Posted by BaxterMckay on August 24, 2003, at 17:55:47
In reply to Lamictal Anxiety /sleep problems--does it go away?, posted by fluffy on April 23, 2003, at 12:38:55
> I am taking 75 mg lamictal and dosing up to 100 mg in a couple of days. (for bipolar II)
> The depression is definitely gone--almost 2 weeks of no depression!! YAY!! Problem is, I'm having lots of trouble sleeping and feeling anxious and panicky now. Is this normal? Does the hypomanic part go away after being on the proper dose? I need some advice. I'm in a study for lamictal, so I can't take another mood stabilizer unless I drop out of the study. But I'd like some sleep some day.
>
> Anyone with experience in this matter, please respond!!
>
> Thanks,
> Katy
I know this is kind of a late posting, but I am taking Lamictal for bipolar II also. I've been ramping up to 100mg over 4 weeks and have been at that dose for now for about 1 week. I started having some anxiety/panic about 1 week into the ramp-up schedule. I called my psychiatrist and he said keep taking it. I kept upping the dose according to the schedule ( +25mg a week )until I was at a 100mg with intense anxiety/panicy feelings growing as the dose increased. Some nights I have woke up out of a dead sleep several times in the night with panicy feelings or anxiety. I kept telling myself that it's just in my head and that it's not the lamictal, but the panic/anxiety has continued. I finally have decided to start ramping down because the panicy feelings were getting very intense. It is helpful to hear that someone else has had these same side effects on Lamictal. I'm not sure that I can ask this, but are you still taking Lamictal or have you found a mood-stabilizer that doesn't have anxiety/panicy feelings as a side effect. According to the Lamictal web site a person should ramp down 50% per week. Does anyone know if this is correct?
poster:BaxterMckay
thread:221759
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030823/msgs/253635.html