How long does it take for Lamictal to completely clear out of your system? - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

vexworth · 05-07-2008, 02:58 PM

BACKSTORY: Circumstances arose about a month and a half ago involving me getting no sleep for four days and having a bit of a psychotic episode due to the fact. The doctors assumed that I MUST be bipolar, and started me on Lamictal, which I got off of just three days ago because I got The Happy Rash of Joy - as well as the doctor was beginning to think it might've been sleep deprivation psychosis instead of a manic episode, as a lot of things didn't quite match up, and therefore I've not been put on anything else for the moment.

QUESTION: How long before I feel like myself again?! As one of the things that Lamictal did while I was on it was completely sap my creativity - to the point that I had to indefinitely pause the writing of a story I was working on because I just couldn't form ideas anymore - as well as shoot my short-term memory to all hell. I was only on 25 mg for about a month, but I'm now off . . . and don't feel any better or more intelligent for it. I'm a senior in high school - was getting all a's and b's . . . and was going to college and planning a splendid sort of life involving art and writing and various creative pursuits and - ANYWAY! - I ask you, have any of you been on Lamictal and gone off, and if so - how long does it take to/do you actually ever regain your former level of creativity and cognition?! I'm starting to fear that I may have been irreparably damaged by the stuff . . . but mood stabilisers DO eventually clear out of you and give you your neurons and such back, yes?

Only I'm getting a bit concerned, that's all.

seaturtle · 05-07-2008, 06:40 PM

Hi,

Yes, it will be out of your system entirely. Your pharmacist will be able to tell you what the half-life is and how long it takes.

I'd ask him if I were you. As far as I know, there is no danger of permanent damage - could your difficulty with creativity be due to depresion?

Your pdoc is the one to ask on this one, and I hope you feel better really soon.

Seaturtle

Schatje · 05-07-2008, 07:57 PM

I'm on Lamictal right now and I've never had a problem with limited creativity, but I did have a problem with memory retrieval. I found this problem very distressing so my doc lowered my dosage by 50 mg a day. It took about 3 to 4 weeks to see the difference, but the memory retrieval problem was fixed by lowering my dosage. It may take less time for you to see a difference because you were on a lower dosage and have now stopped the drug completely. So yes, it did come back. I hope this helps even a little.

Llama · 05-07-2008, 09:56 PM

Well, my psychiatrist said that even after just 3 days off of lamictal that I had to restart my dose again at 25mg (due to the rash risk). So it must have a very short half-life if I only was off of it for 3 days and had to titrate up in dosage again. So, it must almost be out of your system completely.

Just a thought...maybe at least part of this is due to a placebo effect and from what you have read or heard about psych meds "making people zombies" or "losing their creative spark." I am by no means trying to put you down...I'm sure you know of the incredible power of influence and suggestion. This could very well be the case.