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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bonnie_CA on July 5, 2007, at 7:30:43
Does anyone have trouble with Lamictal and their hormones? I take BCP and during my "off" week, I can NOT sleep. When I do sleep, I have to sleep for a really long time because I can't sleep well. This persists about two days into the new pill pack. I've never been a good sleeper, but this is really annoying, because at least I used to get good sleep when I did sleep. And it's only during that "off" week. Does anyone else have this? If so, what did you do?
-Bonnie
Posted by polarbear206 on July 5, 2007, at 10:22:02
In reply to Lamictal and female hormones, posted by Bonnie_CA on July 5, 2007, at 7:30:43
> Does anyone have trouble with Lamictal and their hormones? I take BCP and during my "off" week, I can NOT sleep. When I do sleep, I have to sleep for a really long time because I can't sleep well. This persists about two days into the new pill pack. I've never been a good sleeper, but this is really annoying, because at least I used to get good sleep when I did sleep. And it's only during that "off" week. Does anyone else have this? If so, what did you do?
>
> -BonnieBonnie,
For some reason, after my period is over, in the "dry" time of the cycle, I have some symptoms of sleep disturbances until the secretory phase kicks in. I also had the same problems when I took the pill. After I would start my new pack, I didn't feel good until after the 5th day or so. Women with mood disorders are SO sensitive to monthly fluctuations of the different phases of their menstural cycle. In my case, it happens regardless on or off the pill or lamictal. I call it my let down phase. I am 45, so who knows how I will respond to the dreaded "change" in the years to come. My mom sailed right through it with no problems. In your case, I would increase your physical activity and see if exercise would improve your situation.
Polarbear
Posted by Phillipa on July 5, 2007, at 11:45:47
In reply to Re: Lamictal and female hormones » Bonnie_CA, posted by polarbear206 on July 5, 2007, at 10:22:02
Polarbear unless your Mom when through it extremely late in life you are in peri-menopause now as it lasts for l0-l5 years. Average age for menopause being over with FSH over 50 is age 52. So you sound like you're sailing through. Love Phillipa
Posted by chiron on July 5, 2007, at 23:30:00
In reply to Lamictal and female hormones, posted by Bonnie_CA on July 5, 2007, at 7:30:43
(looks like a familiar post, but you did add to mine last week :))
I wish the medical community would get this figured out. There has got to be some connection. I was feeling better for 2 weeks, and then right before, during, and right after my period I was in hell. I am starting to go back up again (I hope). Plus it gives me more acne (hormones).I think it was mentioned in the other post that on Crazymeds it does say: "Where other anticonvulsants can mess with your girly hormones, your girly hormones are more likely to mess with Lamictal" But exactly how? Did I feel worse when my hormones changed because I had less or more Lamictal, did Lamictal affect my hormones, or is it even related? And I can't find any documentation anywhere about it.
There are also posts in the posting section of crazymeds where other women have found some issues.
I have an appointment with an endocrinologist next Thursday and am hoping they will help figure out my mood cycling vs. hormone cycling issues. I am not currently on the pill, but have some samples that I am going to talk to the endocrinologist about trying.
Regarding your sleep, have you tried Ambien? Maybe you can just take it for that week.
Also, for my own curiosity, what dose of Lamictal are you on? What was your experience on increasing it and how has it helped? Did you have mood cycling throughout the month before the either? Has the pill helped with your pms & which pill are you taking?
My mood can vary day to day (from kinda down to really down), or within the same day. I definitely have pms & hormone issues, but I don't know if hormones are the whole story. But mood stabilizers make me worse. As I look back, Lamictal is worth giving another try.thanks,
chiron
Posted by polarbear206 on July 6, 2007, at 9:38:15
In reply to Lamictal and female hormones, posted by Bonnie_CA on July 5, 2007, at 7:30:43
FYI
The FAQ page on Lamictal at depression central states that oral contraceptives can lower Lamictal plasma levels as much as 50%.
http:/www.psycom.net/depression.central.lamotrigine.html
Polarbear
Posted by Bonnie_CA on July 6, 2007, at 9:39:47
In reply to Re: Lamictal and female hormones, posted by chiron on July 5, 2007, at 23:30:00
> (looks like a familiar post, but you did add to mine last week :))
Yeah, I remember, but I guess I wanted to have a heading that was specific to this issue.
> I wish the medical community would get this figured out. There has got to be some connection. I was feeling better for 2 weeks, and then right before, during, and right after my period I was in hell. I am starting to go back up again (I hope). Plus it gives me more acne (hormones).
>I can't believe that I haven't had horrible acne. I have struggled with acne my entire life, and when I saw that this med can cause acne, I was like "OH NO!" So far I've been lucky. In fact, I think it was instrumental in finally clearing up the folliclitis on my upper arms. Weird. I don't know how it helped, but it's been resolved. However, I've noticed that it's been hard for me to really tan this summer. Does it have an effect on melanin? I can't find anything about that. The only thing I've noticed is that when I do get a zit (and a zit with me is always nodular), it takes a long time to heal.
> I think it was mentioned in the other post that on Crazymeds it does say: "Where other anticonvulsants can mess with your girly hormones, your girly hormones are more likely to mess with Lamictal" But exactly how? Did I feel worse when my hormones changed because I had less or more Lamictal, did Lamictal affect my hormones, or is it even related? And I can't find any documentation anywhere about it.
>I think I found some other documentation on that issue, I'll try to see if I can find it again and I'll link it to this thread. Basically, the BCP binds to plasma in such a way that the Lamictal can't bind as well. So when you're not taking the hormones, the Lamictal can suddenly bind the way it should and it causes the levels of Lamictal in your blood to be higher. So it seems possible to OD on Lamictal by just taking your normal dose on the "off" week. I dunno. The article I found said that by the end of that week, levels of Lamictal can double. This is why I think maybe I should take less during that week. But, I need to talk to my pdoc about it.
> There are also posts in the posting section of crazymeds where other women have found some issues.
>
> I have an appointment with an endocrinologist next Thursday and am hoping they will help figure out my mood cycling vs. hormone cycling issues. I am not currently on the pill, but have some samples that I am going to talk to the endocrinologist about trying.
>
> Regarding your sleep, have you tried Ambien? Maybe you can just take it for that week.
>I've thought about that, I haven't asked for a prescription. I'm a little scared of those hypnotics because of the horror stories I hear about getting up in the middle of the night. Plus, I have a friend who has taken it, and he has woken up the next morning with a changed AOL password and having bought something that was on TV. (He sent that back.)
> Also, for my own curiosity, what dose of Lamictal are you on? What was your experience on increasing it and how has it helped? Did you have mood cycling throughout the month before the either? Has the pill helped with your pms & which pill are you taking?
I'm on 200 mg of Lamictal, so 100 mg twice a day. I'm also taking 10 mg of Lexapro, although I think I need more of that or a different SSRI. I tapered up slowly and had no problems. The first couple weeks Lamictal made me sleepy, I long for those days again LOL. About 50 mg it helped my depression, and 75 mg it helped the cycling. I'm taking Levlen for BCP, and I've taken that for many years (since I was 17). The first two periods after starting Lamictal, it really messed things up. I barely menstruated, it did it for a long time, and I had no pain (which is highly unusual for me, I've always had painful periods). This month, my period is back to normal, but I had really bad PMS. Not bad in the psychological way, but a LOT of bloating and gas, discomfort. I was SO happy to finally start. I don't usually have such bad PMS, usually don't have it at all, and I can only figure it has something to do with the meds.
> My mood can vary day to day (from kinda down to really down), or within the same day. I definitely have pms & hormone issues, but I don't know if hormones are the whole story. But mood stabilizers make me worse. As I look back, Lamictal is worth giving another try.
>Hormones matter, but I think being on the BCP helps with those fluctuations. Lamictal has really helped me with the cycling, especially since mine is fairly rapid. Maybe you should give it another shot, and work with the pdoc and the endocrinologist. Definitely don't start the BCP without talking to them though.
Hope that helps!
-Bonnie
Posted by chiron on July 6, 2007, at 10:42:31
In reply to Re: Lamictal and female hormones » chiron, posted by Bonnie_CA on July 6, 2007, at 9:39:47
I emailed the pharmaceutical company about how hormone fluctuations might be affected and this was their response:
"We appreciate the information provided about your experience with our product. This information is valuable to us and enables us to continue with our corporate mission to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. We have forwarded the information you provided to the appropriate department for review and follow up.
Please discuss medical concerns and symptoms with a physician and/or other appropriate healthcare provider. Patient care is individualized, and a healthcare provider should always be consulted to evaluate medical conditions and treatment."
Posted by chiron on July 6, 2007, at 10:47:21
In reply to Re: Lamictal and female hormones » chiron, posted by Bonnie_CA on July 6, 2007, at 9:39:47
thanks for your response!
so you were a rapid cycler as well? that is good to know that at 75mg it helped with the cycling. I am only at 25mg because I have had so many bad responses as I increase dosages (going slowly).
it is also helpful to know that your first two periods were abnormal, and then they got better. maybe I'm still adjusting.
Posted by Bonnie_CA on July 6, 2007, at 12:05:17
In reply to Re: Lamictal and female hormones » Bonnie_CA, posted by chiron on July 6, 2007, at 10:47:21
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/lamotrigine_ad.htm#DI
There is a link about the pill and Lamictal.
-Bonnie
Posted by chiron on July 12, 2007, at 22:48:25
In reply to Lamictal and female hormones, posted by Bonnie_CA on July 5, 2007, at 7:30:43
About 2 weeks ago I went up to 25mg of Lamictal, with no goal of getting to a higher dose. Just slowly trying to see if it will help at different doses.
I'm going to start Yaz (birth control pill) to see if it will help my hormone misery that is in addition to my bipolarish rapid cycling. If studies show there is a 50% clearance with the pill, are you suppose to increase your dose?
Posted by Bonnie_CA on July 13, 2007, at 5:57:16
In reply to Starting Yaz- increase Lamictal?, posted by chiron on July 12, 2007, at 22:48:25
> If studies show there is a 50% clearance with the pill, are you suppose to increase your dose?
Yes. In fact, I'm going to discuss with my pdoc having my Lamictal adjusted for the appropriate time of the month. And you know what? I had that whole 5 days of hell after starting the next pill pack. Tonight is the first night I haven't had anxiety. Finally, sheesh. But 5 days almost exactly.
-Bonnie
Posted by chiron on July 17, 2007, at 17:24:30
In reply to Re: Starting Yaz- increase Lamictal? » chiron, posted by Bonnie_CA on July 13, 2007, at 5:57:16
Bonnie, have you talked to your dr. about increasing the Lamictal? I just met with mine and he thought it was too early to try increasing it. I'm still not convinced. I don't think he had heard that there was an interaction before. I'll try staying at the same dose for a little longer and see what happens.
Posted by Bonnie_CA on July 21, 2007, at 4:55:13
In reply to Re: Starting Yaz- increase Lamictal? » Bonnie_CA, posted by chiron on July 17, 2007, at 17:24:30
I'm going to talk to him on Friday about lowering my dose a little during the off week of the pill. I am also going to talk to him about either raising my dose of Lexapro or switching me to something else, although I think he'll just raise my dose. I'm having symptoms that I have when I wasn't on enough Celexa, and they are practically the same drug. I don't think I need more Lamictal though.
-Bonnie
This is the end of the thread.
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