LamoTRIgine
So, topamax didn't work because of the cognitive fogginess, so my dr. has me trying this. I have only been on it 4 day, although I've had it for a month but have been leary of starting another new med. It doesn't seem to have the cognitive issues that topamax does. And so far I haven't gotten the hives that seem to be the major side effect. My Dr said it will be several weeks before I see results if I'm going to see them. Just wondering if anyone else has tried it and what kind of results you have had?
Hi JodiM,
I know many patients that have good luck with Lamictal or lamotrignine, but in 2012 when new guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology came out, this medication was shown to be ineffective. Now having said that it doesn't mean this medication won't work for you. As I said, I know several patients that when taking this medication see a reduction in migraine frequency and severity.
An important thing to note is that while we take medication to prevent migraine attacks, we still need to be vigilant about avoiding our triggers. Trigger avoidance can go a long way, in addition to migraine prevention medication, to reduce attacks.
I'm not sure if your doctor mentioned this but it can take up to three months as our body adjust to new medication before we see a reduction in our migraine frequency and severity. During this time potential side effects may lessen.
Good luck with your new medication, and keep us posted on how it's going.
Nancy
I had to stop Topamax because it caused a kidney stone. Which, by the way is more painful that natural childbirth and my worst ever migraine. My doctor then put me on Lamictal and I have had wonderful results so far. I hope you are able to get over the bad side effect and have it be successful. If it is not, don't give up yet. Try to continue different medications.
Lamotrigine/Lamictal works great for me. I take 100 mg. twice a day. I only get one moderate Migraine per month. This has been for the past twelve years since I started taking this medicine. Before that I had between 25 to 31 Migraine days every single month. Before that time I was taking other daily Migraine prevention medicines. Depakote worked for two years. Gabapentin did not work. And Topamax did not work. Twelve years ago my Neurologist told me about Lamotrigine/Lamictal. It had just failed a Migraine drug trial. But it failed for two reasons. The first reason is that the dose was way too low, only 25 mg. twice a day. And the second reason was that none of the test subjects were willing to wait a full two months for the medicine to work. He told me that he knew that it would work for me, and convinced me into giving it a try for two months. And he was right! No skin rash side effect for me. And no other side effects for me either.
