiatric residents at Jefferson Hospital, he serves on the Young Professional Board of Uplift, the Center for Grieving Children and he maintains a private practice of Psychiatry in Philadelphia where he sees patients for one-time psychiatric evaluations and second opinions. He is a licensed physician and surgeon in NJ, PA, NY, MD, DE, FL and CA and can provide consultations to individuals via HIPAA compliant Telehealth visits living in these locations.

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates is a private practice of psychiatry consisting of about 25 psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and psychotherapists with physical locations in Philadelphia and Paoli, PA and serving all of PA, NJ, NY and FL virtually via HIPAA compliant tele-psychiatry. Individuals seeking not only evaluations but long-term psychiatric care, can contact Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates directly.

These videos aim to increase awareness and discussion of mental health topics and to encourage struggling individuals to schedule an appointment directly with a mental health provider. Mental health needs to be normalized, and simply speaking about mental health topics openly, is an important first step.

Dr. Pagnani and Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates are NOT advocating for or against the use of any mentioned psychiatric medications for any specific individual. Additionally, any side effects mentioned are not a complete list of potential side effects or contraindications to taking any mentioned medications, and all risks and benefits of a medication should be discussed with an individual’s provider at an appointment, before starting, stopping or making changes to a medication regimen.

This video is INFORMATIVE ONLY - NOT MEDICAL ADVICE.

If you are researching a specific topic, please view our Youtube channel, click all videos and use the search function. Please also visit and follow us on instagram and FB: @RittenhousePsych.

www.RittenhousePA.com
www.ChrisPagnaniMD.com

[yamircomly]

All you people blaming the medication for side effects, they are listed on the label. Just because it didn't work for you doesn't mean it won't work for someone else. State your experience with it, but don't act as if is happening with everyone because it is NOT. I've been on this med for a bit over a year, and I cant' believe I waited so long to get put on this, it's very effective for SOME of us.

[Brenda]

After trying several medications for depression and hypomania for me it has worked and kept me stable.

[TexasStep]

This Medication made me extremely nauseated leading to vomiting frequently and debilitating vertigo.... went to ENT and had brain MRI ... they could find nothing i had no quality of life at all...I was prescribed a Valium which only helped for a little while. .. doing my own research I found this medication may be the problem... ever since I got off of it I've had no issues...maybe this will help someone

[danielkanka]

i just started 25 mg and first few days i was so empty and depression hit hard but after that i think it made me hyper and hypomanic very strange i hope it will pass

[neverstopwhistle]

Can a rash from lamictal occur anytime during the course of taking the med such as years into treatment? Or is it just early on?

[rajibbanerjee]

Hello sir, thanks for ur vital info. Need to get your opinion regarding my treatment. I have been taking sertaline for 15 yrs now due to panic attack and ocd. Recently i feel incresing anxiousness and panic attact not severe as it was before With balance problem while walking. Now feel lightheaded and off balance while standing and even sitting mostly when i feel anxious a bit . A neurogist prescribed lemotrigone 25 mg and increse the sertaline dose to 50 mg to 100mg. Just started taken lemotrigine but felling sedation and lethargy while sleeping. Previous symptoms are not subsided yet .can you suggest me should i continue taking lemotrigine and is the diagnosis is correct? Plz help by responding ur precious opinion about this .Regards

[lindamastropietro]

I’ve been taking 400 mg of Lamictal for a couple years now I don’t have any side effects.

[roselereau]

Do you know if it causes hearing loss? Or tinnitus? I can’t find a clear answer in the research. My audiologist said it could be ototoxic.

[meemeethu]

I started on lamotrigine on 12/22/23. I have had sore in my mouth and my tongue feels like it’s been scraped off, lips also feel cracked/dry and when I eat even mild spicy food, my lips will burn. It’s been over 2 weeks of taking that med, I’d think side effects will be lessened by now. But I still have them.
I’m also taking otc vit D and iron supplement.
Question: is my SE exacerbated and prolonging because of vit d and/or iron that I’m taking daily? Thank you.

[MattK.-wxxd]

Been on it for 4 weeks and just upped my dose to 4 tablets. Is it normal to feel extremely tired? I am unmotivated and feel blah all the time. Also I feel sick when thinking about having alcohol or a joint. I have another session with my Dr. In a few weeks. He said it would just hit me at some point and start working. Not sure I even have bipolar...but I do have diagnosed ADD.

[gnr]

Is it normal if this medicine make me have headache? Or it means this medicine is not for me to take it?

[babynaysc]

I'm bipolar, I used 200mg of Lamotrigine and the doctor asked to increase it to 300mg, I started 3 weeks ago and I have a headache and pain on the sides of my face, as if it were sinusitis, even taking pain medication, it doesn't relieve it much. Along with that, it ends up making me a little dizzy.

[renatadavis]

Lamotrigine helps with the seizures but I have turned into a mad and angry person I snap on people once I get irritated or frustrated I’m always ready to fight people idk if it’s helping me far as moods

[RadioTech]

Yeah well I'm glad I didn't even touch the medication bottle at 25 mg and I thought I'm not going to even bother because certain people react differently to things like your mileage may vary basically so I basically don't feel comfortable taking this at all and I just left it upstairs in the medicine cabinet to sit there because I don't want to end up dying or anything else even though I had a gene sight test done on me using my DNA that was swabbed in my mouth when they did that and then they sent that stuff back to the testing company and then the results were that I was able to tolerate that but I don't believe that I could tolerate it because I'm so scared of taking any medications after my weight gain from the last stuff that they had me on along with other things and I don't want to end up having serious medical issues as I also have consumed Delta 8 THC and that seems to handle a lot better and it's not addicting at all because it does help I'm able to sleep better and everything

[ukrena]

I read that after a long term use it can causes osteoporosis, how long is cknsifered long term use ?

[crystalboyd]

I’m on keppra and limictal and have severe weight loss can’t