Can Lamictal Make You Manic?

Lamotrigine used as an adjuvant mood stabilizer has been reported to induce mania¹ and hypomania² in case reports.

Why does Lamictal make me manic?

The mechanism underlying the occurrence of lamotrigine-induced manic switches may be the inhibition of glutamate release, which provides an antidepressant effect. [5] In one case report, the authors suggested that the occurrence of manic switches was related to the titration rate and dosage.

Can Lamictal make you feel crazy?

Lamotrigine is generally well tolerated; however, some psychiatric problems have been reported in patients using the drug to treat mental disorders (mainly bipolar) or epilepsy. The clinical features of these psychiatric side effects are: affective switches, full acute psychotic episodes, and hallucinations.

Is lamotrigine a manic?

Lamotrigine has shown no efficacy in treating acute mania, which makes it less desirable than lithium, quetiapine, or cariprazine in that there will be no coverage for the manic/hypomanic phases. It also has no apparent benefit for suicidal ideation or behaviors.

Does lamotrigine affect thinking?

Conclusion: Treatment with lamotrigine as monotherapy and as adjunctive therapy was associated with improved cognitive functioning and reduced neurocognitive side effects, regardless of index mood polarity.

Does Lamictal suppress mania?

Lamictal is approved by the FDA for the maintenance treatment of adults with bipolar disorder. It has been found to help delay bouts of depression, mania, hypomania (a milder form of mania), and mixed episodes in those being treated with standard therapy.

What is the most common side effect of lamotrigine?

The most common side effects of lamotrigine are skin rashes and headaches. It can take up to 6 weeks for lamotrigine to work. You may still have fits or seizures or feel low during this time. Do not stop taking lamotrigine without talking to your doctor first.

Can Lamictal cause anger outbursts?

This medicine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed.

Can lamotrigine change your personality?

Increased sensitivity to light. Mood or behavior changes, such as depression, anxiety, agitation, hostility, restlessness, mental or physical hyperactivity, suicidal thoughts.

Does lamotrigine help with anger?

These 2 studies showed that lamotrigine is tolerated relatively well and seems to be a safe and effective agent in the treatment of anger in women with borderline personality disorder even in the long-term treatment of aggression.

Is Lamictal an antipsychotic?

Lamictal is an anticonvulsant and Seroquel is a psychotropic medication (antipsychotic).

When was Lamictal approved for bipolar?

In 1998, Lamictal became one of the very few treatments approved for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a severe childhood-onset type of epilepsy. In 2003, the drug was approved for the treatment of bipolar I disease, a psychiatric condition characterised by elevated moods or mania.

What is the best mood stabilizer for mania?

Lithium and quetiapine top the lists for all three phases of the illness: mania, depression, and the maintenance phase. Lurasidone and lamotrigine are either untested (lurasidone) or ineffective (lamotrigine) in mania, but they are essential tools for bipolar depression.

How does lamotrigine make you feel?

Lamotrigine may make you feel very drowsy or sleepy when you start taking it. It may also make it difficult for you to get to sleep. If these symptoms carry on for a long time, or if this is difficult for you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other medicines you could take.

Does Lamictal give you energy?

How does Lamictal make you feel? Like all drugs, Lamictal affects each person differently when they take it. For example, Lamictal typically doesn’t give you energy. In fact, you may have fatigue (lack of energy) as a side effect.

Does Lamictal cause cognitive problems?

Lamotrigine is generally accepted as a well-tolerated medication with few cognitive side effects.

What is a manic episode?

Some mood disorders are characterized by manic episodes, periods of abnormally high energy. Behavior may be diagnosed as a manic episode if: An abnormal and continuously elevated (happy or energetic) mood or an irritable mood occurs and lasts at least 5 days.

What phase of bipolar manic mixed or depressed is Lamictal most effective in managing?

The antidepressant drug lamotrigine is found to be therapeutically more effective in the treatment of depressive phase of the bipolar disorder than in treating hypomania or mania (Bourin et al., 2005).

Does Lamictal help with obsessive thoughts?

Lamotrigine is a commonly used drug in the treatment of bipolar depression, and there are occasional reports of its use in the management of OCD. Our case series suggests that lamotrigine use may be associated with first-onset of OCD in some patients with bipolar disorder.

What are the serious side effects of lamotrigine?

Serious side effects

• fever.
• rash.
• swollen lymph glands.
• severe muscle pain.
• frequent infections.
• swelling of your face, eyes, lips, or tongue.
• unusual bruising or bleeding.
• weakness or tiredness.

What drugs should not be taken with Lamictal?

What Other Medications May Interact With Lamotrigine?

• Anticonvulsants such as phenytoin (Dilantin®), carbamazepine (Tegretol®/Carbatrol®/Equetro®), phenobarbital, and primidone (Mysoline®)
• Oral contraceptives (birth control pills)
• Rifampin (Rifadin®), ritonavir (Norvir®)