Epilepsy Forum - Lamictal - Associated Problems
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Lamictal - Associated Problems

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JesseJames

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Apr 2004
Posts: 3
Lamictal - Associated Problems
Posted: 04-29-04 23:26pm

Anyone here on lamictal? I'm been prescribed lamictal for epilepsy and just started again on aed's. I've been off aed's for about 2 years as per my doctors suggestion and after a relapse of seizures i've been put back on. This time on lamictal - I don't recall what I was on before, but it was no good. Anyway this time round I can say with confidence that the physical complications are less of a problem, although the first couple days I felt severely depressed, drowsy/tired, loss of hunger, and emotionally involved; that is to say that as I dude I experienced feelings that I didn't know existed - for a couple days I could understand how some chicks cry at kleenex commercials. Anyhoo all that has passed (thankfully), although i've, in the last week or so, experienced an increase in incredibly vivid and generally violent dreams. Previous to taking the medicine I noted that I didn't really experience that many dreams - strangely enough I had quite an in depth conversation on the matter, which has only helped to contrast the change.

Anyone know about violent dreams as a side effect? Vivid is one thing, but last night I dreamed about a nuclear holocaust complete with burning victims, an incident involving a gang and their onslaught with samurai swords (???) to which someone lost an arm, and to top it all off I woke up confused: I wasn't sure if I had murdered (in cold blood) the girl sleeping beside me, and three others, or if it was a dream. That is not cool at all, and my doctor has prescribed me to increase my dosage 8 times what it's at now. Hell no!

Now i'm curious to know if the lack of dreams I had experienced before now contributed to my new bought with epilepsy? Thoughts? More so I think experiencing 3 vivid dreams nightly in comparison to none will eventually be detrimental to my health when someone is dying in each of them, especially when some of them are loved ones. How do I explain to my g/f that I broke her neck and buried her in a shallow grave somewhere in the desert? I'm not a violent or angry person - dreams are one thing, but they are as real as waking life?
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Kathyalison

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Apr 2004
Posts: 64
Dosage
Posted: 04-30-04 08:50am

Crazy! I've been on lamictal for 7 years and never experienced anything like that with my dreams. So I can't tell you how to talk to your girlfriend about it. I was curious though about your dosage. You said it's being increased by 8 times?? The absolute max. Dose is 600mg (which is what i'm on) and that's pushing it. My doctor is switching me to keppra now because i've maxed out the lamictal. Once your dosage is increased, how much will you be on?
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JesseJames

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Apr 2004
Posts: 3

Posted: 04-30-04 09:29am

It's not 600mg. That's sounds out of hand. What, if any, were the side effects you experienced? Right now i'm at 50mg daily. I'm supposed to increase weekly doubling my dosage to abput 400mg. I havn't had a lot of eperience with aed's but the first med's I was on was bad news bears. Made me feel real ill in my head. I'm a part time musician and full time programmer so I found they were hurting both side of the brain, if you know what I mean.

The lamictal is good aside from the clamy hands and estrogen-esque mood swings. I'm waiting for the hot flashes, however the burning corpses in my dreams are a little bothsome - they've got to go.

I'll talk to my doctor, but i'm curous to know if doctors readily add additional medications to combat the side effects? I don't wanna have to go on some crazy downer, however the cool thing that I can see about lamictal is the lack of serious side effects such as no abnormal hair growth. It's important to me not to wake up looking like cousin it.
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sami_1982

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Dec 2003
Posts: 200
Location: Australia
Hello Jesse
Posted: 04-30-04 16:01pm

Very interesting, your dreams.
I am not taking lamictal but I am on epilim ec 1000mg 2x and tegretol cr 200mg 2x and my meds have only been changed to these in the past few weeks. I also have noticed an increase in my dreams, and I have also been having nightmares. Its quite scarey I know how you feel. You really think that you have murdered your entire loving family or the people around you. Some days I just feel like I am going insane. I have to see the doc next week, and they have been talking to me about going on the same med you are on because my med combination here isnt working well at all.
So mate you aint alone.
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raf

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Jun 2004
Posts: 4
Location: Torrance, Ca.
Lamictal
Posted: 06-10-04 16:35pm

I started having seizures in 1984, I am now 49 years old. My Dr. Started me out on dilantin which I had control problems with. I was eventually taking 600mg. Dilantin and 10mg. Phenobarbatol. I still had a seizure! I finally found a new neurologest which prescribed lamictal. I am now taking 200mg. Twice daily and have not had a seizure since I started taking this. Now, about the dreams. I have very vivid dreams, mostly non-violent. I do however have numerous dreams every night. Most of my dreams are about things that I like (i always dream that I can fly) , but once in a while i'll have a violent dream. I have always had vivid dreams but more (i believe) since taking lamictal.
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mommy2

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Jun 2004
Posts: 16

Posted: 06-24-04 13:43pm

I'm hearing ya! I terrrible side effects with lamictal. The worst was mind racing, which is listed with the side effects. It is exactly what it sounds like and it was terrrible! It was almost like I dropped into a transe and couldn't stop thinking (racing). This finally went away, along with the hand shaking, yet the acne never went away.
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kfl325

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Jun 2004
Posts: 2
Location: wv
Hello Fellow Lamictal People
Posted: 07-01-04 20:11pm

I have recently started taking lamictal myself. I've pretty much had different types of epilepsy for most of my life. Been on tegretol, depakote, a couple others that I cant remember the names of. Oh well - not important now! Anyway, I pretty much dream every night and can tell you about them everyday. Some are so crazy but then I have the same dream of things as I did as a child - who knows! Anyway, just thought I would join in this conversation! Thanks!
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danceman

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2004
Posts: 22
Location: Australia
Problems With Lamactil
Posted: 07-18-04 01:01am

I have been on just about every available anti epileptic medication that is available ,and suitable to my epilepsy,and lamictil was one of them, a shocker...Terrible sleepless nights my nuerologist kept increasing the dose and yes my sleepless nights were worse , and I cant take a pill to help me sleep as they aggravate my epilepsy ,double edged sword. I eventually got off lamicatal ,i'll give any new medication a go and yes everyone is different and every case of epilepsy is different but anyone
considering lamictal.,,topamax,,...Epilem,....Keppra to name a few , I would strongly reccomend you discuss the side effects of these tablets with your nueroligist before commencing taking them. Generally , my nuerologist says something like ,"there are some side effects with this tablet but few and far between", you may be lucky and get no side effects but you want to know what you may be in for.
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Froggy

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Apr 2004
Posts: 5

Posted: 07-20-04 08:20am

I have been on lamictal for about 6 months now. I am at 500mg. One thing I have noticed is that I do remember dreames and such. But I think that may be because I am off dilantin and don't sleep like the dead anymore. I still have appetite problems but I think that is associated with the zonegran I am on.

Froggy
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bo181

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Jul 2004
Posts: 2
Lamictal And Prostate
Posted: 07-27-04 09:18am

Hello. I am a new user and epilepsy patient. I take lamictal and I have a very sensitive urinary tract. For some reason inexplicable to my neuro and urologist this drug causes problems with urination. All the typical prostate problems, slow stream, dribbling, leaking, urgency. And chronic pain in my urethra. Does anyone has any experience with these side effects?
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