Well - my pdoc thinks I'm manic. I haven't a clue. But I have noticed in the last week or so, I have to take a freakin xanax to deal with my hubby and children. Which is SOOOO not like me. I'm lovable and friendly and not a bit grouchy on a BAD day. So I don't know if it's the Lamictal (been on it for about 2 months - most) or I'm actually manic. Too new to this to tell. I do know I'm not sleeping for nothing. So maybe it's just mania. I don't have a clue. Don't know if this helped either. Sorry.

Well it gives me terrible headaches, which makes me short tempered. I don't know if it just the lamictal though. I am on several meds and under tons of stress from not being able to work, med costs, etc.

Hm, I have never heard that before.

I can't tell; I always did and still do have bouts of rage. Lamictal did not seem to affect one way or the other.

I've been on lamictal for a little over 3 months now. I've noticed I'm not as quick to anger, and when I do, it's for a shorter duration. I'm actually having some skin issues with it and hope that I can continue and don't have to stop it. It's working well for me so far.

I took it for 4 days and turned into a raving bitch. Had to quit it. I could not stand myself.

Well#1 and #2 and Nick...I have all of the above and i have been on lamictal for about a month and was not on anything before that because I went off meds completely before trying any others. I have headache, anger and I dont sleep!Its working well isnt it? hahaha

I've been on the lamictal for about 3 years, I just added Geodon and now I'm feeling a little more angry than usual. I feel like I want to hit things and I blow up if I'm interupted in the middle of something. I just feel like it's hard enough to keep my train of thought if I don't focus really hard with the combo of all the drugs. Between the Lamictal, Topamax, and Geodon I'm frustrated trying to take a full load of college classes I can't even work because I can't seem to concentrate enough to get everything done. I have a really hard time dragging my butt out of bed in the morning too. I guess the getting up part isn't the problem it's the staying up and being able to drive. Agh, there's got to be another way!

I have been on lamictal for over a year now. Before getting on lamictal I had horrible anger issues. Even on lamictal I have had them. I find that if I have balance in every area of my life, the anger subsides. Meaning, eating healthy, exercising, spending atleast 15 minutes in the sun a day, journaling, talking honestly with somebody about my feelings and thoughts.

Just a thought. :)

well i take litium and lamictal .. i have only been on lamictal a couple months.. I still have severe anger bursts but am still building up ma lamictal levels so still cant tell yet..

While on Lamictal, I would fly off the handle at the slightest thing...I think it's the drug, now that I'm off it, no more rage.

I've been on Lamictal for 8 months now and have become increasingly angrier with each passing day. I can honestly say I've passed the "bitch" stage and entered extreme anger at the littlest things. I hate everyone and everything. I am slowly getting off this med. I don't do well on any meds anyway but this one is the worst. I truly hate this drug. And....anger is just "one" of the side effects I've been having. When I told 2 different doc's they wanted to add Abilify which has anger side effects as well. I have to work for a living. I cannot be taking these drugs and hold down a job. I guess they forget that you cannot pay them without a job.

I've been on Lamicta 400mg for 8 months now. I really haven't noticed any difference. Now added 2mg of abilify...seems to be helping some (low dose)...still having problems with racing thoughts which makes it difficult to sleep. Thank God for xanax! Is xanax the on med that works for racing thoughts and sleeping?

Hey Nick
I've been on lamictal for about 2 years and it's helped my mania when used with seroquel. I don't find myself angry, but still snappy. I take many meds and I find that I had the least side effects w/ lamictal. Talk to your pdoc, this med may not agree w/ you. xo Ella

I don't want to invalidate anyone's experience who thinks Lamictal caused rage, but clinical and post-clinical trials would suggest that's very unlikely. (Side note @foodchick, Geodone made me want to punch people in the face for no reason. Luckily I was in the hospital when I was started on it and showed no other signs of mania, plus my doctor knew rage was VERY contrary to my personality even when manic.) My doctor and therapist are both very avid readers of research and participate in clinical peer sharing groups. My therapist told me some people experience increased anger when switching to Lamictal from another mood stabilizer because Lamictal seems to not "deaden" the emotions as much. She said it is helpful when a patient is motivated toward working in therapy and has developed some coping strategies, but is inadequate for some whose psyche is not yet ready to deal with deep anger. My pdoc told me that people with bipolar usually experience either rageful or euphoric mania more often than the other. Interestingly, the latter is usually followed by depression but depression often precedes the former. So sometimes, Lamictal is prescribes because it has a better record of preventing mixed and depressive episodes. However, Lamictal takes awhile to get into the system and finding the right dose takes even longer. So, in the meantime, a rageful mania or hypomania may develop or a mixed episode may get worse. Sometimes the temporary or even long term addition of a low dose of an anti-manic medication can be helpful. If you feel the anger is really getting hard to handle, I'd suggest asking your doctor about such an addition either while participating in an outpatient day hospital program (the commitment is very flexible) or seeing him more frequently. Be aware of any other possible manic symptoms and report them asap. If at all possible, try to stay with it for at least six weeks after your doctor states you are at the target dose.

these drugs effect everyone differently for me lamictal barely took the edge off and may have only mildly slowed my cycles. I have raged pretty hard on it, though can't say it was the drug causing it, more the drug not helping it. I was on it as only med for 6months, once others were added things calmed down substantially.