Has Anyone Taken Lamictal ?

[micky]

i was given it for suspected epilepsy,the neuro was unsure if was epilepsy or dissociation/realization seizures.the lamictal did not help with the episodes and looks more like dissociation/derealization as i have complex ptsd.
the medication does help lift my mood,but iam only depressed/annoyed is because i am like this,"having these episodes and my memory/concentartion are really bad",if that makes sense.
has anyone else taken lamrictal

 

[Kintsugi]

These might be helpful.

 

[420kitty]

I have had epilepsy for 16 years now epilepsy. Mostly grand mal (the seizing, shaking, etc) but do get partial seizures when I'm late taking my meds. My eyelashes will flicker a few times, and then the eyeballs will kind of roll to the back of my head for a couple seconds (feels like 10-30seconds). During that time it feels like my short term memory has been wiped (like a hardrive). I forget what I was doing or talking about. There is also a confusion and dizziness 'aura' associated with it.

When I disassociate it is often because a trauma has been triggered, and I cannot handle it. So my mind escapes but I remember what I was doing prior, no auras, no eye movement that I am aware of. That is the best I can explain it. Hopefully it helps.

I also get bad memory and concentration, which is a symptom of ptsd. Has your neurologist ordered a CAT and MRI scan? EEGs to try and induce a seizure while monitoring brain waves?

 

[micky]

I have had ptsd before,but never any memory/ concentration problems.i have had mri/cat scan and all clear.had an eeg done and it just showed slow brain waves,no epilepsy.

 

[digger]

it just showed slow brain waves,no epilepsy

Has your prescribing doctor explained why they want to keep you on the lamictal if they don't suspect epilepsy?

 

[420kitty]

I may be mistaken, but once you have PTSD it changes your brain chemistry; thus it is always there. If you do not believe the lack of concentration is part of your PTSD then you need a second opinion. Not to be rude or disresptful but it sounds like your doctor does not have the knowledge needed for your case. Slow brain waves do not equate to being an epileptic. Neurons misfiring does. Then again, I have seen a lot of doctors so I might be biased. Good luck! :)

 

[lux.]

I take Lamictal for bipolar disorder and it has been helpful with that and with lifting my depression a bit.

I was in the hospital recently with someone who had somatization disorder and dissociative seizures several times a day, and it seemed awful. I would hate to be going through what you're going through. She said that she got a lot of stigma from doctors who didn't believe in dissociative seizures and thought she was just faking it. We were in Sheppard Pratt's Trauma Disorders Unit and the staff there did a good job of helping her try to use skills and come back to reality when the seizures hit. When it's dissociation and not epilepsy, there aren't really any drugs to help with it, so it's all about therapy and skills--learning how to manage when you feel the seizures coming on. Unfortunately, I have not dealt with it personally, so I'm not really sure what skills are applicable for the seizures. All I know is that I saw them give her a frozen orange a lot and tell her to focus on the feeling of the cold in her hand.

If the Lamictal isn't helpful for your seizures, maybe they're just keeping you on for depression or bipolar disorder. It can be very helpful for those issues. I would give it a shot if those things are issues.

 

[Kintsugi]

maybe they're just keeping you on for depression or bipolar disorder.

As demonstrated by the links I shared, lamictal is also often prescribed for PTSD. I was on it for many months to control my spiraling depression and anxiety.

 

[micky]

the neuro has to rule epilpspy out.so if the medication does not help with the seizures after iam put on the highest dose,its then classed as Non epileptic/dissociation/derealisation.its been tough taking the medication.it has lifted my mood and my ptsd does not seem as bad.
I think if I had epilpspy,the medication would stop it in its tracks.
not sure if its the medication or emdr... or both ?
still get the dissociation,not just as much.

 

[Ladyghosthunter]

I take Lamogtrigine (Lamictil) and I haven't had any issues about it. But then again, I'm not your average bear....

 

[The Black Phoenix]

Lamictal made my memory worse and messed with my cognitive ability. I don't hear much about this as a complaint, but I can say it was noticeable for me.

 

[Ronin]

Used to work for me as a mood stabilizer for years, then it stopped working, & then prescribed again made me have so wild depression & suicidality swings I had to kick it to the curb, as my usual depression & suicidality was more manageable without.