Lamictal- how long does it take to click in? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

seaturtle · 10-26-2007, 06:39 PM

Hello, everyone,

I had an increase in Lamictal three weeks ago because of awful depression and hypomanic episodes, agitation, anger. I think I am starting to feel better (don't want to trust that yet), and wondered if anyone knows how long the Lamictal takes to begin to work. I do hope that's what happening.

Thanks again, and hello to all the wonderful people on this board. It's just a life-saver for me, and I am so grateful.

Seaturtle

tony72 · 10-26-2007, 07:30 PM

Hey Turtle,

Mine kicked in pretty fast. I am wondering if you have looked into the Deplin I posted about. It really made a difference in my Lamictal and my a.d. Effexor.

Tony

Sunka · 10-26-2007, 09:49 PM

It took me about a month to get to a top dosage of 450 mg; it kind of helped, in that I wasn't so dramatically up & down...but I ended up discontinuing it and am searching for another mood stabilizer. Good luck!!

steamrollhehe · 10-26-2007, 10:33 PM

HI Seaturtle,
Mine took about 4weeks to work at its full potential. But I love it! My doctor said he was going to "lamictify" me, which is lamictal and abllify. I was put on both of them so I can't be sure, but I think the lamictal was the one that really decreased the mood swings. Abilify, i've heard, is more for the psycotic symptoms (which are also gone). I've just had a really good experience with lamictal!!
--steamroll

Llama · 10-26-2007, 11:36 PM

I would say any increase took about a month for me to feel it start working too.

And steamroll, that "lamictify" term made me laugh so hard! I've been on both before too but am now on lamictal and geodon. So I guess my pdoc wants to "lamicodon" me. hahaha