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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by oregongirl on November 29, 2006, at 14:34:48
I have a g/f who weaned off of L. about 3 months ago. She has began to twich so hard (and never did before L. or while on L.) that it is interfering with her job and life. She twitches about every 5-10 sec. We are both getting really freaked out. Is this temporary? permanant? What is it? She was on L. for bi-polar but does not need the med anymore. Has anyone experienced this? What is happening? Please help.
Posted by fenix on November 30, 2006, at 17:40:02
In reply to Lamictal Twitching Withdrawals, posted by oregongirl on November 29, 2006, at 10:23:18
> I have a g/f who weaned off of L. about 3 months ago. She has began to twich so hard (and never did before L. or while on L.) that it is interfering with her job and life. She twitches about every 5-10 sec. We are both getting really freaked out. Is this temporary? permanant? What is it? She was on L. for bi-polar but does not need the med anymore. Has anyone experienced this? What is happening? Please help.
The common sense approach is telling the doctor.
Will probably check for extra-pyramidal.
It could be temporary it could be permanent, that is why one needs to be checked, even then only time will tell.
Posted by clint878 on November 30, 2006, at 17:40:02
In reply to Lamictal Twitching Withdrawals, posted by oregongirl on November 29, 2006, at 10:23:18
I've never heard of Lamictal being associated with something like this, and a search returns few if any results. Did she take or is taking antipsychotics, which can cause tardive dyskinesia?
This could be a result of another condition or drug that is just coincidental with the Lamictal withdrawal.
Posted by Phillipa on November 30, 2006, at 17:40:03
In reply to Re: Lamictal Twitching Withdrawals, posted by clint878 on November 29, 2006, at 16:10:00
I agree with Clint. Even I tried it and just stopped it. Love Phillipa
Posted by Jost on November 30, 2006, at 17:40:03
In reply to Lamictal Twitching Withdrawals, posted by oregongirl on November 29, 2006, at 10:23:18
From what I see after googling, this reaction isn't at all typical of discontinuation of lamictal.
This, for example, is an abstract of an article in
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
Volume 105 Page 232 - March 2002
doi:10.1034/j.1600-0404.2002.1c220.x
Volume 105 Issue 3Is there a lamotrigine withdrawal syndrome?
Ph. Gelisse, N. Kissani, A. Crespel, H. Jafari & M. Baldy-MoulinierObjectives– To report a peculiar observation of a patient who developed a psychomotor inhibition state after a rapid cessation of lamotrigine (LTG). Results– This man was referred to us at the age of 26 years for presurgical evaluation. His treatment [valproate (VPA), 1200 mg/day and LTG, 200 mg/day] was quickly decreased and discontinued after 4 days in order to record seizures. Because LTG was ineffective on seizures control, it was decided to stop it definitively. After a few days, he became anhedonic. He had a tremor, a slight tachycardia and an important hyperhydrosis of the hands. He was considered as having a withdrawal reaction to LTG which was confirmed by spontaneous resolution after a few days. Conclusions– Withdrawal syndrome caused by anti-epileptic drugs has been rarely reported. However, in our personal experience of patients monitored for epilepsy surgery, many patients complained of minor reactions when the treatments were quickly decreased. Severe reactions are exceptional and may be explained in this case by the pharmacodynamic effects of LTG.
Hyperhydrosis is excessive sweating.
Maybe there are more recent records about lamictal, but I'd say this suggests that withdrawal reactions are probably mild.
Your friend needs to see a physician, and also to think back to other meds possibly taken at that time--or some other problem.
Jost
Posted by oregongirl on November 30, 2006, at 17:40:03
In reply to Re: Lamictal Twitching Withdrawals, posted by Jost on November 29, 2006, at 19:37:39
Thanks Jost.
We ended up going to the ER this morning as the tremors and twitching was so bad she could hardly function. She threw up most of the morning and blacked out. They gave her adivan and an anti-nausea via IV and sent her home. The twitching decreased but she is pretty loopy and confused from the adivan. The ER came to the same consclusion you all did...it probably does not have to do with Lamictal but I just can't see how it's not. We have an apt. with an MD tomorrow for further testing.
Posted by Tony P on June 15, 2009, at 13:39:44
In reply to Re: Lamictal Twitching Withdrawals » Jost, posted by oregongirl on November 30, 2006, at 17:40:03
I have been on Lamictal as a mood stabilizer for a couple of months. I have been expereiencing severe tremors and some anxiety attacks. I decided to try a one or two day hoiday. After 24 hrs, I am experincing mild twitching, anxiety and ataxia. With all the meds I'm taking, and given that anxiety is a major component fo my depression, it's hard to be sure that it's the lamictal. But I thought I'd throw in my 2-bits worth. If it gets worse over the next 24 hours, I'll post ahain.
Tony P
This is the end of the thread.
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