Maybe it doesnt show itself until you are about 200 I think so if you have depression that is just your normal self. You know what I mean?

I started lamictal during a bad episode.... Keeps me from going manic so far. I have noticed that my mood has never improved much. Am feeling a bit defeated.

Off meds, I am usually hypomanic. So are you saying that my "normal self" is going to be a depressed person?

lamictal is supposed to be a mood stablizer and anti-depressent. like most it has the potential to make someone more depressed and may lead to suicidal thoughts which may mean it's not the one for you.
just watch yourself and see how it goes. it did wonders for me but i started at 200 and take 400 now

Hasn't anyone else had a similar experience. his is worrying me.

I have Instead of being depressed all the time I am most of the time now so it has help to stablize being just depresed and not completely depressed, never think about taking my self out never.

I am taking it right now. Lamictal does have antidepressant effects, but it is primarily a mood stabilizer. Most antidepressants, however, do have the possible side effect of worsening depression symptoms.

And if that happens with an antidepressant, it is often transient, meaning, the problem will go away.

Do tell your Dr. about it...if the increasing depression gets too distressing, your Dr. may want to change meds. But if you can bear it for a week or two or three to see if it goes away, I would. Lamictal works very well for me.

And your Dr. may want to take you off it immediately, or wait. It is their call.

when I first started on Lamictal I was begging my Dr. for an antidepressant. It took weeks and weeks for me to notice any positive effect whatsoever.
It took so long, I got angry with Dr. miserable, convinced it wasn't working and then...it did. Hang in

That doesn't mean you can't negotiate the Dr.s decision, it just means, one Dr. might wait, and another might want to take you off immediately and put you on something else. Either decision could be made.

i agree with fairlight you have to be paciant with it it will work someday I wanted off and the dr said to wait so we can ploay the game together, ok

Thank you for your responses. I feel better now knowing that there is hope of feeling better and that this is probably a transition thing. Thank you very much.

Lamictal works great for me as a mood stabilizer but I have to take an anti-depressant and anti-psychotic as well. Your doc probably started you on a really small dose to avoid the potential rash so it may take a while before you get to a therapeutic dosage. You might just be depressed and it may have nothing to do with the medication. Even if your "normal" mood is hypomanic you *are* bipolar.

i started at 25mgs it took me 2 months to get to 200mgs its a great mood stabilizer. i also take a anti depressant. if you are depressed you might want to get with your pdoc real soon before the problem progresses.

I too have just start Lamictal and am still depressed. Though it is at a more bearable level. My doc says give it more time. That we can make a more informed decision when I get to full dosing. If it is managable I say hang in there. I have been more level - not so many swings already. Keep talking to your doc - communication is key to anything new.

My daughter (19 today!!) takes lamicatal and Celexa. That combination has really changed things for her. But yes, she needed an anti-depressant with it. Also, when she first got stabilized...not manic...she thought she was depressed. But we made a deal to hang in there for two weeks. She realized late she was just missing her highs. I hope you can feel better soon on the Lamictal. It seems to work well for many folks here.