Side Effects
Following conversion from tegretol and Zonegran, I began on 400 mg Lamictal. Bad dreams followed with sleep talking and thrashing during dreams. This turned into more vivid short dreams in which I could not discern dreams from reality. I have contacted my Dr asking permission to take the meds earlier and he concurred to try them 4 hrs earlier. HE is leaning toward changing the meds. After laying out a lot of $ for a 3 month supply, I am reluctant to change meds as I am tight on $....

Additional Thoughts
Lamictal has worked well with no side effects other than the sleep problesm. My problems with other meds included constipation and depression. Lamictal also relieves my anger bouts...and settles me down which probably helps with seizure control.

Side Effects
itchy arm pits, mild skin discoloration on my fore arm (not sure if either of these are from the medicine)

Additional Thoughts
I've taken 50mg for 12 days. I don't really notice anything different. I'm apprehensive about this medicine because I'm depressed, lethargic, have no energy and my Dr. would not prescribe antidepressants for me. : ( So I'm hoping that this will help with depression first.

Side Effects
Over 125 Mg lots of intense dreams. I agree with the person who said take it in the morning only. It makes me stay awake so I would sleep less. The problem is that I would get fatigued from no sleep and I think I would have all the range of sleep depravation problems (confusion, anxieta, anger, depression etc.) simply from lack of sleep, even though my concentration and attitude was improved during times that I did sleep. I dropped to 125 from 150mgs and it seemed right for me.

Additional Thoughts
One thing that is published that seems true is that lamictal seems to have a very narrow sweet spot for dosage. also lamictal seems to react with other drugs and can vary the effect of lamictal. Caffeine use is NOT good. Caffeine use may also cause the skin problems associated with lamictal. Dosing is sensitive, too much and you loose sleep too little and nothing happens. My only problem at first was that when I started up near the 100 mg level nothing really happened. I then started taking 150 mg and then I could not sleep. I felt great at first but I got so exhausted from no sleep. Finally I was taking a 100mg and a 25 mg for 125 total. I think it really was good. My concentration was better, I did feel better. I was more alert and I seemed to be making better decisions. I took it for about a year. I stopped taking it about 8 days ago and I have been very tired. Im going to see how I feel.

Side Effects
Vivid bad dreams.

Additional Thoughts
About 4 months ago I was finally diagnosed with Bipolar II after 10+ years of different antidepressants that didn't work. It took a breakdown to get a proper diagnosis. I take Lamictal along with Lithium. I am now a completely different person. I am no longer angry, which feels very strange. When a feeling is constant for so long, it feels like something is missing when it's gone (even though that's a good thing). The only side effect I've noticed is vivid bad dreams. They started when I was upped to 150 mg. I'm now at 200 mg and they are still occuring. But I feel so much better otherwise, I'm not willing to give up my new meds. I don't remember having ANY dreams on the antidepressants. Maybe my brain is just making up for lost time.

Side Effects
Very few; especially compared to other mood stabilizing medications I have taken in the past. For the first few weeks I had some difficulty with memory and word recall, but this went away with time. I sometimes experience more vivid dreams, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Otherwise, no side effects of note.

Additional Thoughts
This is an excellent medication that has significantly improved my life. After having tried Lithium, Depakote, and many other anti-depressants, I was frustrated. But after taking Lamictal, and sticking with it, the results have been exceedingly positive. I strongly recommend it.