How Long Does Lamictal Take to Work?

Lamictal is the brand name for the medication lamotrigine. Its main goal is to treat epilepsies and bipolar disorders to prevent future depressive episodes. The medication works by calming overactive nerves in the body. Its undoubted advantage is having fewer side effects compared to other drugs of its class. Lamictal entered the US market in 1994. [1] It’s usually released in tablet form.

How Long Does It Take for Lamictal To Work?

This question is likely the most disturbing for any patient with relevant symptoms. For Lamictal to start working, one should take it for several weeks. Such time is required for sufferers of epilepsies or bipolar disorders to feel better. Still, it can take months for some people to experience the full benefits of the treatment. Particularly important is the fact that the increase in dosage should be slow and only if the previous dose has no effect. [2] Avoid making such decisions by yourself; trust this process with specialists like URP Behavioral Health.

Factors Affecting How Quickly Lamictal Works

It’s not accidental that we point out the time for observing the Lamictal effect in a bit vague manner like several weeks or months. It’s because various factors often connected to each other influence this. Some can be predictable, whereas others reveal themselves during the treatment. Therefore, you may consider changing some factors while others are beyond your reach. Here is a list of factors affecting the speed of drug action:

• Individual factors. Parameters like weight and age help patients and doctors plan and predict treatment success because they’re measurable. They influence drug metabolism and effectiveness, making them crucial for comprehending medication processes. Body chemistry is another key individual factor. It affects how quickly the body absorbs Lamictal. The third one is external: the severity of symptoms. Obviously, the more severe they are, the slower improvements are revealed.
• Genetic factors. Although they affect most of the individual aspects mentioned above and are unique combinations for each person, we have included them separately. The main reason for this is that, unlike measurable or at least observable personal characteristics, genetic factors often remain unknown. Unless we talk about a recorded family medical history or diagnosed genetic condition, relevant factors may be revealed only after treatment during research.
• Dosage adjustments. As we mentioned before, starting with a low dose and gradually increasing it may prevent side effects and help the body adjust to the drug. Nevertheless, specialists may find it necessary to provide dose escalation, which implies a faster pace of increasing the dosage. Such treatment can lead to quicker onset but with a higher risk of side effects. In some cases, this might be medically justified, though.
• Interactions with other medications. Different drugs may influence lamotrigine levels, affecting how long it takes Lamictal to take effect. For instance, valproate may increase it, while carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone, and others can decrease it. Therefore, patients should inform their specialists about their medicines to avoid unpleasant consequences.
• Type of mental issue. The onset of the drug action will be different depending on the goals. The time would vary for epilepsy or bipolar disorder treatment. [3]

How Do You Know if Lamictal is Working?

Improvements in your mental state during the treatment may be unnoticeable. However, to know if Lamictal starts to work, look for the following signs:

• Improved mood and reduced mood swings. Maybe, the first enhancement patients notice is pretty subjective, though. Yet when a patient feels greater resilience to stressful situations and fewer mood swings, it definitely indicates the drug’s action. Its other manifestations are a more positive life outlook and reduced frequency of depressive episodes. People living with Bipolar disorder may also experience a delay in the occurrence of depressive episodes.
• Stable energy levels and sleep, enhanced daily functioning. After the time Lamictal takes to kick in, it stabilizes the energy levels and the rest of the patients. They can pay attention to the reduction of sudden changes in energy levels. Sleep is normalized as well. All this leads to a better possibility of accepting daily challenges. Patients experience enhanced functionality and motivation during the treatment.
• Improved focus and concentration. As reduced concentration is among the symptoms of depression, its enhancement will become a clear sign of successful medication. [2]

Lamictal is one of the medicines against epilepsy and bipolar disorders in the depressive stage. It usually begins to work after several weeks. Yet, it may take months to come to full strength. There are a lot of factors impacting the onset of Lamictal. Among them are individual biological and genetic factors, dosage adjustments, and possible interactions with other drugs. From which mental condition a patient suffers, epilepsy or bipolar disorders, is also a considerable factor. If you seek professional help for yourself or your beloved ones, don’t hesitate to contact our specialists from URP Behavioral Health.

References:

1. The Top 300 of 2022. https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/Top300Drugs.aspx
2. Dion Metzger. How Long Does it Take for Lamictal to Work? https://www.talkspace.com/blog/how-long-for-lamictal-to-work/. Mar 26, 2024
3. Lamictal dosage. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drugs-lamictal-dosage. Jun 30, 2023