Anyone taking Lamictal for migraines/dizziness?
I hadn’t heard of it. If you end up taking it, would you report back? That one looks promising to me.
Based on my research alone this is a last resort drug when all else fails and you have refractory migraine, the docs then bring in either Acetazolamide(Diamox) or Lamotrigine(Lamictal).
If you are curious where i got this, then i will be happy to dig up that paper and send it to you.
One more from Doc Google
I was already looking at Diamox for my visual symptoms. The mechanism and side effects profiles didn’t look too horrific.
Effexor is very effective for cleaning up visual symptoms as well.
Yep, that’s where I’d like to start. Right now I’m doing that thing where I don’t go get into the Fioricet and instead talk myself into exercise. Working 10 hours yesterday was exactly wrong for what I needed coming off a big crash last week. At least the proposal is in and it looks pretty good. Even if we don’t get the job, it’s a new teaming relationship that looks like it could be really fruitful. So, maybe it’s worth feeling lousy today.
I’m still interested to see how Lamictal treats Margaret. @mgstegner
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Short fat middle aged woman in huge buglike sunglasses buzzing along on the elliptical facing a blank wall. It’s a good look.
Was I talking about Fioricet? I wonder why. I feel just fine now.
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Good job Emily on the exercise.
Today I did elliptical for 25 minutes. Feel like a truck hit me. But usually day after exercise is good
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I’ve been on Lamictal for going on 2 years. I was taking 50 mg once a day for a year, but last July my doctor added another 50 mg in the morning to keep a steady flow of the medication in my system 24 hours a day. My results have been nothing less than amazing! I’ve had zero migraines with auras since August, food sensitivities are down to almost not noticeable, and my dizziness is much better to the point I’ve been more social…even have a couple drinks every now and again, and am now exercising at the gym 5 days a week. This is the first medicine that’s given me such noticeable results in a really long time…and I’ve tried a lot of medicines over the last 12 years. The only negative is I feel like it’s made me “flat”…meaning nothing really makes me excited or super happy. I’m not unhappy…just kind of blah. I also think it’s made me somewhat irritable and I’m easily annoyed by my kids, husband, etc. I was inquiring if anyone else was taking Lamictal because I was wondering if anyone else has experienced any of the same…good and bad. Part of me wants to go down on my dosage, but I’m super hesitant because I feel better than I have in years. My husband agrees that I’ve been more irritable since last fall, but he says I’m so much better in other areas that he’s hesitant for me to lower my dosage as well. Such a hard call. I don’t want to be a boring, grumpy mom, but I also don’t want to be a fun mom that has to go to bed at 6:00 at night 2 -3 nights a week because my dizziness is so bad or my migraines with auras where I lose my vision for 30-45 minutes come back 2-4 times a month. Ugh. Any thoughts would be appreciated! Happy to answer any questions about this medicine as well. It doesn’t seem to be widely used for migraines and/or mav and I think that must be because it hasn’t been tried on enough people. That’s a shame too because it’s given me the most relief of anything I’ve tried with the exception of Klonopin, which I don’t like taking because I fear dependence. Apparently, Lamictal was originally used for seizures, but has been found to be an effective mood stabilizer for people with bipolar issues. Whatever in the medicine that helps bipolar patients is most likely what’s causing me to feel flat since I’m not bipolar. Anyway, thoughts appreciated.
I’ve been on Lamictal for going on 2 years. I was taking 50 mg once a day for a year, but last July my doctor added another 50 mg in the morning to keep a steady flow of the medication in my system 24 hours a day. My results have been nothing less than amazing! I’ve had zero migraines with auras since August, food sensitivities are down to almost not noticeable, and my dizziness is much better to the point I’ve been more social…even have a couple drinks every now and again, and am now exercising at the gym 5 days a week. This is the first medicine that’s given me such noticeable results in a really long time…and I’ve tried a lot of medicines over the last 12 years. The only negative is I feel like it’s made me “flat”…meaning nothing really makes me excited or super happy. I’m not unhappy…just kind of blah. I also think it’s made me somewhat irritable and I’m easily annoyed by my kids, husband, etc. I was inquiring if anyone else was taking Lamictal because I was wondering if anyone else has experienced any of the same…good and bad. Part of me wants to go down on my dosage, but I’m super hesitant because I feel better than I have in years. My husband agrees that I’ve been more irritable since last fall, but he says I’m so much better in other areas that he’s hesitant for me to lower my dosage as well. Such a hard call. I don’t want to be a boring, grumpy mom, but I also don’t want to be a fun mom that has to go to bed at 6:00 at night 2 -3 nights a week because my dizziness is so bad or my migraines with auras where I lose my vision for 30-45 minutes come back 2-4 times a month. Ugh. Any thoughts would be appreciated! Happy to answer any questions about this medicine as well. It doesn’t seem to be widely used for migraines and/or mav and I think that must be because it hasn’t been tried on enough people. That’s a shame too because it’s given me the most relief of anything I’ve tried with the exception of Klonopin, which I don’t like taking because I fear dependence. Apparently, Lamictal was originally used for seizures, but has been found to be an effective mood stabilizer for people with bipolar issues. Whatever in the medicine that helps bipolar patients is most likely what’s causing me to feel flat since I’m not bipolar. Anyway, thoughts appreciated.
Thanks! That’s super helpful.
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I had VRT today. (The range of torture devices you can make out of inexpensive office supplies is amazing.) She said she’s had patients on Lamictal who took it for seizures or bipolar and ended up with major vestibular dysfunction. That seems the opposite of your experience. I wonder if it’s like homeopathy - a little can cure but a lot can be poison.
I haven’t heard anything about vestibular dysfunction. I figure I already have some sort of vestibular disfunction that can be seen in all the testing I’ve had since I’ve been dizzy for 12 years. You may be right about the dosage though…I’m on what’s considered a low dose. It’s definitejy made my life better as far as functioning, so only time will tell. 
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Margaret,
I’m thinking maybe Lamotrigine next. It’s been a while. How are you doing?
Emily