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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lia Mason on May 6, 2002, at 10:24:24
Hi,
I'm on 100 Lamictal and having tension headaches. I'm prone to these anyway so it could be anything, but it coincides with the lamictal. I've been on it for a little over a month.
My doc says headaches are common on Lamictal but they'll eventually pass.
Anyone with knowledge or experience? I'd be grateful.
Lia
Posted by Jaime on May 6, 2002, at 17:44:20
In reply to Lamictal headache?, posted by Lia Mason on May 6, 2002, at 10:24:24
> Hi,
>
> I'm on 100 Lamictal and having tension headaches. I'm prone to these anyway so it could be anything, but it coincides with the lamictal. I've been on it for a little over a month.
>
> My doc says headaches are common on Lamictal but they'll eventually pass.
>
> Anyone with knowledge or experience? I'd be grateful.
>
> LiaLia,
How long have you been at the 100 mg dose? I couldn't tell from your post if you have been on Lamictal for a month, or at the 100 mg dose for a month. When did you start to get the headaches?
I started to get headaches (and felt more fatigued) when I got up to 100 mg of Lamictal after increasing by 25 mg each week. However, I've only been on 100 mg for one week, so that's probably not long enough to determine if the headaches will go away or not (and the fatigue).
Don't know if this has been helpful...maybe someone who has been on Lamictal for a longer time could offer their experience.
Jaime
Posted by rainbowlight on May 6, 2002, at 18:40:07
In reply to Lamictal headache?, posted by Lia Mason on May 6, 2002, at 10:24:24
I had severe headaches when I started Lamictal, felt as if someone had kicked me in the back of the head with a boot, lol! My pdoc said that it's pretty common to have headaches in the beginning. You might want to mention it to your doctor though, I am not sure if they are supposed to last quite as long as a month.
Posted by JohnX2 on May 6, 2002, at 20:11:28
In reply to Lamictal headache?, posted by Lia Mason on May 6, 2002, at 10:24:24
> Hi,
>
> I'm on 100 Lamictal and having tension headaches. I'm prone to these anyway so it could be anything, but it coincides with the lamictal. I've been on it for a little over a month.
>
> My doc says headaches are common on Lamictal but they'll eventually pass.
>
> Anyone with knowledge or experience? I'd be grateful.
>
> LiaLia,
I'm very sensitive to getting tension headaches.
I find that for Lamictal, a dosage over 150 mg induces
a tension headache. Below that I am fine.Did you experience tension headaches, jaw tension on
SRI medicnes in the past (like Zoloft,Effexor,Paxil,etc).Take Care,
John
Posted by Lia Mason on May 6, 2002, at 23:48:44
In reply to Lamictal headache?, posted by Lia Mason on May 6, 2002, at 10:24:24
Thanks for the responses. I started lamictal a month ago; I've been at 100 for 2 weeks. It always gave me a headache, but it seems worse at this dose.
I got a headache on effexor that passed. Prozac and Paxil, I think, were fine, but... I was on Prozac when my tension headaches started 10 years ago. Of course we blamed Prozac, but stopping it didn't seem to help. Also, I grind my teeth like crazy and wear a mouthguard at night. I wonder if that's from antidepressants. I've heard prozac can cause jaw/teeth grinding.
Lia
Posted by james on May 7, 2002, at 2:15:21
In reply to Re: Lamictal headache? » Lia Mason, posted by JohnX2 on May 6, 2002, at 20:11:28
John,
I don't understand. I thought Lam was an anti-convulsant, not an SRI? What is the connection?
I'm interested also because I have suffered from headaches and jaw clenching type stuff on and off for a long long time. But it was always hard to figure out if it was due to any of the many meds I was on at the time, stress, need for a stronger prescription for my glasses, or the possibility I have inherited my mother's TMJ. I've learned to live with it, I'm just curious to know if it is possibly due to the 200 mgs of Lam I am on. Thanks, and sorry for sort of butting in on the topic at hand here.--James
Posted by JohnX2 on May 8, 2002, at 0:04:12
In reply to Re: JohnX2's comment on Lamictal headache?, posted by james on May 7, 2002, at 2:15:21
> John,
> I don't understand. I thought Lam was an anti-convulsant, not an SRI? What is the connection?
> I'm interested also because I have suffered from headaches and jaw clenching type stuff on and off for a long long time. But it was always hard to figure out if it was due to any of the many meds I was on at the time, stress, need for a stronger prescription for my glasses, or the possibility I have inherited my mother's TMJ. I've learned to live with it, I'm just curious to know if it is possibly due to the 200 mgs of Lam I am on. Thanks, and sorry for sort of butting in on the topic at hand here.
>
> --JamesNo problem.
I did a little research and found some abstracts indicating
that lamictal may have serotonergic properties.I posted a few links about this a week or 2 ago.
Hope you feel better.
FYI, medication induced tension headaches may be due
to hyper-dopaminergic or hypo-dopaminergic states in an
area of the brain. For SRIs like Zoloft or Effexor, etc
the increase in serotonin dampens dopamine receptors that
inhibit facial muscle spasms.
Other people who take prolonged use of psychostimulants
like Adderall may also get tension headaches/bruxism.
I actually found that Adderall relieved my headaches
(consistent with hypo-dopaminergic state).Medicines that block the serotonin 5ht-2a are also good for tension
headaches (this indirectly increases dopamine). Serzone has
been a good medicine to alleviate my headaches.Also GabaA medicines like Topamax and Klonopin have also
alleviated the headaches.Buspar may help also (it slows hyperactive serotonin firing).
But like you said, it could be other things like TMJ, some
sensitivity at a particular nerve, etc. It was just in my case
that there was ?sorta? a clear association on the serotonin side.John
Posted by JohnX2 on May 8, 2002, at 0:08:04
In reply to Re: Lamictal headache?, posted by Lia Mason on May 6, 2002, at 23:48:44
> Thanks for the responses. I started lamictal a month ago; I've been at 100 for 2 weeks. It always gave me a headache, but it seems worse at this dose.
>
> I got a headache on effexor that passed. Prozac and Paxil, I think, were fine, but... I was on Prozac when my tension headaches started 10 years ago. Of course we blamed Prozac, but stopping it didn't seem to help. Also, I grind my teeth like crazy and wear a mouthguard at night. I wonder if that's from antidepressants. I've heard prozac can cause jaw/teeth grinding.
>
> LiaMost of the serotonin reuptake inhibitor medicines have had
cases reported of tension headaches/bruxism side effects.One hypothesis is that it may be caused by a possible indirect
reduction in dopamine in a particular area of the brain.John
Posted by Tamika on July 23, 2009, at 11:26:58
In reply to Re: JohnX2's comment on Lamictal headache? » james, posted by JohnX2 on May 8, 2002, at 0:04:12
JohnX2
I just joined and if you are out there and still active I just want to thankyou for the Adderall information...you saved me from lowering lamictal dose that was working great but causing headaches I could no longer tolerate...my doctor was going to start adding new drugs and when you start changes you have new side effects and potential for becoming unstable until the right thing is found again! Today you are my hero!
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