Lamotrigine and diarrhea

[internetgirl]

I have been suffering from major depression and chronic pain for over 10 years. I am currently taking Wellbutrin XL 300mg, Lamotrigine 25 mg, Zyrtec, Levothyroxine 75mg, and Atenolol 50mg.

I started Lamotrigine (lamictal generic) 2 weeks ago. On day 9, I developed severe diarrhea and cramps. It was slowed down with 1 pill of Immodium, but after 2 days I decided to eat a "regular" meal and got diarrhea again. So it's been on an off for 6 days, and this morning it was worse than it was the first day! I am worried that it is from the Lamotrigine because I don't feel bad otherwise, no fever, etc. I just can't be too far from a bathroom. It seems to be the worst right after I eat, and then goes away for the rest of the day.

I really feel better mentally, no depression or pain, with lamotrigine, and I am so sad that I might have to give it up. I just saw my doctor yesterday and since it is February, she thinks that may be it is just a stomach virus... I need to live my life without having to pull over at gas station rest areas constantly!

If this is caused by the lamotrigine, will I "adjust" and the diarrhea go away, or am I just really too sensitive to this medication? Please share your experience with me if you have had this problem. What is your advice?

[internetgirl]

Thank you for your response. It really helps to know "you're not the only one". I am just taking the minimum amount that I need to lamotrignine as an off-label additive for major depressive disorder. My doctor says that I am not bipolar because I only needed 25-50 mgs for it to be effective along with the wellbutrin. I used Seroquel as an additive in the past, but I gained a lot of weight and "puffed-up". I think that I am going to go back to the Cymbalta/wellbutrin combo I was on a few weeks ago, let things settle, and try it again in a few weeks. If that doesn't work, I'm back to my doctor in 2 months anyway. Thanks for your help.

[capegirlnoshoes]

Well, I recently started on lamotrigine (about four weeks ago) and I had a little bit of diarrhoea here and there, which I just didn't think about until I read your post.  Mine didn't last very long, though.  I guess it is just my body getting used to it.  You're titrating the lamotrigine up slowly to lessen the  chance of Steven-Johnson's syndrome, right?  I suggest you wait a month after you finish titrating up and if it's still terrible, try something else.  But I gather that a lot of these kinds of medications do strange things to the digestive system when one is getting used to them.  Maybe your reaction is just a bad one and it'll go away.  I hope so.  I was on epilim recently and it was the first medication that really worked for me (having tried four others) and it was so disheartening to have to throw it out because it was starting to give me polycystic ovaries.