Posted by Dan_MI on June 2, 2010, at 12:34:00
In reply to Lamictal withdrawal, posted by farside on June 1, 2010, at 16:09:59
I got hypomania when I started lamictal. I also have a permanent movement disorder from taking Seroquel for less than a year. Tell your doctor to try Seroquel and come down from his or her ivory tower.
Lithium and lamictal are now my main meds and I'm getting an A in an accelerated Calculus class. I did have to overcome test anxiety.
As for not taking any meds: remember mental illness is a degenerative disease. Lithium especially is proven to slow the degeneration. And a lot can be achieved with low doses like morgneator suggested.
> After starting lamictal 100 mgs, I experienced manic states for the first time in 20 years--one in January, one in March, one in June, and one in August. My doc put me on lithium to control the mania in June (600, then 900 mg). I crashed into major depression in September, so he doubled my lamictal to 200 mg. By this time, I was realizing that the medications were messing up my ability to study. I went from being an A student to failing a midterm (after studying hard.) I withdrew from the lithium quickly (about 2 weeks), but was more worried about coming off the lamictal, so I withdrew from it by 25mg per week for 8 weeks. I have now been off the lamictal for over 4 months, and I am still having some withdrawal effects--insomnia alternating with hypersomnia, tingling in my brain, and sore muscles. Can anyone tell me how long it will take to get back to normal? Is it possible I have some kind of permanent neurological damage?
poster:Dan_MI
thread:949713
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100524/msgs/949788.html