Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 104545

Shown: posts 1 to 25 of 30. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing.

Posted by Emme on April 30, 2002, at 15:37:04

Hi Folks,

I had a lot of improvement with 75 mg Lamictal and was tolerating it well. Then I got really stressed out over some stressful things and lost some mood control. So...I'm increasing Lamictal and am at 95 now - up to 100 this week. At the moment I'm miserable. I feel very tired and spacey and I feel depressed. I can't figure out if it's just adjustment to the increase (I've had some difficulties during increases before) and maybe I'm feeling depressed because I'm so tired. Or maybe I just can't tolerate this dose and should back it down to 75 again - I tend to be sensitive and use low doses of stuff. Or if it's even just not high enough? I don't know how to dose this stuff, though I suppose I should hang out at 100 mg for a couple of weeks if I can and see how it shakes out....

Anyway...I remember there being discussions about raising/lowering lamictal and optimal dosages. I was curious about where people are at with this drug (Cindylou? Hattree?). Has anyone felt worse when they went up on Lamictal and felt better moodwise (as well as physically) when they went back down a bit?

Thanks so much.
Emme

 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme

Posted by Cindylou on April 30, 2002, at 21:41:41

In reply to Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing., posted by Emme on April 30, 2002, at 15:37:04

Hi Emme,
So sorry to hear you're having trouble! The same thing happened to me over the holidays. I was taking 75 mg of Lamictal and doing okay, but when I tried increasing it to 100, and then 125, I felt more and more miserable. Depressed, tired, and so bloated I had to go out and buy new pants! I do believe it was the increased Lamictal dose that caused those reactions -- when I went back down to 75 mg I felt better.

My pdoc attended a conference recently where they presented research that people can be helped on as low as 50 mg of Lamictal. Perhaps you'd feel better on even a lower dose than 75? Are you on any other med? Maybe you could augment the Lamcital with an AD to help with your moods?

As for me, I have recently stopped Lamictal, since it wasn't helping enough, only a small amount, and because I wasn't able to increase the dose, AND I couldn't add on an AD without horrible side effects. Also, I wanted to try to get pregnant, so I thought I'd give it a go with no meds.

After stopping Lamictal, things really got out of control, as far as depression and agitation -- so I could tell that the Lamictal did help me some!

Now I am trying Neurontin (you mentioned this to me as an option, I believe). I just started yesterday, but so far, so good. I guess the pregnancy will have to wait (or I'll have to take the risk of being pregnant while on meds.)

I wish the best to you! You have been a great help to me over the past months.

Take care, and keep me posted ...
cindy
> Hi Folks,
>
> I had a lot of improvement with 75 mg Lamictal and was tolerating it well. Then I got really stressed out over some stressful things and lost some mood control. So...I'm increasing Lamictal and am at 95 now - up to 100 this week. At the moment I'm miserable. I feel very tired and spacey and I feel depressed. I can't figure out if it's just adjustment to the increase (I've had some difficulties during increases before) and maybe I'm feeling depressed because I'm so tired. Or maybe I just can't tolerate this dose and should back it down to 75 again - I tend to be sensitive and use low doses of stuff. Or if it's even just not high enough? I don't know how to dose this stuff, though I suppose I should hang out at 100 mg for a couple of weeks if I can and see how it shakes out....
>
> Anyway...I remember there being discussions about raising/lowering lamictal and optimal dosages. I was curious about where people are at with this drug (Cindylou? Hattree?). Has anyone felt worse when they went up on Lamictal and felt better moodwise (as well as physically) when they went back down a bit?
>
> Thanks so much.
> Emme

 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Cindylou

Posted by Emme on May 1, 2002, at 8:34:17

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme, posted by Cindylou on April 30, 2002, at 21:41:41

Hi Cindy,

Thanks for your thoughtful post. So, maybe the higher dose is going to be too high for me. I just hit 100 today and I am going to see how it goes for a couple of weeks, see if I feel better or worse, and then consult with my doctor with the new "data". Maybe I'll have to drop it again. 62.5 mg seemed to be the magic number when positive things started to happen. It seemed like 75 was a good dose, at least for a while. 50 or below didn't have antidepressant activity for me.

For a while I was trying Celexa in addition to Lamaictal and neurontin and klonopin and I felt worse on only 2 mg. I was freezing cold all the time, , exhausted, felt cruddy, and at one point my moods were up and down on a daily basis for five days straight before I gave it up. I guess we haven't ruled out a dash of an antidepressant, but we'd have to think carefully about which one.

Yeah, I like Neurontin. For a med-sensitive person, I find it easy to take and a nice augmenter for anxiety. I hope it helps you.

That's too bad you had to ditch the lamictal. I can sympthize about giving up the meds and having things go haywire. I've tried that also, tjust to temporarily wipe the slate clean after trying a lot of meds. After a couple of weeks of complete washout... well...it wasn't pretty.

I'm sorry you have the pregnancy concerns. I think about it also, though it's further off for me. Have you consulted with a reproductive psychiatrist, or a prenatal pharmacologist. (Yes, people do specialize in such areas.) I have a friend on a very complicated pain-control regime with some potentially nasty stuff. When she was gearing up to conceive, she consulted with a specialist in how drugs affect the fetus and got some very surprising (and encouraging) answers about which drugs were okay and which ones weren't. So...although no meds would be the most desirable, go straight to the top and get the most up to date info before making any decisions for or against pregnancy on meds. It'd be great for you to be able to get going on the pregnancy you want.

I wish the best to you also. I've learned from your posts. We seem to have similar sensitivies to drugs. I can't recall - what's your dx? My doctor thinks I am in the bipolar spectrum. Of course I guess the treatment matters more than the label.

Emme


> Hi Emme,
> So sorry to hear you're having trouble! The same thing happened to me over the holidays. I was taking 75 mg of Lamictal and doing okay, but when I tried increasing it to 100, and then 125, I felt more and more miserable. Depressed, tired, and so bloated I had to go out and buy new pants! I do believe it was the increased Lamictal dose that caused those reactions -- when I went back down to 75 mg I felt better.
>
> My pdoc attended a conference recently where they presented research that people can be helped on as low as 50 mg of Lamictal. Perhaps you'd feel better on even a lower dose than 75? Are you on any other med? Maybe you could augment the Lamcital with an AD to help with your moods?
>
> As for me, I have recently stopped Lamictal, since it wasn't helping enough, only a small amount, and because I wasn't able to increase the dose, AND I couldn't add on an AD without horrible side effects. Also, I wanted to try to get pregnant, so I thought I'd give it a go with no meds.
>
> After stopping Lamictal, things really got out of control, as far as depression and agitation -- so I could tell that the Lamictal did help me some!
>
> Now I am trying Neurontin (you mentioned this to me as an option, I believe). I just started yesterday, but so far, so good. I guess the pregnancy will have to wait (or I'll have to take the risk of being pregnant while on meds.)
>
> I wish the best to you! You have been a great help to me over the past months.
>
> Take care, and keep me posted ...
> cindy
> > Hi Folks,
> >
> > I had a lot of improvement with 75 mg Lamictal and was tolerating it well. Then I got really stressed out over some stressful things and lost some mood control. So...I'm increasing Lamictal and am at 95 now - up to 100 this week. At the moment I'm miserable. I feel very tired and spacey and I feel depressed. I can't figure out if it's just adjustment to the increase (I've had some difficulties during increases before) and maybe I'm feeling depressed because I'm so tired. Or maybe I just can't tolerate this dose and should back it down to 75 again - I tend to be sensitive and use low doses of stuff. Or if it's even just not high enough? I don't know how to dose this stuff, though I suppose I should hang out at 100 mg for a couple of weeks if I can and see how it shakes out....
> >
> > Anyway...I remember there being discussions about raising/lowering lamictal and optimal dosages. I was curious about where people are at with this drug (Cindylou? Hattree?). Has anyone felt worse when they went up on Lamictal and felt better moodwise (as well as physically) when they went back down a bit?
> >
> > Thanks so much.
> > Emme

 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing.

Posted by Hattree on May 1, 2002, at 9:16:43

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme, posted by Cindylou on April 30, 2002, at 21:41:41

I felt worse when I increased at one point and then dropped down and felt better again. Other increases have not seemed to have that effect...I have been at 100mg lately.

 

Re: Help - yet another thread--Cindy Lou

Posted by Roo on May 1, 2002, at 10:21:37

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing., posted by Hattree on May 1, 2002, at 9:16:43

Cindy Lou--

I'm curious if I might be retaining fluid on lamictal
too. I've gained a bunch of weight and it won't
go away even with strenuous exercise and healthy eating
habits. How do you tell if it's real weight or water
weight? Does it all go to one place or can it be evenly
distributed? what was it like for you? Did you gain
weight or did you just feel bloated?

 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme

Posted by Cindylou on May 1, 2002, at 13:59:07

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Cindylou, posted by Emme on May 1, 2002, at 8:34:17

Hi Emme,
Thanks for your post! I was very interested to hear that there is such a thing as a "reproductive psychiatrist," or a "prenatal pharmacologist"! That's great news! I will search the net, and anywhere else I can to find such a specialist. Thanks for the tip, and the encouragement.

I have just been re-diagnosed as bipolar II, about six months ago. Up until then, I was just considered to have unipolar depression, and anxiety. It's been hard for me to accept this bipolar diagnosis for some reason -- I've never had any kind of manic episode that I'm aware of -- but I fluctuate from extreme fatigue to extreme agitation very often. This all started after having my baby 2 1/2 years ago. My pdoc said this bipolar condition may have just been latent until I had my daughter.

But like you said, what really matters is the treatment, rather than the dx.

Thanks again, Emme! I will follow your posts to see how you are doing. Do you ever post in Psycho-Social Babble? I've only visited there a couple times (because this board keeps me so busy), but I would like to get "over there" more often for even more of a support group kind of thing.

Take care,
cindy

> Hi Cindy,
>
> Thanks for your thoughtful post. So, maybe the higher dose is going to be too high for me. I just hit 100 today and I am going to see how it goes for a couple of weeks, see if I feel better or worse, and then consult with my doctor with the new "data". Maybe I'll have to drop it again. 62.5 mg seemed to be the magic number when positive things started to happen. It seemed like 75 was a good dose, at least for a while. 50 or below didn't have antidepressant activity for me.
>
> For a while I was trying Celexa in addition to Lamaictal and neurontin and klonopin and I felt worse on only 2 mg. I was freezing cold all the time, , exhausted, felt cruddy, and at one point my moods were up and down on a daily basis for five days straight before I gave it up. I guess we haven't ruled out a dash of an antidepressant, but we'd have to think carefully about which one.
>
> Yeah, I like Neurontin. For a med-sensitive person, I find it easy to take and a nice augmenter for anxiety. I hope it helps you.
>
> That's too bad you had to ditch the lamictal. I can sympthize about giving up the meds and having things go haywire. I've tried that also, tjust to temporarily wipe the slate clean after trying a lot of meds. After a couple of weeks of complete washout... well...it wasn't pretty.
>
> I'm sorry you have the pregnancy concerns. I think about it also, though it's further off for me. Have you consulted with a reproductive psychiatrist, or a prenatal pharmacologist. (Yes, people do specialize in such areas.) I have a friend on a very complicated pain-control regime with some potentially nasty stuff. When she was gearing up to conceive, she consulted with a specialist in how drugs affect the fetus and got some very surprising (and encouraging) answers about which drugs were okay and which ones weren't. So...although no meds would be the most desirable, go straight to the top and get the most up to date info before making any decisions for or against pregnancy on meds. It'd be great for you to be able to get going on the pregnancy you want.
>
> I wish the best to you also. I've learned from your posts. We seem to have similar sensitivies to drugs. I can't recall - what's your dx? My doctor thinks I am in the bipolar spectrum. Of course I guess the treatment matters more than the label.
>
> Emme
>
>
> > Hi Emme,
> > So sorry to hear you're having trouble! The same thing happened to me over the holidays. I was taking 75 mg of Lamictal and doing okay, but when I tried increasing it to 100, and then 125, I felt more and more miserable. Depressed, tired, and so bloated I had to go out and buy new pants! I do believe it was the increased Lamictal dose that caused those reactions -- when I went back down to 75 mg I felt better.
> >
> > My pdoc attended a conference recently where they presented research that people can be helped on as low as 50 mg of Lamictal. Perhaps you'd feel better on even a lower dose than 75? Are you on any other med? Maybe you could augment the Lamcital with an AD to help with your moods?
> >
> > As for me, I have recently stopped Lamictal, since it wasn't helping enough, only a small amount, and because I wasn't able to increase the dose, AND I couldn't add on an AD without horrible side effects. Also, I wanted to try to get pregnant, so I thought I'd give it a go with no meds.
> >
> > After stopping Lamictal, things really got out of control, as far as depression and agitation -- so I could tell that the Lamictal did help me some!
> >
> > Now I am trying Neurontin (you mentioned this to me as an option, I believe). I just started yesterday, but so far, so good. I guess the pregnancy will have to wait (or I'll have to take the risk of being pregnant while on meds.)
> >
> > I wish the best to you! You have been a great help to me over the past months.
> >
> > Take care, and keep me posted ...
> > cindy
> > > Hi Folks,
> > >
> > > I had a lot of improvement with 75 mg Lamictal and was tolerating it well. Then I got really stressed out over some stressful things and lost some mood control. So...I'm increasing Lamictal and am at 95 now - up to 100 this week. At the moment I'm miserable. I feel very tired and spacey and I feel depressed. I can't figure out if it's just adjustment to the increase (I've had some difficulties during increases before) and maybe I'm feeling depressed because I'm so tired. Or maybe I just can't tolerate this dose and should back it down to 75 again - I tend to be sensitive and use low doses of stuff. Or if it's even just not high enough? I don't know how to dose this stuff, though I suppose I should hang out at 100 mg for a couple of weeks if I can and see how it shakes out....
> > >
> > > Anyway...I remember there being discussions about raising/lowering lamictal and optimal dosages. I was curious about where people are at with this drug (Cindylou? Hattree?). Has anyone felt worse when they went up on Lamictal and felt better moodwise (as well as physically) when they went back down a bit?
> > >
> > > Thanks so much.
> > > Emme

 

Re: Help - yet another thread--Cindy Lou » Roo

Posted by Cindylou on May 1, 2002, at 14:01:53

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread--Cindy Lou, posted by Roo on May 1, 2002, at 10:21:37

Hi Roo,
I'm almost positive it was water-weight, because it was all in my stomach, and my eyelids were puffy -- different than all-over weight gain. All the exercise in the world, and all the healthy eating in the world wouldn't help it.

-cindy

> Cindy Lou--
>
> I'm curious if I might be retaining fluid on lamictal
> too. I've gained a bunch of weight and it won't
> go away even with strenuous exercise and healthy eating
> habits. How do you tell if it's real weight or water
> weight? Does it all go to one place or can it be evenly
> distributed? what was it like for you? Did you gain
> weight or did you just feel bloated?

 

Re: Help - yet another thread- Lamictal Cindy

Posted by polarbear206 on May 1, 2002, at 18:16:41

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme, posted by Cindylou on May 1, 2002, at 13:59:07

> Hi Emme,
> Thanks for your post! I was very interested to hear that there is such a thing as a "reproductive psychiatrist," or a "prenatal pharmacologist"! That's great news! I will search the net, and anywhere else I can to find such a specialist. Thanks for the tip, and the encouragement.
>
> I have just been re-diagnosed as bipolar II, about six months ago. Up until then, I was just considered to have unipolar depression, and anxiety. It's been hard for me to accept this bipolar diagnosis for some reason -- I've never had any kind of manic episode that I'm aware of -- but I fluctuate from extreme fatigue to extreme agitation very often. This all started after having my baby 2 1/2 years ago. My pdoc said this bipolar condition may have just been latent until I had my daughter.
>
> But like you said, what really matters is the treatment, rather than the dx.
>
> Thanks again, Emme! I will follow your posts to see how you are doing. Do you ever post in Psycho-Social Babble? I've only visited there a couple times (because this board keeps me so busy), but I would like to get "over there" more often for even more of a support group kind of thing.
>
> Take care,
> cindy
>
> > Hi Cindy,
> >
> > Thanks for your thoughtful post. So, maybe the higher dose is going to be too high for me. I just hit 100 today and I am going to see how it goes for a couple of weeks, see if I feel better or worse, and then consult with my doctor with the new "data". Maybe I'll have to drop it again. 62.5 mg seemed to be the magic number when positive things started to happen. It seemed like 75 was a good dose, at least for a while. 50 or below didn't have antidepressant activity for me.
> >
> > For a while I was trying Celexa in addition to Lamaictal and neurontin and klonopin and I felt worse on only 2 mg. I was freezing cold all the time, , exhausted, felt cruddy, and at one point my moods were up and down on a daily basis for five days straight before I gave it up. I guess we haven't ruled out a dash of an antidepressant, but we'd have to think carefully about which one.
> >
> > Yeah, I like Neurontin. For a med-sensitive person, I find it easy to take and a nice augmenter for anxiety. I hope it helps you.
> >
> > That's too bad you had to ditch the lamictal. I can sympthize about giving up the meds and having things go haywire. I've tried that also, tjust to temporarily wipe the slate clean after trying a lot of meds. After a couple of weeks of complete washout... well...it wasn't pretty.
> >
> > I'm sorry you have the pregnancy concerns. I think about it also, though it's further off for me. Have you consulted with a reproductive psychiatrist, or a prenatal pharmacologist. (Yes, people do specialize in such areas.) I have a friend on a very complicated pain-control regime with some potentially nasty stuff. When she was gearing up to conceive, she consulted with a specialist in how drugs affect the fetus and got some very surprising (and encouraging) answers about which drugs were okay and which ones weren't. So...although no meds would be the most desirable, go straight to the top and get the most up to date info before making any decisions for or against pregnancy on meds. It'd be great for you to be able to get going on the pregnancy you want.
> >
> > I wish the best to you also. I've learned from your posts. We seem to have similar sensitivies to drugs. I can't recall - what's your dx? My doctor thinks I am in the bipolar spectrum. Of course I guess the treatment matters more than the label.
> >
> > Emme
> >
> >
> > > Hi Emme,
> > > So sorry to hear you're having trouble! The same thing happened to me over the holidays. I was taking 75 mg of Lamictal and doing okay, but when I tried increasing it to 100, and then 125, I felt more and more miserable. Depressed, tired, and so bloated I had to go out and buy new pants! I do believe it was the increased Lamictal dose that caused those reactions -- when I went back down to 75 mg I felt better.
> > >
> > > My pdoc attended a conference recently where they presented research that people can be helped on as low as 50 mg of Lamictal. Perhaps you'd feel better on even a lower dose than 75? Are you on any other med? Maybe you could augment the Lamcital with an AD to help with your moods?
> > >
> > > As for me, I have recently stopped Lamictal, since it wasn't helping enough, only a small amount, and because I wasn't able to increase the dose, AND I couldn't add on an AD without horrible side effects. Also, I wanted to try to get pregnant, so I thought I'd give it a go with no meds.
> > >
> > > After stopping Lamictal, things really got out of control, as far as depression and agitation -- so I could tell that the Lamictal did help me some!
> > >
> > > Now I am trying Neurontin (you mentioned this to me as an option, I believe). I just started yesterday, but so far, so good. I guess the pregnancy will have to wait (or I'll have to take the risk of being pregnant while on meds.)
> > >
> > > I wish the best to you! You have been a great help to me over the past months.
> > >
> > > Take care, and keep me posted ...
> > > cindy
> > > > Hi Folks,
> > > >
> > > > I had a lot of improvement with 75 mg Lamictal and was tolerating it well. Then I got really stressed out over some stressful things and lost some mood control. So...I'm increasing Lamictal and am at 95 now - up to 100 this week. At the moment I'm miserable. I feel very tired and spacey and I feel depressed. I can't figure out if it's just adjustment to the increase (I've had some difficulties during increases before) and maybe I'm feeling depressed because I'm so tired. Or maybe I just can't tolerate this dose and should back it down to 75 again - I tend to be sensitive and use low doses of stuff. Or if it's even just not high enough? I don't know how to dose this stuff, though I suppose I should hang out at 100 mg for a couple of weeks if I can and see how it shakes out....
> > > >
> > > > Anyway...I remember there being discussions about raising/lowering lamictal and optimal dosages. I was curious about where people are at with this drug (Cindylou? Hattree?). Has anyone felt worse when they went up on Lamictal and felt better moodwise (as well as physically) when they went back down a bit?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks so much.
> > > > Emme


Cindy,
The very same thing happened to me after the birth of my child 13 years ago. It is bipolar 2. I had a hard time accepting this too. I'm even a psychiatric nurse!! I was able to get by on just antidepressants, but the soft cycling I was having was getting worse as time went by. Doing good on 75mg of Lamictal with a lower dose of my ad. It feels good to just feel "right".

 

Re: Help - yet another thread- Lamictal Cindy » polarbear206

Posted by Cindylou on May 1, 2002, at 18:53:45

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread- Lamictal Cindy , posted by polarbear206 on May 1, 2002, at 18:16:41

Thanks for this post, polar bear!

It is always encouraging to hear that others have experienced the same thing I have -- that I'm not alone, and that this bipolar II thing is a reality. Glad to hear you are doing well on Lamictal. Can I ask what AD you are taking?

Thanks again,
cindy


> Cindy,
> The very same thing happened to me after the birth of my child 13 years ago. It is bipolar 2. I had a hard time accepting this too. I'm even a psychiatric nurse!! I was able to get by on just antidepressants, but the soft cycling I was having was getting worse as time went by. Doing good on 75mg of Lamictal with a lower dose of my ad. It feels good to just feel "right".

 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme

Posted by Bob on May 2, 2002, at 1:02:49

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Cindylou, posted by Emme on May 1, 2002, at 8:34:17

"For a while I was trying Celexa in addition to Lamaictal and neurontin and klonopin and I felt worse on only 2 mg. I was freezing cold all the time, , exhausted, felt cruddy, and at one point my moods were up and down on a daily basis for five days straight before I gave it up. I guess we haven't ruled out a dash of an antidepressant, but we'd have to think carefully about which one."


This is very interesting. I am currently taking the same combination of drugs: Celexa, Lamictal, Neurontin, and Clonazepam. I added the Lamicatal and Neurontin after I was stabilized on Celexa and Klonopin. I too get cold spells - my hands especially get quite cold. I attributed it to the anticonvulsants, but maybe the Celexa is causing the problem???

Bob

 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Cindylou

Posted by Emme on May 2, 2002, at 7:52:11

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme, posted by Cindylou on May 1, 2002, at 13:59:07

Hi Cindy,

I believe my friend may have consulted with someone at Johns Hopkins about meds and pregnancy - that's where her other health care has been going on. Good luck in your research. I hope you're able to get enough info somewhere to help you decide what to do about your pregnancy strategy.

Your BP II diagnosis sounds a lot like mine. No mania, not really clear hypomania except for maybe one or two occasions, but sometimes my depression would be more "tired" and sometimes really anxious. Always terrible sleep disturbances. AD poopouts. And clear mood cycling. Just that the ups weren't higher than normal. Taken together, my doctor eventually switched my diagnosis from unipolar to something more in the bipolar spectrum.

At this moment I don't think any medicine can help me. I received a terrible disappointment yesterday about a job I wanted very much. This may potentially put an end to a dream of a particular kind of career. There may have been nothing I could have done better. But part of me can't help but wonder if things might have turned out differently if I'd been more on top of things, more overtly enthusiastic, without the insecurities from this damn mood disorder. Well, I'm always a bit insecure, but it's hard to turn around and be your best when you're just starting to have improvement. So the disappointment feeds the depression. I don't know how to tell when the medicine is doing all it can and the rest is environmental, or if the environmental circumstances hit too hard because the illness isn't under enough control. Okay I ramble.

take care,
Emme

> Hi Emme,
> Thanks for your post! I was very interested to hear that there is such a thing as a "reproductive psychiatrist," or a "prenatal pharmacologist"! That's great news! I will search the net, and anywhere else I can to find such a specialist. Thanks for the tip, and the encouragement.
>
> I have just been re-diagnosed as bipolar II, about six months ago. Up until then, I was just considered to have unipolar depression, and anxiety. It's been hard for me to accept this bipolar diagnosis for some reason -- I've never had any kind of manic episode that I'm aware of -- but I fluctuate from extreme fatigue to extreme agitation very often. This all started after having my baby 2 1/2 years ago. My pdoc said this bipolar condition may have just been latent until I had my daughter.
>
> But like you said, what really matters is the treatment, rather than the dx.
>
> Thanks again, Emme! I will follow your posts to see how you are doing. Do you ever post in Psycho-Social Babble? I've only visited there a couple times (because this board keeps me so busy), but I would like to get "over there" more often for even more of a support group kind of thing.
>
> Take care,
> cindy
>
> > Hi Cindy,
> >
> > Thanks for your thoughtful post. So, maybe the higher dose is going to be too high for me. I just hit 100 today and I am going to see how it goes for a couple of weeks, see if I feel better or worse, and then consult with my doctor with the new "data". Maybe I'll have to drop it again. 62.5 mg seemed to be the magic number when positive things started to happen. It seemed like 75 was a good dose, at least for a while. 50 or below didn't have antidepressant activity for me.
> >
> > For a while I was trying Celexa in addition to Lamaictal and neurontin and klonopin and I felt worse on only 2 mg. I was freezing cold all the time, , exhausted, felt cruddy, and at one point my moods were up and down on a daily basis for five days straight before I gave it up. I guess we haven't ruled out a dash of an antidepressant, but we'd have to think carefully about which one.
> >
> > Yeah, I like Neurontin. For a med-sensitive person, I find it easy to take and a nice augmenter for anxiety. I hope it helps you.
> >
> > That's too bad you had to ditch the lamictal. I can sympthize about giving up the meds and having things go haywire. I've tried that also, tjust to temporarily wipe the slate clean after trying a lot of meds. After a couple of weeks of complete washout... well...it wasn't pretty.
> >
> > I'm sorry you have the pregnancy concerns. I think about it also, though it's further off for me. Have you consulted with a reproductive psychiatrist, or a prenatal pharmacologist. (Yes, people do specialize in such areas.) I have a friend on a very complicated pain-control regime with some potentially nasty stuff. When she was gearing up to conceive, she consulted with a specialist in how drugs affect the fetus and got some very surprising (and encouraging) answers about which drugs were okay and which ones weren't. So...although no meds would be the most desirable, go straight to the top and get the most up to date info before making any decisions for or against pregnancy on meds. It'd be great for you to be able to get going on the pregnancy you want.
> >
> > I wish the best to you also. I've learned from your posts. We seem to have similar sensitivies to drugs. I can't recall - what's your dx? My doctor thinks I am in the bipolar spectrum. Of course I guess the treatment matters more than the label.
> >
> > Emme
> >
> >
> > > Hi Emme,
> > > So sorry to hear you're having trouble! The same thing happened to me over the holidays. I was taking 75 mg of Lamictal and doing okay, but when I tried increasing it to 100, and then 125, I felt more and more miserable. Depressed, tired, and so bloated I had to go out and buy new pants! I do believe it was the increased Lamictal dose that caused those reactions -- when I went back down to 75 mg I felt better.
> > >
> > > My pdoc attended a conference recently where they presented research that people can be helped on as low as 50 mg of Lamictal. Perhaps you'd feel better on even a lower dose than 75? Are you on any other med? Maybe you could augment the Lamcital with an AD to help with your moods?
> > >
> > > As for me, I have recently stopped Lamictal, since it wasn't helping enough, only a small amount, and because I wasn't able to increase the dose, AND I couldn't add on an AD without horrible side effects. Also, I wanted to try to get pregnant, so I thought I'd give it a go with no meds.
> > >
> > > After stopping Lamictal, things really got out of control, as far as depression and agitation -- so I could tell that the Lamictal did help me some!
> > >
> > > Now I am trying Neurontin (you mentioned this to me as an option, I believe). I just started yesterday, but so far, so good. I guess the pregnancy will have to wait (or I'll have to take the risk of being pregnant while on meds.)
> > >
> > > I wish the best to you! You have been a great help to me over the past months.
> > >
> > > Take care, and keep me posted ...
> > > cindy

 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing.

Posted by Emme on May 2, 2002, at 7:59:33

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme, posted by Bob on May 2, 2002, at 1:02:49

Hi Bob,

I'm cold-blooded by nature, but while I was on the Celexa it was just ridiculous. That and then intermittently breaking out in a sweat. I attributed the coldness to Celexa because I was already on the AC's before adding it. About 48 hours after I stopped the Celexa, it improved. They mention the sweating, but didn't mention the *cold* side effect in the patient's literature. But I'm sure we're not the only two to have experienced it..

Emme


> "For a while I was trying Celexa in addition to Lamaictal and neurontin and klonopin and I felt worse on only 2 mg. I was freezing cold all the time, , exhausted, felt cruddy, and at one point my moods were up and down on a daily basis for five days straight before I gave it up. I guess we haven't ruled out a dash of an antidepressant, but we'd have to think carefully about which one."
>
>
> This is very interesting. I am currently taking the same combination of drugs: Celexa, Lamictal, Neurontin, and Clonazepam. I added the Lamicatal and Neurontin after I was stabilized on Celexa and Klonopin. I too get cold spells - my hands especially get quite cold. I attributed it to the anticonvulsants, but maybe the Celexa is causing the problem???
>
> Bob

 

Re: Help - yet another thread- Lamictal Cindy

Posted by polarbear206 on May 2, 2002, at 11:46:16

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread- Lamictal Cindy » polarbear206, posted by Cindylou on May 1, 2002, at 18:53:45

> Thanks for this post, polar bear!
>
> It is always encouraging to hear that others have experienced the same thing I have -- that I'm not alone, and that this bipolar II thing is a reality. Glad to hear you are doing well on Lamictal. Can I ask what AD you are taking?
>
> Thanks again,
> cindy
>
>
> > Cindy,
> > The very same thing happened to me after the birth of my child 13 years ago. It is bipolar 2. I had a hard time accepting this too. I'm even a psychiatric nurse!! I was able to get by on just antidepressants, but the soft cycling I was having was getting worse as time went by. Doing good on 75mg of Lamictal with a lower dose of my ad. It feels good to just feel "right".


Cindy,

Of all the ad's i've been on, I feel more like "myself" on the tricyclics. I take Imipramine. The older drugs (MAOI's and Tricyclics ) work better for those with more serious endogenous depressions. Back in early february I started to spiral down. I added on a small amt. of Paxil to get me through the anxiety til I saw my pdoc. My bipolar is depression dominated. My highs are just increases in energy, where I can get alot accomplished and sometimes "nervous energy" (I'm sure you can relate to this) My lows are overwhelming fatigue, hypersomnia (sleeping too much) confusion and concentration problems. Every year in february I get worse. I also have seasonal variations. This time I really got scared!! My pdoc to put me on Lamictal. Since doing this I've been able to stop the Paxil and go down to 75mg of imipramine. I can't tolerate high doses of SSRI's. They really exacerbate my cycling and esp. the hypersomina. They really numb my emotions too whereas the tricyclics don't. High doses of tricyclics can also exacerbate mood cycling too, but if I stay at 100mg or below I do fine with this. There is a very broad spectrum to mood disorders. Mood stabilizers with bipolar disorers should be your main med. If an antidepressant is needed, it should be at the lowest effective dose. Ihope to be able to go down to 50mg of imipramine as I go up slowly with the Lamictal.
A good book to check out is "Why Your Depression Isn't getting better" By Michael R. Bartos M.D. It's about the epidemic of undiagnosed bipolar disorders. I think I'm finally on the right direction with the Lamictal.

Laura.

 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme

Posted by Cindylou on May 3, 2002, at 7:18:10

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Cindylou, posted by Emme on May 2, 2002, at 7:52:11

Hi Emme,
I feel for you so much ... and I'm sorry to hear about the job disappointment. I really, really know what you're talking about here ... it's like, we all have a disability, but it's not recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act. We do the very best we can, but our best can't be the best of others who don't have mood disorders to deal with. I am constantly feeling like I just can't measure up -- at work, and now at home (I stay home with my toddler.) I can't keep the house clean, I'm usually too tired to make dinner, blah blah.

And I feel the same way you do about medication. Way back when, when my depression first started, I was able to find help from Zoloft + Wellbutrin (it made me tired, but I was able to manage the fatigue then.) Now, NOTHING HELPS.

I don't know how much of it is due to my body chemistry changing, from being on meds all these years and from having a baby, and how much is from environmental things, as you said (my husband lost his job a few months ago and we are probably going to be moving out of state -- I have crumbled considerably from this crisis.)

I know I'm not being much support here for you! But I just want you to know that I truly understand and feel for you now, and I will continue to hold out hope for both of us that we will find those meds, the "cocktail" that will allow us to function as we should.

Hang in there,
Fondly, cindy.
> Hi Cindy,
>
> I believe my friend may have consulted with someone at Johns Hopkins about meds and pregnancy - that's where her other health care has been going on. Good luck in your research. I hope you're able to get enough info somewhere to help you decide what to do about your pregnancy strategy.
>
> Your BP II diagnosis sounds a lot like mine. No mania, not really clear hypomania except for maybe one or two occasions, but sometimes my depression would be more "tired" and sometimes really anxious. Always terrible sleep disturbances. AD poopouts. And clear mood cycling. Just that the ups weren't higher than normal. Taken together, my doctor eventually switched my diagnosis from unipolar to something more in the bipolar spectrum.
>
> At this moment I don't think any medicine can help me. I received a terrible disappointment yesterday about a job I wanted very much. This may potentially put an end to a dream of a particular kind of career. There may have been nothing I could have done better. But part of me can't help but wonder if things might have turned out differently if I'd been more on top of things, more overtly enthusiastic, without the insecurities from this damn mood disorder. Well, I'm always a bit insecure, but it's hard to turn around and be your best when you're just starting to have improvement. So the disappointment feeds the depression. I don't know how to tell when the medicine is doing all it can and the rest is environmental, or if the environmental circumstances hit too hard because the illness isn't under enough control. Okay I ramble.
>
> take care,
> Emme
>
> > Hi Emme,
> > Thanks for your post! I was very interested to hear that there is such a thing as a "reproductive psychiatrist," or a "prenatal pharmacologist"! That's great news! I will search the net, and anywhere else I can to find such a specialist. Thanks for the tip, and the encouragement.
> >
> > I have just been re-diagnosed as bipolar II, about six months ago. Up until then, I was just considered to have unipolar depression, and anxiety. It's been hard for me to accept this bipolar diagnosis for some reason -- I've never had any kind of manic episode that I'm aware of -- but I fluctuate from extreme fatigue to extreme agitation very often. This all started after having my baby 2 1/2 years ago. My pdoc said this bipolar condition may have just been latent until I had my daughter.
> >
> > But like you said, what really matters is the treatment, rather than the dx.
> >
> > Thanks again, Emme! I will follow your posts to see how you are doing. Do you ever post in Psycho-Social Babble? I've only visited there a couple times (because this board keeps me so busy), but I would like to get "over there" more often for even more of a support group kind of thing.
> >
> > Take care,
> > cindy
> >
> > > Hi Cindy,
> > >
> > > Thanks for your thoughtful post. So, maybe the higher dose is going to be too high for me. I just hit 100 today and I am going to see how it goes for a couple of weeks, see if I feel better or worse, and then consult with my doctor with the new "data". Maybe I'll have to drop it again. 62.5 mg seemed to be the magic number when positive things started to happen. It seemed like 75 was a good dose, at least for a while. 50 or below didn't have antidepressant activity for me.
> > >
> > > For a while I was trying Celexa in addition to Lamaictal and neurontin and klonopin and I felt worse on only 2 mg. I was freezing cold all the time, , exhausted, felt cruddy, and at one point my moods were up and down on a daily basis for five days straight before I gave it up. I guess we haven't ruled out a dash of an antidepressant, but we'd have to think carefully about which one.
> > >
> > > Yeah, I like Neurontin. For a med-sensitive person, I find it easy to take and a nice augmenter for anxiety. I hope it helps you.
> > >
> > > That's too bad you had to ditch the lamictal. I can sympthize about giving up the meds and having things go haywire. I've tried that also, tjust to temporarily wipe the slate clean after trying a lot of meds. After a couple of weeks of complete washout... well...it wasn't pretty.
> > >
> > > I'm sorry you have the pregnancy concerns. I think about it also, though it's further off for me. Have you consulted with a reproductive psychiatrist, or a prenatal pharmacologist. (Yes, people do specialize in such areas.) I have a friend on a very complicated pain-control regime with some potentially nasty stuff. When she was gearing up to conceive, she consulted with a specialist in how drugs affect the fetus and got some very surprising (and encouraging) answers about which drugs were okay and which ones weren't. So...although no meds would be the most desirable, go straight to the top and get the most up to date info before making any decisions for or against pregnancy on meds. It'd be great for you to be able to get going on the pregnancy you want.
> > >
> > > I wish the best to you also. I've learned from your posts. We seem to have similar sensitivies to drugs. I can't recall - what's your dx? My doctor thinks I am in the bipolar spectrum. Of course I guess the treatment matters more than the label.
> > >
> > > Emme
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hi Emme,
> > > > So sorry to hear you're having trouble! The same thing happened to me over the holidays. I was taking 75 mg of Lamictal and doing okay, but when I tried increasing it to 100, and then 125, I felt more and more miserable. Depressed, tired, and so bloated I had to go out and buy new pants! I do believe it was the increased Lamictal dose that caused those reactions -- when I went back down to 75 mg I felt better.
> > > >
> > > > My pdoc attended a conference recently where they presented research that people can be helped on as low as 50 mg of Lamictal. Perhaps you'd feel better on even a lower dose than 75? Are you on any other med? Maybe you could augment the Lamcital with an AD to help with your moods?
> > > >
> > > > As for me, I have recently stopped Lamictal, since it wasn't helping enough, only a small amount, and because I wasn't able to increase the dose, AND I couldn't add on an AD without horrible side effects. Also, I wanted to try to get pregnant, so I thought I'd give it a go with no meds.
> > > >
> > > > After stopping Lamictal, things really got out of control, as far as depression and agitation -- so I could tell that the Lamictal did help me some!
> > > >
> > > > Now I am trying Neurontin (you mentioned this to me as an option, I believe). I just started yesterday, but so far, so good. I guess the pregnancy will have to wait (or I'll have to take the risk of being pregnant while on meds.)
> > > >
> > > > I wish the best to you! You have been a great help to me over the past months.
> > > >
> > > > Take care, and keep me posted ...
> > > > cindy

 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Cindylou

Posted by Emme on May 6, 2002, at 7:43:10

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme, posted by Cindylou on May 3, 2002, at 7:18:10

Hi Cindy,

> I feel for you so much ... and I'm sorry to hear about the job disappointment.

Thanks for the kind thoughts. They are much appreciated. I've been more devastated than I even expected. The mood drop for a couple of days afterwards was so precipitous as to be alarming. And this even with an aresenal of medication. And I feel sure that had I gotten this job, I could have done it well. I had already been formulating new ideas for it and all. I think the circumstances of the place would've helped me stabilize.

> I really, really know what you're talking about here ... it's like, we all have a disability, but it's not recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Isn't it though? I thought it was, at least under certain situations. I seem to recall reading about when/how it applied, reasonable accommodations and all that, as it applied to mental illness. I just can't remember where (damn memory's shot). Others here may know more about how ADA relates or doesn't relate to mood disorders. I should know more about all this. I
agree with the "no
t recognized part" though. Unless you choose (carefully) to disclose your illness, it's invisible and you just don't get a break for why you're tired/spacy/whatever.

> I am constantly feeling like I just can't measure up -- at work, and now at home (I stay home with my toddler.) I can't keep the house clean, I'm usually too tired to make dinner, blah blah.

I am sorry your daily work is so hard for you. I know the feeling. Well, not the toddler part. But the fatigue really gets to me. For me it's really become an unacceptable medication side effect, whereas I accepted it more easily a few years ago. I've just lost too much time to tiredness. Tiredness from the depression itself is bad enough. I'll bet you're doing a great job giving your child love. If the house is not run as well as you'd like, well, you know, the dirt always comes back anyway. ;)

> And I feel the same way you do about medication. Way back when, when my depression first started... Now, NOTHING HELPS.

Heh, yeah, I remember this stupendously great feeling when Wellbutrin + Serzone kicked in for me. It was turning on a switch. Lamictal has been the closest thing to that for me, at least it was for a while. It's been much harder to get a response from medication as time goes on.

Although I've gotten at least some relief from various things, I'm so darn sensitive to side effects and either it's my imagination or I've gotten more sensitive with time. Maybe we've just moved on to trying drugs with greater side effect profiles.

> I don't know how much of it is due to my body chemistry changing, from being on meds all these years and from having a baby,

It's definitely a lot to put your body through. I can't help but wonder the same thing. Or has the course of my illness just gotten tougher? Or have the environmental stresses and consequences of my illness gotten tougher to deal with? I think ideally good medication should give us more of a buffer to help us cope with stresses. I'd like more of a buffer.

> (my husband lost his job a few months ago and we are probably going to be moving out of state -- I have crumbled considerably from this crisis.)

Oh, that is rotten. I am so sorry. I sympathize. I get totally traumatized by moving. I do hope something good comes through for you and your husband.

> I know I'm not being much support here for you!

Believe me, you are. And keep posting on how things are going for you.

> the "cocktail" that will allow us to function as we should.

Kinda like looking for the Holy Grail. My doctor is relentlessly optimistic that I'll get better and reclaim a good life. Every time I think I'm out of options, she has another idea. Which is great, but I am sick of trying things. I think the word "cocktail" is a bizarre one here. Makes it sound like a lawn party. :) Anyway, I wish a good "cocktail" for you. Any new thoughts on what you want to be taking?

Take care,
Emme


 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme

Posted by Chloe on May 6, 2002, at 18:55:17

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Cindylou, posted by Emme on May 6, 2002, at 7:43:10

Hi Emme,
I am so sorry you did not get that job. What a disappointment. I know I am kinda budding in here, but I wanted to let you know I am thinking about you.

I am glad you have an "overly optimistic" pdoc. Perhaps she can think of something to help you get through this rough time. Too bad the naltrexone was a wash...Is the Lamictal still helping, or has that pooped out some?

BTW, I am much more sensitive to meds as I have gotten older, too. I could take boat loads of stuff with few side effects in my teens. Now, (in my 30's) I can only tolerate microdoses. So I am on small doses of 6 meds, to minimize side effects, but potentiate good effects. It's all chemisty! Finding the smallest dose that gives the greatest benefit. You did tell me you are a chemist, didn't you?

Well, please take care,
Chloe

 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Chloe

Posted by Emme on May 7, 2002, at 7:57:15

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme, posted by Chloe on May 6, 2002, at 18:55:17

Hi Chloe,

Butt right on in! Nice to hear from you. How's the combo working? I assume Lithium is still your mainstay? How's your sore scalp problem?

> I am so sorry you did not get that job. What a disappointment.

Yeah, thanks. There's a lot of "life" issues that were attached to it, such as moving. I will probably need to move in the next year and I need to job search and I wanted to get it all done with *now* since it's all pretty destabilizing for me. And this would've fulfilled a dream career wise. My current life situation is not good for me. But it's moot for the moment...

>But I wanted to let you know I am thinking about you.

Thanks! Same here!

> I am glad you have an "overly optimistic" pdoc. Perhaps she can think of something to help you get through this rough time. Too bad the naltrexone was a wash...Is the Lamictal still helping, or has that pooped out some?

Well, I suspect it's doing some good. I feel crappy, but I would probably be in worse shape without it. So it may not have totally "pooped out" per se, I may just be really unhappy and not have enough resilience yet. We'll meet on Friday and see what she thinks.

> BTW, I am much more sensitive to meds as I have gotten older, too. I could take boat loads of stuff with few side effects in my teens. Now, (in my 30's) I can only tolerate microdoses. So I am on small doses of 6 meds, to minimize side effects, but potentiate good effects.

I worry that increasing sensitivity will be so limiting on what I can take that I'll become impossible to treat. That's one reason I really hope Lamictal will be my mainstay - I can tolerate it. What does all this say about how our bodies metabolize chemicals with age? Maybe we are metabolizing more slowly.... As I think about it though, I've also been a much wider range of drugs than I was at first, so I should perhaps expect more problems. Much as I hate having all those bottles lined up on my dresser, I know polypharmacy is the way for me. And the klonopin and neurontin really go along way towards kicking out the anxiety, so I do have a few "keepers".

> You did tell me you are a chemist, didn't you?

Yeah. :) Geared towards the earth sciences though. I'd love to learn more about the pharmacologic properties of all the drugs - I'm impressed by how well some people here have studied all this. But my brain is full just from work. How 'bout you? What is your main area of interest/expertise?

cheers,
Emme

> Well, please take care,
> Chloe

 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Chloe

Posted by Emme on May 7, 2002, at 7:59:33

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme, posted by Chloe on May 6, 2002, at 18:55:17

P.S. Chloe. My hair seems a little drier and my scalp a little itchy. Nothing horrible. But if you've settled on something good for your scalp I'd love to hear about it.

thanx,
Emme

 

Re: Chloe, second post wasn't a duplicate. (nm) » Emme

Posted by Emme on May 7, 2002, at 8:01:50

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Chloe, posted by Emme on May 7, 2002, at 7:59:33

 

Cindy - oops, I'm dumb.

Posted by Emme on May 7, 2002, at 8:08:33

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Cindylou, posted by Emme on May 6, 2002, at 7:43:10


> Anyway, I wish a good "cocktail" for you. Any new thoughts on what you want to be taking?

Hi Cindy, sorry I wrote that. At the moment I spaced and forgot that you're trying to minimize meds as you think about getting pregnant. I can't remember anything for very long....

Emme


 

Re: Emme -- no you're not dumb at all! » Emme

Posted by Cindylou on May 7, 2002, at 11:11:05

In reply to Cindy - oops, I'm dumb., posted by Emme on May 7, 2002, at 8:08:33

Hi Emme,
No, you're not dumb at all!!! I appreciate your wishes for a good cocktail, and all of your support and encouragement!

I may need to go back on more meds sooner rather than later. I am holding my own on Klonapin right now, but I'm tired and blue. Maybe I'll see about getting pregnant while on meds, or look into adopting. I feel caught between a rock and a hard place ... I know I need antidepressants, but I can't tolerate any of them. I'm just...stuck.

I went to these alternative medicine doctors (they are actual M.D.s) and they took a bunch of blood to check for vitamin and hormone deficiencies, etc. The doctor thought I may have a thyroid issue -- we'll see what I end up with.

How are you feeling these days? Are you backing off of the Lamictal still? I hope you are having some bright spots in your days!

Keep me posted on how things are going ...
cindy

>
> > Anyway, I wish a good "cocktail" for you. Any new thoughts on what you want to be taking?
>
> Hi Cindy, sorry I wrote that. At the moment I spaced and forgot that you're trying to minimize meds as you think about getting pregnant. I can't remember anything for very long....
>
> Emme

 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Chloe

Posted by Cindylou on May 7, 2002, at 12:06:29

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme, posted by Chloe on May 6, 2002, at 18:55:17

Hi Chloe,
Now I'm kind of butting in ... I was wondering what meds you're on, if you don't mind me asking? I know Lithium is one, from your posts with Emme. Like you and Emme, I have grown so sensitive to meds it's kind of ridiculous, and I've had to try microdoses of lots of things, but still haven't found the right combo for me. I'm taking a break from Lamictal and Serzone right now -- I was going to try to get pregnant so I wanted to get off meds, but I'm not sure I'll be able to do so (I am still taking 0.5 mg. of Klonapin a day which seems to help keep the agitation at bay.)

Also, are you the Chloe who takes flax seed oil? If so, I printed out one of your posts about it, and I actually bought some the other day, but I'm afraid to try it. It seems there can be some adverse reactions to it (JohnX got permanent facial pain from it, I believe), and I did try it a few years ago in a capsule form and it made me quite sick (very nautious and fatigued). Would there be a difference from the actual cold pressed flax seed oil and the capsules as far as side effects go?

(If you're not the same Chloe, just disregard this part!)

Thanks!
cindy


> Hi Emme,
> I am so sorry you did not get that job. What a disappointment. I know I am kinda budding in here, but I wanted to let you know I am thinking about you.
>
> I am glad you have an "overly optimistic" pdoc. Perhaps she can think of something to help you get through this rough time. Too bad the naltrexone was a wash...Is the Lamictal still helping, or has that pooped out some?
>
> BTW, I am much more sensitive to meds as I have gotten older, too. I could take boat loads of stuff with few side effects in my teens. Now, (in my 30's) I can only tolerate microdoses. So I am on small doses of 6 meds, to minimize side effects, but potentiate good effects. It's all chemisty! Finding the smallest dose that gives the greatest benefit. You did tell me you are a chemist, didn't you?
>
> Well, please take care,
> Chloe

 

Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Emme

Posted by Chloe on May 7, 2002, at 17:22:44

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Chloe, posted by Emme on May 7, 2002, at 7:57:15

> Hi Chloe,
>
> Butt right on in! Nice to hear from you. How's the combo working? I assume Lithium is still your mainstay? How's your sore scalp problem?

Hi Emme
My combo is suiting me well at the moment (except some hormone related stuff, but that's a whole other post!). Yes, Li is still in the mix, and I do like that one! I have been able to increase the dose a smidge, too. My scalp was just burning up from the Neurontin and Li. But since a month or so after adding flaxseed oil to my diet, I am less dried out, and some of the scalp pain has deminished. I also think the FSO has some mood elevating/stabilizing properties as well. Adding EFA's my diet has vastly increased my ability to tolerate my meds better.

> Well, I suspect it's [lamictal] doing some good. I feel crappy, but I would probably be in worse shape without it. So it may not have totally "pooped out" per se, I may just be really unhappy and not have enough resilience yet. We'll meet on Friday and see what she thinks.

Emme, it sounds like things are so challenging, that no med is going to make you feel balanced at the moment. But it is so good that you have the Lamictal as a solid back drop. Perhaps you have benzo's for prn's that can put out the fires or calm some of the unexcepted impulsivities or agitation? I wish there were some magic pill that would fix your brain and your life situation! :)

> I worry that increasing sensitivity will be so limiting on what I can take that I'll become impossible to treat. That's one reason I really hope Lamictal will be my mainstay - I can tolerate it. What does all this say about how our bodies metabolize chemicals with age? Maybe we are metabolizing more slowly.... As I think about it though, I've also been a much wider range of drugs than I was at first, so I should perhaps expect more problems. Much as I hate having all those bottles lined up on my dresser, I know polypharmacy is the way for me. And the klonopin and neurontin really go along way towards kicking out the anxiety, so I do have a few "keepers".

I don't know if it's a slower metabolism or hormones or what. But our bodies do change over time in what they need to remain balanced. But just because you can't tolerate a certain med now, doesn't mean it won't work at another time or with another mix of meds. And new meds are coming down the line all the time. Just think of how recently drugs like Lamictal showed up. I don't even think it was available five years ago...(?)

But all in all, I am so grateful my pdoc is an advocate of polypharmacy. I have been working with my pdoc over 14 years. And we have gone from days when I needed 1000 mgs of depakote+100 mgs of prozac to get through a day. A lot has changed. I can't only take 1.5mg of Celexa now, and even that makes me edgy at times!

>How 'bout you? What is your main area of interest/expertise?

Well, I went to college to be a nurse. I love the sciences, too. But I did not love being a nurse. That was a very short lived job. But I can't get enough info about medicine, diseases, drugs...Several years later, I became an EMT. But couldn't hack that either...It's very hard for me to have a job in a field I like! Just can't stand the pressure!

So nice to "chat" with you, Emme. Please keep me posted, if you don't mind...I hope things get better soon
Chloe

 

Re:Lamictal and dryness. » Emme

Posted by Chloe on May 7, 2002, at 17:42:09

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Chloe, posted by Emme on May 7, 2002, at 7:59:33

> P.S. Chloe. My hair seems a little drier and my scalp a little itchy. Nothing horrible. But if you've settled on something good for your scalp I'd love to hear about it.
>
> thanx,
> Emme

Hi Emme,
Yes, as I recall Lamictal was quite drying to my skin. That was one of the reasons why I couldn't tolerate it.
Just so you know, I have tried every dandruff shampoo, every shampoo for dry hair, etc that you can find in a pharmacy. I think they are all the same. They just dry your hair and scalp more.

What works for me, I found at my natural food coop. It's a mild NON medicated tea tree oil shampoo. Tea tree oil is very good for itching and dry flakes. But some formulas are very harsh, you can tell by smelling them! The brand I found that cleared up my dry flakes is "Nature's Gate" Rainwater herbal tea tree shampoo. It's very mild but does the job.

If you are having itchy dry skin, some people swear by the Aveeno oatmeal baths. They can be relaxing too!

Lastly, I will plug the essential fatty acids. It does take 2-4 months to see an marked improvement. But the wait is worth it. My lackluster, brittle hair is now bouncy and shiny with 1-2 tbs of FSO/day. And I can wash it more than once in a blue moon without severe scalp pain! I think these drugs, particularly the AED's strip the body of some nutrients and body oils. A good vitamin/mineral supp. is always a good idea, too. Hey, another pill to swallow! :-O

Chloe

 

Re: Polypharmacy/flaxseed oil » Cindylou

Posted by Chloe on May 7, 2002, at 18:59:45

In reply to Re: Help - yet another thread on Lamictal dosing. » Chloe, posted by Cindylou on May 7, 2002, at 12:06:29

> Hi Chloe,
> Now I'm kind of butting in ... I was wondering what meds you're on, if you don't mind me asking? I know Lithium is one, from your posts with Emme. Like you and Emme, I have grown so sensitive to meds it's kind of ridiculous, and I've had to try microdoses of lots of things, but still haven't found the right combo for me. I'm taking a break from Lamictal and Serzone right now -- I was going to try to get pregnant so I wanted to get off meds, but I'm not sure I'll be able to do so (I am still taking 0.5 mg. of Klonapin a day which seems to help keep the agitation at bay.)

Hi Cindylou,
Thanks for writing!
I am on many drugs. It is quite a list, here goes:
Lithium 225 mgs
Depakote 250 mgs
Neurontin 600 mgs
Diazapam 10 mgs
Amitriptyline 20 mgs
Celexa 1.5 mgs
I find this combo keeps me calm, but somewhat flat at the moment. But for now, that is ok. Early spring brought alot of hypo/agitation that I am happy to leave behind.

I am sorry the pregnancy plan is not going as you hope. I, myself, cannot have children because I know I would not be safe off of meds (I have tried many times), not to mention the hormonal flucuations. And I would hate to have my child be around an unstable person like me. I guess I am fortunate that I do not yearn for children as some women do. I find my dog more than enough responsiblity. And there are days when I buckle under that. But most days, my dog is a joy and the love of my life. So that is what I imagine most "human" mothers feel...

> Also, are you the Chloe who takes flax seed oil? If so, I printed out one of your posts about it, and I actually bought some the other day, but I'm afraid to try it. It seems there can be some adverse reactions to it (JohnX got permanent facial pain from it, I believe), and I did try it a few years ago in a capsule form and it made me quite sick (very nautious and fatigued). Would there be a difference from the actual cold pressed flax seed oil and the capsules as far as side effects go?
>
> (If you're not the same Chloe, just disregard this part!)

Yes, hi, it's the same Chloe!
I did read JohnX's post about his experience with omega 3 fatty acids. (I have never heard or read anything like that. Except, perhaps too much DHA and EPA from the fish oils can become build up and become toxic over time. Flaxseed oil, however has the percursors of DHA and EPA. The body stores up the good omega 3 fats, and when the body requires DHA and EPA, the body will convert the stored oil into the correct amounts of DHA and EPA.
Kinda like you CAN take too much vitamin A. It's toxic at high doses. But you can't take/eat too many betacarotines, colored fruits and vegatables, that the body will convert into vita A as needed, phew!)
I, too did found it disconcerting. But can't find any info like that on my numerous google searches.


I would have to say that the cold pressed should have less side effects. Some of the flax oil that is out there can be rancid, grown with pesticides, or have additives, etc. The cold pressed capsules have absolutely no side effects for me. You are getting such a small amount of oil/capsule.

The first night I took a whole tablespoon of flaxseed oil on an english muffin with cottage cheese, I did feel nauseated. I am not used to consuming so much fat, so I felt really funny, and I was a little "grossed out"! But like I said, the nutty taste really grew on me, and the nausea I first experienced is not an issue now. If you are sensitive to nausea, I would think you should take the capsule with food, and allow your body to adjust for a few weeks.
In terms of fatigue, no, I rather feel energized or a bit up from the flaxseed oil. It's also quite satiating in the liquid form. I find I am not craving the carbos so much...

I think organic, cold pressed flaxseed oil is worth another try! But I am already a convert!
I hope I have not been too verbose!

Chloe


>
> Thanks!
> cindy
>
>
> > Hi Emme,
> > I am so sorry you did not get that job. What a disappointment. I know I am kinda budding in here, but I wanted to let you know I am thinking about you.
> >
> > I am glad you have an "overly optimistic" pdoc. Perhaps she can think of something to help you get through this rough time. Too bad the naltrexone was a wash...Is the Lamictal still helping, or has that pooped out some?
> >
> > BTW, I am much more sensitive to meds as I have gotten older, too. I could take boat loads of stuff with few side effects in my teens. Now, (in my 30's) I can only tolerate microdoses. So I am on small doses of 6 meds, to minimize side effects, but potentiate good effects. It's all chemisty! Finding the smallest dose that gives the greatest benefit. You did tell me you are a chemist, didn't you?
> >
> > Well, please take care,
> > Chloe


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