Posted by Emme on February 21, 2004, at 9:44:04
In reply to Re: Lamictal side effects, posted by jackwade on February 20, 2004, at 16:03:30
> Does anyone know anything about Lamictal and if it increases your heart rate. I have been on it for a month or so and my blood pressure is way up.
The timing of your BP increase matches when you started Lamictal (or when you hit a certain dose?) I haven't read anything about it, and a neurologist freind hasn't seen it in her patients. My pdoc says her other patients haven't complained of that. BUT she believes me when I stay it's a bit stimulating for me and that it might possibly be increasing my heart rate a little. It's been counteracted by other things I take.
I don't think it's driven my BP up. but I don't have a hard time believing it might to it for you. A lot of people find it increases anxiety at first. I had some irregular heartbeats while starting up. Not too often and nothing extreme and my internist wasn't worried. It stopped after a few weeks and I haven't had any of that since.
A benzo might settle your system down. A low dose of a beta blocker might be helpful while you see if your body adjusts to Lamictal. I find atenolol helps with the physical symptoms of anxeity and overstimulation. Atenolol doesn't readily cross the blood brain barrier and would probably be less likely to cause depression than the other beta blockers.
If you and your pdoc can find something that helps with your BP, it might be possible for you to ride it out for a while and see if you adjust to it - unless you deem it best to stop it.
Also, how quickly are you titrating?
Emme
poster:Emme
thread:238206
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040218/msgs/316348.html