Lamictal side effects, or what?

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Ole Kvaal - 11 Jun 2005 16:48 GMT

Hi all.
I have just switched to full dose (2x50 mg) after increasing the dose
for about one month. In addition, I'm on 900 mg/day Valproat. This is,
in fact, my second on full dose of Lamictal. Thing is, though, that
these to days my simple partials (I used to have what was known as Grand
Mal) or perhaps auras have increased and become slightly frightened
(frightened of having a GM, that is). Anyone else having this experience
with Lamictal, and is it a sort of thing that may wear off after the
first few days?

Thanks in advance,
Ole K

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Dave ©¿©¬ - 11 Jun 2005 17:49 GMT

Howdy Ole!

This is not necessarily a bad thing!

I had the same concern with some of my therapy and this is what my
epileptologist told me:

It is possible that your seizure severity has been reduced and that you are
now having simple partials instead of complex partials.

A person is not aware of complex partial seizures. That means that it is
possible that the actual number of seizures that you have has not gone up,
but you are simply aware of more of your seizures these days.

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> Hi all.
> I have just switched to full dose (2x50 mg) after increasing the dose
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Thanks in advance,
> Ole K

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Ole Kvaal - 11 Jun 2005 20:01 GMT

> Howdy Ole!
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> possible that the actual number of seizures that you have has not gone up,
> but you are simply aware of more of your seizures these days.

Howdy, Howdy, and thanks for your reply.
Seems like a bad thing for me, though. One hour after I'd written the
above, I had a Grand Mal. I have been aware of what may have been simple
partial for years, and these have remained for at least parts of my
period of increased doses of Lamictal.

My hope now, is that Lamicatal still may have the affect of first
increasing, then decreasing my seizures, whatever their type.

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Chris Lesurf - 12 Jun 2005 07:36 GMT

I have had very few major fits (grand mal) for years now. I was used as a
lamotrigine (Lamicatl) guinea pig before it went on the market and found
that it reduced my fits whle not making me as sleepy as other a-cs used to.
I always get an aura before a fit, however, mild it is going to be and
sometimes just get the aura. By this I mean I feel nervous in a way
particular to my fits but don't go into the state where I am behaving in
ways other than I would normally and come out having no idea what I did do
in the immediate past.

I keep a record of all my fits including auras so that I can keep my GP
and neurologist well-informed. I put my epilepsy on perspective by saying
it's not have as much as nuisance as my catarrh! In fact, the epilepsy has
the advantage of qualifying me for a Disability Living Allowance, a bus
pass that lets me travel from my home town to the other side of Scotland
for 50p etc etc.

Just try and ignore it and make sure as many other people as possible do
too.

Chris L.

> Howdy, Howdy, and thanks for your reply.
> Seems like a bad thing for me, though. One hour after I'd written the
> above, I had a Grand Mal. I have been aware of what may have been simple
> partial for years, and these have remained for at least parts of my
> period of increased doses of Lamictal.

> My hope now, is that Lamicatal still may have the affect of first
> increasing, then decreasing my seizures, whatever their type.

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Ole Kvaal - 12 Jun 2005 08:17 GMT

> I have had very few major fits (grand mal) for years now. I was used as a
> lamotrigine (Lamicatl) guinea pig before it went on the market and found
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> ways other than I would normally and come out having no idea what I did do
> in the immediate past.

Hi, Chris, and thanks for your reply. Well, in my case it has given me a
GM, as well causing these auras/anxiety thing the whole day ever since I
first switched to normal dose. It's a bit too early to tell how this day
will develop yet, guess I'll just have to wait and see.
Anyway, I've made an appointment with my neuor tomorrow, perhaps I'll be
a little wiser then.
Hope your improved condition will remain.

cheers,
ole k

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Chris Lesurf - 14 Jun 2005 15:54 GMT

perhaps I should have also metioned that when I was on 400mgms/day I used
to have a mesh of tiny blodd vessels left after a bruise healed.
Lamotrigine still causes me to bruise easily but there is no everlasting
blood vessel map left.

Chris L.

> > I have had very few major fits (grand mal) for years now. I was used as a
> > lamotrigine (Lamicatl) guinea pig before it went on the market and found
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> > ways other than I would normally and come out having no idea what I did do
> > in the immediate past.

> Hi, Chris, and thanks for your reply. Well, in my case it has given me a
> GM, as well causing these auras/anxiety thing the whole day ever since I
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> a little wiser then.
> Hope your improved condition will remain.

> cheers,
> ole k

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G.Ross - 12 Jun 2005 15:24 GMT

>> Howdy Ole!
>> This is not necessarily a bad thing!
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> My hope now, is that Lamicatal still may have the affect of first
> increasing, then decreasing my seizures, whatever their type.

If your Doctor is replacing another seizure med. with the one you're
currently on, some of your reactions might be from the withdrawal of the
older pill, and the Lamictal may not be at the Therapeutic level for your
type of seizure and body weight. That's hopefully what your Dr. will be
able to tell you tomorrow.
Be sure to tell him about the Feelings and Sensations you're having.
Those are part of a Simple Partial or Aura of your type of seizure, and the
fact you're still having those and the Frequency per day, will help them
set your new Target dose, if they change it from what you're at now.
Some of the pills, you might need to take for 2-3 weeks at one dose
level to get to a stable blood level of a particular type. Mine are
different from Lamictal, but I had to be at my 'target dose' for 2 or more
weeks before they'd do any Bloodwork to see how my Levels were doing.
Keep us posted. G./

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Ole Kvaal - 12 Jun 2005 15:36 GMT

>>>Howdy Ole!
>>>This is not necessarily a bad thing!
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> type of seizure and body weight. That's hopefully what your Dr. will be
> able to tell you tomorrow.

(snip)

> Keep us posted. G./

Which I will, no, like I wrote, this is not a substitute, but an
addition to Valproat (Orifiril Retard) as it's called here). Still, yes,
I hope to have this clarified tomorrow (or as soon as he can let me have
an appointment). Thanks for your replies and concern, all of you.

rgds,
ole k

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Liz & Allan MacDonald - 13 Jun 2005 13:40 GMT

Hi Ole,
When I tried Lamictal I went from having 2 or 3 simple partials a day to
12 to 14 in one day. I also developed swollen lymph nodes, which is
a signal of a reaction to the drug, and it was discontinued immediately,
so I don't know if the seizure increase would have continued.
Liz

> Hi all.
> I have just switched to full dose (2x50 mg) after increasing the dose
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Thanks in advance,
> Ole K

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Chris Lesurf - 14 Jun 2005 16:01 GMT

I also developed little lymph bumps all over me which, unless removed by
brute force, have remained ever since. However, even those doing the
research took no notice of them and a skin specialist said the transparent
fluid was not lymph but as she didn't have any idea what it was, I don't
know how she felt qualified to say so !
However, they have done no harm except not lokking very nice where they
have been disturbed and become like tiny warts.

I read elsewhere that if you should get a rash you should stop taking
lamotrigine but have never heard the consequences of not stopping nor
the actual form the rash takes.

Chris L.

> Hi Ole,
> When I tried Lamictal I went from having 2 or 3 simple partials a day to
> 12 to 14 in one day. I also developed swollen lymph nodes, which is
> a signal of a reaction to the drug, and it was discontinued immediately,
> so I don't know if the seizure increase would have continued.
> Liz

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Chris Lesurf - 14 Jun 2005 16:04 GMT

Why do you use the phrase 'full dose'? I take 275mgms/day and was once on
400mgms/day.

Chris L.

> Hi all.
> I have just switched to full dose (2x50 mg) after increasing the dose
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> with Lamictal, and is it a sort of thing that may wear off after the
> first few days?

> Thanks in advance,
> Ole K

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Ole Kvaal - 15 Jun 2005 10:34 GMT

> Why do you use the phrase 'full dose'? I take 275mgms/day and was once on
> 400mgms/day.

With "full dose" I mean the max intake suggested by my neuro, after
slowing building up to that level.

ole k

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