she told me to take it at night... shes a complete imbecile!

I just had my dosage of lamictal upped and I know what you're talking about. I did tell my pdoc about it, and all she said was that my insomnia was me being symptomatic. Regardless, she still gives me trozodone to help me sleep. I was a wreck though when I allowed myself to run out...I'll never do that again.

hey, I was just asking about this same medicine, myself! I just started taking lamictal THIS morning.....MY pdoc told me to take in the morning and then take my bedtime meds to help me sleep. Actually, theloveisgone...I'd like to hear updates from you, if you could....because I'm on it , too....and am wondering about it. Also, I have heard a ton of good news about it right here on DS treatment list--hundreds of beepers are taking it and think it's great. But, you know--it depends on each of us, how WE feel on it. I wish you all the best and hope it works for you!! :D and I hope you can get some needed sleep. take care! HUGS

i take it in the morning & then i take seroquel at night. that seems to work.

Actually, lamictal has the opposite effect on some people. I take it now and don't have a problem taking it at night; however, I was on a higher dose and found it caused insomnia. My pdoc changed the time of day to AM and that problem went away.

Good luck!

I just started Lamictal 4 days ago...
I take mine in the morning but since it starts at such a low dose I read it doesn't really come with side effects other than watching for the rash. That once it's up'd a bit you might feel some effects then. At least that's what I read because my Doc was to stupid to tell me more about the drug.
I personally haven't noticed anything it's really nice for a change to have a med that doesn't make me dead tired or else give me insomnia. It actually doesn't feel like anything it's like I am not taking anything.
Your doctor sounds crazy for telling you to take it at night, sounds like a real dork who also needs some meds rammed down his throat for a change to see how maybe he likes it :P

Hope it works out for you, I understand all about the stupid med game I am going through it myself :(
Good Luck!

Sini -- I've been on lamictal for a year and a half at one point and this time since November. I really haven't had any side effects. I know some people have them, but I've been fortunate.

well that sounds great and like I said, no side effects yet so i hope this one works out for me like it did you. I have good feelings about this drug...just call me Yoda hehehe XD

Switched to mornings and now I get some sleep... still feel a little up and down but I am on the lowest dose. Also... I just found out yesterday that lamictal is not and anti manic and it does not help with mood.cycles. it is reported to stop morbid depression and psychosis. Weird mood stabilizer!

not sure where you heard that, but i think you got some wrong information. lamictal (lamotragine) is an anti-convulsant (like amny drugs used for BP) and is considered by the FDA (US) to be effective against both epilepsy & bipolar. in fact, its the first and only other drug approved by the FDA especially for mood disorders since lithium - so its kind of a big deal. however, my pdoc has said that lamictal is considered to be a better mood stabilizer for BP2, as it doesn't do so well with preventing mania, but has a good track record against depression. the other benefit of it is that it is considered to be relatively free of many of the side effects lithium has - with the exception of that nasty skin rash.

personally, i've found it to really help with evening out my mood swings - but then i'm BP2.

you might find this helpful - this is from Wikipedia on the use of lamictal for Bipolar:

Lamotrigine is approved in the US for maintenance treatment of Bipolar I disorder.[3] While traditional anticonvulsant drugs are predominantly antimanics, lamotrigine is most effective in the treatment and prophylaxis of bipolar depression. Lamotrigine treats bipolar depression without triggering mania, hypomania, mixed states, or rapid-cycling. It has not demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of acute mania.[6] The 2002 American Psychiatric Association guidelines recommended lamotrigine as a first-line treatment for acute depression in bipolar disorder as well as a maintenance therapy.[citation needed]

However, lamotrigine is not indicated on label for the treatment of acute bipolar symptoms. Because the dosage must be slowly increased from a sub-therapeutic level to the therapeutic level, the drug's utility in the management of acute manic symptoms is debatable; typically benzodiazepines or another anticonvulsant will be used to manage the acute mania until the lamotrigine reaches therapeutic blood concentration.[citation needed]

At doses considered sub-therapeutic, lamotrigine is thought to have a mild anti-depressant effect, leading some to question its safety for use in bipolar disorder, as partial remediation of cyclically depressed individuals (especially teens and young adults) has an elevated corelation to suicide until remission attains therapeutically acceptable levels.

Thanks otterdeer,

I have read every last word written about lamictal. That info came from my therapist and I know it is not as black and white as I may have made it sound but like every drug it has a different reaction with every individual. For me it seems to be creating a problem with my sleep. I know a lot of individuals on this medication are also on a antipsycotic which may help with the mania. I am BP 2 and I do not suffer terrible mania, hypomania at the most, the worst aide effect so far has been Insomnia which was literally eliminated on my last med tegretol. Had to ditch it because of adverse reactions so insomnia is back in full force. I greatly appreciate your input and i will update ya'll as I learn more about my personal experience with lamictal.

Hugs to all!

I take lamictal 100 mg in morning and 200 mg in pm. I have found Lamictal to be slightly sedating. Other than that, I have had no side effects. I have Bipolar I, my biggest problem, is with real bad bipolar depression and I think Lamictal has helped even me out somewhat. I know you have to be sure to titrate up super slow.
If your biggest problem is mania, you should probably be on Lithium. Newest research shows Lithium and depakote combo are the most effective tx for bipolar disorder.