I take Lamictal for bipolar and I think it is causing this horrible itching that is keeping me up all night

[Maraya1969]

Last edited Sat Jun 8, 2024, 10:14 AM - Edit history (1)

I have not slept at all and it is almost 7am. The itching has been going on for awhile but I didn't think if could be medication related until tonight so I checked and though it is not a common side effect it is one.

Itching can drive me mad. It is not like there is one spot that I keep scratching it is all over my body. I can relax for a short time and then something it itchy. How can anyone sleep with that??

Anyway now I am nervous about not sleeping. I think it is going to cause something bad to happen.

Anyone have periods when they don't sleep? Years ago when I would get really manic I would stay up all night but I was manic and (I think because I don't remember) it would not bother me so much.

Oh, I can't take Benadryl because that causes really bad restless legs! Since I have gotten older I cannot tolerate medicines like I used to

Update: The itching went away and that is always the case. It just happens at night and I take the Lamictal at night. But I am listening to everyone and I am stopping the Lamictal, at least for a while and if I take it again it will be in the morning.

Thank you all for you caring and concern.

[GPV]

1. Call the doc! When I got an itching rash that also hurt, they made me stop the Lamictal immediately. It can lead to

Stevens Johnson syndrome.

I hope you get some relief!

[GPV]

2. As far as not sleeping, I still cycle even on meds, so yeah the no-sleeping phases are a thing.

[Lunabell]

3. Yes, please call the doctor asap!!!

You may need to go to a walk in or ER. It can be a very serious situation if you ignore it. Just think, if your outer skin membranes are irritated, then your inner cells may be irritated too. Lungs, liver, stomach, veins, arteries etc. As the previous post says, Steven Johnson syndrome can occur and it is serious.

It may be nothing, but please be on the safe side.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stevens-johnson-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20355936

[Irish_Dem]

4. Call your doctor right away. Itching can be a side effect of Lamictal.

Call your doctor's office and leave your phone number so your doctor or the weekend on call doc
can call you back.

[Murphyb849]

5. As a psych nurse, call the MD, severe itching could be a med reaction.

[XanaDUer2]

6. I take it

Pls call the DR bc this could be something serious and update us if you can

[intheozone]

7. Get to Dr! Itching all over is sign

of liver problem. Drug might be affecting your liver. You need a blood test for liver function ASAP.

I had know from personal experience with an antibiotic drug that my liver didn't like.

[mdmc]

8. praying for a good night's rest

perhaps try to shower before bed and best of luck!

[crimycarny]

9. I take Lamictal for epilepsy

When I was first put on Lamictal the neurologist wanted to follow the PDR to the letter which was 200 mg a day. I didn’t have the itching but suddenly I couldn’t spell and kept using the wrong words for things.

I asked the neurologist if I could try titrate down to a lower dose and he refused. I’m lucky in that the my seizures are very infrequent and are partial simple, so I don’t lose consciousness and remain aware, but I also have this overpowering sense of deja vu and my heart pounds. The after affect is existential fear.

Well, I decided to tritrate down on my own without telling the doctor. I did it very slowly, over several months. Turns out the best dose for me is 75 mg. No side effects like before.

Do you take brand name or generic? I take brand name and order from an online Canadian pharnaacy. Brand name cost for 90 days worth of 30 x 100 mg is $169. (In US would cost $700 a month). Since I take a smaller amount (75 mg) that 90 day supply lasts closer to 6 months.

Often times generics have different inactive ingredients from brand name. Maybe you can find brand name and see if the itch stops? I can tell you the online Canadian pharmacy I use (legit).

[Maraya1969]

10. Thank you for that post. I have started taking the stuff in the morning only and the itching

is either gone or I don't notice it because I am not trying to go to sleep. I am also on a lower dose.

I used to get this symptom called "Depersonalization" or "Derealization" where everything looks unreal or fake. It used to terrify me. It is only in the last couple years that it has pretty much gone away but I started getting the symptom in high school and I am now 66.

[crimycarny]

11. I understand that symptom

My partial simple seizures give me a temporary sense of “derealization”, but in my case it’s almost like I’m in a dream. Mine didn’t start until high school either. I think puberty has something to do with it.

It’s obviously something genetic in my family as my sister and brother have the exact same thing. My brother started on low dose lamictal (50 mg) and my sister started meditation exercises. Interestingly my sisters partial simple seizures went completely went away once she started meditation exercises. Hasn’t had one in over 30 years and she doesn’t take medication.. I just don’t have the discipline for meditation, lol.

All of us (me, brother, sister) didn’t have symptoms until puberty. We all have GAD too (generalized anxiety).

God luck to you!